Publications

A new waveguide is designed using a cut-off slab waveguide for fabrication of single-mode rib optical waveguides with mesa isolation. These waveguides are easy to fabricate and offer crosstalk performance perhaps better than BH waveguides.

Developing the ability to recognize a landmark from a visual image of a robot`s current location is a fundamental problem in robotics. The authors consider the problem of PAC-learning the concept class of geometric patterns where the target geometric pattern is a configuration of k points in the real line. Each instance is a configuration of n points on the real line, where it is labeled according to whether or not it visually resembles the target pattern. They relate the concept class of geometric patterns to the landmark recognition problem and then present a polynomial-time algorithm that PAC-learns the class of one-dimensional geometric patterns when the negative examples are corrupted by a large amount of random misclassification noise.

A series of experiment were conducted to study the influence of electrode geometry on the prebreakdown (and breakdown) characteristics of high resistivity ({rho} > 30 k{Omega}-cm), p-type Si wafers under quasi-uniform and non-uniform electric field configurations. In the quasi-uniform field configuration, the 1mm thick Si wafer was mounted between the slots of two plane parallel stainless steel disc electrodes (parallel), while the non-uniform field was obtained by mounting the wafer between two pillar-type electrodes with a hemispherical tip (pillar). The main objective of the above investigation was to verify if the uniform field configuration under a parallel system has a positive influence by reducing the field enhancement at the contact region, as opposed to the definite field enhancement present in the case of the non-uniform pillar system. Also, it was proposed to study the effect of the contact profile on the field distribution over the wafer surface and hence its influence on the high-field performance of the Si wafers.

The current baseline plan for RH TRU (remote-handled transuranic) waste disposal is to package the waste in special canisters for emplacement in the walls of the waste disposal rooms at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). The RH waste must be emplaced before the disposal rooms are filled by contact-handled waste. Issues which must be resolved for this plan to be successful include: (1) construction of RH waste preparation and packaging facilities at large-quantity sites; (2) finding methods to get small-quantity site RH waste packaged and certified for disposal; (3) developing transportation systems and characterization facilities for RH TRU waste; (4) meeting lag storage needs; and (5) gaining public acceptance for the RH TRU waste program. Failure to resolve these issues in time to permit disposal according to the WIPP baseline plan will force either modification to the plan, or disposal or long-term storage of RH TRU waste at non-WIPP sites. The recommended strategy is to recognize, and take the needed actions to resolve, the open issues preventing disposal of RH TRU waste at WIPP on schedule. It is also recommended that the baseline plan be upgraded by adopting enhancements such as revised canister emplacement strategies and a more flexible waste transport system.

Sandia National Laboratories manages the US Department of Energy program for slimhole drilling. The principal objective of this program is to expand proven geothermal reserves through increased exploration, made possible by lower-cost slimhole drilling. For this to be a valid exploration method, however, it is necessary to demonstrate that slimholes yield enough data to evaluate a geothermal reservoir, and that is the focus of Sandia`s current research. Sandia negotiated an agreement with Far West Capital, which operates the Steamboat Hills geothermal field, to drill and test an exploratory slimhole on their lease. The principal objectives for the slimhole were development of slimhole testing methods, comparison of slimhole data with that from adjacent production-size wells, and definition of possible higher-temperature production zones lying deeper than the existing wells.

Emphasis on the human-to-aircraft interface has magnified in importance as the performance envelope of today`s aircraft has continued to expand. A major problem is that there has been a corresponding increase in the need for better fitting protection equipment and unfortunately it has become increasingly difficult for aircrew members to find equipment that will provide this level of fit. While protection equipment has, historically had poor fit characteristics, the issue has grown tremendously with the recent increase in the numbers of minorities and women. Fundamental to this problem are the archaic methods for sizing individual equipment and the methods for establishing a sizing system. This paper documents recent investigations by the author into developing new methods to overcome these problems. Research centered on the development of a new statistically based method for describing form and the application of fuzzy clustering using the new shape descriptors. A sizing system was developed from the application of the research, prototype masks were constructed and the hardware tested under flight conditions.

Internal corrosion in semiconductor gas delivery systems may lead to increased particle counts in downstream fabrication tools and to catastrophic failure of the delivery system itself. The problem is particularly acute since, once the corrosion begins, it becomes a moisture reservoir to further damage the system. To keep gas systems as moisture free as possible semiconductor manufacturers employ drying filters, usually located just after the source of the process gas. Even so, the piping for corrosive gases may need to be rebuilt every few years. Careful monitoring of the moisture in the process gases can provide valuable information about the state of the gas handling system and its effect on the process integrity. Presently there are several technologies costing $50K or less that are capable of detecting trace water vapor as low as 50 ppb in N{sub 2}. However, no one type of instrument has achieved universal acceptance. In particular, all have limited compatibility with corrosive gases such as HCl and HBr. The goal of this project is to develop an in-line instrument based on infrared spectroscopy for this purpose. Earlier results leave no doubt that FTIR spectroscopy can be successfully used for trace water detection. However, important questions regarding optimal data analysis and instrument design are not yet fully answered. It is the goal of this research effort to answer these questions and to incorporate the findings into a prototype device suitable for commercialization.

A description of the flow field in an overflow wafer rinse process is presented. This information is being used in an initiative whose principal objective is to reduce the usage of water in wafer rinsing. The velocity field is calculated using finite-element numerical techniques. A large portion of the water does not contribute to wafer rinsing.

Photovoltaic (PV) modules and photovoltaic balance of systems equipment are designed, manufactured, and marketed internationally. Each country or group Of countries has a set of electrical safety codes, either in place or evolving, that guide and regulate the design and installation of PV power systems. A basic difference in these codes is that some require hard (low-resistance) grounding (the United States and Canada) and others opt for an essentially ungrounded system (Europe and Japan). The significant design and safety issues that exist between the two grounding concepts affect the international PV industry`s ability to economically and effectively design and market safe, reliable, and durable PV systems in the global market place. This paper will analyze the technical and safety benefits, penalties, and costs of both grounded arid ungrounded PV systems. The existing grounding practice in several typical countries will be addressed.

Conservatively, there are 100,000 localities in the world waiting for the benefits that electricity can provide, and many of these are in climates where sunshine is plentiful. With these locations in mind a prototype 30 kW hybrid system has been assembled at Sandia to prove the reliability and economics of photovoltaic, diesel and battery energy sources managed by an autonomous power converter. In the Trimode Power Converter the same power parts, four IGBT`s with an isolation transformer and filter components, serve as rectifier and charger to charge the battery from the diesel; as a stand-alone inverter to convert PV and battery energy to AC; and, as a parallel inverter with the diesel-generator to accommodate loads larger than the rating of the diesel. Whenever the diesel is supplying the load, an algorithm assures that the diesel is running at maximum efficiency by regulating the battery charger operating point. Given the profile of anticipated solar energy, the cost of transporting diesel fuel to a remote location and a five year projection of load demand, a method to size the PV array, battery and diesel for least cost is developed.

