Modeling the missile-launch tube problem in DYSCO

DYSCO is a versatile, general purpose dynamic analysis program which assembles equations and solves dynamics problems. The executive manages a library of technology modules which contain routines that compute the matrix coefficients of the second order ordinary differential equations of the components. The executive performs the coupling of the equations of the components and manages the solution of the coupled equations. Any new component representation may be added to the library if, given the state vector, a FORTRAN program can be written to compute M, C, K, and F. The problem described demonstrates the generality of this statement

Calcification prevention tablets

Citric acid tablets, which slowly release citric acid when flushed with water, are under development by the Navy for calcification prevention. The citric acid dissolves calcium carbonate deposits and chelates the calcium. For use in urinals, a dispenser is not required because the tablets are non-toxic and safe to handle. The tablets are placed in the bottom of the urinal, and are consumed in several hundred flushes (the release rate can be tailored by adjusting the formulation). All of the ingredients are environmentally biodegradable. Mass production of the tablets on commercial tableting machines was demonstrated. The tablets are inexpensive (about 75 cents apiece). Incidences of clogged pipes and urinals were greatly decreased in long term shipboard tests. The corrosion rate of sewage collection pipe (90/10 Cu/Ni) in citric acid solution in the laboratory is several mils per year at conditions typically found in traps under the urinals. The only shipboard corrosion seen to date is of the yellow brass urinal tail pieces. While this is acceptable, the search for a nontoxic corrosion inhibitor is underway. The shelf life of the tablets is at least one year if stored at 50 percent relative humidity, and longer if stored in sealed plastic buckets

Influence of optical aberrations in an atomic gyroscope

In atom interferometry based on light-induced diffraction, the optical aberrations of the laser beam splitters are a dominant source of noise and systematic effect. In an atomic gyroscope, this effect is dramatically reduced by the use of two atomic sources. But it remains critical while coupled to fluctuations of atomic trajectories, and appears as a main source of noise to the long term stability. Therefore we measure these contributions in our setup, using cold Cesium atoms and stimulated Raman transitions

The Lookup Technique to Replace Nested-IF Formulas in Spreadsheet Programming

Spreadsheet programmers often implement contingent logic using a nested-IF formula even though this technique is difficult to test and audit and is believed to be risky. We interpret the programming of contingent logic in spreadsheets in the context of traditional computer programming. We investigate the “lookup technique” as an alternative to nested-IF formulas, describe its benefits for testing and auditing, and define its limitations. The lookup technique employs four distinct principles: 1) make logical tests visible; 2) make outcomes visible; 3) make logical structure visible; and 4) replace a multi-function nested-IF formula with a single-function lookup formula. It can be used only for certain simple contingent logic. We describe how the principles can be applied in more complex situations, and suggest avenues for further research

Geologic Review of Propsed Amarillo Area Site for the Superconducting Super Collider (SSC)

In June 1987, the Texas National Research Laboratory Commission commissioned the Bureau of Economic Geology at The University of Texas at Austin to conduct a review and brief report on the geology of the proposed site for the Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) in the Amarillo area. They also requested a surface geologic map of the site. An informal task force was assembled for this purpose, including Jay A. Raney (Coordinator), Thomas C. Gustavson, and S. Christopher Caran from the Bureau of Economic Geology. This report is accompanied by the geologic map (Plate 1) of the proposed Amarillo area site in the Texas Panhandle.Bureau of Economic Geolog

Regional Strucutal Cross Sections, Mid-Permian to Quaternary Strata, Texas Panhandle and Eastern New Mexico

