SwRI Research Areas

SwRI Research Areas - Alphabetical Listing
Select a letter to jump to the associated alphabetic section of the research areas list.

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z 

- A -

AboveGround Fuel Storage Tanks
Testing of above ground fuel storage tanks in accordance with NFPA and Uniform Fire code requirements.
	Services for the Aboveground Storage Tank Industry
	Fire Performance Assessment for the Transportation
	Services for the Aboveground Storage Tank Industry
	Engineering and Research Section
Abrasion/Wear Tests--Biomaterials
(1) Pin-on-disk friction and wear testing of orthopedic materials; (2) hip and knee simulator studies; (3) design and construction of customized friction and wear test rigs.
	Reliability and Materials Integrity
	Surface Engineering and Materials Chemistry Section
	Applied Biomaterials
AC-228
Analysis Method for Actinium-228
	Administration
	Division Quality Assurance
Accelerated Environmental Testing
Covers accelerated UV, salt corrosion, thermal and dynamic environments
	Telecommunications Equipment Evaluation
	Electromagnetic Compatibility
	Administration
	Product Assurance
Accelerometer Design
	SwARC Support and Business Development Detroit Operations
	Administration
	Department of Engineering Applications and Systems Development
	Department of Electronics Systems and Robotics
	Electronics Systems and Robotics Department
Accident Investigation--Explosions
	Engineering and Research Section
	Fire and Explosion Testing
	Ballistics and Explosives Engineering Section
	Explosive Hazards Evaluations
Acoustic & Noise Control
	Department of Electronics Systems and Robotics
	Structural Dynamics and Acoustics
	Structural Dynamics and Noise Control
	Fluids Engineering Department
	Administration
	Dynamics, Acoustics, and Reliability Engineering
Acoustic Design--Audio
Design for concert halls, theaters, etc.
	Software Development
Acoustic Design--Compressor/Pumps
Reciprocating compressors and pumps create pressure pulsations in the flow stream. These pulsations can cause the compressor or pump and the attached piping system to shake or vibrate, which can cause system components to eventually crack or break due to metal fatigue. These pulsations may also reduce overall system performance. "Acoustic design" refers to the analysis of these pressure pulsations in compressors and pump installations. Based on the analysis, we can design a filtration system that will eliminate the pressure pulsations, thus maximizing system performance and minimizing the likelihood of catastrophic cracks or breaks in the system.
	Mechanics and Materials Section
	Administration
	Machinery Piping Design
Acoustic Design-Compressors/Pumps
	Mechanics and Materials Section
	Administration
	Machinery Vibration Services
	Machinery Piping Design
	Fluid Systems and Engineering
Acoustic Emissions
	Communications Engineering
	Applied Physics Division
	Assuring the Safety of Natural Gas Vehicles
	Multiphase Flow
	Sensor Systems and Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Technology Department
Acoustic Fatigue
	Administration
	Fluids Engineering Department
	Machinery Piping Design
	Rotating Machinery
Acoustic Lens Design
Acoustic Lens Design
	Sensor Systems and Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Technology Department
Active Suspension
	Hydraulic Fluid Power Technology
	Hydraulic Systems Design and Development
	Vehicle Components
	Hydraulic Vehicle Technology
Active X
	Business Tier Technologies Group
	Communications and Embedded Systems Department
	Production and Operations Department
	Ballistics and Explosives Engineering Section
Ad hoc networking
Ad hoc networking
	Embedded Systems and High Reliability Software Group
Ada Software
Ada software is software written in the Ada programming language.
	Training Resources Development Section
	Administration
	Unmanned Systems and Sensors
	Administration
	Surveillance Systems
	Fluids Engineering Department
	Dynamics, Acoustics, and Reliability Engineering
Adaptive Arrays
Adaptive antenna arrays automatically respond to a changing signal environment, rendering the operation of such systems more flexible and reliable, and provide improved reception performance that would be difficult to achieve in any other way.
