Fact sheet written for the Inventions and Innovation Program about a new composite-reinforced aluminum conductor for utility transmission and distribution. The millions of people affected by a blackout in the western US, Canada, and parts of Mexico in July 1996 had no idea the power outage was caused by overloaded transmission lines sagging low enough to touch trees. Millions of New Englanders affected by power outages during the 1997--98 winter probably weren't aware that accumulations of ice and snow on transmission lines had caused the lines to snap. Yet, these two examples illustrate the urgent need to begin upgrading this country's aging electrical-power distribution systems. A key step in this process lies in improving the weight and conductivity characteristics of utility transmission and distribution lines. Conventional conductors used for overhead transmission and distribution lines are comprised of aluminum strands of wire wrapped around a steel core. The aluminum serves as the electrical conductor, while the steel provides mechanical support. This hybrid design results in an excellent weight-to-conductivity ratio, but it also yields a heavier product, which requires stronger and more costly support structures and limits conductivity. W. Brandt Goldsworthy and Associates, Inc., of Torrance, California, is developing a new composite-reinforced …

The production of primary metal from ores has long been a necessary, but environmentally devastating process. Over the past 20 years, in an effort to lessen environmental impacts, the metal processing industry has developed methods for recovering metal values from certain hazardous wastes. However, these processes leave residual molten slag that requires disposal in hazardous waste landfills. A new process recovers valuable metals, metal alloys, and metal oxides from hazardous wastes, such as electric arc furnace (EAF) dust from steel mills, mill scale, spent aluminum pot liners, and wastewater treatment sludge from electroplating. At the same time, the process does not create residual waste for disposal. This new method uses all wastes from metal production processes. These hazardous materials are converted to three valuable products - mineral wool, zinc oxide, and high-grade iron.

The project shown in this fact sheet uses ''break points,'' where the cost of the energy-efficient features are balanced by the reductions of other construction costs. The goal of the Building America program is to produce energy efficient, environmentally sensitive, affordable, and adaptable residences on a community scale.

The Technology Cooperation Agreement Pilot Project (TCAPP) was launched by several U.S. Government agencies (USAID, EPA and DOE) in August 1997 to establish a model for climate change technology cooperation with developing and transition countries. TCAPP is currently facilitating voluntary partnerships between the governments of Brazil, China, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mexico, and the Philippines, the private sector, and the donor community on a common set of actions that will advance implementation of clean energy technologies. The six participating countries have been actively engaged in shaping this initiative along with international donors and the private sector. This program helps fulfill the US obligation to support technology transfer to developing countries under Article 4.5 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. TCAPP also provides a mechanism to focus resources across international donor programs on the technology cooperation needs of developing and transition countries.

Interview with Richard Griffin about his experiences while employed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. He discusses his childhood in Minneapolis, Minnesota; joining the CCC; assignment to Company 708 at Camp Rabideau in Blackduck, Minnesota; description of camp; life in camp.

Interview with Paul Stein, an Army veteran (2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard), member of the "Lost Battalion." His experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II. Fall of Java and capture; imprisonment in Surabaya, 1942; Changi Prison Camp, Singapore, 1942; hell ship to Japan, 1943; Nagasaki shipyards, 1943-45; Orio, Kyushu, 1945, and American air raids; liberation; description of damage at Nagasaki after the dropping of the atomic bomb.

Interview with Lanson B. Ditto, clothier and Navy veteran regarding personal experiences about the Pacific, Atlantic, and Mediterranean Theaters during World War II. Ditto talks about his education, enlistment in the Navy V-7 Program, midshipman training, assignment to the USS Langley, pre-war duty in the Philippines, coming of war and combat around the Philippines and Netherlands East Indies, the sinking of the Langley and his transfer to the USS Pecos, the sinking of the Pecos and his rescue by the USS Whipple, various naval battles and assignments, antisubmarine patrols off the Solomons, various escort duties, and his promotion to captain of the O'Toole.

Ledger containing minutes of the City Council in Abilene, Texas documenting the group's discussions and activities from January 11, 1996 to December 19, 1996.

An in situ experimental technique is described that allows high resolution, high sensitivity determination of displacements and full-field strains during high temperature mechanical testing. The technique is used to investigate elevated temperature crack growth in SiC/Nicalon sub f composites. At 1150 degrees C, the reinforcing fibers have a higher creep susceptibility than the matrix. Fiber creep leads to relaxation of crack bridging tractions, resulting in subcritical crack growth. Differential image analysis is used to measure the crack opening displacement profile u(x) of an advancing, bridged crack. With appropriate modeling, such data can be used to determine the traction law, from which the mechanics of cracking and failure may be determined.

Interview with Albert Boggs, a former member of the Civilian Conservation Corps from Mixon, Oklahoma. Boggs discusses his family life, farming, struggles during the Depression, joining the CCC, his first assignment to a camp at Jacksonville, TX, education, camp life and organization, work, fights in camp, transfer to a camp in Waxahachie, being an assistant leader, building bridges, the kinds of people who worked the camp, and some general reflections. In appendix are Boggs' discharge papers and a newsletter commemorating CCC veterans.

Interview with Garfield Thompson, a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps from Fort Worth, Texas. Thompson discusses his family background and education, the effects of the Great Depression, Republicans, the New Deal, joining the CCC and assignment to Company 812 in Cache, Oklahoma, the layout of the camp, projects worked, routine, recreation and leave, discharge, and reflections on the program.

Interview with Forrest Biard, a United States Navy veteran from Bonham, Texas, regarding his experiences and memories of World War II while serving as a cryptanalyst. Biard discusses his education, learning Japanese in Japan right before the war hit, codes, Pearl Harbor, and Midway.

Interview with schoolteacher A. Tennyson Miller from Denton, Texas. In the interview, Miller reflects on his experiences as a teacher and coach at the Fredrick Douglass School during the late 1930's and early 1940's, which was before the school was integrated. He comments on Principal Fred Moore and segregated education in Denton. Tennyson also discusses his admission to the doctoral program at North Texas State College, which broke racial barriers in 1954.

Interview with Allen S. Kilborn, U.S. Army veteran, concerning his experiences as an Army officer in the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. Kilborn worked at camps in Winterset, Iowa (Company 2726); Leon, Iowa (Company 783); Tarkio, Missouri (Company 1742); Gallatin, Missouri (Company 1742); and Harrisonville, Missouri (Company 3773).

Interview with Allen S. Kilborn, a former member of the Civilian Conservation Corps from Boone, Iowa, regarding his experiences and memories of participating in the CCC during the Great Depression.

Interview with Robert Toulouse, Dean of the University of North Texas Graduate School from Denton, Texas. Toulouse discusses the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and his involvement in the merger of the college with NTSU/UNT.

Interview with James W. Huffman, a Navy WWII veteran and POW from Los Angeles, California, who survived the sinking of the USS Houston (CA-30). Huffman discusses joining the Navy; service aboard the Houston and changes in training as war neared; early operations in the war; the Battle of Sundra Strait and sinking; surviving in Java; capture by the Japanese; various experiences in internment at Bicycle Camp in Batavia, Changi Camp in Singapore, Thanbyuzayat, several camps on the Burma Railway, and Tamarkan in Thailand; and liberation.

Ledger containing minutes of the City Council in Abilene, Texas documenting the group's discussions and activities from January to December 1990.