Abstract: The present invention shows a munitions propellant. The propellant has a nitrocellulose component is about fifty-two percent (52.0%) of the propellant. This is either a nitrocellulose having twelve and six-tenths percent (12.6%) nitrogen, or a combination of a nitrocellulose having twelve and six-tenths percent (12.6%) nitrogen and a nitrocellulose having thirteen and thirty-five one hundredths percent (13.35%) nitrogen, and in which the average nitrogen proportion is thirteen and five one-hundredths percent (13.05%). The propellant also has a nitroester-based plasticizer and a non-nitroester-based plasticizer. The nitroester-based plasticizer comprises about thirty-four percent (34.0%) of the propellant by weight, and comprises diethylene glycol dinitrate (DEGDN). The non-nitroester-based plastizier comprises from about three percent (3.0%) to about four percent (4.0%) by weight and comprises di-normal propyl adipate (DNPA). In addition, about seven percent (7.

Abstract: A system is provided for detecting accumulation of material concurrently on multiple areas of a surface in real time. In one embodiment, it is used for detecting icing of airframes while in use or on the ground while awaiting use. It may use either Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) or Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FM-CW) sources to provide a known energizing signal to a transmission line sensor. The system ascertains the signal's round trip travel time in the transmission line. As material accumulates around the transmission line sensor, the medium through which the signal propagates is indicated by the change in time for the signal to propagate in relation to propagation in a reference medium, e.g., air. By employing pre-specified spectral analysis algorithms and referencing to the dielectric constant of media of interest, a determination of the occurrence, location, and the rate and type of material accumulation can be made.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a fluid flow velocity vector including a signal generator for generating an oscillating electrical signal, an acoustic transmitter for generating an acoustic signal proportional to the oscillating electrical signal; and at least three acoustic receivers for receiving the acoustic signal and generating electrical signals which are phase shifted by the influence of the fluid flow, and a signal processor for receiving and processing the oscillating electrical signal and the electrical signals generated by the at least three acoustic receivers to determine time delays for each acoustical receiver caused by the influence of the fluid flow which are processed to determine the fluid flow velocity vector components.

Abstract: A method and process for treating wood. The steps include preparing isocyanate-based reactive prepolymer resins for impregnation, impregnating wood with these impregnation resins, curing the impregnated wood at elevated temperatures, preparing isocyanate resin-based coating materials and applying these coating materials on the cured impregnated wood and curing the coatings at room or elevated temperatures. The resulting treated wood has substantially improved de-contaminability of the chemical warfare agent VX both initially and after long exposure to degradation effects from sunlight.

Abstract: An armor component includes a tile having a perimeter; and a wrapping material wrapped around the perimeter of the tile. An armor system includes a back plate; at least one tile array layer disposed on the back plate, the at least one tile array layer comprising a plurality of armor components wherein each armor component comprises a tile having a perimeter wrapped with a wrapping material; and a top layer disposed on the at least one tile array layer.

Abstract: The Collapsible Support Frame for Kinetic Energy Penetrator supports a long-rod kinetic energy penetrator inside a kinetic energy missile air frame in handling and flight environments but, upon impact of the missile on the selected high-obliquity target, gives way. This greatly reduces the lateral loading inflicted on the penetrator by the interaction of the missile body and the target and consequently maximizes the effectiveness of the penetrator against the target. The Collapsible Support Frame comprises concentric outer and inner rings that are mounted inside the missile and designed to hold and support the penetrator. When the missile strikes the target and the extremely high impact shock loading conditions of the penetrator process occurs, the outer ring captures a high impact shock loading pulse and transmits it to the inner ring, whereupon the inner ring fails in its supportive function, thus freeing the penetrator.

Abstract: A biodegradation process for the organophosphonate product of Sarin (O-isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate) hydrolysis, i.e., isopropylmethylphosphonate (IMPA). This process provides a feasible biodegradation demilitarization alternative to Sarin incineration. Public opposition of nerve agent incineration is widespread, and alternative methods are sought to help the U.S. Army meet the 2007 demilitarization deadline imposed by the Chemical Weapons Convention. This process uses a two-step approach to IMPA biodegradation. In the first step, a concentrated IMPA solution is used as the sole nutritional carbon and phosphorus source for microbial cultures. The second step involves diluting the culture and adding an inexpensive carbon source to encourage bacterial phosphate assimilation. The biodegradation typically involves a consortium of microorganisms comprising Methylobacterium radiotolerans GB21, Agrobacterium tumefaciens GB2GA, Klebsiella oxytoca GB2CS, GB272, Aureobacterium sp.