	Institute Scientists
	Staff Engineer and Scientist
Adaptive Systems
A system that monitors its own performance and has the capability to improve its performance or alter its function, locally and/or cooperatively in the case of a distributed network system, in response to various events such as a changing operational environment or a partial system failure.
	Administration
	Network Systems and Cyber Security
Additive Analysis--Fuels & Lubricants
	Chemical Engineering
	Administration
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Chemistry and Unregulated Emissions
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Fuel Lab Prof Staff
	Lubricant Analysis, Administrative Staff
	Fuels, Lubricants, and Fluids Applications
Adhesives/Sealants
	Nanotechnology
	Department of Electromechanical and Optical Systems
Advanced Distributed Learning
	Emerging Technologies
Advanced System Development
	Advanced Vehicle Technology
	Powertrain Control Technology
Aerosol Flame Projection Test
an open flame applied to the discharged end of the nozzle and then record if the flame front burns back to the tip of the nozzle
	Material Flammability
Aerospace Materials Testing
Testing of aerospace materials
	Material Development
	Department of Electromechanical and Optical Systems
	Materials and Structures
	Materials Engineering Department
Aftertreatment
The Engine and Emissions Research Department in the Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division offers a wide variety of services to measure and control exhaust emissions produced by vehicles and engines. Services are interrelated and are typically combined to complete projects. All proposals are tailored to meet clients' individual needs.
	Administration
	Administration
	Administration
Air Bag Testing (EMC Testing)
	Department of Electromechanical and Optical Systems
	Fluids Engineering Department
	Fluids Engineering Department
	Product Assurance
Air Brake Testing
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Engine Design and Analysis
	Modeling & Simulation Department
	Department of Electromechanical and Optical Systems
Air Conditioning
	Multiphase Flow
Air Conditioning Refrigerant-Automotive
Automotive A/C system in vehicle durability testing. Mileage accumulation to evaluate compressor and entire system longevity.
	Fleet and Field Evaluations Section
	Automotive Fleet Testing
	Lubricant Analysis, Administrative Staff
Air Filter Test Stands
Design and build Air Filter Test Stands
	Filtration and File Particles
Air Filters--Automotive
Test air filters and air cleaning systems for automotive and non-automotive applications.
	Vehicle Components
	Filtration and File Particles
Air Sampling Devices
	Environmental Engineering & Assessment
	Chemical Engineering
	Technology Development
	Administration
	Environmental Engineering and Monitoring
	Department of Electromechanical and Optical Systems
Air Sampling/Survey/Investigation
Environmental monitoring and assessment
	Administration
	Environmental Engineering and Monitoring
Air Traffic Control Training
	Training Resources Development Section
	Administration
	Immersive Technologies
Airborne Warning Control Systems
Simulation and training systems associated with command Control Communications Computer Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) training. Supports the USAF Distributed Mission Operations (DMO) training program and incorporates live, virtual and constructive simulation training for AWACS mission crew. Includes digital communication simulation, tactical datalinks simulation such as Link16 and Link 11. Techniques used in implementing this program include massive parallel processing and distributed processing in real-time. The program uses Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) and HIgh Level Architecture (HLA) technologies and operates on commercial off the shelf PCs and LINUX operating system.
