A Ground Water Quality Summary for Alaska: a Termination Report

The expanding economic activity throughout the State of Alaska has created an urgent demand for water resource data. Ground water quality information is of particular interest since this is the most used source for domestic and industrial supplies. Many agencies and individuals have accumulated large quantities of data but their value has been marginal due to a lack of distribution to potential users. It was the original intent of the work reported herein to gather, collate, and publish all ground water quality data available in the files of university, state, and federal laboratories. Soon after the inception of the project the major contributor, the U.S. Geological Survey, found it was administratively impossible to contribute either the monies or the data necessary to accomplish the ultimate goals of the project -- An Atlas on Alaskan Ground Water Qualities. At the time the above decision was made the Institute felt too much information was on hand to allow it to lay fallow. Therefore, this report was prepared, In a more limited scope than originally planned, to fill the need for a readily available source of information.The work upon which this report is based was supported by funds provided by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Water Resources Research, Project Number A-024-ALAS and Agreement Number 14-01-0001-1070

Boundary-Integral Equations in Eddy-Current Calculations

Volume-integral equations have proven to be very successful in the computation of eddy-current probe-flaw responses for NDE problems having a number of simple geometries. This approach to NDE computations has proven superior to the finite-element approach in both accuracy and computer resources required, and is the basis of our proprietary code VIC-3D1. The volume-integral approach, however, is not as well adapted to accommodating the complex geometries sometimes required in practical applications. An example is the separation of edge and corner effects from the response of a flaw. We will discuss an extension of the volume-integral approach that incorporates boundary-integral equations to provide a description of complicated surface geometries

Monte Carlo Simulations of Star Clusters - IV. Calibration of the Monte Carlo Code and Comparison with Observations for the Open Cluster M67

We outline the steps needed in order to incorporate the evolution of single and binary stars into a particular Monte Carlo code for the dynamical evolution of a star cluster. We calibrate the results against N-body simulations, and present models for the evolution of the old open cluster M67 (which has been studied thoroughly in the literature with N-body techniques). The calibration is done by choosing appropriate free code parameters. We describe in particular the evolution of the binary, white dwarf and blue straggler populations, though not all channels for blue straggler formation are represented yet in our simulations. Calibrated Monte Carlo runs show good agreement with results of N-body simulations not only for global cluster parameters, but also for e.g. binary fraction, luminosity function and surface brightness. Comparison of Monte Carlo simulations with observational data for M67 shows that is possible to get reasonably good agreement between them. Unfortunately, because of the large statistical fluctuations of the numerical data and uncertainties in the observational data the inferred conclusions about the cluster initial conditions are not firm.Comment: 15 pages, 24 figure

Application of Volume-Integral Models to Steam Generator Tubing

The nuclear power industry faces the serious challenge of convincing a skeptical public and regulatory agencies that it can operate safely and efficiently. Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) plays a significant role in this task, and computer modeling is playing a significant role in NDE. The industry now realizes the value of using such modeling to replace expensive experimental tests, as well as to design equipment, and interpret results. Eddy-currents have a traditional place in the inspection of steam generator tubing, and the industry seeks improved tools for such inspections. In this paper, we describe progress in developing a general axisymmetric model that will be part of the volume-integral code, VIC-3D1. This model will be capable of analyzing tubes with tube supports and rolled-expansion transition zones. Features such as magnetite, sludge, etc., will be included, and materials may be either ferromagnetic or non-magnetic. The model described in this paper will include only differential (or absolute) bobbin coils. Flaws can be of three types: (1) axisymmetric (such as circumferential rings), (2) the usual thin, axially-oriented, crack that is part of VIC-3D’s present library, and (3) user-defined flaws, such as inter-granular attack (IGA)

Flight Test Overview for UAS Integration in the NAS Project

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is conducting a series of flight tests intended to support the reduction of barriers that prevent unmanned aircraft from flying without the required waivers from the Federal Aviation Administration. The most recent testing supported two separate test configurations. The first investigated the timing of Detect and Avoid (DAA) alerting thresholds using a radar-equipped unmanned vehicle and multiple live intruders flown at varying encounter geometries. The second configuration included a surrogate unmanned vehicle (flown from a ground control station, with a safety pilot on board) flying a mission in a virtual air traffic control airspace sector using research pilot displays and DAA advisories to maintain separation from live and virtual aircraft. The test was conducted over a seven-week span in the summer of 2015. The data from over 100 encounter sorties will be used to inform the RTCA Phase 1 Detect and Avoid and Command and Control Minimum Operating Performance Standards (MOPS) intended to be completed by the summer of 2016. Follow-on flight-testing is planned for the spring of 2016 to capture remaining encounters and support validation of the MOPS