Abstract: A contained Davis gun system enables misfire and hang-fire handling for fire out of battery (also known as soft recoil). The gun system decreases structural dynamic activity of the gun barrel during launch with resulting increases in system accuracy. The gun system further presents synergistic advantages when combined with a conventional recoil system in a double recoil design. The gun system includes a non-recoiling barrel and a recoil system engineered to contain a recoiling inertial breechblock capable of translating within the gun barrel. The recoil system includes a brake and a spring secured to a mount fixture. The breechblock enables the loading of the propellant and the projectile within the barrel, and further enables pressure to be contained within the barrel during firing. The recoil system applies a load to the breechblock, which is a function of the breechblock position and its velocity within the barrel.

Abstract: The lightning rocket system of this invention comprises a rocket launcher that is in communication with a detection device that measures the presence of electrostatic and ionic change in close proximity to the rocket launcher that also fires the rocket launcher. This system is designed to control the time and the location of a lightning strike. The lightning rocket can be comprised of solid propellant that has cesium salts added which produces a conductive path when the exhaust gases are discharged from the rocket that is expelled to the static layer of a thundercloud. A conducting lightning rod which is grounded and positioned along side the launch tube for the solid propellant is in communication with the conductive path to thereby control the time and location of a lightning strike from the thundercloud. In a liquid expelled rocket a solution of calcium chloride is used to form a conductive path from a thundercloud.

Abstract: Red-Green-Blue color-coding of overlaid registered stereo pair imagery from different spectral regions (for example, near-, mid-, and far-infrared) can be used to derive depth perception information. The human preattentive vision process uses coarse spatial structure in the scene to fuse the images for the detection of depth and motion cues. Optimization is accomplished by assigning green to the lowest spatial frequency content image, then red to the next lowest, and finally blue. If the fusion of one of the colored imagery layers produces depth perception information in one portion of the scene whereas the other two colored layers do not, the human mind can retain the information from this color and discard the inputs from the other two colors as noise. The same is true for the other two colors. Human color discrimination and depth perception are combined to greatly enhance preattentive object recognition in the fused stereo pair imagery.

Abstract: Shown is a locking interface assembly that facilitates the integration of a commercial Long Gun Barrel tube with an existing gun mount of a conventional Tank. The interface assembly allows the non-conforming tube to be fitted to the mount in a precise fashion, eliminating clearances between the mount and tube, permitting re-tightening of elements that become loose during high inertial loadings. The interface assembly is comprised of a thrust nut, bearing, retaining ring, king nut, adapter, pin, nut key, locking pin, retainer pin, retaining ring key, key retainer pin and screw. The retaining ring is slid over the tube, followed by the a coupling subassembly comprised of the bearing and the thrust nut. The coupling subassembly engages the tube shoulder to prevent the bearing from rotating. The king nut engages the tube to capture the bearing against the tube shoulder and to prevent the bearing from moving with respect thereto.

Abstract: The present invention is an automatic gain control system for use with a multiple wavelength laser LIDAR system that transmits sets of time-separated interrogating signals to generate sets of time-separated return signals. A comparator defines a plurality of unique peak amplitudes and a corresponding plurality of unique binary words associated therewith. The comparator receives each of the laser LIDAR system's return signal from an i-th set thereof and outputs a binary word indicative of a peak amplitude achieved thereby. The binary word is one of the plurality of unique binary words. A memory has each of a plurality of address locations defined by one of the plurality of unique binary words. Each address location stores a unique gain value. An adjustable gain amplifier has a signal input for receiving each return signal and a gain adjustment input coupled to the memory.

Abstract: A neutron spectrometer for spacecraft is provided by a series of substrates covered by a solid-state detector stacked on an absorbing layer. As many as 12 substrates that convert neutrons to protons are covered by a layer of absorbing material, acting as a proton absorber, with the detector placed within the layer to count protons passing through the absorbing layer. By using 12 detectors the range of neutron energies are covered. The preferred dodecahedron embodiment of the neutron spectrometer is a solid, polyethylene dodecahedron assembly with 12 surface facets covered by a solid-state detector stacked on an absorbing layer composed of aluminum. Each absorbing layer is constructed with a different thickness according to the minimum and maximum energies of neutrons in the spectrum.

