The photodiode transition indicator is a device which has been successfully used to determine the onset of boundary layer transition on numerous hypersonic flight vehicles. The exact source of the electromagnetic radiation detected by the photodiode at transition was not understood. In some cases early saturation of the device occurred, and the device failed to detect transition. Analyses have been performed to determine the source of the radiation producing the photodiode signal. The results of these analyses indicate that the most likely source of the radiation is blackbody emission from the heatshield material bordering the quartz window of the device. Good agreement between flight data and calculations based on this radiation source has been obtained. Analyses also indicate that the most probable source of the radiation causing early saturation is blackbody radiation from carbon particles which break away from the nosetip during the ablation process.
Electrical discharges from a lightning simulator were directed at Mk12 aeroshells. Buckling of the aluminum substrate was observed after some 100-kA shots, and severe damage consisting of tearing of the aluminum and the production of inward flying aluminum shrapnel was observed after some 200-kA peak-current shots. Some shots resulted in severe damage to both the aluminum and the carbon-phenolic ablative material. It is reasonable to conclude from the experimental results that a lightning stroke with very high-peak current could, by itself, produce an opening in an Mk12 aeroshell. Because the aeroshell is part of the nuclear explosive safety exclusion region for the Mk12/W62 nuclear weapon, an opening would significantly reduce the assured safety of the weapon. It is unlikely that the observed interaction between lightning and the aeroshells would have been predicted by any form of computer simulation.
To draft a procurement specification for the Long-Reach Manipulator (LRM), the benefits and limitations of the various robotic control system architectures available need to be determined. This report identifies and describes the advantages and potential disadvantages of using an open control system versus a closed (or proprietary) system, focusing on integration of interfaces for sensors, end effectors, tooling, and operator interfaces. In addition, the various controls methodologies of several recent systems are described. Finally, the reasons behind the recommendation to procure an open control system are discussed.
The work for the development of an Annular Precision Linear Shaped Charge (APLSC) Flight Termination System (FTS) for the Operation and Deployment Experiment Simulator (ODES) program is discussed and presented in this report. The Precision Linear Shaped Charge (PLSC) concept was recently developed at Sandia. The APLSC component is designed to produce a copper jet to cut four inch diameter holes in each of two spherical tanks, one containing fuel and the other an oxidizer that are hyperbolic when mixed, to terminate the ODES vehicle flight if necessary. The FTS includes two detonators, six Mild Detonating Fuse (MDF) transfer lines, a detonator block, detonation transfer manifold, and the APLSC component. PLSCs have previously been designed in ring components where the jet penetrating axis is either directly away or toward the center of the ring assembly. Typically, these PLSC components are designed to cut metal cylinders from the outside inward or from the inside outward. The ODES program requires an annular linear shaped charge. The (Linear Shaped Charge Analysis) LESCA code was used to design this 65 grain/foot APLSC and data comparing the analytically predicted to experimental data are presented. Jet penetration data are presented to assess the maximum depth and reproducibility of the penetration. Data are presented for full scale tests, including all FTS components, and conducted with nominal 19 inch diameter, spherical tanks.
This report provides a statistical description of the types and severities of tractor semi-trailer accidents involving at least one fatality. The data were developed for use in risk assessments of hazardous materials transportation. Several accident databases were reviewed to determine their suitability to the task. The TIFA (Trucks Involved in Fatal Accidents) database created at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute was extensively utilized. Supplementary data on collision and fire severity, which was not available in the TIFA database, were obtained by reviewing police reports for selected TIFA accidents. The results are described in terms of frequencies of different accident types and cumulative distribution functions for the peak contact velocity, rollover skid distance, fire temperature, fire size, fire separation, and fire duration.