	Systems Modeling
	AWACS Modeling and Simulation (AMS) Training System
	Communications Engineering, Radar Test Set (Digital Data Control-Monitor)
Aircraft Automated Logistics
	Administration
	Administration
Aircraft Cleaning--Paint Stripping
	Material Development
	Administration
	Automated Surface Processing
Aircraft Electronic--EMC-RTCA/FAA DO-160
	Electromagnetic Compatibility Research
	Electromagnetic Compatibility Research, Additional EMC Services
	Fluids Engineering Department
	Product Assurance
Aircraft Electronics--Failure Analysis
Also see electronic component construction analysis and failure analysis
	Department of Electronics Systems and Robotics
	Failure Analysis
Aircraft Electronics/Avionics
	Administration
	Integrated Diagnostics Section
	Administration
	Aerospace Systems Engineering
Aircraft Engines
	Fleet and Field Evaluations Section
	Administration
	Aircraft Systems Integration Section
	Aerospace Systems Engineering
	Administration
	Administration
	Computational Mechanics
	Materials Engineering Department
	Mechanics and Materials Section
	Environmental Performance of Materials
	Failure Analysis & Technical Services
	Rotating Machinery
Aircraft Flight Testing
	Administration
	Network Systems and Cyber Security
	Fluids Engineering Department
	Administration
	Aerospace Structures Section
Aircraft Fuel Systems
Functional analysis, safety analysis (SA), failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA), and maintenance practice assessment of civilian and military aircraft fuel systems. FAA approved wing slosh tests in accordance with FAR 23.965(b) and (c).
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Fuels, Lubricants, and Fluids Applications
Aircraft Maintenance
	Material Development
	Administration
	Integrated Diagnostics Section
	Administration
	Automation Engineering
	Sensor Systems and Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Technology Department
Aircraft Maintenance Chemical & Product
	Material Development
	Automation and Data Systems Division
Aircraft Maintenance Training
Instructional definition, design, development, test, installation and support of curricula, classroom aids, manuals, courseware, static mockups, interactive devices, and simlators that are used to teach maintanance concepts, troubleshooting procedures and repair actions for aircraft systems including structures, engines, hydraulics, fuel, electronics, instruments and avionics computers.
	Systems Engineering
	Emerging Technologies
Aircraft Painting--Coatings
	Administration
	Material Development
	Administration
	Computational Mechanics
Aircraft Refinishing
	Material Development
	Department of Applied Power
Aircraft Structural Materials
Stress analysis, fatigue and fracture evaluation, materials property testing, corrosion, material substitution
	Department of Electromechanical and Optical Systems
	Mechanics and Materials Section
	Administration
	Aerospace Structures Section
Aircraft Structural Testing
	Fluids Engineering Department
	Administration
	Aerospace Structures Section
Aircraft Structures
	Administration
	Aerospace Structures Section
AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS TRAINING INSTRUCTION
AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS TRAINING INSTRUCTION
Aircraft Training Device
Definition, design, development, test, installation and support of static mockups, part-task trainers, and high fidelity simulators that are used to train ground crews, mission crews and flight crews in systems familiarization, operational and emergency procedures, and maintenance tasks for aircraft systems including structures, engines, hydraulics, fuel, electronics, instruments, communications, and avionics computers.
	Training, Simulation and Performance Improvement Division
	Training Resources Development Section
	Systems Engineering
Airships
Airships
	Administration
Alcohol Fuels
	Chemical Engineering
	Administration
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Department of Emissions Research and Development
	Chemistry and Unregulated Emissions
	Engine Design and Analysis
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	International
	Fuel Survey Projects
	Fuel Lab Prof Staff
	Fuels, Lubricants, and Fluids Applications
	Filtration
Allegro PCB Router
Cadence Allegro PCB Router
	SwARC Support and Business Development Detroit Operations
ALPHA SPEC
ALPHA SPEC - SEE NOTES FOR INSTRUCTIONS
	Administration
	Division Quality Assurance
	Inorganics/Radiochemistry
Alternative Fuel Liquefied Petroleum Gas
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Department of Emissions Research and Development
	Light Duty Vehicle Emissions
	Fuels and Lubricants Research Division
Alternative Fuel--Coal Slurry
Fundamentals of coal slurry fuel formulation and utilization in combustion engines have been examined.
	Chemical Engineering
	Administration
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
Alternative Fuel--Diesel Engine
"Alternative fuel" most often includes substitutes for conventional diesel fuel (i.e., methanol, ethanol, biodiesel, DME, natural gas, etc.) "Alternative fuel"can also be used to describe a diesel fuel that has been formulated as an "alternative" to a fuel that has its properties regulated to be within certain values (i.e., TxLED (Texas low emitting diesel fuel), CARB fuel (California Air Resources Board fuel).
