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Clark, A. L.

Publications and source records attributed to Clark, A. L..

Improving the Effectiveness of Integral Property Calculation in a CSG Solid Modeling System by Exploiting Predictability

Integral property calculation is an important application for solid modeling systems. Algorithms for computing integral properties for various solid representation schemes are fairly well known. It is important to deigners and users of solid modeling systems to understand the behavior of such algorithms. Specifically the trade-off between execution time and accuracy is critical to effective use of integral property calculation. The average behavior of two algorithms for Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG) representations is investigated. Experimental results from the PADL-2 solid modeling system show that coarse decompositions can be used to predict execution time and error estimates for finer decompositions. Exploiting this predictability allow effective use of the algorithms in a solid modeling system.

Clark, A. L.

A gravity exercise system

An effective method for muscle conditioning during weightlessness flight is derived from isometric exercise. The basic principle of gravity exercise is to periodically displace the human body upon reactionless rollers so that spacial equilibrium can only be maintained by the proper tension and relaxation of the body's muscles. A rotating platform mounted upon two degrees of freedom rollers provides such a condition of gravitational reaction stress throughout each of its 360 deg rotation.

Brandt, W. E.

Phenocryst fabric in lunar basalt sample 12052 from the Ocean of Storms.

Pyroxene phenocrysts in Apollo 12 sample 12052, a porphyritic basalt, have a weak, planar preferred orientation and a lineation as determined by crystal-elongation measurements and universal-stage measurements in orthogonal thin sections. The structures are probably the result of laminar flow. Numerous vugs and the flow foliation in sample 12052 suggest crystallization as a surface flow or a near-surface sill. Flowage appears to have ceased by the time of crystallization of the variolitic groundmass of the sample. The fabric data suggest a two-stage crystallization of sample 12052.

Greenwood, W. R.