Ceramics offer significant performance advantages over other engineering materials in a great number of applications such as turbocharger rotors and wear components. However, to realize their full market potential, ceramics must become more cost competitive. One way to achieve such competitiveness is to maximize manufacturing yield via process optimization. One simple optimization strategy involves maximizing yield by decreasing product variability (e.g., by operating in a regime that is inherently process tolerant). This paper extends this concept to the simultaneous optimization of many material characteristics, which is more typical of the requirements of a real ceramic manufacturing operation.

Extensive simulations of Tokamak disruptions have provided a picture of material erosion that is limited by the transfer of energy from the incident plasma to the armor solid surface through a dense vapor shield. Radiation spectra were recorded in the VUV and in the visible at the Efremov Laboratories on VIKA using graphite targets. The VUV data were recorded with a Sandia Labs transmission grating spectrograph, covering 1--40 nm. Plasma parameters were evaluated with incident plasma energy densities varying from 1--10 kJ/cm{sup 2}. A second transmission grating spectrograph was taken to 2MK-200 at TRINITI to study the plasma-material interface in magnetic cusp plasma. Target materials included POCO graphite, ATJ graphite, boron nitride, and plasma-sprayed tungsten. Detailed spectra were recorded with a spatial resolution of {approximately}1 mm resolution. Time-resolved data with 40--200 ns resolution was also recorded. The data from both plasma gun facilities demonstrated that the hottest plasma region was sitting several millimeters above the armor tile surface.

In the past few years much effort has been devoted to finding faster and more convenient ways to exchange data between nodes of massively parallel distributed memory machines. One such approach, taken by Thorsten von Eicken et al. is called Active Messages. The idea is to hide message passing latency and continue to compute while data is being sent and delivered. The authors have implemented Active Messages under SUNMOS for the Intel Paragon and performed various experiments to determine their efficiency and utility. In this paper they concentrate on the subset of the Active Message layer that is used by the implementation of the Split-C library. They compare performance to explicit message passing under SUNMOS and explore new ways to support Split-C without Active Messages. They also compare the implementation to the original one on the Thinking Machines CM-5 and try to determine what the effects of low latency and low band-width versus high latency and high bandwidth are on user codes.

SUNMOS is an acronym for Sandia/UNM Operating System. It was originally developed for the nCUBE-2 MIMD supercomputer between January and December of 1991. Between April and August of 1993, SUNMOS was ported to the Intel Paragon. This document provides a quick overview of how to compile and run jobs using the SUNMOS environment on the Paragon. The primary goal of SUNMOS is to provide high performance message passing and process support an example of its capabilities, SUNMOS Release 1.4 occupies approximately 240K of memory on a Paragon node, and is able to send messages at bandwidths of 165 megabytes per second with latencies as low as 42 microseconds using Intel NX calls. By contrast, Release 1.2 of OSF/1 for the Paragon occupies approximately 7 megabytes of memory on a node, has a peak bandwidth of 65 megabytes per second, and latencies as low as 42 microseconds (the communication numbers are reported elsewhere in these proceedings).

Sandia National Laboratories became seriously involved in the science education reform movement in 1989 in response to a Department of Energy directive: ``We must expand our involvement in science education to inspire the youth of American to either enter or feel more comfortable in the fields of math, science and engineering. With our labs and facilities we are uniquely well positioned to provide major assistance in strengthening science and engineering motivation and education, making it `come alive` for the main body of students who too often fear these disciplines or who cannot relate to them``. (Adm. James D. Watkins, U.S. Sec`t. of Energy, 9/5/89)

Functioning, matrixed, field emission devices have been fabricated using a modification of standard integrated circuit fabrication techniques. The emitter-to-gate spacing is fixed by the thickness of a deposited oxide and not by photolithographic techniques. Modeling of the emitted electron trajectories using a two dimensional, Poisson solver, finite difference code indicates that much of the current runs perpendicular to plane of the part. Functioning triode structures have been fabricated using this approach. Emission current, to a collector electrically and physically separated from the matrixed array follows Fowler-Nordheim behavior.

Market-place acceptance of utility-connected photovoltaic (PV) power generation systems and their accelerated installation into residential and commercial applications are heavily dependent upon the ability of their power conditioning subsystems (PCS) to meet high reliability, low cost, and high performance goals. Many PCS development efforts have taken place over the last 15 years, and those efforts have resulted in substantial PCS hardware improvements. These improvements, however, have generally fallen short of meeting many reliability, cost and performance goals. Continuously evolving semiconductor technology developments, coupled with expanded market opportunities for power processing, offer a significant promise of improving PCS reliability, cost and performance, as they are integrated into future PCS designs. This paper revisits past and present development efforts in PCS design, identifies the evolutionary improvements and describes the new opportunities for PCS designs. The new opportunities are arising from the increased availability and capability of semiconductor switching components, smart power devices, and power integrated circuits (PICS).

The term ``TNT Equivalence`` is used throughout the explosives and related industries to compare the effects of the output of a given explosive to that of TNT. This is done for technical design reasons in scaling calculation such as for the prediction of blast waves, craters, and structural response, and is also used as a basis for government regulations controlling the shipping, handling and storage of explosive materials, as well as for the siting and design of explosive facilities. TNT equivalence is determined experimentally by several different types of tests, the most common of which include: plate dent, ballistic mortar, trauzl, sand crush, and air blast. All of these tests do not necessarily measure the same output property of the sample explosive. As examples of this, some tests depend simply upon the CJ pressure, some depend upon the PV work in the CJ zone and in the Taylor wave behind the CJ plane, some are functions of the total work which includes that from secondary combustion in the air mixing region of the fireball and are acutely effected by the shape of the pressure-time profile of the wave. Some of the tests incorporate systematic errors which are not readily apparent, and which have a profound effect upon skewing the resultant data. Further, some of the tests produce different TNT Equivalents for the same explosive which are a function of the conditions at which the test is run. This paper describes the various tests used, discusses the results of each test and makes detailed commentary on what the test is actually measuring, how the results may be interpreted, and if and how these results can be predicted by first principals based calculations. Extensive data bases are referred to throughout the paper and used in examples for each point in the commentaries.

For PZT films deposited on Pt coated substrates, remanent polarization is a monotonic function of thermal expansion of the substrate, a result of 90{degree} domain formation occurring as the film is cooled through the transformation temperature. PZT film stress in the vicinity of the Curie point controls 90{degree} domain assemblages within the film. PZT films under tension at the transformation temperature area-domain oriented; whereas, films under compression at the transformation temperature are c-domain oriented. From XRD electrical switching of 90{degree} domains is severely limited. Thus, formation of these 90{degree} domains in vicinity of the Curie point is dominant in determination of PZT film dielectric properties. Chemically prepared PZT thin films with random crystallite orientation, but preferential a-domain orientation, have low remanent polarization (24 {mu}C/cm{sup 2}) and high dielectric constant (1000). Conversely, PZT films of similar crystalline orientation, but of preferential c-domain orientation, have large remanent polarizations (37 {mu}C/cm{sup 2}) and low dielectric constants (700). This is consistent with single-crystal properties of tetragonally distorted, simple perovksite ferroelectrics. Further, for our films that grain size - 90{degree} domain relationships appear similar to those in the bulk. The effect of grain size on 90{degree} domain formation and electrical properties are discussed.

