SwRI Research Areas

SwRI Research Areas - Alphabetical Listing
Select a letter to jump to the associated alphabetic section of the research areas list.

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- R -

R-226
ANALYSIS FOR RADIUM-226
	Administration
	Division Quality Assurance
	Administration
R9310
ANALYSIS BY METHOD 9310
	Administration
	Division Quality Assurance
	Administration
R9315W
ANALYSIS FOR RADIUM
	Administration
	Division Quality Assurance
	Administration
R9320W
ANALYSIS FOR TOTAL RADIUM
	Administration
	Division Quality Assurance
	Administration
RA-228
ANALYSIS FOR RADIUM-228
	Administration
	Division Quality Assurance
	Administration
Radar Interferometry
	Earth and Planetary Sciences
Radar System--Concrete/Tunnel Inspection
	Department of Electronics Systems and Robotics
	Materials Engineering Department
Radar Systems
	Aircraft Systems Integration Section
	Automation and Data Systems Division
	Administration
	Department of Electronics Systems and Robotics
RADCHEM
SEE NOTES IN BODY OF WORK ORDER
	Administration
	Division Quality Assurance
	Administration
Radiation
	Administration
	Inorganics/Radiochemistry
	Performance Assessment Group
	Geosciences and Engineering Division
Radiation Hardening
	Science Section
Radiation Tolerance Testing
Radiation Tolerance
Radio Direction Finding and Geolocation Equipment
The Signal Exploitation & Geolocation Division has been involved in the development of advanced communications direction finding (DF) and geolocation systems since 1951. This includes line of bearing techniques as well as TDOA and FDOA techniques covering VLF to UHF frequency ranges.
	Office of the Vice President
	Staff Engineers and Specialists
	Signal Exploitation and Geolocation Division
	Project and Operations Support
Radio Frequency - Design
Design of Radio Frequency Systems for Wireless Communication; for Radar Applications; and Remote Sensing Applications. Our focus tends to be remote sensing, and tracking and locating applications with integration and/or development of satellite, terrestrial and custom radio communication technology to include transmitters, receivers and antennas.
	Aircraft Systems Integration Section
	S & P
	Administration
	Surveillance Systems
	Staff Engineers
Radio Frequency - Measurement
Our focus tends to be remote sensing, and tracking and locating applications with integration and/or development of satellite, terrestrial and custom radio communication technology to include transmitters, receivers and antennas.
	Administration
	Staff Engineers
Radio Frequency - Payloads
	Administration
	Staff Engineers
Radio Frequency Engineering
Radio Frequency Engineering for wireless communication, for radar applications, and for remote swensing applications.
	S & P
	Administration
	Surveillance Systems
	Staff Engineers
Radio Frequency Instrumentation
Radio Frequency Instrumentation for radar systems, for channel characterization, and for wireless communication.
	Automation and Data Systems Division
	Administration
	Surveillance Systems
Radio Frequency Interference
	Autonomous Systems and Control
	Administration
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Structural Engineering Department
Radio Frequency Monitoring
	Staff Engineers
Radio Frequency--Antenna Design
Our focus tends to be remote sensing, and tracking and locating applications with integration and/or development of satellite, terrestrial and custom radio communication technology to include transmitters, receivers and antennas.
	Engineering and Research Section
	S & P
	Administration
	Applied Physics Division
	Program Management
	Staff Engineers
Radio Frequency--Communications
Our focus tends to be remote sensing, and tracking and locating applications with integration and/or development of satellite, terrestrial and custom radio communication technology to include transmitters, receivers and antennas.
