HYDROLOGIC TEST SYSTEM FOR FRACTURE FLOW STUDIES IN CRYSTALLINE ROCK

Abstract. A hydrologic test system has been designed to measure the intrinsic permeabilities of individual fractures in crystalline rock. This report contains the design schematics and specifications necessary to build and/or modify this test system for other similar field applications. This system is used to conduct constant pressure/declining flow rate and pressure pulse hydraulic tests. The system is composed of four distinct units: (1) The Packer System, (2) Injection System, (3) Collection System, and (4) Electronic Data Acquisition System. The apparatus is built in modules so it can be easily transported and reassembled. It is also designed to operate over a wide range of pressures (0–300 psig) and flow rates (0.2–1.0 gal/min). This system has proved extremely effective and versatile in its use at the Climax Facility, Nevada Test Site.     

Neutron stars in the bimetric Scalar-Tensor theory of gravitation. I. new solutions of the field equations

New solutions of the equations of the bimetric scalar-tensor theory of gravitation for neutron stars are found. In these solutions the scalar field is constant, φ = φ_φ, while the metric space-time tensor is determined by the equations of the general theory of relativity. The problem was to find a background metric corresponding to φ_φ. Solutions with a variable φ were studied earlier [M. R. Avakian, L. Sh. Grigorian, and A. A. Saharian, Astrofizika, 35, 121 (1991)] and are determined by the dimensionless parameter ζ of the theory. Differences between solutions with constant and variable ? are considerable for ¦ζ¦ ≤ 1.     

Fragmentation and hydration of tektites and microtektites

Abstract— An examination of data collected over the last 30 years indicates that the percent of glass fragments vs. whole splash forms in the Cenozoic microtektite strewn fields increases towards the source crater (or source region). We propose that this is due to thermal stress produced when tektites and larger microtektites fall into water near the source crater while still relatively hot (>1150 °C). We also find evidence (low major oxide totals, frothing when melted) for hydration of most of the North American tektite fragments and microtektites found in marine sediments. High-temperature mass spectrometry indicates that these tektite fragments and microtektites contain up to 3.8 wt% H₂O. The H₂O-release behavior during the high-temperature mass-spectrometric analysis, plus high CI abundances (0.05 wt%), indicate that the North American tektite fragments and microtektites were hydrated in the marine environment (i.e., the H₂O was not trapped solely on quenching from a melt). The younger Ivory Coast and Australasian microtektites do not exhibit much evidence of hydration (at least not in excess of 0.5 wt% H₂O); this suggests that the degree of hydration increases with age. In addition, we find that some glass spherules (with <65 wt% SiO₂) from the upper Eocene clinopyroxene-bearing spherule layer in the Indian Ocean have palagonitized rims. These spherules appear to have been altered in a similar fashion to the splash form K/T boundary spherules. Thus, our data indicate that tektites and microtektites that generally contain >65 wt% SiO₂ can undergo simple hydration in the marine environment, while impact glasses (with <65 wt% SiO₂) can also undergo palagonitization.     

Isotropic and anisotropic pointing models

This paper describes an alternative approach for generating pointing models for telescopes equipped with serial kinematics, esp. equatorial or alt-az mounts. Our model construction does not exploit any assumption for the underlying physical constraints of the mount, however, one can assign various effects to the respective components of the equations. In order to recover the pointing model parameters, classical linear least squares fitting procedures can be applied. This parameterization also lacks any kind of parametric singularity. We demonstrate the efficiency of this type of model on real measurements with meter-class telescopes where the results provide a root mean square accuracy of 1.5?2 arcseconds.     

Large-aperture telescopes in the problems of near-Earth astronomy

Telescopes with aperture higher than 3 m and with travel rate of optical axis of more than 4 angular degrees per second are examined. These telescopes are used for estimating the situation in near-Earth space. Up to now, there are three telescopes with such parameters: SOR, AMOS, SST (all in the United States). A telescope of the same class with aperture of 3.12 m (information telescope TI-3.12) is under completion at Altai Optical Laser Center. The main technical performances of the TI-3.12 telescope are described in the paper. Current problems are defined and ways for their solution are presented.     

Investigations of space debris at Terskol observatory

Within the framework of the “Astronomy in the Elbrus Region” international program, investigations of space debris objects using optical measurements are carried out at the observation complex of the Zeiss-2000 telescope (developed by the International Center for Astronomical and Medico-Ecological Research, National Academy of Sciences, Ukraine) at Terskol Observatory. The objectives of this study are to detect, catalog, and determine the physical characteristics of small-sized space debris fragments, maintain orbit catalogs, and investigate the influence of nongravitational perturbations on the orbital motion and the evolution of orbits of these fragments.     

The Mars oxidant experiment (MOx) for Mars '96

The MOx instrument was developed to characterize the reactive nature of the martian soil. The objectives of MOx were: (1) to measure the rate of degradation of organics in the martian environment; (2) to determine if the reactions seen by the Viking biology experiments were caused by a soil oxidant and measure the reactivity of the soil and atmosphere: (3) to monitor the degradation, when exposed to the martian environment, of materials of potential use in future missions; and, finally, (4) to develop technologies and approaches that can be part of future soil analysis instrumentation. The basic approach taken in the MOx instrument was to place a variety of materials composed as thin films in contact with the soil and monitor the physical and chemical changes that result. The optical reflectance of the thin films was the primary sensing-mode. Thin films of organic materials, metals, and semiconductors were prepared. Laboratory simulations demonstrated the response of thin films to active oxidants.