MELCOR is a fully integrated, engineering-level computer code, being developed at Sandia National Laboratories for the USNRC, that models the entire spectrum of severe accident phenomena in a unified framework for both BWRs and PWRS. As part of an ongoing assessment program, the MELCOR computer code has been used to analyze a series of blowdown tests performed in the early 1980s at General Electric. The GE large vessel blowdown and level swell experiments are a set of primary system thermal/hydraulic separate effects tests studying the level swell phenomenon for BWR transients and LOCAS; analysis of these GE tests is intended to validate the new implicit bubble separation algorithm added since the release of MELCOR 1.8.2. Basecase MELCOR results are compared to test data, and a number of sensitivity studies on input modelling parameters and options have been done. MELCOR results for these experiments also are compared to MAAP and TRAC-B qualification analyses for the same tests. Time-step and machine-dependency calculations were done to identify whether any numeric effects exist in our GE large vessel blowdown and level swell assessment analyses.

The prompt neutron generation time for the Annular Core Research Reactor was experimentally determined using a prompt-period technique. The resultant value of 25.5 {mu}s agreed well with the analytically determined value of 24 {mu}s. The three different methods of reactivity insertion determination yielded {+-}5% agreement in the experimental values of the prompt neutron generation time. Discrepancies observed in reactivity insertion values determined by the three methods used (transient rod position, relative delayed critical control rod positions, and relative transient rod and control rod positions) were investigated to a limited extent. Rod-shadowing and low power fuel/coolant heat-up were addressed as possible causes of the discrepancies.

The introduction of the hazards assessment process is to document the impact of the release of hazards at the Advanced Manufacturing Processes Laboratory (AMPL) that are significant enough to warrant consideration in Sandia National Laboratories` operational emergency management program. This hazards assessment is prepared in accordance with the Department of Energy Order 5500.3A requirement that facility-specific hazards assessments be prepared, maintained, and used for emergency planning purposes. This hazards assessment provides an analysis of the potential airborne release of chemicals associated with the operations and processes at the AMPL. This research and development laboratory develops advanced manufacturing technologies, practices, and unique equipment and provides the fabrication of prototype hardware to meet the needs of Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico (SNL/NM). The focus of the hazards assessment is the airborne release of materials because this requires the most rapid, coordinated emergency response on the part of the AMPL, SNL/NM, collocated facilities, and surrounding jurisdiction to protect workers, the public, and the environment.

A review of US and Japanese experiences with using microelectronics consortia as a tool for strengthening their respective industries reveals major differences. Japan has established catch-up consortia with focused goals. These consortia have a finite life targeted from the beginning, and emphasis is on work that supports or leads to product and process-improvement-driven commercialization. Japan`s government has played a key role in facilitating the development of consortia and has used consortia promote domestic competition. US consortia, on the other hand, have often emphasized long-range research with considerably less focus than those in Japan. The US consortia have searched for and often made revolutionary technology advancements. However, technology transfer to their members has been difficult. Only SEMATECH has assisted its members with continuous improvements, compressing product cycles, establishing relationships, and strengthening core competencies. The US government has not been a catalyst nor provided leadership in consortia creation and operation. We propose that in order to regain world leadership in areas where US companies lag foreign competition, the US should create industry-wide, horizontal-vertical, catch-up consortia or continue existing consortia in the six areas where the US lags behind Japan -- optoelectronics, displays, memories, materials, packaging, and manufacturing equipment. In addition, we recommend that consortia be established for special government microelectronics and microelectronics research integration and application. We advocate that these consortia be managed by an industry-led Microelectronics Alliance, whose establishment would be coordinated by the Department of Commerce. We further recommend that the Semiconductor Research Corporation, the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centers, and relevant elements of other federal programs be integrated into this consortia complex.

Inside this issue: (1) Robotic cleaning safer, faster, more reliable; robots taught how to clean in seconds instead of days. (2) Microporous insulating films can boost microcircuit performance; films display improved dielectric constant, mechanical properties, (3) Life-cycle analysis: the big picture; cradle-to-grave environmental analysis tailored to the needs of defense manufacturing, (4) New simulation tool predicts properties of forged metal; internal state variable model improves design, speeds development time.

This report summarizes the results from MELCOR calculations of severe accident sequences in the ABWR and presents comparisons with MAAP calculations for the same sequences. MELCOR was run for two low-pressure and three high-pressure sequences to identify the materials which enter containment and are available for release to the environment (source terms), to study the potential effects of core-concrete interaction, and to obtain event timings during each sequence; the source terms include fission products and other materials such as those generated by core-concrete interactions. Sensitivity studies were done on the impact of assuming limestone rather than basaltic concrete and on the effect of quenching core debris in the cavity compared to having hot, unquenched debris present.

An experimental technique is described to launch an intact ``chunk,`` i.e. a 0.3 cm thick by 0.6 cm diameter cylindrical titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) flyer, to 10.2 km/s. The ability to launch fragments having such an aspect ratio is important for hypervelocity impact phenomenology studies. The experimental techniques used to accomplish this launch were similar but not identical to techniques developed for the Sandia HyperVelocity Launcher (HVL). A confined barrel impact is crucial in preventing the two-dimensional effects from dominating the loading response of the projectile chunk. The length to diameter ratio of the metallic chunk that is launched to 10.2 km/s is 0.5 and is an order of magnitude larger than those accomplished using the conventional hypervelocity launcher. The multi-dimensional, finite-difference (finite-volume), hydrodynamic code CTH was used to evaluate and assess the acceleration characteristics i.e., the in-bore ballistics of the chunky projectile launch. A critical analysis of the CTH calculational results led to the final design and the experimental conditions that were used in this study. However, the predicted velocity of the projectile chunk based on CTH calculations was {approximately} 6% lower than the measured velocity of {approximately}10.2 km/S.

Integrated Service digital Network, ISDN, technology is an integral component of Sandia National Laboratories telecommunications infrastructure. ISDN is a fully digital telephone service that allows simultaneous voice and data communication from the same telephone instrument. Almost all ISDN phones in use at Sandia/New Mexico and most ISDN phones at Sandia/California have a built-in module for data communication. This user guide describes the use and operation of ISDN data module and services as they are installed at Sandia.

LUGSAN (LUG and Sway brace ANalysis) is a analysis and database computer program designed to calculate store lug and sway brace loads from aircraft captive carriage. LUGSAN combines the rigid body dynamics code, SWAY85 and the maneuver calculation code, MILGEN, with an INGRES database to function both as an analysis and archival system. This report describes the operation of the LUGSAN application program, including function description, layout examples, and sample sessions. This report is intended to be a user`s manual for version 1.1 of LUGSAN operating on the VAX/VMS system. The report is not intended to be a programmer or developer`s manual.

SKYDOS evaluates skyshine dose from an isotropic, monoenergetic, point photon source collimated by three simple geometries: (1) a source in a silo; (2) a source behind an infinitely long, vertical, black wall; and (3) a source in a rectangular building. In all three geometries, an optical overhead shield may be specified. The source energy must be between 0.02 and 100 MeV (10 MeV for sources with an overhead shield). This is a user`s manual. Other references give more detail on the integral line-beam method used by SKYDOSE.