Sandia National Laboratories has developed a sophisticated custom digital data acquisition system to record data from a wide variety of experiments conducted on nuclear weapons effects tests at the Nevada Test Site (NTS). Software is a critical part of this data acquisition system. In particular software has been developed to support an instrumentation/experiment setup database, interactive and automated instrument control, remote data readout and processing, plotting, interactive data analysis, and automated calibration. Some software is also used as firmware in custom subsystems incorporating embedded microprocessors. The software operations are distributed across the nearly 40 computer nodes that comprise the NTS Wide Area Computer Network. This report is an overview of the software developed to support this data acquisition system. The report also provides a brief description of the computer network and the various recording systems used.
The work in this program covered four primary areas: solid modeling, path planning, modular fixturing, and stability analysis. This report contains highlights of results from the program, references to published reports, and, in an appendix, a currently unpublished report which has been accepted for journal publication, but has yet to appear.
This report documents the Surftherm program that analyzes transport coefficient, thermochemical- and kinetic rate information in complex gas-phase and surface chemical reaction mechanisms. The program is designed for use with the Chemkin (gas-phase chemistry) and Surface Chemkin (heterogeneous chemistry) programs. It was developed as a ``chemist`s companion`` in using the Chemkin packages with complex chemical reaction mechanisms. It presents in tabular form detailed information about the temperature and pressure dependence of chemical reaction rate constants and their reverse rate constants, reaction equilibrium constants, reaction thermochemistry, chemical species thermochemistry and transport properties. This report serves as a user`s manual for use of the program, explaining the required input and the output.
A three dimensional (3D) finite element analysis of the Markel Mine located on Weeks Island was performed to: (1) evaluate the stability of the mine and (2) determine the effect of mine failure on the nearby Morton Salt mine and SPR facilities. The first part of the stability evaluation investigates the effect of pillar failure on mine stability. These simulations revealed that tensile stresses and dilatant damage develop in the overlying salt as a result of pillar loss. These tensile stresses extend to the salt/overburden interface only for the case where all 45 of the pillars are assumed to fail. Tensile stresses would likely cause microfracturing of the salt, resulting in a flow path for groundwater from the overlying aquifer to enter the mine. The dilatant damage bridges between the mine and the overburden in the case where 15 or more pillars are removed from the model. Dilatant damage is attributed to microfracturing or changes in the pore structure of the salt and could also result in a flow path for groundwater to enter the mine. The second part of the Markel Mine evaluation investigates the stability of the pillars with respect to three failure mechanisms: tensile failure, compressive failure, and creep rupture. A 3D slabbing pillar model of the Markel mine was developed to investigate progressive failure of the pillars and the effect of slabbing on mine stability. Based on a strain-limiting creep rupture criterion, pillar failure is predicted to be extensive at present. The associated loss of pillar strength should be equivalent to removing all pillars from the model as was done in the first part of this stability analysis, resulting in the possibility of ground water intrusion. Since creep rupture is not a well understood phenomenon, further development and validation of this criterion is recommended.
The NRC has proposed revisions to 10 CFR 100 which include the codification of nuclear reactor site population density limits to 500 people per square mile, at the siting stage, averaged over any radial distance out to 30 miles, and 1,000 people per square mile within the 40-year lifetime of a nuclear plant. This study examined whether there are less restrictive alternative population density and/or distribution criteria which would provide equivalent or better protection to human health in the unlikely event of a nuclear accident. This study did not attempt to directly address the issue of actual population density limits because there are no US risk standards established for the evaluation of population density limits. Calculations were performed using source terms for both a current generation light water reactor (LWR) and an advanced light water reactor (ALWR) design. The results of this study suggest that measures which address the distribution of the population density, including emergency response conditions, could result in lower average individual risks to the public than the proposed guidelines that require controlling average population density. Studies also indicate that an exclusion zone size, determined by emergency response conditions and reactor design (power level and safety features), would better serve to protect public health than a rigid standard applied to all sites.
