Design considerations for high-power VHF radar transceivers: The Poker Flat MST radar phase control system

Sixty-four separate 50-kW peak-power transmitters are distributed throughout the 200 x 200 meter Poker Flat MST radar antenna array. The relative phase of each transmitter is automatically controlled by a 64-channel unit located in the main building at the edge of the antenna. The phase control unit is described. In operation the RF pulse from a transmitter coupler is power divided and compared with the phase reference in a mixer. The mixer output is low-pass filtered and sampled near the center of the resulting video pulse by an amplifying sample-and-hold integrated circuit. Phase control is effected by maintaining the mixer output pulse near zero volts by amplifying the sample-and-hold output which then drives the voltage-controlled phase shifter in the direction to null the mixer output. The voltage-controlled shifter achieves over 360 deg phase shift in the range from 0.7 to 24 volts. When the voltage into the shifter tracks to either voltage limit the wrap-around control resets the voltage so that the shifter is always operating within its control range

Using Technology within the Teacher Preparation Program as a Model for Effective Instruction

This article describes a methods course for teachers of elementary science and how it was enhanced to increase students’ abilities and attitudes toward using technology as a tool in teaching science. The course was enhanced as a result of the Virginia Collaborative for Excellence in the Preparation of Teachers (VCEPT) project. Prior to this project, the course was known for its constructivist approach, cooperative group activities, and experiential base that allowed students to actually do and teach elementary science. As a result of VCEPT, the class now also features an elaborate technology component. Technology of many types are regularly modeled in the methods classroom. Students are exposed to and have hands-on experiences with selected technologies and are asked to use technology in order to complete a variety of different projects

Design considerations for high-power VHF radar transceivers: Phase matching long coaxial cables using a cable radar

The Poker Flat 49.92-MHz MST radar uses 64 phase-controlled transmitters in individual shelters distributed throughout the antenna array. Phase control is accomplished by sampling the transmitted pulse at the directional coupler of each transmitter and sending the sample pulse back to a phase-control unit. This method requires phase matching 64 long (256 meter) coaxial cables (RG-213) to within several electrical degrees. Tests with a time domain reflectometer showed that attenuation of high frequency components in the long RG-213 cable rounded the leading edge of the reflected pulse so that the cables could only be measured to within 50 cm (about 45 deg at 49.92 MHz). Another measurement technique using a vector voltmeter to compare forward and reflected phase required a directional coupler with unattainable directivity. Several other techniques were also found lacking, primarily because of loss in the long RG-213 cables. At this point it was realized that what was needed was a simple version of the phase-coherent clear-air radar, i.e., a cable radar. The design and operation of this cable are described

Evaluation of lubricants for ball bearings at high temperatures

Calcium fluoride-barium fluoride coating on ball bearing cages or as fillers in porous bearing cages lubricate bearings successfully for operations in air at temperatures of 1200 to 1500 degrees F

Lead oxide ceramic makes excellent high-temperature lubricant

A dry lubricant coating in ceramic form consisting of 95 percent lead monoxide and 5 percent silicon dioxide withstood a temperature of 1200 deg F, with a bearing operating at various atmospheric pressures. From this testing, there was no galling or metal transfer of the bearing

DIRBE Minus 2MASS: Confirming the CIRB in 40 New Regions at 2.2 and 3.5 Microns

With the release of the 2MASS All-Sky Point Source Catalog, stellar fluxes from 2MASS are used to remove the contribution due to Galactic stars from the intensity measured by DIRBE in 40 new regions in the North and South Galactic polar caps. After subtracting the interplanetary and Galactic foregrounds, a consistent residual intensity of 14.69 +/- 4.49 kJy/sr at 2.2 microns is found. Allowing for a constant calibration factor between the DIRBE 3.5 microns and the 2MASS 2.2 microns fluxes, a similar analysis leaves a residual intensity of 15.62 +/- 3.34 kJy/sr at 3.5 microns. The intercepts of the DIRBE minus 2MASS correlation at 1.25 microns show more scatter and are a smaller fraction of the foreground, leading to a still weak limit on the CIRB of 8.88 +/- 6.26 kJy/sr (1 sigma).Comment: 25 pages LaTeX, 10 figures, 5 tables; Version accepted by the ApJ. Includes minor changes to the text including further discussion of zodiacal light issues and the allowance for variable stars in computing uncertainties in the stellar contribution to the DIRBE intensitie

The MSFC/J70 orbital atmosphere model and the data bases for the MSFC solar activity prediction technique

The MSFC/J70 Orbital Atmospheric Density Model, a modified version of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Jacchia 1970 model is explained. The algorithms describing the MSFC/J70 model are included as well as listing of the computer program. The 13-month smoothed values of solar flux (F sub 10.7) and geomagnetic index (S sub p), which are required as inputs for the MSFC/J70 model, are also included and discussed

Study on application of aerospace technology to improve surgical implants

The areas where aerospace technology could be used to improve the reliability and performance of metallic, orthopedic implants was assessed. Specifically, comparisons were made of material controls, design approaches, analytical methods and inspection approaches being used in the implant industry with hardware for the aerospace industries. Several areas for possible improvement were noted such as increased use of finite element stress analysis and fracture control programs on devices where the needs exist for maximum reliability and high structural performance

Fundamental considerations for future solid lubricants

Properties important to the performance of solid lubricants are discussed. Those properties include shear characteristics, coherence between particles, resistance to cold flow, adherence to the substrate, applicable chemical thermodynamics and kinetics of materials and environments, polymorphism, and rheology. The following generalizations are made: (1) chemical thermodynamics and kinetics are powerful tools for use in determining the useful environments and methods of application for solid film lubricants; (2) the primary requirement for a solid lubricant is low shear strength; (3) the rheology of solid film constituents and formulations is likely to be of vital importance to performance and life; and (4) adherence and mobility of surface films is another primary requirement for long lived solid lubricants

In situ transmission electron microscopy studies of shear bands in a bulk metallic glass based composite

In situ straining transmission electron microscopy (TEM) experiments were performed to study the propagation of the shear bands in the Zr56.3Ti13.8Cu6.9Ni5.6Nb5.0Be12.5 bulk metallic glass based composite. Contrast in TEM images produced by shear bands in metallic glass and quantitative parameters of the shear bands were analyzed. It was determined that, at a large amount of shear in the glass, the localization of deformation occurs in the crystalline phase, where formation of dislocations within the narrow bands are observed