McSKY evaluates skyshine dose from an isotropic, monoenergetic, point photon source collimated into either a vertical cone or a vertical structure with an N-sided polygon cross section. The code assumes an overhead shield of two materials, through the user can specify zero shield thickness for an unshielded calculation. The code uses a Monte-Carlo algorithm to evaluate transport through source shields and the integral line source to describe photon transport through the atmosphere. The source energy must be between 0.02 and 100 MeV. For heavily shielded sources with energies above 20 MeV, McSKY results must be used cautiously, especially at detector locations near the source.

Calculations of water flow through Yucca Mountain show significant dryout and water perching in the vicinity of the proposed nuclear waste repository. These calculations also show that the extent of the dryout and perched water zones is a strong function of the material characteristics which are used to represent the fracture zones. The results show that for 100 {mu}m fracture case appreciable dryout and perched regions exist. When 1 {mu}m fractures are used no dryout or perched regions are calculated.

An integral part of the licensing procedure for the potential nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada involves accurate prediction of the in situ rheology for design and construction of the facility and emplacement of the canisters containing radioactive waste. The data required as input to successful thermal and mechanical models of the behavior of the repository and surrounding lithologies include bulk density, grain density, porosity, compressional and shear wave velocities, elastic moduli, and compressional and tensile strengths. In this study a suite of experiments was performed on cores recovered from the USW-NRG-6 borehole drilled to support the Exploratory Studies Facility (ESF) at Yucca Mountain. USW-NRG-6 was drilled to a depth of 1100 feet through four thermal/mechanical units of Paintbrush tuff. A large data set has been collected on specimens recovered from borehole USW-NRG-6. Analysis of the results of these experiments showed that there is a correlation between fracture strength, Young`s modulus, compressional wave velocity and porosity. Additional scaling laws relating; static Young`s modulus and compressional wave velocity; and fracture strength and compressional wave velocity are promising. Since there are no other distinct differences in material properties, the scatter that is present at each fixed porosity suggests that the differences in the observed property can be related to the pore structure of the specimen. Image analysis of CT scans performed on each test specimen are currently underway to seek additional empirical relations to aid in refining the correlations between static and dynamic properties of tuff.

One of the critical issues facing the Yucca Mountain site characterization and performance assessment programs is the manner in which property scaling is addressed. Property scaling becomes an issue whenever heterogeneous media properties are measured at one scale but applied at another. A research program has been established to challenge current understanding of property scaling with the aim of developing and testing models that describe scaling behavior in a quantitative manner. Scaling of constitutive rock properties is investigated through physical experimentation involving the collection of suites of gas-permeability data measured over a range of discrete scales. The approach is to systematically isolate those factors believed to influence property scaling and investigate their relative contributions to overall scaling behavior. Two blocks of tuff, each exhibiting differing heterogeneity structure, have recently been examined. Results of the investigation show very different scaling behavior, as exhibited by changes in the distribution functions and variograms, for the two tuff samples. Even for the relatively narrow range of measurement scales employed significant changes in the distribution functions, variograms, and summary statistics occurred. Because such data descriptors will likely play an important role in calculating effective media properties, these results demonstrate both the need to understand and accurately model scaling behavior.

Improvements have been made to the fracture-flow model being used in the total-system performance assessment of a potential high-level radioactive waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The ``weeps model`` now includes (1) weeps of varied sizes, (2) flow-pattern fluctuations caused by climate change, and (3) flow-pattern perturbations caused by repository heat generation. Comparison with the original weeps model indicates that allowing weeps of varied sizes substantially reduces the number of weeps and the number of containers contacted by weeps. However, flow-pattern perturbations caused by either climate change or repository heat generation greatly increases the number of containers contacted by weeps. In preliminary total-system calculations, using a phenomenological container-failure and radionuclide-release model, the weeps model predicts that radionuclide releases from a high-level radioactive waste repository at Yucca Mountain will be below the EPA standard specified in 40 CFR 191, but that the maximum radiation dose to an individual could be significant. Specific data from the site are required to determine the validity of the weep-flow mechanism and to better determine the parameters to which the dose calculation is sensitive.

Indicator geostatistical techniques have been used to produce a number of fully three-dimensional stochastic simulations of large-scale lithologic categories at the Yucca Mountain site. Each realization reproduces the available drill hole data used to condition the simulation. Information is propagated away from each point of observation in accordance with a mathematical model of spatial continuity inferred through soft data taken from published geologic cross sections. Variations among the simulated models collectively represent uncertainty in the lithology at unsampled locations. These stochastic models succeed in capturing many major features of welded-nonwelded lithologic framework of Yucca Mountain. However, contacts between welded and nonwelded rock types for individual simulations appear more complex than suggested by field observation, and a number of probable numerical artifacts exist in these models. Many of the apparent discrepancies between the simulated models and the general geology of Yucca Mountain represent characterization uncertainty, and can be traced to the sparse site data used to condition the simulations. Several vertical stratigraphic columns have been extracted from the three-dimensional stochastic models for use in simplified total-system performance assessment exercises. Simple, manual adjustments are required to eliminate the more obvious simulation artifacts and to impose a secondary set of deterministic geologic features on the overall stratigraphic framework provided by the indictor models.

Laboratory experiments were performed to measure the effect of frequency, water-saturation, and strain amplitude on Young`s modulus and seismic wave attenuation on rock cores recovered on or near the site of a potential nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The purpose of this investigation is to perform the measurements using four techniques: cyclic loading, waveform inversion, resonant bar, and ultrasonic velocity. The measurements ranged in frequency between 10{sup {minus}2} and 10{sup 6} Hz. For the dry specimens Young`s modulus and attenuation were independent of frequency; that is, all four techniques yielded nearly the same values for modulus and attenuation. For saturated specimens, a frequency dependence for both Young`s modulus and attenuation was observed. In general, saturation reduced Young`s modulus and increased seismic wave attenuation. The effect of strain amplitude on Young`s modulus and attenuation was measured using the cyclic loading technique at a frequency of 10{sup {minus}1} Hz. The effect of strain amplitude in all cases was small. For some rocks, such as the potential repository horizon of the Topopah Spring Member tuff (TSw2), the effect of strain amplitude on both attenuation and modulus was minimal.

An intensive laboratory investigation is being performed to determine the mechanical properties of tuffs for the Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project (YMP). Most recently, experiments are being performed on tuff samples from a series of drill holes along the proposed alignment of the Exploratory Study Facilities (ESF) north ramp. Unconfined compression and indirect tension experiments are being performed and the results are being analyzed with the help of bulk property information. The results on samples from five of the drill holes are presented here. In general, the properties vary widely, but are highly dependent on the sample porosity.

I use a piece-wise linear approximation to the directed flux expressions for a flowing Maxwellian fluid to write down boundary conditions for the fluid description of a multicomponent plasma. These boundary conditions are sufficiently robust to treat particle reflection, surface reactions leading to secondary production, diffusion, and field-induced drift of charged species.

