Abstract: A computer implemented method for analyzing data utilizes a program and computer for processing input data in the form of a digitized map representing a physical structure. The microprocessor performs the steps and stores the results of the steps in an attached storage device. The computer is programed to employ or use various linear scales to establish critical dimensions of the curve and to analyze the dimensions in terms of orthogonal components. These are also stored for later processing or analysis to predict physical behavior associated with the structure. In a particular embodiment the curve represents a river bottom and predictions may be made about flows and the like.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a direct push small diameter fluorescence ased penetrometer system for performing in situ spectral analysis on subsurface liquid or gaseous samples. The invention is configured to collect liquid or gaseous analyte samples within the penetrometer's sample chamber through a port that is juxtaposed to a heating element that accelerates the separation of volatile chemical materials from the soil matrix. Fiber optic cables are linked to surface mounted real-time data acquisition/processing equipment from the sample chamber. The penetrometer sampling device is also equipped with a standard penetrometer electric cone sensor module containing cone and sleeve strain sensors that are used to calculate soil classification/layering in real-time during penetration.

Abstract: A system for detecting accretion of frazil ice on underwater gratings inces a housing for disposition beneath a water surface and spaced from but proximate an underwater intake grating. A pair of parallel electrically conductive bars are mounted side-by-side in the housing and extend therefrom. The bars are in communication with an electromagnetic wave generator in the housing. A coaxial transmission line is connected at a first end to the housing and in communication with the pair of bars for extension from the housing upwardly above the water surface. A monitoring station is disposed above the water surface for receiving signals from the bars, the monitoring station having a second end of the transmission line fixed thereto. The wave generator propagates electromagnetic waves to the bars for further travel to distal ends of the bars, and back to the housing and thence to the monitoring station.

Abstract: Strain in concrete is sensed by a helical optical fiber embedded in the concrete and connected at one end to an external light source, and at the other end to a light detector, providing a signal output to an information processor, which provides a display of the strain in the concrete.

Abstract: Interlocking blocks for the stabilization of stream and river banks and ct lines, road bed embankments, and boat ramps, are made of concrete, and have a high proportion of open area. Interlocking connections between adjacent blocks are made by radial projecting members and recesses on the periphery of each block, the projecting members of one block fitting into the recesses on adjacent blocks. Projections and recesses are alternately provided at regular angular intervals such that blocks can be assembled in either square or an equilateral triangular patterns. A layer of filter cloth material is laid on the sloping surface and upon which the blocks are then placed; this filter cloth slows down the leaching of water through the open areas between the interlocking blocks and prevents the washing away of sand and silt by stream or river water or rainwater runoff.

Abstract: A press for compacting plastic explosive materials comprises a base plate, support column upstanding from the base plate, a tubular housing mounted on an upper end of the column and extending widthwise of the column, a slide member slidably moveable in the tubular housing substantially parallel to the base plate and an elongated handle pivotally mounted at a distal end thereof on the slide member. A press piston is slidably disposed in a bore in the slide member and is slidably moveable in directions normal to the slide member, a distal end of the piston being disposed over the base plate, the piston having at a proximal end thereof a handle housing through which extends the handle, the handle housing having first and second rollers therein with the handle disposed between the rollers. Pivotal movement of the handle is operative to move the piston reciprocally toward and away from the base plate.

Abstract: The invention is a pop-up target system wherein a three-dimensional target is raised by a knee-like action. The target may take the form of a head and torso manufactured in two parts, a front half and a back half, which are hinged at the top of the head portion and may incorporate a thick, relatively massive material which will absorb incoming bullets. The bases of the torso halves are each mounted through hinges to two separate four-wheeled platforms or trucks which are constrained by tracks or guide cables to move linearly to move the bases of the torso halves together in an upright position or apart in a flat horizontal position. The linear relative position of the torso halves is controlled by linear moving means attached to the wheeled platforms or trucks such that at the maximum separation between the torso halves, the two halves of the target lays inclined on a brace so as to be out of horizontal alignment, preferably 5 to 10 degrees out of alignment.

