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Electronics & Computers

A Study of Two Ferrocene-Based Molecular Electronic Devices

Acomputational-simulation study of two ferrocene-based molecular electronic devices was performed as part of a continuing effort to develop a capability for ab initio design of...

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Briefs
Materials

Nanoparticle AlxMoyOz/Al Thermites

Research on the microstructures, chemical compositions, and reactivities of thermites that consist of or contain mixtures of MoO3 and Al particles has led to development of a process for making thermites that...

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Briefs
Photonics/Optics

Heterodyne RF/Optical Links Utilizing Integrated Photonics

A program of research and development has been directed toward the goals of demonstrating (1) ultra-low-noise communication links in which information is conveyed by phase-modulated...

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Briefs
Materials

Plasma-Spray Coating as an Alternative to Chromium Plating

Plasma-spray application of coating materials that include tungsten carbide has been investigated as an alternative to electroplating of hard chromium onto internal metal surfaces that...

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Briefs
Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Thrust-Augmented Nozzles for Rocket Engines

The thrust-augmented nozzle (TAN) has been invented as a means of obtaining high performance from a rocket engine both during liftoff at sea-level atmospheric pressure and later during flight under...

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Briefs
Test & Measurement

Thermal Design and Analysis of a Rocket-Engine TAN Injector

A subscale thrust-augmented-nozzle (TAN) rocket engine was designed, built, and hot-fire tested to demonstrate the validity of the TAN concept. As described in more detail in the...

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Briefs
Aerospace

Blended Wing Body Aircraft

Scientists from Boeing Phantom Works, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and AFRL are testing a new aircraft with the potential to realize up to 30% better fuel efficiency because of its unique...

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Briefs
Materials

Corrosion Suppression Technologies and Techniques

Members of AFRL's Air Force Corrosion Prevention and Control Office (AFCPCO) teamed with corrosion experts from Warner Robins Air Logistics Center to assess environmentally induced damage to...

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Briefs
Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Film Cooling Using Pulsed Coolant

Turbine engine designers routinely use film cooling to cool engine components in the hot-gas flow-path. Film cooling is the process of injecting coolant fluid at one or more discrete locations along a surface...

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Briefs
Defense

AFRL Seeks Ways to Prevent Hearing Loss in Military Environments

In the 1988 movie "Good Morning, Vietnam," character Adrian Cronauer, a Saigon- based military disc jockey, performs an on-air skit in which he contacts an artilleryman in the...

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Briefs
Manufacturing & Prototyping

Strain-Induced Porosity Model

AFRL scientists developed advanced computer models to improve the processing and quality of titanium alloys used in manufacturing gas turbine engine parts and critical structural components for military aircraft....

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Briefs
Materials

Geopolymers

The use of ceramics in an ancient culture is one measure of that society's overall technical sophistication. Combining the study of ancient ceramics with modern science and technology has led to the creation of new ceramics with...

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Briefs
Electronics & Computers

Eddy Current Inspection System

AFRL manufacturing technology engineers, working with personnel from the 76th Maintenance Wing's Software and Propulsion Maintenance Groups at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center (OC-ALC) and Wyle Laboratories...

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Briefs
Materials

Super-High-Strength Aluminum Alloy

AFRL researchers developed a super-high-strength aluminum alloy that engineers can use to improve the capability and performance of aerospace components—cryogenic rocket engine components, in particular....

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Briefs
Materials

Dielectric Coolants

The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is the Department of Defense's affordable next-generation strike aircraft designed to meet the needs of the Air Force (AF), Navy, Marines, and US allies. Currently in development by Lockheed...

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Briefs
Materials

New Capability to Characterize the Mechanical Properties of Explosive Materials

Improved targeting accuracy and the long-standing desire to minimize collateral damage are causing current and future munitions to become much smaller. As munitions...

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