The optimization of UV laser remote sensing systems and the interpretation of the return signals from these systems require detailed absorption and fluorescence spectra for the species of interest. Multispectral fluorescence techniques additionally require a database of dispersed UV fluorescence excitation spectra. Excitation wavelengths between 250 and 400 nm and fluorescence wavelengths in the 200 to 700 nm range are of interest.

Current SNL CALIOPE modeling efforts have produced an initial model that addresses DIAL issues of wavelength, hardware design parameters, range evaluation, etc. Although this model is producing valuable results and will be used to support the planning and evaluations necessary for the first ground field experiment, it is expected to have limitations with the complex science issues that affect the CALIOPE program. In particular, the multi-dimensional effects of atmospheric turbulence, plume dynamics, speckle, etc., may be significant issues and must be evaluated in detail as the program moves to the detection of liquids and solids, longer ranges, and elevated platform environments. The goal of the integrated UV fluorescence/DIAL modeling effort is to build upon the knowledge obtained in developing and exercising the initial model to adequately support the future activities of this program. This paper will address the development of the integrated UV model, issues and limiting assumptions that may be needed in order to address the-complex phenomena involved, limits of expected performance, and the potential use of this model.

Infrared emission (IRE) spectra were obtained from two borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG) thin-film sample sets. The first set consisted of 21 films deposited on undoped silicon wafers, and the second set consisted of 9 films deposited on patterned and doped (product) wafers. The IRE data were empirically modeled using partial least-squares calibration to simultaneously quantify four BPSG thin-film properties. The standard errors of the determinations when modeling the 21 monitor wafers were

Throughout the Department of Energy (DOE) complex, sites protect themselves with intrusion detection systems. Some of these systems have sensors in remote areas. These sensors frequently alarm -- not because they have detected a terrorist skulking around the area, but because they have detected a horse, or a dog, or a bush moving in the breeze. Even though the local security force is 99% sure there is no real threat, they must assess each of these nuisance or false alarms. Generally, the procedure consists of dispatching an inspector to drive to the area and make an assessment. This is expensive in terms of manpower and the assessment is not timely. Often, by the time the inspector arrives, the cause of the alarm has vanished. A television camera placed to view the area protected by the sensor could be used to help in this assessment, but this requires the installation of high-quality cable, optical fiber, or a microwave link. Further, to be of use at the present time, the site must have had the foresight to have installed these facilities in the past and have them ready for use now. What is needed is a device to place between the television camera and a modem connecting to a low-bandwidth channel such as radio or a telephone line. This paper discusses the development of such a device: an Image Transmission System, or ITS.

We have developed a capability to make real time concentration measurements of individual chemicals in a complex mixture using a multispectral laser remote sensing system. Our chemical recognition and analysis software consists of three parts: (1) a rigorous multivariate analysis package for quantitative concentration and uncertainty estimates, (2) a genetic optimizer which customizes and tailors the multivariate algorithm for a particular application, and (3) an intelligent neural net chemical filter which pre-selects from the chemical database to find the appropriate candidate chemicals for quantitative analyses by the multivariate algorithms, as well as providing a quick-look concentration estimate and consistency check. Detailed simulations using both laboratory fluorescence data and computer synthesized spectra indicate that our software can make accurate concentration estimates from complex multicomponent mixtures, even when the mixture is noisy and contaminated with unknowns.

Prior to May 1992, field demonstrations of characterization technologies were performed at an uncontaminated site near the Chemical Waste Landfill. In mid-1992 through summer 1993, both non-intrusive and intrusive characterization techniques were demonstrated at the Chemical Waste Landfill. Subsurface and dry barrier demonstrations were started in summer 1993 and will continue into 1995. Future plans include demonstrations of innovative drilling, characterization and long-term monitoring, and remediation techniques. Demonstrations were also scheduled in summer 1993 at the Kirtland Air Force HSWA site and will continue in 1994. The first phase of the Thermal Enhanced Vapor Extraction System (TEVES) project occurred in April 1992 when two holes were drilled and vapor extraction wells were installed at the Chemical Waste Landfill. Obtaining the engineering design and environmental permits necessary to implement this field demonstration will take until early 1994. Field demonstration of the vapor extraction system will occur in 1994.

This paper will discuss the UV Laser Remote Sensing Data Acquisition and Control Subsystem being developed by Sandia National Laboratories in support of the CALIOPE program. Details include the control of active system elements including the laser and beam steering mirror, passive system elements including detectors and signal processing instrumentation, and the acquisition and transfer of data for archival and evaluation by the multivariate analysis algorithm. Using the LabVIEW design philosophy developed for laboratory testing as a baseline, this evolving subsystem will initially support the UV fluorescence calibration and background data collections planned at SNL and the October 1994 Ground Field Experiment at the Nevada Test Site. The subsystem will then be upgraded to support an integrated DIAL/fluorescence capability for the April 1995 Ground Field Experiment and the October 1995 Elevated Platform Field Experiment.

When the ACCORD Process introduced Pro/ENGINEER to Sandians several years ago, a new process for design/definition was implemented. Prior to ACCORD, engineers and draftsmen worked in the 2-D mode with a program caned ANVIL{reg_sign}, which had limited capabilities. Although the transition from 2-D modeling to 3-D modeling met with some resistance, most engineers have embraced this new concept with enthusiasm They are now able to work in the 3-D mode and at increased levels of productivity with appropriate time savings never achieved before. One area that Pro/ENGINEER is noted for that this report will concentrate on, is the powerful interface module with its wide selection of transfer file configurations. This allows the engineer to create parts or assemblies and transfer them to many different second party software packages whose vendors can provide the capability for stress analysis, rapid prototypes, virtual reality environments, or many other forms of advanced manufacturing modes of communication. The ACCORD Program has at its core, the Pro/ENGINEER program from Parametric Technology Inc. Included in the ACCORD program, are several supporting programs from other vendors to make this cooperation between software packages a reality. It is possible to create parts in Pro/ENG transfer those parts to another package that has the capability to analyze the parts for deficiencies, then optimize those parts, and allow for changes to be made. Also included in this report, are other packages closely tied to Pro/ENGINEER, but not necessarily supported under the ACCORD program. Some of these packages allow you to create very impressive video productions, or allow you to meander through a virtual reality scenario. All of these new software packages will give you a new perspective on performance. This report will show how some of these interfaces work, and how you can improve your productivity if you utilize the ACCORD program as it is implemented here at Sandia.

The implosion dynamics of compact wire arrays on Saturn are explored as a function of wire mass m, wire length {ell}, wire radii R, and radial power-flow feed geometry using the ZORK code. Electron losses and the likelihood of arcing in the radial feed adjacent the wire load are analyzed using the TWOQUICK and CYLTRAN codes. The physical characteristics of the implosion and subsequent thermal radiation production are estimated using the LASNEX code in one dimension. These analyses show that compact tungsten wire arrays with parameters suggested by D. Mosher and with a 21-nH vacuum feed geometry satisfy the empirical scaling criterion I/(M/{ell}) {approximately} 2 MA/(mg/cm) of Mosher for optimizing non-thermal radiation from z pinches, generate low electron losses in the radial feeds, and generate electric fields at the insulator stack below the Charlie Martin flashover limit thereby permitting full power to be delivered to the load. Under such conditions, peak currents of {approximately}5 MA can be delivered to wire loads {approximately}20 ns before the driving voltage reverses at the insulator stack, potentially allowing the m = 0 instability to develop with the subsequent emission of non-thermal radiation as predicted by the Mosher model.