Abstract: Shock-absorbing blocks for bullet stops at firing ranges and for traffic trol are made by encasing scrap rubber tires in concrete. To ensure firm attachment of the tires to the concrete, reinforcements such as wire loops are fastened to the tire. To prevent the formation of air pockets during the pouring of the concrete mixture into a mold holding the tire, vent holes are punched into the side walls of the tire. To allow the concrete mixture to flow under the tire in the mold, the tire is propped up with support blocks. Wires may be strung across the top of the tire and attached to the side walls of the mold to prevent movement of the tire while the concrete is being poured into the mold. The concrete mixture may contain an aqueous foam additive, a stabilizer, and fiber reinforcements such as steel or organic polymers.

Abstract: A snow probe device with a portable data logger that measures snow depths snow covered areas. The snow probe componets include: i) a linear displacement magnetostrictive transducer composed of a long probe shaft with an internal magnetostrictive transducer filament that operates in conjunction with a small electronics package for signal generation and detection; ii) a floating plate assembly that includes a magnet that slides on the probe shaft along with a floating plate that rests upon the snow's surface during a measurement event; iii) a pointed tip designed for easy penetration of snow attached at the probe's bottom end portion; iv) a thumb switch for actuating measurements on a cylindrical handle attached at the upper end of the probe shaft; and v) a data logger for controlling and recording the magnetostrictive transducer measurements.

Abstract: The spaced plates of a capacitor are immersed in water adjacent water intake grating so that water flowing toward the grating passes between and in contact with the plates so that frazil ice may accrete on the facing surfaces of the plates. As accretion occurs, the capacitance changes to indicate the amount of accretion of frazil ice which is detected thereby providing an indication of the amount of accretion of frazil ice on the grating.

Abstract: The invention's first embodiment uses shape memory alloy (SMA) fibers that are blended into a concrete composite material as straight fibers and are made to deform themselves and anchor and interlock themselves after dispersement in the composite material resulting in a more evenly distributed and interlocked fiber reinforcement of the cementitious material. A self-shaping fiber can be imparted to the concrete material by making the fibers out of SMA such as nickel-titanium alloy known as nitinol where the cementitious composite material mixture is briefly heated above the "transition" temperature prior to hardening that causes the fibers to change shape. Nitinol fibers are used alone in place of conventional steel fibers.

Abstract: A method for treating waste nitrocellulose, the method comprising the steps f treating nitrocellulose with acid in a hydrolysis process to break the nitrocellulose down to glucose, recovering a majority of the acid by electrodialysis, neutralizing a remainder of the acid, and fermenting the glucose to convert the glucose to a useful product. The invention further comprises a system for performing the above method.

Abstract: A system for detecting accretion of frazil ice on underwater gratings comses a pair of parallel electrically conductive bars mounted side-by-side, for disposition beneath a water surface and spaced from but proximate an underwater intake grating. The system further includes a coaxial transmission line connected at a first end to the pair of bars for extension from the bars upwardly above the water surface, and a time domain reflectometer disposed above the water surface for generating electromagnetic pulses and having a second end of the transmission line fixed thereto. The transmission line facilitates propagation of the pulses to the bars for further travel to distal ends of the bars, and back to the reflectometer. The reflectometer is adapted to compute pulse round trip travel time in the bars and to compute changes in the round trip travel time, from which can be determined absence, presence, and build-up of frazil ice on the bars, providing an indication of same on the grating.

Abstract: A system for monitoring strain in concrete structures comprises a frame for mbedding in the structure with first and second ends of the frame proximate an edge of the structure, a fiber-optic cable mounted on the frame and extending substantially from the frame first end to the frame second end, a light source in communication with a first end of the cable, a light detector in communication with a second end of the cable, and an information processor in communication with the light detector. The cable is adapted to propagate light from the source to the detector, and the processor is adapted to identify strain in the structure from data generated by the detector.

