Engineering research progress report, FY84

The Engineering Research Program in the Mechanical Engineering Department, guided by Associate Director for Engineering H.C. McDonald, seeks new knowledge for mechanical-engineering applications of immediate or potential interest to the Laboratory. In FY84, the Program supported 10 projects with a budget of $1,622,000. These projects enhanced the mechanical-engineering technology base in four thrust areas which are strongly related: (1) Surface Measurements and Characterization (1 project); (2) Fabrication Technology (2 projects); (3) Materials Characterization and Behavior (5 projects); (4) Computer-Aided Engineering (2 projects). This progress report presents the activities pursued by members of the Program during FY84. It emphasizes work done in the second half of the year and gives an overview of the accomplishments of the first half. Readers who want a detailed account of work done during the first half of the year are directed to an earlier report (Engineering Research Progress Report, October 1983-March 1984, UCID-19323-84-2). The Engineering Research Program attaches great importance to information exchange and technology transfer with technical communities both inside and outside the Laboratory. Readers desiring more information on the activities reported here are encouraged to contact the authors.