Hire Education: Mastery, Modularization and the Workforce Revolution

This new research identifies online competency-based learning as the solution to shifting demands for specialized workforce skills and the front runner for disrupting higher education

Two-stage combustion for reducing pollutant emissions from gas turbine combustors

Combustion and emission results are presented for a premix combustor fueled with admixtures of JP5 with neat H2 and of JP5 with simulated partial-oxidation product gas. The combustor was operated with inlet-air state conditions typical of cruise power for high performance aviation engines. Ultralow NOx, CO and HC emissions and extended lean burning limits were achieved simultaneously. Laboratory scale studies of the non-catalyzed rich-burning characteristics of several paraffin-series hydrocarbon fuels and of JP5 showed sooting limits at equivalence ratios of about 2.0 and that in order to achieve very rich sootless burning it is necessary to premix the reactants thoroughly and to use high levels of air preheat. The application of two-stage combustion for the reduction of fuel NOx was reviewed. An experimental combustor designed and constructed for two-stage combustion experiments is described

Geometry and seismic properties of the subducting Cocos plate in central Mexico

The geometry and properties of the interface of the Cocos plate beneath central Mexico are determined from the receiver functions (RFs) utilizing data from the Meso America Subduction Experiment (MASE). The RF image shows that the subducting oceanic crust is shallowly dipping to the north at 15° for 80 km from Acapulco and then horizontally underplates the continental crust for approximately 200 km to the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB). The crustal image also shows that there is no continental root associated with the TMVB. The migrated image of the RFs shows that the slab is steeply dipping into the mantle at about 75° beneath the TMVB. Both the continental and oceanic Moho are clearly seen in both images, and modeling of the RF conversion amplitudes and timings of the underplated features reveals a thin low-velocity zone between the plate and the continental crust that appears to absorb nearly all of the strain between the upper plate and the slab. By inverting RF amplitudes of the converted phases and their time separations, we produce detailed maps of the seismic properties of the upper and lower oceanic crust of the subducting Cocos plate and its thickness. High Poisson's and Vp/Vs ratios due to anomalously low S wave velocity at the upper oceanic crust in the flat slab region may indicate the presence of water and hydrous minerals or high pore pressure. The evidence of high water content within the oceanic crust explains the flat subduction geometry without strong coupling of two plates. This may also explain the nonvolcanic tremor activity and slow slip events occurring in the subducting plate and the overlying crust

Experimental verification of computer spray-combustion models

Analytical model formulation, representing performance of spray-combustion device, is based on understanding of atomization, mixing, vaporization, and combustion which occurs in device. Report lists results of correlations of computed values with values obtained from experiments with rocket combustor. Technique offers excellent method for evaluating validity and ranges of applicability of combustion models

Plateau-phase cultures: an experimental model for identifying drugs which are bioactivated within the microenvironment of solid tumours.

A commonly used technique for evaluating potential bioreductive drugs is the determination of hypoxic cytotoxicity ratios in vitro. This experimental model, however, does not accurately mimic the tumour microenvironment, as other factors (such as reduced pH, poor nutrient status, low cell proliferation rates and high catabolite concentrations) are not incorporated into the design of the assay. Plateau-phase monolayer cultures possess many of these characteristics, and this study compared the response of plateau-phase and exponentially growing human colon carcinoma cells (DLD-1) with a series of standard and bioreductive compounds. All drugs tested were added directly to conditioned medium and three patterns of chemosensitivity were observed. In the case of doxorubicin, vinblastine and 5-fluorouracil, exponentially growing cells were significantly more responsive than plateau-phase cultures. ThioTEPA and MeDZQ (2,5-diaziridinyl-1, 4-benzoquinone) were equally cytotoxic to both populations of cells. Tirapazamine (SR4233), RSU 1069, mitomycin C and EO-9, however, were preferentially toxic towards plateau-phase compared with exponentially growing cells. While the exact mechanisms responsible for these observations in each case are not known, this study suggests that plateau-phase cultures may prove to be a useful experimental model in the evaluation of drugs designed to work preferentially within the tumour microenvironment

An experimental correlation of the nonreactive properties of injection schemes and combustion effects in a liquid-propellant rocket engine. Part II. Instrumentation, experimental apparatus, and experimental techniques

Apparatus, techniques, and instrumentation for experimental correlation of nonreactive injection schemes and combustion effects in liquid propellant rocket engin

Experimental observations relating the inception of liquid rocket engine popping and resonant combustion to the stagnation dynamics of injection impingement

Characteristics of unsteady liquid rocket propellant combustion processe

The influence of several near-wall injection conditions on the combustion performance of a liquid rocket engine

Combustion performance of liquid rocket engine studied in presence of several near-wall injection condition

Reduction of gaseous pollutant emissions from gas turbine combustors using hydrogen-enriched jet fuel

Recent progress in an evaluation of the applicability of the hydrogen enrichment concept to achieve ultralow gaseous pollutant emission from gas turbine combustion systems is described. The target emission indexes for the program are 1.0 for oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide, and 0.5 for unburned hydrocarbons. The basic concept utilizes premixed molecular hydrogen, conventional jet fuel, and air to depress the lean flammability limit of the mixed fuel. This is shown to permit very lean combustion with its low NOx production while simulataneously providing an increased flame stability margin with which to maintain low CO and HC emission. Experimental emission characteristics and selected analytical results are presented for a cylindrical research combustor designed for operation with inlet-air state conditions typical for a 30:1 compression ratio, high bypass ratio, turbofan commercial engine

Design and Fabrication of the NASA Decoupler Pylon for the F-16 Aircraft

The NASA Decoupler Pylon is a passive means of suppressing wing-store flutter. The feasibility of demonstrating this concept on the F-16 aircraft was established through model wind tunnel tests and analyses. As a result of these tests and studies a ship set of Decoupler Pylons was designed and fabricated for a flight test demonstration on the F-16 aircraft. Basic design criteria were developed during the analysis study pertaining to pylon pitch stiffness, alignment system requirements, and damping requirements. A design was developed which utilized an electrical motor for the pylon alignment system. The design uses a four pin, two link pivot design which results in a remote pivot located at the center of gravity of the store when the store is in the aligned position. The pitch spring was fabricated from a tapered constant stress cantilevered beam. The pylon has the same external lines as the existing production pylon and is designed to use a MAU-12 ejection rack which is the same as the one used with the production pylon. The detailed design and fabrication was supported with a complete ground test of the pylon prior to shipment to NASA