	Chemical Engineering
	Administration
	Administration
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Administration
	Medium Speed Diesel Engine Section
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Diesel Engineers and Technicians
	Fuels, Lubricants, and Fluids Applications
Alternative Fuel--Gasoline Engine
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Department of Emissions Research and Development
	Chemistry and Unregulated Emissions
	Engine Design and Analysis
	SwARC Support and Business Development Administration
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	International
	Fleet and Field Evaluations Section
	Fuels, Lubricants, and Fluids Applications
Alternative Fuel--Hydrogen
Emissions research in the use of hydrogen as a fuel.
	Administration
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Administration
	Medium Speed Diesel Engine Section
	Fuels and Lubricants Research Division
	Surface Engineering and Materials Chemistry Section
	Rotating Machinery
Alternative Fuel--Natural Gas
Natural gas as alternative fuel for engines/vehicles
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Department of Emissions Research and Development
	Light Duty Vehicle Emissions
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Fleet and Field Evaluations Section
	Fuels, Lubricants, and Fluids Applications
Alternative Fuels
	Engine Development
AM ISO
AMERICIUM ISO BY ALPHA (radiochemistry test)
	Administration
	Division Quality Assurance
AMERICIUM
ANALYSIS FOR TOTAL AMERICIUM (radiochemistry test)
	Administration
	Division Quality Assurance
	Inorganics/Radiochemistry
AMERICIUM241
ANALYSIS FOR AMERICIUM-241 (radiochemistry test)
	Administration
	Division Quality Assurance
	Inorganics/Radiochemistry
Amino Acid Analysis
Amino Acid Analysis
	Administration
Analog Design
	Administration
	Department of Engineering Applications and Systems Development
	Department of Electronics Systems and Robotics
	Sensor Systems and Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Technology Department
Analog Study--Gas Compressors & Pumps
	Fleet and Field Evaluations Section
	Administration
	Machinery Piping Design
Analysis--Chemical Agents
	Administration
	Environmental Engineering and Monitoring
Analysis--Material Composition
	Organic
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Fuels, Lubricants, and Fluids Applications
	Department of Electronics Systems and Robotics
	Materials Engineering Department
	Materials Engineering Department
	Surface Engineering and Materials Chemistry Section
	Environmental Performance of Materials
Analysis--Metals
	Inorganics/Radiochemistry
Analysis--Organics
Analytical Chemistry by HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography, GC/MS (gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy), LC/MS (liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy), LC/MS/MS (liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectroscopy), CE (capillary electrophoresis), and GPC (gel permeation chromatography)
	Division Quality Assurance
	Organic
	Technology Development
	Fuel Lab Prof Staff
Analysis--Vibration & Pulsation
	Administration
	Fluids Engineering Department
	Machinery Piping Design
	Rotating Machinery
Analysis--Vibroacoustics
Developing solutions to noise and vibration problems through measurement of vibration levels and acoustic output, frequency and time domain analysis of measured data, noise source identification and isolation, and application of psychoacoustic metrics to gauge perceived annoyance.
	Fluids Engineering Department
	Administration
	Dynamics, Acoustics, and Reliability Engineering
Analysis-Mechanical Systems
	Powertrain Controls Section
	Multiphase Flow
Analytical Sonics--Fuels & Lubricants
	Chemical Engineering
	Administration
ANSI/BIFMA Std Testing--Office Furniture
Includesd, desks, chairs, tables, and such.
	Administration
	Material Flammability
	Fluids Engineering Department
Antenna--Microwave and Millimter Wave
Includes all types of phased arrays and gain horns. Also, slow-wave structures, parabolic dishes, waveguide feedhorns, helices, Archimedean spirals, patch antennas including slot-fed broadband variants, conformal antennas, satcom antennas, co-linear verical arrays and concealed antennas.