Abstract: Particles in a fluid cause an arc at a certain electric field whose value depends on the nature of the particles (size, composition, and the like). By applying an electric field across the fluid and determining the value of the electric field at which the arc occurs, the nature of the particles can be determined. For example, if their composition is known, their size can be determined, and vice versa. The device for carrying out such testing has a first electrode with an interior opening and a second electrode having a pin through the interior opening to define a passageway for the fluid. The electric field is varied, either by varying a voltage applied between the electrodes or by forming the passageway to be tapered. Multiple such passageways can be provided, as by forming the first electrode from honeycomb-expanded metal, thus reducing pressure drop, energy consumption without decreasing sensitivity to low concentrations.

Abstract: The present invention is a nondestructive and quantitative laser ultrasonic laser apparatus and associated method for determining adhesion quality of a coating on a substrate. The apparatus of the invention is preferably a pulsed laser for generation and Michelson-type interferometer based system and includes a rotary probe head assembly for making evaluations within a cylindrical test specimen. The method of the invention includes data analysis that uses acquired data from the ultrasonic laser apparatus and computes the dispersion relation or curves (frequency versus velocity) using a ridge-following technique in wavelet analysis and from this, outputs the adhesive quality of the coating by comparing it with a theoretically based determination of a particular coating/substrate bond system. The invention is used for evaluating adhesion quality of coatings used in a gun bore.

Abstract: An absolute reference aerosol sampler system and method based on isokinetic and isoaxial sampling principles wherein the position of a collection inlet for an aerosol sampling head is adjusted relative to the actual wind direction in real time. In addition, flow rate of the air at a collection inlet within the absolute-reference sampler is matched to the real time actual wind speed. These adjustments and controls enable the absolute reference sampler system to obtain particulate samples from the immediate environment without biasing the size distribution in any manner, resulting in a fully unbiased, representative sample.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing fiber reinforced resin structures using vacuum assisted resin transfer molding technology, wherein the apparatus and process employ a first fluid impervious flexible sheet containing therein a resin port; a fiber containing preform; a primary vacuum line; a resin channeling means; and a secondary vacuum line. The fluid impervious flexible sheet is placed over or around the fiber containing preform to form a chamber to which the primary vacuum line is connected. The resin channeling means is positioned on top of the fluid impervious flexible sheet, exterior to the chamber containing the preform in a fashion so as to form a pocket between or around the resin channeling means and said fluid impervious flexible sheet to which the secondary vacuum is applied. Activation of the secondary vacuum causes formation of channels in the fluid impervious flexible sheet. These channels increase the speed and efficiency of resin impregnation of the fiber containing preform.

Abstract: A system removes a pre-specified amount of material from a body of water to facilitate continued operation thereof. A particular embodiment envisions a sled-like device that, assisted with floats, suitable connectors and a hand winch may be positioned anywhere in the body of water. In operation, it is pulled along the bottom of the body of water at a pre-specified rate via a cable and winch affixed to a ground-anchored cable located on shore. The device is symmetric so that it may be pulled in either direction. At each end of the device is a scoop arranged to dislodge material on the bottom and transfer it to a central pump chamber from which an onboard submersible pump transfers it via a hose to a remote repository for further disposition. The system is compact and simple, both in design and operation, facilitating use and maintenance by existing operations personnel.

Abstract: An integrated electronic-optoelectronic module comprising: an ultrathin silicon-on-sapphire composite substrate; at least one electronic device fabricated in the ultrathin silicon; and at least one optoelectronic device bonded to the ultrathin silicon-on-sapphire composite substrate and in electrical communication with the at least one electronic device fabricated in the ultrathin silicon layer. For example, VCSELs and photodetectors are integrated with CMOS electronic circuitry to provide useful modules for electro-optical interconnects for computing and switching systems.

Abstract: A jack assembly for supporting a shelter structure includes a first tubular member fixed at a first end thereof to a plate, a nut disposed in the first tubular member and fixed to the plate, the plate defining a central hole aligned with a central hole in the nut, and a threaded shaft extending through the plate central hole and threadably engaged with the nut, the shaft having thereon a flat sided base portion. A second tubular member is telescopically mounted on and moveable on the first tubular member to elongate the assembly, and a lock member is provided for locking the second tubular member to the first tubular member in a position in which the first and second tubular members overlap and the lock member is disposed in a region of the overlap.