Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Optical Sensing of Combustion Instabilities in Gas Turbines
In a continuing program of research and development, a system has been demonstrated that makes high-speed measurements of thermal infrared radiance from gas-turbine engine exhaust streams. When a gas-turbine engine is operated under conditions that minimize the emission of pollutants,...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Wheel Electrometer System
The electrodes of this electrometer are embedded in a wheel of an exploratory robotic vehicle, utilizing the wheel motion to bring the electrodes into proximity or contact with the soil. Each electrode resides in one of two types of sensor modules: electric-field (ELF) or triboelectric (TRIBO). In either type, what is...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Cryogenic High-Sensitivity Magnetometer
A proposed magnetometer for use in a cryogenic environment would be sensitive enough to measure a magnetic-flux density as small as a picogauss (10-16 Tesla). In contrast, a typical conventional flux-gate magnetometer cannot measure a magnetic-flux density smaller that about 1 microgauss (10-10 Tesla).
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Adaptable System for Vehicle Health and Usage Monitoring
Aircraft and other vehicles are often kept in service beyond their original design lives. As they age, they become susceptible to system malfunctions and fatigue. Unlike future...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Measuring Humidity in Sealed Glass Encasements
A technique has been devised for measuring the relative humidity levels in the protective helium/water vapor atmosphere in which the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution,...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Apparatus Characterizes Transient Voltages in Real Time
The figure shows a prototype of a relatively inexpensive electronic monitoring apparatus that measures and records selected parameters of lightning induced transient voltages on...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Simultaneous Conoscopic Holography and Raman Spectroscopy
A new instrument was developed for chemical characterization of surfaces that combines the analytical power of Raman spectroscopy with the three-dimensional topographic information...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Miniature Laser Doppler Velocimeter for Measuring Wall Shear
A miniature optoelectronic instrument has been invented as a nonintrusive means of measuring a velocity gradient proportional to a shear stress in a flow near a wall. The...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Quadrupole Ion Mass Spectrometer for Masses of 2 to 50 Da
A customized quadrupole ion-trap mass spectrometer (QITMS) has been built to satisfy a need for a compact, rugged instrument for measuring small concentrations of hydrogen, helium,...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Apparatus for Testing Flat Specimens of Thermal Insulation
An apparatus has been developed to implement an improved method of testing flat-plate specimens of thermal-insulation materials for cryogenic application. The method includes testing...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Instrumentation for Sensitive Gas Measurements
An improved instrument for optical absorption spectroscopy utilizes off-axis paths in an optical cavity in order to increase detection sensitivity while suppressing resonance effects. The...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Program Calculates Forces in Bolted Structural Joints
A mathematical model of a structure is first created by approximating its load-bearing members with representative finite elements, then NASTRAN calculates the forces and moments that each finite element contributes to grid points located throughout the structure. The user selects the finite...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Synchrotron High-Speed Magnet Monitoring Using Ethernet-Based System
Since the 1930s, synchrotrons have become essential in the widely diverse fields of scientific research and engineering development, including chemistry, biology, material...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Integrated Structural Analysis and Test Program
An integrated structural-analysis and structure-testing computer program is being developed in order to:
Automate repetitive processes in testing and analysis; Accelerate pre-test analysis; Accelerate reporting of tests; Facilitate planning of tests; Improve execution of tests; Create a...Briefs: Test & Measurement
Photodiode-Based, Passive Ultraviolet Dosimeters
Simple, passive instruments have been developed for measuring the exposure of material specimens to vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation from the Sun. Each instrument contains a silicon...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Measuring Radiation Patterns of Reconfigurable Patch Antennas on Wafers
An apparatus and technique have been devised for measuring the radiation pattern of a microwave patch antenna that is one of a number of identical units that have been...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Hydraulic Apparatus for Mechanical Testing of Nuts
The figure depicts an apparatus for mechanical testing of nuts In the original application for which the apparatus was developed, the nuts are of a frangible type designed for use with...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Small Active Radiation Monitor
A device, named small active radiation monitor, allows on-orbit evaluations during periods of increased radiation, after extravehicular activities, or at predesignated times for crews on such long-duration space missions as on the International Space Station. It also permits direct evaluation of biological doses, a...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Portable Electromyograph
A portable electronic apparatus records electromyographic (EMG) signals in as many as 16 channels at a sampling rate of 1,024 Hz in each channel. The apparatus (see figure) includes 16 differential EMG electrodes...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Microwave/Sonic Apparatus Measures Flow and Density in Pipe
An apparatus for measuring the rate of flow and the mass density of a liquid or slurry includes a special section of pipe instrumented with microwave and sonic sensors, and a...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Airplane Ice Detector Based on a Microwave Transmission Line
An electronic instrument that could detect the potentially dangerous buildup of ice on an airplane wing is undergoing development. The instrument is based on a microwave...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Pressure-Application Device for Testing Pressure Sensors
A portable pressure-application device has been designed and built for use in testing and calibrating piezoelectric pressure transducers in the field. The device generates pressure...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Simulating the Structural Behavior of Laminated Glass
This report investigates the strength of archi- tectural laminated glass and the viability of its use for window glass in commercial buildings. Some researchers recommend that the structural behavior of laminated glass (typically consisting of two glass layers and a plasticized PVB [polyvinyl...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
A Mass-Spectrometer System for Detecting Gas Leaks
The Hydrogen Umbilical Mass Spectrometer (HUMS) consists of an integrated sample delivery system, a commercial mass-spectrometer- based gas analyzer, and a set of calibration gas mixtures traceable to NIST (National Institute for Standards and Technology). The system, except for the calibration...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
A Mass-Spectrometer System for Detecting Gas Leaks
The Hydrogen Umbilical Mass Spectrometer (HUMS) consists of an integrated sample delivery system, a commercial mass-spectrometer-based gas analyzer, and a set of calibration gas mixtures traceable to NIST (National Institute for Standards and Technology). The system, except for the calibration...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Measuring Contact Angles of a Sessile Drop and Imaging Convection Within It
Figure 1 depicts an apparatus that simultaneously and synchronously records magnified ordinary top-view video images and laser-shadowgraph video images of a sessile...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Measurement of Stresses and Strains in Muscles and Tendons
Miniature fiber-optic-coupled sensors based on optically excited, self-resonant microbeams are being developed for measuring stresses and strains within muscle fascicles and tendons....
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Optical Measurement of Temperatures in Muscles and Tendons
Miniature fiber-optic-coupled sensors based on optically excited, self-resonant microbeams have been proposed for measuring temperatures within muscle fascicles and tendons. The proposed sensors could be used in medical and biological research on humans and other animals. The proposed...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Small Low-Temperature Thermometer With Nanokelvin Resolution
An improved high-resolution thermometer (HRT) for use in scientific experiments at temperatures
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