United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

Larry W Byrd

Victor Mark Birman

An estimate of interfacial areas between the liquid and gas, liquid and wall, and gas and wall in two phase flow is determined using a standard 2D sensor in a fashion to infer 3D information about the liquid/vapor profile when the sensor length is much longer than the diameter. Cross-sectional flow areas for the gas and liquid are also estimated as a function of the axial dimension of the sensor, and the centroid of the mass in the sensor element can also be estimated. An electric capacitance tomography (ECT) system creates tomograms of the flow inside a sensor, and estimates of 3D physical area information are produced from the tomograms.

Method for estimating physical characteristics of two materials

A thermal protection system capable of withstanding impact loads without a detrimental effect to its main function, i.e. a protection of the vehicle from high temperature during re-entry or flight in the atmosphere. The system consists of the outer ceramic matrix composite shield, a ceramic tile sandwiched between the shield and the skin of the vehicle and fasteners joining the system and the protected structure. The ceramic matrix composite fasteners are capable of working in the same high-temperature environment as the rest of thermal protection system. They are also strong and stiff due to the presence of ceramic fibers. Cracks in the outer shield produced by impact cannot propagate into the ceramic tile since the shield and tile materials are discontinuous along the interface. The tile cannot disintegrate from the vehicle since it is pressed to its skin by the outer shield. The system can easily be disassembled for inspection and/or repair.

Replaceable impact resistant thermal protection system

A pulsed heat energized system for detecting corrosion or similar oxidation products located intermediate a layer of metal and an overlying layer of paint or other metal protective material. The system employs a continuing stream of radiant thermal energy pulses impinging on the external surface of the coated metal and responds to the phase angle difference between a waveform representing the energy pulses and a waveform representing the undulating temperature response of the paint surface to the energy pulses. Use of the system for detecting corrosion of a military or other aircraft in order to avoid stripping the aircraft for corrosion inspection and correction is contemplated. Enhanced independence of the corrosion detection from measurement variations and earlier detection of corrosion presence are achieved with respect to other corrosion arrangements.

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Huber Heights, OH, United States of America

Larry W Byrd