Ion engines accelerate electrically charged plasma through two optic grids and emit the ions as exhaust. The process facilitates propulsion without use of chemical propellants. Braided carbon fiber reinforced composite (C(f)/C) optics are presently being considered for use as the accelerator and screen grids in ion propulsion engines. In this study the mechanical behavior of four candidate tow ...

Elasmobranchs can detect minute electromagnetic fields, <1 nV cm(-1), using their ampullae of Lorenzini. Behavioural responses to electric fields have been investigated in various species, sometimes with the aim to develop shark deterrents to improve human safety. The present study tested the effects of the Shark Shield Freedom7™ electric deterrent on (1) the behaviour of 18 white sharks (Carch...

The Department of Energy Freedom Car Program has shown that domestic vehicle fuel consumption can be dramatically decreased by reducing the overall weight of production vehicles. Carbon fiber composites provide an attractive route to this goal. Significant automotive use of carbon fiber technology will require substantial increases in fiber production coupled with decreases in fiber price to ~$...

In the past several years, capabilities of optical tools and in situ imaging devices have greatly expanded are now revolutionizing field plankton research. These facilitated discovery new enhanced understanding populations fragile gelatinous zooplankton. Imaging becoming more accessible regularly deployed on oceanographic studies monitoring efforts. However, despite increasing use these tools, ...

In an on-going effort to increase the safety and efficiency of turbine engines, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is exploring lightweight alternatives to the metal containment structures that currently encase commercial jet engines. Epoxy reinforced with braided carbon fibers is a candidate structural material which may be suitable for an engine case. This paper reports flat-co...

—The use of fisheries-independent trawl survey data to estimate fish abundance in shallow coastal systems can present challenges for producing reliable population estimates. We used hydroacoustic and trawl data to estimate the catch efficiency of a demersal trawl that is presently used in surveys to support stock assessments in Chesapeake Bay, USA. Specifically, we determined the efficiency of ...

Textile composites consist of interlaced tows, which are impregnated with a matrix material and then cured. The interlacing of the tows offers the potential for increased through-thickness strength compared to conventional laminated composites. However, one disadvantage of textile composites is the difficulty in predicting their performance due to the complex geometry of their internal architec...