Abstract: A data acquisition apparatus that includes a recorder device of an event's ime and date signified by the opening of an external trigger switching circuit in combination with a complimentary interrogator device for collecting data from the recorder device. The recorder device's components comprise a battery powered source with a power regulator, a processor, a dip-switch identifier, a programmable read only memory, a clock/ calender with random access memory, a timing/control subcircuit interface that connects to the external trigger switching circuit(s) and an output interface port for data transmissions with the interrogator device. The recorder's timing/control subcircuit interface extends battery life by sensing and transmitting electrical pulses through each external trigger switching circuit. The interrogator device is portable and has multiple functional capabilities.

Abstract: The snow penetrometer apparatus with data acquisition hardware measure force required to push a small dimension tip member into a snow surface at constant speed that: i) is less than 5 mm in diameter or cross-sectional width, ii) has up to a 90.degree. included angle; iii) has a flared tip and iv) is extended beyond a penetrating head. The penetrometer tip member has a high elastic modulus and is attached through a connecting rod to a stiff penetrating head that is in turn attached to a driving rod. The penetrometer tip member acts through a force sensing transducer. The driving rods are a meter in sectional length that can be joined together for snow penetration up to several meters. The depth of snow penetration is determined by measuring movement of a drive motor or drive rods. The penetrometer tip member is driven downward by a constant speed rotary or linear motor. Two different penetrating head designs are used.

Abstract: A system and method for continuously monitoring the shielding effectiveness f an electromagnetically shielded enclosure is disclosed including an RF transmitter positioned remote from the shielded enclosure. RF signals emitted from the remotely positioned transmitter are received by both an enclosure receiver positioned inside of the enclosure and simultaneously by a reference receiver having its antenna positioned outside of the shielded enclosure. These two received signals are mixed so as to produce IF signals which are subsequently forwarded to a synchronous detector which determines the ratio of the two signal levels by comparing their strengths. This ratio is indicative of the enclosure's electromagnetic shielding effectiveness. If the effectiveness drops below a predetermined or threshold limit, such is determined by a comparator positioned within the enclosure and an alarm may be sounded so as to indicate that the shield is failing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a grout injection device and method for depositing a liquid grouting material in a hole formed by a cone penetrometer. The device is a modular design with a sliding sleeve member that replaces older grouting injection devices with exit port opening actuated by fluidic pressures with an improved more reliable mechanical design that is actuated by withdrawal of the cone penetrometer pipe string by friction between the sliding sleeve and the soil wall formed by the cone penetrometer. The invention solves the problem of pressure losses that can occur with prior art devices resulting in partially opened grout exit ports. The instant invention's design also achieves proper channeling of the grout flowing out of the device's grout exit ports for even distribution of grout filling the hole. This is achieved by the invention's boss structures mounted on an adapter unit of the device.

Abstract: A roof moisture sensing system includes (1) a radio frequency pulse transter, (2) a moisture sensor disposed on a roof, and (3) a radio receiver adapted to monitor resonance of the moisture sensor activated by a pulse transmitted by the pulse transmitter. The receiver is adapted to analyze the resonance of the sensor to determine the presence of moisture in the sensor. The transmitter and the receiver can be remote from the sensor and the roof.

Abstract: The invention is a carriage type sonic or ultrasonic testing apparatus for flaw and deterioration detection testing in a structure, especially concrete. The apparatus detects both location and type of flaw in a structure. The carriage unit incorporates a rolling pond feature which includes: i) foam-covered tracks and rollers, this soft foam material in addition to its primary function prevents vibration of the transducers while traversing rough surfaces such as weathered concrete. The tracks and rollers form a water-tight seal with each other and the specimen surface; ii) an air-removal brush assembly which maintains contact with a specimen surface to facilitate transmission and reception of ultrasonic energy into and out of a test specimen; iii) an ultrasonic isolator element and optional wave absorbers; and iv) the ultrasonic transducer suspension system. A transducer water bed is continuously maintained while the system is in motion across the concrete.