	Integrated Diagnostics Section
	Aircraft Systems Integration Section
	S & P
	Administration
	Applied Physics Division
	Staff Engineers and Specialists
	Surveillance Systems
	Staff Engineers
Radio Frequency--Tagging Systems
	Applied Physics Division
	Staff Engineers and Specialists
	Surveillance and Geolocation Department
	Staff Engineers
RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL SECURITY
RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL SECURITY
Radioactive Materials Storage Evaluation
	Applied Physics Division
	Sensor Systems and Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Technology Department
Radioactive Waste Management
Research, technical assistance, and project management in all aspects of storage, transportation, and disposal of radioactive materials. Radioactive materials and related facilities for all components of the nuclear fuel cycle are addressed. These include but are not limited to uranium mining and leaching, uranium mill tailings, nuclear materials processing and reprocessing, fuel fabrication, decommissioning, and both interim storage and disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive wastes. Available expertise and experience span all relevant technical disciplines. Systems-level studies are conducted using integrated safety analysis, total-system performance assessment, regulatory analyses, and environmental assessments. Within the US, support is provided to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other regulatory authorities. Internationally, clients include both nuclear facility/program developers and regulators.
	Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses
	Geochemistry
Radioactive Wear Measurement
Radioactive tracers allow for high sensitivity real-time wear or corrosion measurement of operating machinery. This technique has been used to measure wear in engines, pumps and in-vitro hip joints, as well as to measure corrosivity of crude oils.
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Medium Speed Diesel Engine Section
	Engine Design and Analysis
	Fuels and Lubricants Research Division
	Filtration and Fine Particle Technology
	Surface Engineering and Materials Chemistry Section
Radioactivity/Radiochemistry
	Administration
	Inorganics/Radiochemistry
	Geochemistry
Radiography Equipment Testing
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Structural Engineering Department
Radomes
	Administration
	Applied Physics Division
	Staff Engineers and Specialists
RADON
ANALYSIS FOR RADON
	Administration
	Division Quality Assurance
	Administration
RADSCREEN
RAD SCHREENING PRIOR TO EXTRACTION/PREP/AND OR/ANALYSIS
	Administration
	Division Quality Assurance
	Administration
Railroad Fuel Studies
Studies regarding fuel and usage by railroads.
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Medium Speed Diesel Engine Section
	Fuels and Lubricants Research Division
Raman Spectroscopy
	Materials Engineering Department
	Materials Engineering Department
	Surface Engineering and Materials Chemistry Section
	Environmental Performance of Materials
Rapid Prototyping
	Administration
	Division Administration
	Administration
	Administration
	Department of Electromechanical and Optical Systems
	Department of Electronics Systems and Robotics
	Fluid Dynamics and Multiphase Flow
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Structural Engineering Department
RPECS, Real time OS, QnX
	SwARC Support and Business Development Detroit Operations
Rapid Prototyping/Desktop Manufacturing
	Department of Electromechanical and Optical Systems
	Department of Electronics Systems and Robotics
Rapid Prototyping/Marine
	Department of Electromechanical and Optical Systems
RB-86
ANALYSIS FOR RUBIDIUM-86
	Administration
	Division Quality Assurance
	Administration
Real Time Operating Systems
Experience in the design and development of embedded systems which utilize commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) real-time operating systems, (RTOS) such as VxWorks, uCOS, RTEMS, and others. Also, technical domain knowledge of features which differentiate real-time vs. non-real time operating systems.
	Powertrain Controls Section
	Administration
Real Time Systems
Experience in the implementation of embedded computer-based systems which have real-time deadlines and/or specified performance characteristics which go beyond subjective measures such as responsiveness to the user.
	Administration
	Administration
	Emerging Technologies
	Administration
	Aerospace Systems Engineering
	Administration
	Automation and Data Systems Division
	Administration
	Network-Centric Systems
	Intelligent Transportation Systems Department
	Computer Technology Section
	Administration
	Staff Analysts
Real Time X-Radiography
The SwRI Component-Analysis Group has a FeinFocus high-resolution real-time x-radiography system that is equipped with a 5-axis sample-positioning stage. This system facilitates viewing the x-ray image in real time while sample orientation is being manipulated to best show the features of interest. Because of the small source size and high-resolution detector, substantial magnification may be achieved. Accelerating voltages in the range of 30 kV to 160 kV are available.
	Department of Electronics Systems and Robotics
Real-Time Simulation
Simulation of events in the time frame in which they would naturally happen; for example, aircraft flight simulation that is used to train pilots. dSPACE, OPAL-RT.
