NOTICE: Due to a lapse in annual appropriations, most of this website is not being updated. Learn more.
Form submissions will still be accepted but will not receive responses at this time. Sections of this site for programs using non-appropriated funds (such as NVLAP) or those that are excepted from the shutdown (such as CHIPS and NVD) will continue to be updated.
An official website of the United States government
Here’s how you know
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
S I. Stoliarov, H Zhang, P R. Westmoreland, R Lyon, Marc R. Nyden
Applications presented in this work demonstrate the potential for using quantum mechanics and molecular simulations to determine the mechanisms and rates of the thermal decomposition of polymers. The expectation is that these capabilities can be used to
Non-piloted ignition processes of a thin poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) sheet (0. 2 mm thick) by a laser beam as an external radiant source are investigated by the three-dimensional, time-dependent numerical calculation. The effects of the sample
P H. Maupin, Jeffrey W. Gilman, Richard H. Harris Jr., S Bellayer, Anthony J. Bur, S C. Roth, A B. Morgan, J R. Harris, M Murariu
Laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy of the optical probe Nile Blue A in polymer clay nanocomposites is described. Concentration quenching of fluorescence dominates probe behavior until the clay platelets are physically separated by polymer
A common method of controlling building pressurization with variable-air-volume air-handling units is to control the return fan to provide a constant differential airflow rate between the supply and return air ducts. Simulation and experimental results for
The report provides a list of guidelines for integrating two software programs that are extensively used by agencies of the federal government to evaluate the cost effectiveness of building-related investments, mainly for energy and water conservation
Michael A. Taylor, Edward Garboczi, S T. Erdogan, D Fowler
This paper discusses some of the properties of irregular particles that are of interest to engineers, including volume, density, & surface area. Numerical and statistical information on these properties is essential (a) for a better understanding of
Fires occurring in dense occupancies such as hospitals, dormitories, and nursing homes pose a serious threat to occupants due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. This risk is becoming increasingly important as the population demographics of developed
R Zhang, Xiaohong Gu, H Chen, J Zhang, Y Li, Tinh Nguyen, T C. Sandreczki, Y C. Jean
Slow positron annihilation spectroscopy (SPAS) has been used to study the early stage of epoxy photodegradation. Spin-coated samples of a crosslinked epoxy were prepared by stoichiometrically mixing a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A epoxy resin with 1,3
A novel family of siloxy-containing imidazolium ionic liquids was synthesized and their thermal and decomposition properties studied. Three of the four compounds exhibited an unexpectedly low decomposition temperature of ca. 200 C that appears to be due to
Joseph Langat, S Bellayer, P Hudrlik, A Hudrlik, P H. Maupin, Jeffrey W. Gilman, D T. Raghavan
Considerable research has been conducted in improving the performance characteristics of nanocomposites, however, relatively few attempts have been made to address the thermal stability of nanocomposite. An attempt is being made to improve the thermal
D M. Fox, Jeffrey W. Gilman, Hugh C. De Long, Paul C. Trulove
Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) has been used to determine the kinetics of decomposition for 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (DMBIBF4) and to identify the effects of contaminants on the decomposition temperatures. Data was collected
Paul Croce, William L. Grosshandler, Richard W. Bukowski, L A. Gritzo
The International Forum of Fire Research Directors (FORUM) periodically takes a position on a technical issue of international significance confronting the fire safety research community. The position of the FORUM on performance-based regulations, codes
S T. Erdogan, P N. Quiroga, D Fowler, H A. Saleh, Richard A. Livingston, Edward Garboczi, Peter M. Ketcham, John G. Hagedorn, Steven G. Satterfield
The shape of aggregates used in concrete is an important parameter that helps determine many concrete properties. The mathematical technique of spherical harmonic analysis was recently demonstrated to be able to effectively analyze three dimensional
Many devices have been used to generate data on the toxic potency of smoke from burning products and materials. This paper critically reviews those apparatus and sorts them by the combustion conditions (related to a type of fire) producing the smoke, the
The kinetics of methanol transport in 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) homopolymer and 75/25 and 50/50 mole fraction HEMA/DHPMA (2,3-dihydroxypropyl methacrylate) copolymers at five different temperatures has been investigated using the sorption
Y N. Nakamura, Takashi Kashiwagi, S L. Olson, K K. Nishizawa, O -. Fujita
A series of the experiments was conducted in microgravity to study the ignition characteristics of a thin PMMA sheet (thicknesses of 0.2 mm and 0. 4 mm) using a CO2 laser as an external radiant source. Two separate ignition events were observed, the first
One of the recommendations of the National Construction Safety Team for the Federal Building and Fire Safety Investigation of the World Trade Center Disaster (NIST NCSTAR 1, 2005) is to enhance the performance-based capability of available computational
To achieve structures that are risk-consistent, structural reliability methods must be used that account for uncertainties with respect to the relevant parameters affecting the estimation of wind effects. In this paper we obtain measures of uncertainties
A procedure for the evaluation of wind-induced torsional vibrations of tall buildings is proposed. The procedure is capable of accounting for the time-dependent eccentricity of the aerodynamic forces on the building surface with respect to the elastic
Although the wind load provisions of many modern building codes are based on the results of wind tunnel testing, some effects of model scale and pressure tap quantity are still not well understood. Using test data obtained at two different scales for a low
The NIST Construction Metrology and Automation Group (CMAG), at the suggestion of various members of the CII FIATECH consortium, investigated the possibility of developing an economical, rugged system for approximate localization of crafts and trades
Joshua D. Kneifel, Anne Landfield Greig, Priya Lavappa, Brian Polidoro
Building stakeholders need practical metrics, data, and tools to support decisions related to sustainable building product selection. The Engineering Laboratory of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has addressed this national need
Fast and accurate prediction of hurricane evolution from genesis onwards is needed to reduce loss of life and enhance community resilience. In this work, a novel model development methodology for predicting storm trajectory is proposed based on two classes