The Palo Duro and Dalhart Basins of the Texas Panhandle and eastern New Mexico contain bedded Permian salts of sufficient thickness and depth to be considered potential sites for long-term storage and isolation of high-level nuclear waste. Salt (primarily halite) is a desirable host rock because of its low permeability, high thermal conductivity, low moisture content, and high gamma-ray shielding properties (Johnson, 1976b). A major concern that must be addressed if nuclear waste is to be stored in the Texas Panhandle is the long-term integrity of the bedded-salt host rock. Areas where salt has been removed by dissolution have been identified beneath the Southern High Plains, along the eastern and western escarpments of the Southern High Plains, and along the Canadian River valley (Gustavson and others, 1980b; Presley, 1980a, 1980b). Region I cross sections of mid-Permian to Quaternary strata in the Texas Panhandle and eastern New Mexico illustrate lithologic and structural relations that are interpreted to have resulted from the regional dissolution of salt and the collapse of overlying strata. The cross sections were constructed using gamma-ray logs, sample logs, and surface geologic maps (Handford, 1980a; McGillis, 1980). Gamma-ray logs are shown on the cross sections because they best demonstrate variations in evaporite strata. Figure 1 is an index map depicting the locations of the cross sections. Stratigraphic nomenclature used on the cross sections is given in table 1.Bureau of Economic Geolog

Environmental Baseline Monitoring in the Area of General Crude Oil- Department of Energy Pleasant Bayou Number 2 A Geopressured Geothermal Test well

A program to monitor baseline air and water quality, subsidence, microseismic activity, and noise in the vicinity of the Brazoria County geopressured geothermal test wells, Pleasant Bayou III and II, has been underway since March 1978 (fig. 1). The findings of certain parts of the work, including the results of an initial first-order leveling survey completed by Teledyne Geotronics, a preliminary noise survey completed by Radian Corporation, a preliminary microseismicity survey completed by Teledyne Geotech, and an archeological survey of the site completed by Texas A&M University, have been reported earlier and will not be repeated here. The initial report on environmental baseline monitoring at the test well contained descriptions of baseline air and water quality, a noise survey, an inventory of microseismic activity, and a discussion of the installation of a liquid tilt meter (Gustavson, 1979). The following report continues the description of baseline air and water quality of the test well site, includes an inventory of microseismic activity during 1979 with interpretations of the origin of the events, and discusses the installation and monitoring of a liquid tilt meter at the test well site. In addition, a brief description of flooding at the test site is presented.Bureau of Economic Geolog

Synthesis and characterization of stannoles.

Treatment of the diiodotetraphenylstannole with excess lithium cyclopentadiene results in lithium 1,1-dicyclopentadienyl-1-iodo-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylstannole which, along with its bromine analog, are the only lithium salts of five-coordinate {R(, 4)SnX}('-) compounds. This compound contains pseudo-rotating axial- and equitorial-fluxional monohapto-cyclopentadienyl groups.This work was undertaken to synthesize 1,1-disubstituted 2,3,4,5-tetraphenylstannoles. The starting material for this study was 1,1-diiodo-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylstannole. This compound is of value for the organometallic chemist due to its utility as an intermediate in the preparation of many other five-membered heterocyclic tin compounds and to investigate the stereochemistry of hexa- and penta-coordinate complexes of stannoles. The products of these reactions were identified through tin-119m Mossbauer, infrared, proton, and mass spectroscopies.1,1-Diiodo-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylstannole was prepared in good yield from phenyltin cleavage of hexaphenylstannole by elemental iodine and was found to be thermally stable. Analogous halogenation by elemental chlorine resulted in cleavage of the stannole ring. The great reactivity of iodine attached to tin makes the diiodostannole a highly versitile starting material for the preparation of 1,1-diazido-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylstannole, 1,1-dicyanato-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylstannole, 1,1-diacetato-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylstannole, 1,1-bis(diphenylphosphino)-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylstannole, 1,1-bis(dimethylamino)-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylstannole, 1-fluoro-1-iodo-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylstannole, moreover, the adducts that are formed with pyridine, 2,2'-bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline, and 2,2', 2''-terpyridine indicate the ability to form penta- and hexa-coordinate complexes, all having trans-iodine structures