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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 199 records · Page 11

Automatic interpretation of ERTS data for forest management

Automatic stratification of forested land from ERTS-1 data provides a valuable tool for resource management. The results are useful for wood product yield estimates, recreation and wild life management, forest inventory and forest condition monitoring. Automatic procedures based on both multi-spectral and spatial features are evaluated. With five classes, training and testing on the same samples, classification accuracy of 74% was achieved using the MSS multispectral features. When adding texture computed from 8 x 8 arrays, classification accuracy of 99% was obtained.

Kirvida, L.↗

An analysis of Milwaukee county land use

The identification and classification of urban and suburban phenomena through analysis of remotely-acquired sensor data can provide information of great potential value to many regional analysts. Such classifications, particularly those using spectral data obtained from satellites such as the first Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS-1) orbited by NASA, allow rapid frequent and accurate general land use inventories that are of value in many types of spatial analyses. In this study, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin was classified into several broad land use categories on the basis of computer analysis of four bands of ERTS spectral data (ERTS Frame Number E1017-16093). Categories identified were: (1) road-central business district, (2) grass (green vegetation), (3) suburban, (4) wooded suburb, (5) heavy industry, (6) inner city, and (7) water. Overall, 90 percent accuracy was attained in classification of these urban land use categories.

Todd, W. J.↗

Polyurethanes from fluoroalkyl propyleneglycol polyethers

A description is given of highly stable polyurethane polymers prepared by reacting a polyether with a diisocyanate. Compounded stocks of these polymers may be shaped and cured in conventional equipment used in the rubber industry. The solutions are dispersed gels prepared from the polymers and may be used for forming supported or unsupported films for coating fabrics or solid surfaces, and for forming adhesive bonds between a wide variety of plastics, elastomers, fabrics, metals, wood, leather, ceramics and the like.

Trischler, F. D.↗

Electromagnetic diffraction efficiencies for plane reflection diffraction gratings

Results are presented of research activities on holographic grating research. A large portion of this work was performed using rigorous vector diffraction theory, therefore, the necessary theory has been included in this report. The diffraction efficiency studies were continued using programs based on a rigorous theory. The simultaneous occurrence of high diffraction efficiencies and the phenomenon of double Wood's anomalies is demonstrated along with a graphic method for determining the necessary grating parameters. Also, an analytical solution for a grating profile that is perfectly blazed is obtained. The performance of the perfectly blazed grating profile is shown to be significantly better than grating profiles previously studied. Finally, a proposed method is described for the analysis of coarse echelle gratings using rigorous vector diffraction that is currently being developed.

Marathay, A. S.↗

The Willowbar meteorite

Results of microscopic and electron microprobe analyses of a meteorite which fell near Willowbar, Okla., in December 1971. Microscopic examination confirmed the differences in structure which could be seen on the cut faces. Three distinct regions could be recognized: unblackened, blackened, and black veins. Microprobe analyses of the silicate grains in the Willowbar meteorite show that it is an L chondrite. The lack of well-defined chondrules and the large size of the maskelynite grains suggests that it is a type 6 chondrite according to the classification of Van Schmus and Wood (1967). It also has large black veins of the same composition as the matrix, and thus it might best be described as a shock-brecciated L6 chondrite.

Lange, D. E.↗

Production of gaseous fuel by pyrolysis of municipal solid waste

Pilot plant tests were conducted on a simulated solid waste which was a mixture of shredded newspaper, wood waste, polyethylene plastics, crushed glass, steel turnings, and water. Tests were conducted at 1400 F in a lead-bath pyrolyser. Cold feed was deaerated by compression and was dropped onto a moving hearth of molten lead before being transported to a sealed storage container. About 80 percent of the feed's organic content was converted to gaseous products which contain over 90 percent of the potential waste energy; 12 percent was converted to water; and 8 percent remained as partially pyrolyzed char and tars. Nearly half of the carbon in the feed is converted to benzene, toluene and medium-quality fuel gas, a potential credit of over $25 per ton of solid waste. The system was shown to require minimal preprocessing and less sorting then other methods.

