Apparatus and method for reducing thermal stress in a turbine rotor

A gas turbine is described wherein the thermal stresses in the turbine rotor are reduced. The rotor includes a central disc with a peripheral rim, and a plurality of blades extending radially outward from the rim. To reduce thermal stresses, a duct arrangement is provided which selectively directs hot gases from the turbine combustor to the rim during the turbine start up. The hot gases from the combustor serve to heat the rim, and decrease the start up period necessary to bring the temperature profile of the rotor into the operating temperature range. After the start up period, the duct arrangement is then used to direct cool gases from the turbine compressor to the rim of the rotor in order to maintain a lower rotor equilibrium temperature

Coded spread spectrum digital transmission system design study

Results are presented of a comprehensive study of the performance of Viterbi-decoded convolutional codes in the presence of nonideal carrier tracking and bit synchronization. A constraint length 7, rate 1/3 convolutional code and parameters suitable for the space shuttle coded communications links are used. Mathematical models are developed and theoretical and simulation results are obtained to determine the tracking and acquisition performance of the system. Pseudorandom sequence spread spectrum techniques are also considered to minimize potential degradation caused by multipath

Statistical distribution of time to crack initiation and initial crack size using service data

Crack growth inspection data gathered during the service life of the C-130 Hercules airplane were used in conjunction with a crack propagation rule to estimate the distribution of crack initiation times and of initial crack sizes. A Bayesian statistical approach was used to calculate the fraction of undetected initiation times as a function of the inspection time and the reliability of the inspection procedure used

Conceptual Unification of Gravity and Quanta

We present a model unifying general relativity and quantum mechanics. The model is based on the (noncommutative) algebra \mbox{{\cal A}} on the groupoid \Gamma = E \times G where E is the total space of the frame bundle over spacetime, and G the Lorentz group. The differential geometry, based on derivations of \mbox{{\cal A}}, is constructed. The eigenvalue equation for the Einstein operator plays the role of the generalized Einstein's equation. The algebra \mbox{{\cal A}}, when suitably represented in a bundle of Hilbert spaces, is a von Neumann algebra \mathcal{M} of random operators representing the quantum sector of the model. The Tomita-Takesaki theorem allows us to define the dynamics of random operators which depends on the state \phi . The same state defines the noncommutative probability measure (in the sense of Voiculescu's free probability theory). Moreover, the state \phi satisfies the Kubo-Martin-Schwinger (KMS) condition, and can be interpreted as describing a generalized equilibrium state. By suitably averaging elements of the algebra \mbox{{\cal A}}, one recovers the standard geometry of spacetime. We show that any act of measurement, performed at a given spacetime point, makes the model to collapse to the standard quantum mechanics (on the group G). As an example we compute the noncommutative version of the closed Friedman world model. Generalized eigenvalues of the Einstein operator produce the correct components of the energy-momentum tensor. Dynamics of random operators does not ``feel'' singularities.Comment: 28 LaTex pages. Substantially enlarged version. Improved definition of generalized Einstein's field equation

Quantum Flux and Reverse Engineering of Quantum Wavefunctions

An interpretation of the probability flux is given, based on a derivation of its eigenstates and relating them to coherent state projections on a quantum wavefunction. An extended definition of the flux operator is obtained using coherent states. We present a "processed Husimi" representation, which makes decisions using many Husimi projections at each location. The processed Husimi representation reverse engineers or deconstructs the wavefunction, yielding the underlying classical ray structure. Our approach makes possible interpreting the dynamics of systems where the probability flux is uniformly zero or strongly misleading. The new technique is demonstrated by the calculation of particle flow maps of the classical dynamics underlying a quantum wavefunction.Comment: Accepted to EP

Framework for non-perturbative analysis of a Z(3)-symmetric effective theory of finite temperature QCD

We study a three dimensional Z(3)-symmetric effective theory of high temperature QCD. The exact lattice-continuum relations, needed in order to perform lattice simulations with physical parameters, are computed to order O(a^0) in lattice perturbation theory. Lattice simulations are performed to determine the phase structure of a subset of the parameter space.Comment: 28 pages, 11 figures; v3: references rearranged, typos corrected, figs changed, published versio

Development of material specifications and qualifications of polymeric materials for the jpl spacecraft materials guide book. iii- polyfluorocarbon films special report no. 3

Outgassing studies of polyfluorocarbon films - investigation of polymers as spacecraft construction material