Mechanical properties of neat polymer matrix materials and their unidirectional carbon fiber-reinforced composites

The mechanical properties of two neat resin systems for use in carbon fiber epoxy composites were characterized. This included tensile and shear stiffness and strengths, coefficients of thermal and moisture expansion, and fracture toughness. Tests were conducted on specimens in the dry and moisture-saturated states, at temperatures of 23, 82 and 121 C. The neat resins tested were American Cyanamid 1806 and Union Carbide ERX-4901B(MPDA). Results were compared to previously tested neat resins. Four unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced composites were mechanically characterized. Axial and transverse tension and in-plane shear strengths and stiffness were measured, as well as transverse coefficients of thermal and moisture expansion. Tests were conducted on dry specimens only at 23 and 100 C. The materials tested were AS4/3502, AS6/5245-C, T300/BP907, and C6000/1806 unidirectional composites. Scanning electron microscopic examination of fracture surfaces was performed to permit the correlation of observed failure modes with the environmental test conditions

Static tensile and tensile creep testing of five ceramic fibers at elevated temperatures

Static tensile and tensile creep testing of five ceramic fibers at elevated temperature was performed. J.P. Stevens, Co., Astroquartz 9288 glass fiber, Nippon Carbon, Ltd., (Dow Corning) Nicalon NLM-102 silicon carbide fiber, and 3M Company Nextel 312, 380, and 480 alumina/silica/boria fibers were supplied in unsized tows. Single fibers were separated from the tows and tested in static tension and tensile creep. Elevated test temperatures ranged from 400 to 1300 C and varied for each fiber. Room temperature static tension was also performed. Computer software was written to reduce all single fiber test data into engineering constants using ASTM Standard Test Method D3379-75 as a reference. A high temperature furnace was designed and built to perform the single fiber elevated temperature testing up to 1300 C. A computerized single fiber creep apparatus was designed and constructed to perform four fiber creep tests simultaneously at temperatures up to 1300 C. Computer software was written to acquire and reduce all creep data

Public Beaches: A Reevaluation

This comment examines the conflict between the public\u27s need for recreational access to the coast and the private littoral-owner\u27s right to preserve and to protect his property. The author begins by discussing the California Coastal Act of 1976 and its effectiveness in protecting and in enhancing the public\u27s rights in the coastline. The author then examines alternative methods of protecting the public\u27s right to the coastline. Next the author examines judicial remedies of implied dedication and custom follows. The author concludes that the Coast Act might provide the last opportunity to preserve the public\u27s rights to enjoy California\u27s coastline, but in order to work, attitudes must change so that coast land is viewed as a limited resource rather than a mere commodity

A Biooptical Model of Irradiance Distribution and Photosynthesis in Seagrass Canopies

Although extremely vulnerable to coastal eutrophication, seagrasses represent important structuring elements and sources of primary production in shallow waters. They also generate an optical signature that can be tracked remotely. Accurate knowledge of light absorption and scattering by submerged plant canopies permits the calculation of important plant- and ecosystem-level properties, including rates of photosynthesis, vegetation abundance, and distribution. The objectives of this study were to develop a realistic, yet simply parameterized two-flow model of plane irradiance distribution through a seagrass canopy submerged in an optically active water column, to evaluate its performance against in situ measurements, and to explore the impacts of variations in canopy architecture on irradiance distribution and photosynthesis within the canopy. Allometric functions derived from leaf length-frequency data enabled simple parameterization of canopy architecture. Model predictions of downwelling spectral irradiance distributions in seagrass canopies growing in both oligotrophic and eutrophic waters were within 15% of field measurements. Thus, the model provides a robust tool for investigating photosynthetic performance of seagrass canopies as functions of water quality, depth distribution, canopy architecture, and leaf orientation. Model predictions of upwelling irradiance were less reliable, particularly in the upper half of the canopies. The model was more sensitive to leaf orientation than leaf optical properties, seabed reflectance, or the average cosine of downwelling irradiance. Better knowledge of leaf orientation appears to be a fruitful avenue for improving our understanding of the interaction between seagrasses and the submarine light environment

Oil and Natural Gas Industry Contribution to the San Juan Basin

This report examines oil and natural gas production in New Mexico\u27s San Juan Basin during the 1999 to 2003 time period. An overview of markets, an analysis of severance and gross receipts taxes and royalties, and a brief discussion of employment and wage trends in the oil and gas industry are included

Design of a Solar Sail Mission to Mars

An evaluation of the design of the solar sail includes key areas such as structures, sail deployment, space environmental effects, materials, power systems, telemetry, communications, attitude control, thermal control, and trajectory analysis. Deployment and material constraints determine the basic structure of the sail, while the trajectory of the sail influences the choice of telemetry, communications, and attitude control systems. The thermal control system of the sail for the structures and electronics takes into account the effects of the space environment. Included also are a cost and weight estimate for the sail

Designs for the ATDRSS tri-band reflector antenna

Two approaches to design a tri-band reflector antenna for the Advanced TDRSS are examined. Two reflector antenna configurations utilizing frequency selective surfaces for operation in three frequency bands, S, Ku, and Ka, are proposed. Far-field patterns and the antenna feed losses were computed for each configuration. An offset-fed single reflector antenna configuration was adapted for conceptual spacecraft design. CADAM drawings were completed and a 1/13th scale model of the spacecraft was constructed