A thickness-shear mode (TSM) resonator typically consists of a thin disk of AT-cut quartz with circular electrodes patterned on both sides. When connected to appropriate circuitry, the quartz crystal resonates at a frequency determined by the crystal thickness. Originally used to measure metal deposition in vacuum, the device has recently been used for measurements in liquid. Since the mass sensitivity of the resonator is nearly the same in liquids as in air or vacuum, the device can be used as a sensitive solution-phase microbalance. In addition, the sensitivity of the TSM resonator to contacting fluid properties enables it to function as a monitor for these properties. Under liquid loading, the change in frequency of the resonator/oscillator combination differs from the change in resonant frequency of the device. Either of these changes can be determined from an appropriate application of an equivalent-circuit model that describes the electrical characteristics of the liquid-loaded resonator.

Four general topics are covered in respect to the natural space radiation environment: (1) particles trapped by the earth`s magnetic field, (2) cosmic rays, (3) radiation environment inside a spacecraft, (4) laboratory radiation sources. The interaction of radiation with materials is described by ionization effects and displacement effects. Total-dose effects on MOS devices is discussed with respect to: measurement techniques, electron-hole yield, hole transport, oxide traps, interface traps, border traps, device properties, case studies and special concerns for commercial devices. Other device types considered for total-dose effects are SOI devices and nitrided oxide devices. Lastly, single event phenomena are discussed with respect to charge collection mechanisms and hard errors. (GHH)

Supercritical carbon dioxide is being explored as a waste minimization technique for separating oils, greases and solvents from solid waste. The containments are dissolved into the supercritical fluid and precipitated out upon depressurization. The carbon dioxide solvent can then be recycled for continued use. Definitions of the temperature, pressure, flowrate and potential co-solvents are required to establish the optimum conditions for hazardous contaminant removal. Excellent extractive capability for common manufacturing oils, greases, and solvents has been observed in both supercritical and liquid carbon dioxide. Solubility measurements are being used to better understand the extraction process, and to determine if the minimum solubility required by federal regulations is met.

A variety of new molecular modeling tools are now available for studying molecular structures and molecular interactions, for building molecular structures from simple components using analytical data, and for studying the relationship of molecular structure to the energy of bonding and non-bonding interactions. These are proving quite valuable in characterizing molecular structures and intermolecular interactions and in designing new molecules. This paper describes the application of molecular modeling techniques to a variety of materials problems, including the probable modecular structures of coals, lignins, and hybrid inorganic-organic-organic systems (silsesquioxanes), the intercalation of small gas molecules in fullerene crystals, the diffusion of gas molecules through membranes, and the design, structure and function of biomimetic and nanocluster catalysts.

A unique end-to-end LIDAR sensor model has been developed supporting the concept development stage of the CALIOPE UV DIAL and UV laser-induced-fluorescence (LIF) efforts. The model focuses on preserving the temporal and spectral nature of signals as they pass through the atmosphere, are collected by the optics, detected by the sensor, and processed by the sensor electronics and algorithms. This is done by developing accurate component sub-models with realistic inputs and outputs, as well as internal noise sources and operating parameters. These sub-models are then configured using data-flow diagrams to operate together to reflect the performance of the entire DIAL system. This modeling philosophy allows the developer to have a realistic indication of the nature of signals throughout the system and to design components and processing in a realistic environment. Current component models include atmospheric absorption and scattering losses, plume absorption and scattering losses, background, telescope and optical filter models, PMT (photomultiplier tube) with realistic noise sources, amplifier operation and noise, A/D converter operation, noise and distortion, pulse averaging, and DIAL computation. Preliminary results of the model will be presented indicating the expected model operation depicting the October field test at the NTS spill test facility. Indications will be given concerning near-term upgrades to the model.

The Department of Energy`s Utility-Scale Joint-Venture (USJV) Program was developed to help industry commercialize dish/engine electric systems. Sandia National Laboratories developed this program and has placed two contracts, one with Science Applications International Corporation`s Energy Projects Division and one with the Cummins Power Generation Company. In this paper we present the designs for the two dish/Stirling systems that are being developed through the USJV Program.

The Arc/Info GENERALIZE command implements the Douglas-Peucker algorithm, a well-regarded approach that preserves line ``character`` while reducing the number of points according to a tolerance parameter supplied by the user. The authors have developed an Arc Macro Language (AML) interface called MAGENCO that allows the user to browse workspaces, select a coverage, extract a sample from this coverage, then apply various tolerances to the sample. The results are shown in multiple display windows that are arranged around the original sample for quick visual comparison. The user may then return to the whole coverage and apply the chosen tolerance. They analyze the ergonomics of line simplification, explain the design (which includes an animated demonstration of the Douglas-Peucker algorithm), and discuss key points of the MAGENCO implementation.

A comparison of the KAMELEON Fire model to large-scale open pool fire experimental data is presented. The model was used to calculate large-scale JP-4 pool fires with and without wind, and with and without large objects in the fire. The effect of wind and large objects on the fire environment is clearly seen. For the pool fire calculations without any object in the fire, excellent agreement is seen in the location of the oxygen-starved region near the pool center. Calculated flame temperatures are about 200--300 K higher than measured. This results in higher heat fluxes back to the fuel pool and higher fuel evaporation rates (by a factor of 2). Fuel concentrations at lower elevations and peak soot concentrations are in good agreement with data. For pool fire calculations with objects, similar trends in the fire environment are observed. Excellent agreement is seen in the distribution of the heat flux around a cylindrical calorimeter in a rectangular pool with wind effects. The magnitude of the calculated heat flux to the object is high by a factor of 2 relative to the test data, due to the higher temperatures calculated. For the case of a large flat plate adjacent to a circular pool, excellent qualitative agreement is seen in the predicted and measured flame shapes as a function of wind.

The thickness-shear mode (TSM) resonator typically consists of a thin disk of AT-cut quartz with circular electrodes patterned on both sides. An RF voltage applied between these electrodes excites a shear mode mechanical resonance when the excitation frequency matches the crystal resonant frequency. When the TSM resonator is operated in contact with a liquid, the shear motion of the surface generates motion in the contacting liquid. The liquid velocity field, v{sub x}(y), can be determined by solving the one-dimensional Navier-Stokes equation. Newtonian fluids cause an equal increase in resonator motional resistance and reactance, R{sub 2}{sup (N)} = X{sub 2}{sup (N)}, with the response depending only on the liquid density-viscosity product ({rho}{eta}). Non-Newtonian fluids, as illustrated by the simple example of a Maxwell fluid, can cause unequal increases in motional resistance and reactance. For the Maxwell fluid, R{sub 2}{sup (M)} > X{sub 2}{sup (M)}, with relaxation time {tau} proportional to the difference between R{sub 2}{sup (M)}and X{sub 2}{sup (M)}. Early results indicate that a TSM resonator can be used to extract properties of non-Newtonian fluids.