Crane, T. H.↗

A scheme for the uniform mapping and monitoring of earth resources and environmental complexes: An assessment of natural vegetation, environmental, and crop analogs

The author has identified the following significant results. A study was performed to develop and test a procedure for the uniform mapping and monitoring of natural ecosystems in the semi-arid and wood regions of the Sierra-Lahontan and Colorado Plateau areas, and for the estimating of rice crop production in the Northern Great Valley (Ca.) and the Louisiana Coastal Plain. ERTS-1 and high flight and low flight aerial photos were used in a visual photointerpretation scheme to identify vegetation complexes, map acreages, and evaluate crop vigor and stress. Results indicated that the vegetation analog concept is valid; that depending on the kind of vegetation and its density, analogs are interpretable at different levels in the hierarchical classification from second to the fourth level. The second level uses physiognomic growth form-structural criteria, and the fourth level uses floristic or taxonomic criteria, usually at generic level. It is recommended that analog comparisons should be made in relatively small test areas where large homogeneous examples can be found of each analog.

Poulton, C. E.↗

Temperature rise of installed FCC

Report discusses temperature profiles of installed FCC for wood and tile surfaces. Three-conductor FCC was tested at twice nominal current-carrying capacity over bare floor and under carpet, with result indicating that temperature rise is not a linear function of current with FCC at this level.

Hankins, J. D.↗

Investigation of Satellite Imagery for Regional Planning

The author has identified the following significant results. Satellite multispectral imagery was found to be useful in regional planning for depicting general developed land patterns, wooded areas, and newly constructed highways by using visual photointerpretation methods. Other characteristics, such as residential and nonresidential development, street patterns, development density, and some vacant land components cannot be adequately detected using these standard methods.

Harting, W.↗

RSRA sixth scale wind tunnel test

The sixth scale model of the Sikorsky/NASA/Army rotor systems research aircraft was tested in an 18-foot section of a large subsonic wind tunnel for the purpose of obtaining basic data in the areas of performance, stability, and body surface loads. The model was mounted in the tunnel on the struts arranged in tandem. Basic testing was limited to forward flight with angles of yaw from -20 to +20 degrees and angles of attack from -20 to +25 degrees. Tunnel test speeds were varied up to 172 knots (q = 96 psf). Test data were monitored through a high speed static data acquisition system, linked to a PDP-6 computer. This system provided immediate records of angle of attack, angle of yaw, six component force and moment data, and static and total pressure information. The wind tunnel model was constructed of aluminum structural members with aluminum, fiberglass, and wood skins. Tabulated force and moment data, flow visualization photographs, tabulated surface pressure data are presented for the basic helicopter and compound configurations. Limited discussions of the results of the test are included.

Flemming, R.↗

Remote sensing by ERTS satellite of vegetational resources believed to be under possible threat of environmental stress

The distribution of natural vegetation on North Merritt Island, Florida, was studied by computer analysis of ERTS satellite multispectral-scanner data. The boundaries of six distinct plant associations were located in photos produced on the image analyzer with an insignificant mean error of -24.38 meters. The six plant associations are described as: aquatic estuarine association, mangrove, spartina swamp, wooded swamp, sabal hammock, and oak-palmetto. The difference in average reflectance 'grey level' between the lowest of the four spectral scanning bands and the highest spectral scanning band for each of the six vegetation types is described. The decreasing trend of the differences is strongly negatively correlated with height of land, the coefficient of correlation being -0.9696.

Pooni, P.↗

Hot tensile properties and deformation response of a gamma/Ni/-gamma prime/Ni3Al/-delta/Ni3Nb/ eutectic composite

Three distinct regions of tensile, deformation and fracture behavior were observed in a 2.5 wt. per cent Al gamma/gamma prime-delta eutectic alloy as the testing temperature was varied. The major finding was an extraordinary ductility maximum at about 550 C. It was shown that this phenomenon is caused by the deflection of transverse cracks at the eutectic grain boundaries when yielding occurs. This delamination between eutectics grains caused by fracture of a gamma prime eutectic grain boundary film leads to a distinctly different 'wood-like' fracture surface morphology. Above 690 C to 926 C, yield and tensile strength values decrease while ductility increase slightly. Cooperative twinning of both phases develops giving rise to block-like deformation of the microstructure quite in parallel to the behavior observed previously in the gamma-delta system.

