Mechanical Engineering Department. Engineering Research progress report, October 1984-March 1985

This report summarizes the progress made in the first 6 months of the FY-85 Engineering Research Program in the Mechanical Engineering Department. The program's mission is to seek new knowledge and concepts for mechanical-engineering applications of immediate or potential interest to the Laboratory. During this reporting period the program supported 13 projects. Eleven of the projects enhanced the mechanical engineering technology base in four thrust areas. The thrust areas and their associated projects are: (A) Computer-Aided Engineering (2 projects), (1) - Reacting Gasdynamic Flow Interaction, (2) - Solid Geometric Modeling; (B) Dynamic Systems and Controls (2 projects), (1) - Complex Mode-Shape Criteria, (2) - Multivariable Systems Analysis and Design; (C) Fabrication Technology (5 projects), (1) - Chip Science, (2) High-Speed Contour Grinding, (3) Fine Grinding of Glass, (4) Precision Contouring of Brittle Materials, (5) - Topometric Interferometry; and (D) Nondestructive Evaluation (2 projects), (1) - Quantitative Ultrasonic Nondestructive Evaluation, (2) - Radiographic Variables in the Ultra-Low Energy Range. The two remaining projects are devoted to studying an isothermal compressor-heat exchanger, and to developing a methodology for determining the mechanical properties of polymers.