This work examined self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of n-alkane thiols using quartz resonators to determine the shear storage and loss moduli. Network analyzer measurements of electrical admittance at fundamental and corresponding harmonic values are fit to an equivalent circuit model. Shear modulus depends on frequency; the modulus values are three orders of magnitude lower than expected for a liquid or elastomeric polymer, more like those of a dense gas or supercritical fluid. A density of around 0.45 g/cm{sup 3} is calculated for a dodecane thiol SAM; this is roughly half of the bulk density. In conclusion, quartz resonators can be used to inertially deform SAMs.

The feasibility of three different non-destructive and direct methods of evaluating PCB (printed circuit boards) cleanliness was demonstrated. The detection limits associated with each method were established. In addition, the pros and cons of these methods as routine quality control inspection tools were discussed. OSEE (Optically Stimulated Electron Emission) was demonstrated to be a sensitive technique for detection of low levels of flux residues on insulating substances. However, future work including development of rugged OSEE instrumentation will determine whether the PCB industry can accept this technique in a production environment. FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) microscopy is a well established technique with well known characteristics. The inability of FTIR to discriminate an organic contaminant from an organic substrate limits its usefulness as a PCB line inspection tool, but it will still remain a technique for the QC/QA laboratory. One advantage of FTIR over the other two techniques described here is its ability to identify the chemical nature of the residue, which is important in Failure Mode Analysis. Optical imaging using sophisticated pattern recognition algorithms was found to be limited to high concentrations of residue. Further work on improved sensor techniques is necessary.

We demonstrate a two-dimensional device simulator for MOSFET structures that incorporates models for defect distributions and show predicted effects on device switching performance for various spatial distributions of defects in amorphous and polycrystalline silicon.

A high temperature resistance furnace has been modified for the study of directional solidification of nickel-base superalloys such as alloys 718 and 625. The furnace will be used to study segregation and solidification phenomena that occur in consumable-electrode melting processes such as vacuum arc remelting and electro-slag remelting. The system consists of a water cooled high temperature furnace (maximum temperature {approximately}2900 C), roughing vacuum,system, cooling system, cooled hearth, molten metal quenching bath, and a mechanism to lower the hearth from the furnace into the molten metal bath. The lowering mechanism is actuated by a digital stopping motor with a programmable controller. The specimen (1.9 cm dia {times} 14 cm long) is melted and contained within an alumina tube (2.54 cm dia {times} 15.24 cm long) which is seated on a copper hearth cooled with {approximately}13 C water. Directional solidification can then be accomplished by decreasing the furnace temperature while holding the specimen in position, maintaining the temperature gradient in the furnace and lowering the specimen at a controlled rate or a combination of both. At any point the specimen can be lowered rapidly into the 70 C molten metal bath to quench the specimen, preserve the solidification structure, and minimize solid state diffusion, enhancing the ability to study the localized solidification conditions.

The design of a software package that provides a variety of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) test functions is presented here. These functions include cell capture, protocol decode for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) services, removal of cells (to support testing of an ATM system under cell loss conditions), and echo functions. This package is currently written to operate on the Sun Microsystems SPARCstation 10/SunOS 4.1.3 environment with a Fore Systems SBA-100 Sbus ATM adapter (140 Mbit/s TAXI interface), and the DEC 5000/240 running ULTRIX 4.2A with a Fore Systems TCA-100 TurboChannel adapter. Application scenarios and performance measurements of this software package on these host environments are presented here.

Relationships between countries normally war and peace. Crisis prevention activities will be particularly important in this area, and should have two goals: (1) stabilizing tense situations that could push countries toward war and (2) supporting or reenforcing efforts to move countries toward a state of peace. A Crisis Prevention Center (CPC) will facilitate efforts to achieve these goals and its functions can be grouped into three broad, inter-related categories: (1) establishing and facilitating communication among participating countries, (2) supporting negotiations and consensus-building on regional security issues, and (3) supporting implementation of agreed confidence and security building measures. Appropriate activities in each of these categories will depend on the relations among participating countries. Technology will play a critical role in a establishing communication systems to ensure the timely flow of information between countries and to provide the means for organizing and analyzing this information. Technically-based cooperative monitoring can provide an objective source of information on mutually agreed issues, thereby supporting the implementation of confidence building measures and treaties. In addition, technology itself can be a neutral subject of interaction and collaboration between technical communities from different countries. Establishing a CPC in Northeast Asia does not require the existence of an Asian security regime. Indeed, activities that occur under the auspices of a CPC, even highly formalized exchanges of agreed information, can increase transparency, and thereby pave the way for future regional cooperation. Major players in Northeast Asian security are Japan, Russia, China, North and South Korea, and the United States.

Recent research on point defects in thin films of SiO{sub 2} and Si{sub 3}SN{sub 4} on Si is presented and reviewed. In SiO{sub 2} it is now clear that no one type of E{prime} center is the sole source of radiation-induced positive charge; hydrogenous moieties or other types of E{prime} are proposed. Molecular orbital theory and easy passivation of E{prime} by H{sub 2} suggest that released H might depassivate P{sub b} sites. A charged E{prime}{sub {delta}} center has been seen in Cl-free SIMOX and thermal oxide film, and it is reassigned to an electron delocalized over four O{sub 3}{equivalent_to}Si units around a fifth Si. In Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} a new model for the amphoteric charging of Si{equivalent_to}N{sub 3} moieties is based on local shifts in defect energy with respect to the Fermi level, arising from nonuniform composition; it does not assume negative-U electron correlation. A new defect NN{sub 2}{sup 0} has been identified, with dangling orbital on a 2-coordinated N atom bonded to another N.

A parallel unstructured finite element (FE) implementation designed for message passing machines is described. This implementation employs automated problem partitioning algorithms for load balancing unstructured grids, a distributed sparse matrix representation of the global finite element equations and a parallel conjugate gradient (CG) solver. In this paper a number of issues related to the efficient implementation of parallel unstructured mesh applications are presented. These include the differences between structured and unstructured mesh parallel applications, major communication kernels for unstructured CG solvers, automatic mesh partitioning algorithms, and the influence of mesh. partitioning metrics on parallel performance. Initial results are presented for example finite element (FE) heat transfer analysis applications on a 1024 processor nCUBE 2 hypercube. Results indicate over 95% scaled efficiencies are obtained for some large problems despite the required unstructured data communication.

The Leo Brady Seismic Net (LBSN) has been used to estimate seismic yields on US nuclear explosion tests for over 30 years. One of the concerns that Non-Proliferation Experiment (NPE) addresses is the yield equivalence between a large conventional explosion and a nuclear explosion. The LSBN consists of five stations that surround the Nevada Test Site (NTS). Because of our previous experience in measuring nuclear explosion yields, we operated this net to record NPE signals. Comparisons were made with 9 nuclear tests in the same volcanic tuff medium and within an 800 m range of the NPE source. The resulting seismic yield determined by each nuclear test ranged from 1.3 to 2.2 kT. Using the same techniques in determining nuclear explosion yields, the 1 kT NPE was measured at 1.7 kT nuclear equivalent yield with a standard deviation of 16%. The individual stations show a non-symmetric radiation pattern with more energy transmitted to the north and south. Comparisons with an nuclear event does not sow any obvious differences between the two tests.