Bertorello, H. R.↗

Aeroelastic stability and control of an oblique wing - Wind tunnel experiments

Results are presented for wind tunnel tests of an elastic wing model to verify the theoretical predictions for the aeroelastic instability of an oblique wing. The model wing has an elliptic planform of 10 to 1 axis ratio and a symmetrical airfoil section of 7-1/2% thickness/chord ratio. The wing is of wood and as may be seen in the photographs presented, slack wires are used to limit the amplitude of unstable motions. The fuselage is mounted on bearings permitting freedom of roll, but provision is made to clamp the fuselage for some of the tests. It is found that freedom in roll increases the dynamic pressure at which aeroelastic instability first appears. With the model free in roll, the effectiveness of the ailerons in maintaining trim is not noticeably affected by passage through the speed at which the wing would become unstable if clamped.

Jones, R. T.↗

Investigation of environmental change pattern in Japan

The author has identified the following significant results. A detailed land use classification for a large urban area of Tokyo was made using MSS digital data. It was found that residential, commercial, industrial, and wooded areas and grasslands can be successfully classified. A mesoscale vortex associated with large ocean current, Kuroshio, which is a rare phenomenon, was recognized visually through the analysis of MSS data. It was found that this vortex affects the effluent patterns of rivers. Lava flowing from Sakurajima Volcano was clearly classified for three major erruptions (1779, 1914, and 1946) using MSS data.

Maruyasu, T.↗

Relative toxicity of products of pyrolysis and combustion of polymeric materials using various test conditions

Relative toxicity data for a large number of natural and synthetic polymeric materials are presented which were obtained by 11 pyrolysis and three flaming-combustion test methods. The materials tested include flexible and rigid polyurethane foams, different kinds of fabrics and woods, and a variety of commodity polymers such as polyethylene. Animal exposure chambers of different volumes containing mice, rats, or rabbits were used in the tests, which were performed over the temperature range from ambient to 800 C with and without air flow or recirculation. The test results are found to be sensitive to such variables as exposure mode, temperature, air flow and dilution, material concentration, and animal species, but relative toxicity rankings appear to be similar for many methods and materials. It is concluded that times to incapacitance and to death provide a more suitable basis for relative toxicity rankings than percent mortality alone, that temperature is the most important variable in the tests reported, and that variables such as chamber volume and animal species may not significantly affect the rankings.

Hilado, C. J.↗

The Kramer Creek, Colorado meteorite - A new L4 chondrite

Results of bulk chemical analyses and mineralogical and petrographic studies of a chondrite found at Kramer Creek, Colorado, are reported. The meteorite has been classified as an L-group chondrite on the basis of its bulk chemistry, the fayalite content of its olivine (21.7%) and the ferrosilicate content of its pyroxene (18.3%). The presence of interstitial glass and the iron oxide percent mean deviations for olivine and low-Ca pyroxene (2.4 and 4.6%) place the specimen in petrologic group 4 of the Van Schmus and Wood classification (1967)

Gibson, E. K., Jr.↗

The sun since the Bronze Age

An investigation is conducted concerning the behavior of the sun during the last 7000 years. The C-14 content in carbonaceous fossil material can be used as an indicator regarding the level of solar activity at the time when the carbon was assimilated in the process of photosynthesis. Living trees, such as the bristlecone pine, provide a solar activity record to about 3000 B.C. The record can be extended with the aid of well-preserved dead wood to beyond 5000 B.C. The results of an analysis of solar activity levels as a function of time on the basis of C-14 contents are presented in a graph. Attention is given to the Maunder Minimum, a history of the sun in the last 5000 years, an interpretation of the major C-14 excursions, and the sun and climate history.

Eddy, J. A.↗

A simple laboratory method for determining flash fire propensity of materials

A simple laboratory method for determining flash fire propensity of materials is described. The apparatus consists of a tube furnace and a combustion tube. The ignition source can be a wooded match but the hot pyrolysis tube itself may be the most suitable ignition source. Test results are presented for various materials including polyethylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, and polyurethane and polychloroprene flexible foams.

Hilado, C. J.↗