Abstract: A geotechnical structure that includes a first body of soil having a first unsaturated concentration of moisture. There is also a second body of soil, which includes a second unsaturated concentration of moisture that is different from the first concentration. A moisture barrier is interposed between the first body of soil and the second body of soil. The moisture barrier includes an upper and lower layer that draw water laterally. A medial capillary barrier layer prevents traverse moisture migration between the first and second bodies of soil. Moisture migration both upwardly and downwardly is thus prevented, and water in the first and second bodies of unsaturated soil is drained laterally to reduce pore water pressures in the first and second bodies of soil.

Abstract: Fiber-reinforced plastic composite materials are fire-protected by the apcation thereon of a combination of coatings comprising a ceramic coating and an intumescent coating. The ceramic coating consists of zirconia stabilized with yttria.

Abstract: Improved acoustic damping materials comprise interpenetrating polymer netks having a soft polymer component and a hard polymer component. The soft polymer component, constituting from 75 to 95, preferably 90, percent by weight of the material, is made by polymerizing an aromatic diisocyanate with a polyalkylene ether glycol, and the hard polymer component is a vinyl ester polymer made by polymerization of the acrylate or methacrylate ester of the diglycidyl ether of a polyphenol. The curing of the mixture is carried out at room temperature in presence of a peroxide and an aromatic amine. The mixture of ingredients, while liquid, may be injected into mechanical devices, such as shafts of rotating equipment whose noise is to be dampened, and allowed to cure therein.

Abstract: Improved acoustic damping materials comprise interpenetrating polymer netks having a soft polymer component and a hard polymer component. The soft polymer component, constituting from 50 to 90, preferably 70, percent by weight of the material, is made by polymerizing an aromatic diisocyanate with a polyalkylene ether glycol, and the hard polymer component is a vinyl ester polymer made by polymerization of a vinyl ester resin such as the acrylate or methacrylate ester of the diglycidyl ether of a polyphenol. Optionally, the vinyl ester resin may be brominated, whereby increased fire retardance is conferred upon the interpenetrating polymer network. The mixture is cured at room temperature.

Abstract: A phase changing composition for making articles that can be influenced as o shape and cure time by the application of an electric field. Also disclosed are apparatus and processes for using the material. The composition is characterized in that under the influence of an electrostatic field, the cure time of the composition is significantly shorter.

Abstract: This invention relates to polymeric materials formable by casting at room mperature and having antifouling material incorporated therein. It is the reaction product of a) with polyether polyols and methylene bis (4-cyclohexyl) isocyanate, where a) is a polymer composition which is the reaction product of the distilled tributyltin oxide with a copolymer of either methyl methacrylate or methyl acrylate and, with either methacrylic acid or acrylic acid in such proportion that four (4) percent of the carbonyl groups remain unreacted.

Abstract: The present invention comprises electrorheological fluids and processes. lying an electric field to an electrorheological fluid composition electrically controls chemical reactions therein. The chemical reactions may comprise those wherein the acidity of the composition is changed. Other chemical reactions may comprise those wherein the phase of the composition is changed.

Abstract: A closed-loop multi-sensor control system for controlling ship signatures positions away from local sensors used to direct local signatures controllers by controlling a field variable signature through local onboard sensors and active coil elements by determining a transfer matrix between discrete local and midrange field values, said determination being based upon virtual sources, M, and control parameters (coil currents) I wherein:M=(M.sub.X1,M.sub.Y.sup.1,M.sub.Z1,M.sub.Z2. . . M.sub.ZX) and I=(I.sub.1,I.sub.2, . . . I.sub.M),wherein local signatures H=A.sub.H I.sub.O +B.sub.H M and wherein midrange signatures K=A.sub.K I+B.sub.H M and wherein the ultimate solution for the coil currents for optimum degaussing is:I=-(A.sub.K.sup.T A.sub.K).sup.-1 A.sub.K.sup.T B.sub.K (B.sub.H.sup.T B.sub.H)..sup.1 B.sub.H.sup.T (H-A.sub.H I.sub.O)=G H.sub.

Abstract: A method for making superconducting ceramic filaments by joining the ceramic to a normal conducting metal in such a way that minimal mechanical working, drawing, or extrusion is needed to arrive at a fine filamentary shape.

Abstract: A rotor and a method for the production thereof which incorporates the inently strong, highly damped, yet light weight characteristics of fiber reinforced plastic composites, Achieving with a minimal amount of added weight in the form of high density material a significant reduction in the vibratory response of the rotor due to hydrodynamic flow excitation, by selectively tailoring the mass distribution therein as by adding the high density material at selected locations of the rotor.