	Powertrain Controls Section
	Administration
	Systems Engineering
	Emerging Technologies
	Administration
Recapitalization of Aircraft
	Marine Structures and Engineering Section
Reciprocating Compressors
	Rotating Machinery
Reconfigurable Computing
Knowledge and experience in designing computer-based systems which have the capability of being statically or dynamically reconfigured as a fundamental part of their design. These systems often incorporate reprogrammable logic devices in the design.
	Administration
	Network-Centric Systems
Recreational Vehicle - ATV's
	Administration
	Advanced Combustion and Emissions
	Certification, Audit, and Compliance
	Light Duty Vehicle Emissions
Recreational Vehicles - Alternative Fuels
	Administration
	Advanced Combustion and Emissions
	Certification, Audit, and Compliance
	Light Duty Vehicle Emissions
Recreational Vehicles - Benchmarking
	Administration
	Advanced Combustion and Emissions
	Certification, Audit, and Compliance
	Light Duty Vehicle Emissions
Recreational Vehicles - Design
	Administration
	Advanced Combustion and Emissions
	Certification, Audit, and Compliance
	Light Duty Vehicle Emissions
Recreational Vehicles - Durability Testing
	Administration
	Advanced Combustion and Emissions
	Certification, Audit, and Compliance
	Light Duty Vehicle Emissions
Recreational Vehicles - Dynamometer Testing
	Administration
	Advanced Combustion and Emissions
	Certification, Audit, and Compliance
	Light Duty Vehicle Emissions
Recreational Vehicles - Emissions Development
	Administration
	Advanced Combustion and Emissions
	Certification, Audit, and Compliance
	Light Duty Vehicle Emissions
Recreational Vehicles - Engine Calibration
	Administration
	Advanced Combustion and Emissions
	Certification, Audit, and Compliance
	Light Duty Vehicle Emissions
Recreational Vehicles - Engine Design
	Administration
	Advanced Combustion and Emissions
	Certification, Audit, and Compliance
	Light Duty Vehicle Emissions
Recreational Vehicles - Engine Testing
	Administration
	Advanced Combustion and Emissions
	Certification, Audit, and Compliance
	Light Duty Vehicle Emissions
Recreational Vehicles - Engines
	Administration
	Advanced Combustion and Emissions
	Certification, Audit, and Compliance
	Light Duty Vehicle Emissions
Recreational Vehicles - Environmental Testing
	Administration
	Advanced Combustion and Emissions
	Certification, Audit, and Compliance
	Light Duty Vehicle Emissions
Recreational Vehicles - Performance Development
	Administration
	Advanced Combustion and Emissions
	Certification, Audit, and Compliance
	Light Duty Vehicle Emissions
Recreational Vehicles - Personal Watercraft
	Administration
	Advanced Combustion and Emissions
	Certification, Audit, and Compliance
	Light Duty Vehicle Emissions
Recreational Vehicles - Snowmobiles
	Administration
	Advanced Combustion and Emissions
	Certification, Audit, and Compliance
	Light Duty Vehicle Emissions
Recreational Vehicles - Transmission Design
	Administration
	Advanced Combustion and Emissions
	Certification, Audit, and Compliance
	Light Duty Vehicle Emissions
Recreational Vehicles - Transmission Testing
	Administration
	Advanced Combustion and Emissions
	Certification, Audit, and Compliance
	Light Duty Vehicle Emissions
Recycle/Reuse
Development of new green technology that stimulates the reuse and recycle of materials.
	Administration
	Environmental Engineering and Monitoring
Refinery Processing
	Chemical Engineering
	Administration
Refining--Equipment Vibration
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
Reformulated Fuels
Testing physical properties of reformulated engine fuels (in a chemistry laboratory) .
