Other

USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Donald Max Sheppard

David Bloomquist

Harold W Doddington

Various embodiments of the invention comprise devices, systems, and methods for estimating the rate at which rock, soil or any self-supporting material erode. Particular embodiments of the invention relate to devices and systems that subject a stationary soil or rock sample to shear stresses by rotating fluid about the soil or rock sample to simulate the effects of flowing fluids on the soil or rock sample. In various embodiments, the devices and systems include a torque cell unit and clutch assembly.

Apparatus for estimating the rate of erosion and methods using the same

An instrument for determining salt concentration in water by measuring elrical conductivity. A probe of electrical insulating material has one electrode mounted on the exterior surface of the probe and a second electrode is mounted in a cavity in the probe. A horizontal slit is provided at one end of the probe and a small vertical hole connects the horizontal slit with the cavity to provide a fluid passageway. A sinusoidal current excitation source is provided to energize the probe and the electrical current density between the two electrodes is small except in the vertical hole where the current density becomes very large. The resistance between the electrodes at any instant is governed by the resistance of the fluid in the vertical hole. The resistance of the fluid is measured by processing the voltage which exists between the two electrodes of the probe through a differential amplifier, rectifier, filter and output amplifier arrangement to provide a voltage output which is inversely proportional to the salinity of the fluid being tested.

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Gainesville, FL, United States of America

Donald Max Sheppard