The President of Sandia National Laboratories, Albert Narath, made this presentation to the congressional subcommittee on February 3, 1994. In it he outlines the convergence of the defense and civilian technology bases, technology leadership, the government/industry relationship in science and technology, historical laboratory effectiveness, Sandia`s evolution to a multiprogram laboratory, Sandia`s energy programs today, planning for a changing operating environment, Sandia`s strategy for enhancing industrial competitiveness, R&D partnerships, technology deployment, entrepreneurial initiatives, and current DOE planning efforts. Appendices contain information on technology transfer initiatives in the fields of high-performance computing, materials and processes for manufacturing, energy and environment, microelectronics and photonics and advanced manufacturing. Also included are customer response highlights, information on dual-use research centers and user facilities, examples of technology transfer achievements, major accomplishments of 1993, and questions and answers from the subcommittee.
This report documents the study that was performed from October 1993 through June 1994 to determine the effects of humidity on the W80 MC3268/3269 Trajectory-Sensing Signal Generators (TSSGs) during the test bed build and laboratory test processes. Mason and Hanger, Silas Mason Co., performs the disassembly and inspections along with the test bed build processes at the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas. The laboratory testing of the TSSGs is performed at Sandia`s Weapons Evaluation Test Laboratory (WETL), located at the Pantex Plant. This report summarizes the historical sequence of events, the engineering analyses and decisions, and the future plans for controlling the ingress of moisture into the TSSGS during laboratory testing.
NonDestructive Testing (NDT), also called NonDestructive Evaluation (NDE), is commonly used to monitor structures before, during, and after testing. This paper reports on the use of two NDT techniques to monitor the behavior of a typical wind turbine blade during a quasi-static test-to-failure. The two NDT techniques used were acoustic emission and coherent optical. The former monitors the acoustic energy produced by the blade as it is loaded. The latter uses electron shearography to measure the differences in surface displacements between two load states. Typical results are presented to demonstrate the ability of these two techniques to locate and monitor both high damage regions and flaws in the blade structure. Furthermore, this experiment highlights the limitations in the techniques that must be addressed before one or both can be transferred, with a high probability of success, to the inspection and monitoring of turbine blades during the manufacturing process and under normal operating conditions.
Utility-interactive (UI) photovoltaic power systems mounted on residences and commercial buildings are likely to become a small, but important source of electric generation in the next century. This is a new concept in utility power production--a change from large-scale central generation to small-scale dispersed generation. As such, it requires a re-examination of many existing standards and practices to enable the technology to develop and emerge into the marketplace. Much work has been done over the last 20 years to identify and solve the potential problems associated with dispersed power generation systems. This report gives an overview of these issues and also provides a guide to applicable codes, standards and other related documents. The main conclusion that can be drawn from this work is that there are no major technical barriers to the implementation of dispersed PV generating systems. While more technical research is needed in some specific areas, the remaining barriers are fundamentally price and policy.
A 3-D finite element analysis was performed to evaluate the stability of the SPR upper and lower oil storage levels at Weeks Island. The mechanical analysis predicted stresses and strains from which pillar stability was inferred using a fracture criterion developed from previous testing of Weeks Island salt. This analysis simulated the sequential mining of the two levels and subsequent oil fill of the mine. The predicted subsidence rates compare well to those measured over the past few years. Predicted failure mechanisms agree with observations made at the time the mine was being modified for oil storage. The modeling technique employed here treats an infinite array of pillars and is a reasonable representation of the behavior at the center of the mine. This analysis predicts that the lower level pillars, at the center of the mine, have fractured and their stability at this time is questionable. Localized pillar fracturing is predicted and implies that the mine is entering a phase of continual time dependent deterioration. Continued and expanded monitoring of the facility and development of methods to assess and predict its behavior are more important now than ever.
Excessive deceleration forces experienced during high speed deployment of parachute systems can cause damage to the payload and the canopy fabric. Conventional reefing lines offer limited relief by temporarily restricting canopy inflation and limiting the peak deceleration load. However, the open-loop control provided by existing reefing devices restrict their use to a specific set of deployment conditions. In this paper, the sensing, processing, and actuation that are characteristic of adaptive structures form the basis of three concepts for active control of parachute inflation. These active control concepts are incorporated into a computer simulation of parachute inflation. Initial investigations indicate that these concepts promise enhanced performance as compared to conventional techniques for a nominal release. Furthermore, the ability of each controller to adapt to off-nominal release conditions is examined.
Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Zolper, I.C.
Vertical-cavity surfaeeniitting lasers (VCSELs) can be integrated with heterojunction phototransistors (HPTs)and heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) on the same wafer to form high speed optical and optoelectronic switches,respectively, that can be optically or electrically addressed. This permits the direct communcication and transmission ofdata between distributed electronic processors through an optical switching network. The experimental demonstration of anintegrated optoelectronic HBT/VCSEL switch combining a GaAs/A1GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) with aVCSEL is described below, using the same epilayer structure upon which binary HPT/VCSEL optical switches are alsobuilt. The monolithic }IBT/VCSEL switch has high current gain, low power dissipation, and a high optical to electricalconversion efficiency. Its modulation response has been measured and modeled.
Reactor pumped lasers have the potential to be scaled to multi-megawatt power levels with long run times. In proposed designs, the laser will be capable of output powers of several megawatts of power for run times of several hours. Such a laser would have many diverse applications such as material processing, space debris removal and power beaming to geosynchronous satellites or the moon. However, before such systems can be designed, fundamental laser parameters such as small signal gain, saturation intensity and efficiency must be determined over a wide operational parameter space. We have recently measured fundamental laser parameters for a selection of nuclear pumped visible and near IR laser transitions in atomic neon, argon and xenon. An overview of the results of this investigation will be presented.
The Nevada Test Site (NTS) is one excellent possibility for a laser power beaming site. It is in the low latitudes of the U.S., is in an exceptionally cloud-free area of the southwest, is already an area of restricted access (which enhances safety considerations), and possesses a highly-skilled technical team with extensive engineering and research capabilities from underground testing of our nation's nuclear deterrence. The average availability of cloud-free clear line of site to a given point in space is about 84%. With a beaming angle of ±60° from the zenith, about 52 geostationaiy-orbit (GEO) satellites could be accessed continuously from NTS. In addition, the site would provide an average view factor of about 10% for orbital transfer from low earth orbit to GEO. One of the major candidates for a long-duration, high-power laser is a reactor-pumped laser being developed by DOE. The extensive nuclear expertise at NTS makes this site a prime candidate for utilizing the capabilities of a reactor pumped laser for power beaming. The site then could be used for many dual-use roles such as industrial material processing research, defense testing, and removing space debris.
We present a new massively parallel decomposition for grand canonical Monte Carlo computer simulation (GCMC) suitable for short ranged fluids. Our spatial algorithm relies on the fact that for short-ranged fluids, molecules separated by a greater distance than the reach of the potential act independently, thus different processors can work concurrently in regions of the same system which are sufficiently far apart. Several parallelization issues unique to GCMC are addressed such as the handling of the three different types of Monte Carlo move used in GCMC: the displacement of a molecule, the creation of a molecule, and the destruction of a molecule. The decomposition is shown to scale with system size, making it especially useful for systems where the physical problem dictates the system size, for example, fluid behavior in mesopores.
This paper investigates the applicability of existing SRAM SEU hardening techniques to conventional CMOS cross-coupled sense amplifiers used in DRAM structures. We propose a novel SEU mirroring concept and implementation for hardening DRAMs to bitline hits. Simulations indicate a 24-fold improvement in critical charge during the sensing state using a 10K T-Resistor scheme and a 28-fold improvement during the highly susceptible high impedance state using 2pF dynamic capacitance coupling.
A novel DRAM cell technology consisting of an access transistor and a bootstrapped storage capacitor with an integrated breakdown diode is proposed. This design offers considerable resistance to single event cell hits. The information change packet is shielded from an SE hit by placing the vulnerable node in a self-compensating standby state. The proposed cell is comparable in size to a conventional DRAM cell, but simulations show an improvement in critical charge of two orders of magnitude.