	Chemical Engineering
	Administration
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Administration
	Department of Emissions Research and Development
	Chemistry and Unregulated Emissions
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Fuels and Lubricants Research Division
	Fuels and Lubricants Research Division
	Fluids Filtration and Handling Research
Reformulated Gasoline (RFG)
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Department of Emissions Research and Development
	Chemistry and Unregulated Emissions
	Fuels and Lubricants Research Division
Refrigeration
	Fluid Dynamics and Multiphase Flow
Reid Vapor Pressure Sample Bottles
	Fuel Survey Projects
	Department of Electromechanical and Optical Systems
Reliability Analysis
Reliability Analysis
	Computer Technology Section
Reliability Testing
	Aerospace Systems Engineering
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Administration
	Structural Engineering Department
	QA Engineering
Reliability/Probabilistic Analysis
	Department of Electromechanical and Optical Systems
	Mechanics and Materials Section
	Egnineering and Systems Assessment
Remaining Life Analysis
	Department of Electromechanical and Optical Systems
	Mechanics and Materials Section
Remedial Action Planning
	Administration
Remedial Investigation Planning
	Administration
Remediation--Environmental
	Administration
Remote Data Acquisition
	Administration
	High Reliability Software
	Network-Centric Systems
	Network Communications and Infrastructure Group
	Department of Engineering Applications and Systems Development
Remote Handling Systems
	Division Administration
	Division Operations
	Administration
	Applied Physics Division
	Sensor Systems and Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Technology Department
Remote Piloted Vehicle (RPV)
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Administration
	Administration
	Information Systems Engineering Department
Remote Sensing
	Network Communications and Infrastructure Group
	Earth and Planetary Sciences
Remote Work Systems
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Marine Structures and Engineering Section
Replacement Engineering
	Administration
	Administration
	Network-Centric Systems
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Marine Structures and Engineering Section
Replacement/Reverse Engineering
	Systems Engineering
	Administration
	Administration
	Network-Centric Systems
	Administration
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Marine Structures and Engineering Section
Reservoir Stress and Leak Analysis
	Department of Earth, Material, and Planetary Sciences
Retrofit Engineering
	Administration
	Administration
	Network-Centric Systems
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Marine Structures and Engineering Section
Reverse Engineering
The process of taking something (a device, an electrical component, a software program, etc.) apart and analyzing its workings in detail, usually with the intention to modify, repair, or construct a new device or program that does the same thing without actually copying anything from the original.
	Systems Engineering
Reverse Engineering--Electronics
The Component-Analysis Group at Southwest Research Institute performs reverse engineering of low-density integrated circuits, discrete semiconductor devices, passive electronic components, and electrical devices. Reverse engineering performed by the Group is for the purpose of failure analysis, identification of potential quality and reliability issues, or duplication of a part that is no longer commercially available. The Group does not perform reverse engineering for the purpose of copying currently available devices.
	Administration
	Administration
	Network-Centric Systems
	Administration
	Department of Electronics Systems and Robotics
	Administration
	Sensor Systems and Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Technology Department
Reverse Engineering--Mechanical
	Administration
	Robotics and Automation Engineering
	Department of Electromechanical and Optical Systems
	Ballistics and Explosives Engineering Section
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Marine Structures and Engineering Section
RF Engineering
We engineer solutions for clients using radio frequency electronics and technology. These solutions include wireless sensors and communications devices, as well as schemes for tagging, tracking, and locating devices. Buzz words are telematics, GPS tracking, GPS logging, RFID, passive RFID (short range), active RFID (long range), radio backscatter communications, radio ranging, radio direction finding, and more.
	S & P
	Administration
	Department of Electronics Systems and Robotics
	Surveillance Systems
	Staff Engineers
RF Identification (RFID)
	Environmental Engineering and Monitoring
	S & P
	Applied Physics Division
	Surveillance and Geolocation Department
	Staff Engineers
RF Industrial Heating
	Environmental Engineering and Monitoring
	Automation and Data Systems Division
RF Instrumentation
RF geolocation systems (products); RF signal detection systems (products); RF tracking devices (products); RF identification devices(RFID) (products); RF materials testing (services); Antenna measurements (services); Antennas (products).
