10,855 research outputs found
Moving body velocity arresting line
The arresting of a moving body is improved through the use of steel cables that elongate to absorb the kinetic energy of the body. A sleeve surrounds the cables, protecting them from chafing and providing a failsafe energy absorbing system should the cables fail
Ultrasonic ranking of toughness of tungsten carbide
The feasibility of using ultrasonic attenuation measurements to rank tungsten carbide alloys according to their fracture toughness was demonstrated. Six samples of cobalt-cemented tungsten carbide (WC-Co) were examined. These varied in cobalt content from approximately 2 to 16 weight percent. The toughness generally increased with increasing cobalt content. Toughness was first determined by the Palmqvist and short rod fracture toughness tests. Subsequently, ultrasonic attenuation measurements were correlated with both these mechanical test methods. It is shown that there is a strong increase in ultrasonic attenuation corresponding to increased toughness of the WC-Co alloys. A correlation between attenuation and toughness exists for a wide range of ultrasonic frequencies. However, the best correlation for the WC-Co alloys occurs when the attenuation coefficient measured in the vicinity of 100 megahertz is compared with toughness as determined by the Palmqvist technique
Flux Compactifications of M-Theory on Twisted Tori
We find the bosonic sector of the gauged supergravities that are obtained
from 11-dimensional supergravity by Scherk-Schwarz dimensional reduction with
flux to any dimension D. We show that, if certain obstructions are absent, the
Scherk-Schwarz ansatz for a finite set of D-dimensional fields can be extended
to a full compactification of M-theory, including an infinite tower of
Kaluza-Klein fields. The internal space is obtained from a group manifold
(which may be non-compact) by a discrete identification. We discuss the
symmetry algebra and the symmetry breaking patterns and illustrate these with
particular examples. We discuss the action of U-duality on these theories in
terms of symmetries of the D-dimensional supergravity, and argue that in
general it will take geometric flux compactifications to M-theory on
non-geometric backgrounds, such as U-folds with U-duality transition functions.Comment: Latex, 47 page
Gauge Symmetry, T-Duality and Doubled Geometry
String compactifications with T-duality twists are revisited and the gauge
algebra of the dimensionally reduced theories calculated. These reductions can
be viewed as string theory on T-fold backgrounds, and can be formulated in a
`doubled space' in which each circle is supplemented by a T-dual circle to
construct a geometry which is a doubled torus bundle over a circle. We discuss
a conjectured extension to include T-duality on the base circle, and propose
the introduction of a dual base coordinate, to give a doubled space which is
locally the group manifold of the gauge group. Special cases include those in
which the doubled group is a Drinfel'd double. This gives a framework to
discuss backgrounds that are not even locally geometric.Comment: 16 page
Generalised Geometry for M-Theory
Generalised geometry studies structures on a d-dimensional manifold with a
metric and 2-form gauge field on which there is a natural action of the group
SO(d,d). This is generalised to d-dimensional manifolds with a metric and
3-form gauge field on which there is a natural action of the group .
This provides a framework for the discussion of M-theory solutions with flux. A
different generalisation is to d-dimensional manifolds with a metric, 2-form
gauge field and a set of p-forms for either odd or even on which there is a
natural action of the group . This is useful for type IIA or IIB
string solutions with flux. Further generalisations give extended tangent
bundles and extended spin bundles relevant for non-geometric backgrounds.
Special structures that arise for supersymmetric backgrounds are discussed.Comment: 31 page
New Gauged N=8, D=4 Supergravities
New gaugings of four dimensional N=8 supergravity are constructed, including
one which has a Minkowski space vacuum that preserves N=2 supersymmetry and in
which the gauge group is broken to . Previous gaugings used the
form of the ungauged action which is invariant under a rigid symmetry
and promoted a 28-dimensional subgroup ( or the
non-semi-simple contraction ) to a local gauge group. Here, a
dual form of the ungauged action is used which is invariant under
instead of and new theories are obtained by gauging 28-dimensional
subgroups of . The gauge groups are non-semi-simple and are different
real forms of the groups, denoted , and the new
theories have a rigid SU(2) symmetry. The five dimensional gauged N=8
supergravities are dimensionally reduced to D=4. The gauge
theories reduce, after a duality transformation, to the
gauging while the gauge theory reduces to the gauge
theory. The new theories are related to the old ones via an analytic
continuation. The non-semi-simple gaugings can be dualised to forms with
different gauge groups.Comment: 33 pages. Reference adde
Plasma etching a ceramic composite
Plasma etching is found to be a superior metallographic technique for evaluating the microstructure of a ceramic matrix composite. The ceramic composite studied is composed of silicon carbide whiskers (SiC(sub W)) in a matrix of silicon nitride (Si3N4), glass, and pores. All four constituents are important in evaluating the microstructure of the composite. Conventionally prepared samples, both as-polished or polished and etched with molten salt, do not allow all four constituents to be observed in one specimen. As-polished specimens allow examination of the glass phase and porosity, while molten salt etching reveals the Si3N4 grain size by removing the glass phase. However, the latter obscures the porosity. Neither technique allows the SiC(sub W) to be distinguished from the Si3N4. Plasma etching with CF4 + 4 percent O2 selectively attacks the Si3N4 grains, leaving SiC(sub W) and glass in relief, while not disturbing the pores. An artifact of the plasma etching reaction is the deposition of a thin layer of carbon on Si3N4, allowing Si3N4 grains to be distinguished from SiC(sub W) by back scattered electron imaging
As-received microstructure of a SiC/Ti-15-3 composite
A silicon carbide fiber reinforced titanium (Ti-15V-3Cr-3Sn-3Al) composite is metallographically examined. Several methods for examining composite materials are investigated and documented. Polishing techniques for this material are described. An interference layering method is developed to reveal the structure of the fiber, the reaction zone, and various phases within the matrix. Microprobe and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analyses are performed on the fiber/matrix interface. A detailed description of the fiber distribution as well as the microstructure of the fiber and matrix are presented
Metal honeycomb to porous wireform substrate diffusion bond evaluation
Two nondestructive techniques were used to evaluate diffusion bond quality between a metal foil honeycomb and porous wireform substrate. The two techniques, cryographics and acousto-ultrasonics, are complementary in revealing variations of bond integrity and quality in shroud segments from an experimental aircraft turbine engine
Feasibility study of an optical radiometer for determining the composition of the Mars atmosphere from shock layer radiation during entry, volume II Final report
Optical radiometer feasibility study for determining composition of Mars atmosphere from shock layer radiation during entry - instrumentatio
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