	Department of Applied Power
	Surveillance Systems
	Tracking Systems
	Staff Engineers
	Materials Engineering Department
Antenna--Microwave Phased Arrays
Designing aerospace phased array antennas and systems (missile radar and satcom systems). Also, linear- and circularly polarized microstrip patch antenna arrays and stripline slot, waveguide aperture, dipole, yagi and Franklin arrays.
	Department of Applied Power
	Tracking Systems
	Program Management
	Staff Engineers
Antennas--Direction Finding (DF)
	Office of the Vice President
	Program Management
	Staff Engineers and Specialists
Antennas--Disk Cone (Sales)
	Surveillance Systems
	Tracking Systems
	Program Management
	Staff Engineers
Antennas--High Frequency (HF/VHF)
Custom anenna design for specific applications including fixed and mobile, gain producing, arrayed, small size, and specialized concealments.
	Administration
	Department of Applied Power
	Office of the Vice President
	Program Management
Antennas--Overhauls
Antennas--Overhauls
	Program Management
Antennas--Plastic/Conducting Polymer
	Material Development
	Program Management
	Surveillance Systems
Antennas--Radar
	Staff Engineers and Specialists
Antennas--Testing (RF)
Antenna measurement capabilities include swept impedance characteristics, gain, and pattern using an outdoor test range.
	Administration
	Program Management
Antifreeze
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Lubricant Analysis, Administrative Staff
	Fuels, Lubricants, and Fluids Applications
Antifreeze (Ethylene Glycol)
	Lubricant Analysis, Administrative Staff
	Marine Structures and Engineering Section
Antilock Brake Systems on Trucks
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
API Valve Tests
API 11v2, API 6AV1
	Multiphase Flow
API15HR Fiberglass Pipe
Fiberglass Pipe
	Marine Structures and Engineering Section
API15LR Fiberglass Pipe
Fiberglass Pipe
	Marine Structures and Engineering Section
Application Specific Integrated Circuits
ASICs might be interpreted to cover several areas. Traditionally they are custom fabricated electronic ICs for a specific purpose, but they might also include programmable logic such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs).
	Administration
	Aircraft Systems Integration Section
	Avionics and Support Systems Department
	Biomedical Engineering Section
	Department of Engineering Applications and Systems Development
	Computer Technology Section
	Administration
Applied Pharmacology
Analytical services, GLP studies.
	Administration
	Technology Development
	Materials Engineering Department
	Surface Engineering and Materials Chemistry Section
	Environmental Performance of Materials
Asphalt Testing
	Chemical Engineering
	Administration
ASTM 2079 - Oxygen Concentration
Limiting oxygen (oxidant) concentration in gases and vapors.
	Engineering and Research Section
ASTM C125-00
Measring liquid and solid material fire limits in gaseous oxidants.
	Engineering and Research Section
ASTM D 6413 Flame Resistance of Textiles
This test method is used to measure the vertical flame resistance of textiles including afterflame and afterglow characteristics using a Bunsen burner flame source.
	Material Flammability
ASTM E 108 Fire Testing
	Fire Technology Testing Services
ASTM E 119 Fire Testing
	Fire Resistance Section
	Engineering and Research Section
ASTM E 1232-02
Temperature limit of flammability of chemicals
	Engineering and Research Section
ASTM E918-99
Determining limits of flammability of chemicals at elevated temperature and pressure.
	Engineering and Research Section
ASTM F1273-91 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR TANK VENT FLAME ARRESTORS
	Engineering and Research Section
ASTM Testing--Helmets
	Fluids Engineering Department
	Dynamics, Acoustics, and Reliability Engineering
ASTM Testing--Petroleum
Testing of fuels, lubricants, and other petroleum products using ASTM test procedures.
	Chemical Engineering
	Administration
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Fuel Survey Projects
	Fuel Lab Prof Staff
	Lubricant Ana