	Administration
	Department of Electronics Systems and Robotics
	Systems Engineering
	Staff Engineers and Specialists
	Staff Engineers
RF Receiver Design
RF geolocation receivers (products); RF wide band receivers (products); RF tracking receivers (products); RF identification receivers(RFID) (products)
	Department of Electronics Systems and Robotics
	Staff Engineers and Specialists
	Surveillance Systems
	Staff Engineers
RF Reverse Engineering
- RF geolocation systems (products) - RF signal detection systems (products) - RF tracking devices (products) - RF identification devices(RFID) (products) - Antennas (products)
	Antenna and RF Engineering
	Staff Engineers and Specialists
	Surveillance Systems
RF Site Survey
An RF site survey is conducted for the purpose of identifying all or most of the signals present in a local region. It is conducted by monitoring the radio spectrum using a spectrum analyzer or other RF receiving equipment. The information obtained aids a radio system designer in configuring his equipment to avoid either causing or receiving radio interference. A survey can be a quick look (one day sample), or involve extended monitoring over days or weeks. The survey equipment may be locally manned or remotely controlled over the internet at some distance form the location of interest.
	Unmanned Systems and Sensors
	S & P
	Administration
	Department of Electronics Systems and Robotics
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
RF Systems
Includes RF geolocation systems (products); RF signal detection systems (products); and RF tracking systems (products).
	S & P
	Administration
	Department of Electromechanical and Optical Systems
	Department of Electronics Systems and Robotics
	Antenna and RF Engineering
	Staff Engineers and Specialists
	Surveillance Systems
Rheology
	Science & Analysis
Ring Pack Modeling
	Administration
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Engine and Vehicle R&D
Risk Assessment
	Administration
	Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses
	Earth Sciences
	Egnineering and Systems Assessment
Risk Management
	Administration
	Aerospace Structures Section
Robotics
	Aerospace Electronics and Information Technology D
	Division Administration
	Administration
	Robotics and Automation Engineering
	Network Communications and Infrastructure Group
	Department of Electronics Systems and Robotics
Rock Mechanics
Research and technical consulting in laboratory, field, and numerical analyses to solve rock engineering problems. Experience and expertise span surface and underground facilities, including mine design, ground control systems, rock fragmentation, static and dynamic rock properties testing, thermal effects, seismic responses, and related areas.
	Department of Electromechanical and Optical Systems
	Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses
	Mining Geotechnical and Facility Engineering
	Geosciences and Engineering Division
Rock Stress Test
	Mining Geotechnical and Facility Engineering
	Geosciences and Engineering Division
Roof Testing--Hail, Impact
	Administration
Roof--Fire Testing
This test is also known as ASTM E-108 and UL-790. It gives a classification rating on roofing products and components.
	Administration
	Fire Resistance Section
Room Testing
Fire testing of wall coverings, ceiling systems, foam plastic insulation, etc., in a room configuration in accordance with ASTM, NFPA, UBC, and ISO standards.
	Administration
	Fire Resistance Section
	Listing, Labeling, and Follow-Up Inspections
	Engineering and Research Section
Rotary Engines
SwRI assists in the development and testing of many types of Rotary Engines.
	Administration
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	SwARC Support and Business Development Administration
Rotodynamic Analysis
Methods to predict rotor critical speeds and stability with advanced finite element analysis not only to model the rotating shaft but also to generate a detailed three-dimensional model of bearing supports, casings, pedestals and foundations. This analysis approach is important for many industrial and aerospace applications including gas turbines, compressors, pumps, and motors.
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
Rotor Balancing
	Rotating Machinery
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
Rotor Dynamics Analysis
	Aerospace Systems Engineering
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Rotating Machinery
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
Rotor Dynamics--Rotary Machinery
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
Rotor Strain Gage Telemetry
	Engineering and Research Section
	Rotating Machinery
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
RTSS
ANALYSIS FOR TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS (SOP 01-16-13)
	Administration
	Division Quality Assurance
RU-106
ANALYSIS FOR RU-106
	Administration
	Division Quality Assurance
	Administration
Ruggedization of Electronics
	Engineering and Research Section
	Division Administration
	Administration