Law enforcement officers work each day with individuals who can become aggressive and violent. Among the worst scenarios, which occur each year and often raise national media attention, an officer has his handgun taken away and used against him. As many as 12 officers per year are killed with their own gun. This problem can be addressed through the integration of modern sensors with control electronics to provide authorized user firearms for law enforcement and even recreational uses. A considerable benefit to law enforcement agencies, as well as society as a whole, would be gained by the application of recommended Smart Gun Technologies (SGT) as a method of limiting the use of firearms to authorized individuals. Sandia National Laboratory has been actively involved in the research and design of technologically sophisticated surety devices for weapons for the DOE and DOD. This experience is now being applied to criminal justice problems by transferring these technologies to commercial industry. In the SGT project Sandia is developing the user requirements that would limit a firearms use to its owner and/or authorized users. Various technologies that are capable of meeting the requirements are being investigated, these range from biometrics identification to radio-controlled devices. Research is presently underway to investigate which technologies represent the best solutions to the problem. Proof of concept demonstration models are being built for the most promising SGT with the intent of technology transfer. Different solutions are recommended for the possible applications: law enforcement, military, and commercial (personal protection/recreational) use.

This paper describes and discusses a basic safety analysis technique which may be useful for the beginning process of Risk Assessment and Risk Management. The technique uses judgmental factors on the part of analysts rather than dependence upon numerical techniques associated with more detailed analysis. The basic technique is presented and coupled to risk charts which may vary depending upon the intent of the analysis and the output required for the particular situation. Some variations are included to show how the technique may be used for prioritization of competing resources for necessary work.

In addition to stress and acceleration measurements made in the inelastic regime, Sandia fielded two triaxial accelerometer packages in the seismic free-field for the NON-PROLIFERATION EXPERIMENT (NPE). The gauges were located at ranges of 190 and 200 m from the center of the ANFO-laden cavity on the opposite sides of a vertical fault. This location allowed us to assess several different seismological aspects related to non-proliferation. The radial and vertical components of the two packages show similar motion. Comparisons are made with similar data from nuclear tests to estimate yield, calculate seismic energy release and to detect spectral differences between nuclear and non-nuclear explosions. The wave forms of NPE differ significantly from nuclear explosions. The first two peak amplitudes of NPE are comparable while the nuclear explosion initial peak is much larger than the second peak. The calculated seismic energies imply that the conventional explosions couple to the medium much better at low frequencies than do nuclear explosions and that nuclear explosions contain more high frequency energy than NPE. Radial and vertical accelerations were integrated for displacement and indicate there was movement across the fault.

Environmental and toxicity concerns related to the use of lead have initiated the search for acceptable, alternate joining materials for electronics assembly. This paper describes a novel lead-free solder designed as a ``drop in`` replacement for common tin/lead eutectic solder. The physical and mechanical properties of this solder are discussed in comparison to tin/lead eutectic solder. The performance of this solder when used for electronics assembly is discussed and compared to other common solders. Fatigue testing results are reported for thermal cycling electronics assemblies soldered with this lead-free composition. The paper concludes with a discussion on indium metal availability, supply and price.

The core problem with the US health care system is -- it already costs to much and the rate of its cost growth is cause for further alarm. To deal with these, regulators must introduce incentives for health care providers to reduce costs and introduce incentives that make consumers of health care services concerned about the costs of the services they demand. Achievement of these regulatory goals will create opportunities for the introduction of innovations, including revolutionary new technology, that can lead to major reductions in costs. Modeling of health care system inputs, outputs, transactions, and the relationships between these parameters will expedite the development of an effective regulatory process. This model must include all of those major factors that affect the demand for health care and it must facilitate benchmarking health care subsystems against the most efficient international practices.

The response of smooth- and textured-surface thickness-shear mode (TSM) quartz resonators in liquid has been examined. Smooth devices, which viscously entrain a layer of contacting liquid, exhibit a response that depends on the product of liquid density and viscosity. Textured-surface devices, with either randomly rough or regularly patterned features, also trap liquid in surface features, exhibiting an additional response that depends on liquid density alone. Combining smooth- and textured-surface resonators in a monolithic sensor enables simultaneous extraction of liquid density and viscosity.

We have demonstrated that a thickness shear mode quartz resonator can be used as a real-time, in situ monitor of the state-of-charge of lead-acid batteries. The resonator is sensitive to hanges in the density and viscosity of the sulfuric acid electrolyte. Both of these liquid parameters vary monotonically with the battery state-of-charge. This new monitor is more precise than sampling hydrometers, and since it is compatible with the Corrosive electrolyte environment, it can be used for in situ monitoring. A TSM resonator consists of gold electrodes deposited on opposite surfaces of a thin AT-cut quartz crystal. When an RF voltage is applied to the electrodes, a shear strain is introduced in the piezoelectric quartz and mechanical resonance occurs between the surfaces. A liquid in contact with one of the quartz surfaces is viscously entrained, which perturbs the resonant frequency and resonance magnitude. If the surface is smooth, the changes in both frequency and magnitude are proportional to ({rho}{eta}) {sup {1/2}}, where {rho} is the liquid density and {eta} is the viscosity.

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is used to form images that are maps of radar reflectivity of some scene of interest, from range soundings taken over some spatial aperture. Additionally, the range soundings are typically synthesized from a sampled frequency aperture. Efficient processing of the collected data necessitates using efficient digital signal processing techniques such as vector multiplies and fast implementations of the Discrete Fourier Transform. Inherent in image formation algorithms that use these is a trade-off between the size of the scene that can be acceptably imaged, and the resolution with which the image can be made. These limits arise from migration errors and spatially variant phase errors, and different algorithms mitigate these to varying degrees. Two fairly successful algorithms for airborne SARs are Polar Format processing, and Overlapped Subaperture (OSA) processing. This report introduces and summarizes the analysis of generalized Tiered Subaperture (TSA) techniques that are a superset of both Polar Format processing and OSA processing. It is shown how tiers of subapertures in both azimuth and range can effectively mitigate both migration errors and spatially variant phase errors to allow virtually arbitrary scene sizes, even in a dynamic motion environment.

A simple model has been developed to address a pragmatic question: What fraction of its research and development budget should a national laboratory devote to enhancing technology in the private sector? In dealing with lab-wide budgets in an aggregate sense, the model uses three parameters - fraction of lab R&D transferable to industry, transfer efficiency and payback to laboratory missions - to partition fixed R&D resources between technology transfer and core missions. It is a steady-state model in that the transfer process is assumed to work in equilibrium with technology generation. The results presented should be of use to those engaged in managing and overseeing federal laboratory technology transfer activities.

Military Specifications call out general procedures and guidelines for conducting contact resistance measurements on chemical conversion coated panels. This paper deals with a test procedure developed at Sandia National Laboratories used to conduct contact electrical resistance on non-chromated conversion coated test panels. MIL-C-81706 {open_quotes}Chemical Conversion Materials For Coating Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys{close_quotes} was the reference specification used for guidance.

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.

Abstract not provided.

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.

Abstract not provided.

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.

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.

Short communication.