SwRI Technical Areas

Engines, Fuels, Lubricants, and Vehicle Systems

Advanced Vehicle Technology
The Advanced Vehicle Technology section in the Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division emphasizes software and hardware approaches to vehicle research and development. The scope and activity of the section include modeling and simulation, technical design, evaluation, prototype development and vehicle component testing.

Biodiesel Fuel Technology
With more than 55 years of research, development, and evaluation in fuels and lubricants, SwRI has extensive experience in preparing and analyzing conventional and alternative fuels. The SwRI blend of field experience, engineering and chemical skills, and design and fabrication capabilities offers an interdisciplinary approach to fuel-related services.

Clean Diesel IV Consortium
The Clean Diesel IV Consortium is a four-year cooperative research program with more than 30 members including light-duty, heavy-duty, and off-road engine manufacturers, component suppliers, and oil and fuel companies from around the world.

Drivetrain Engineering
Since 1990, the transmission test facility and capabilities for transmission testing and development have been aggressively developed in the Drivetrain Engineering Section of Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). To date, SwRI has evaluated transmissions ranging in size from 1.6- to 8.0-L engine applications produced by manufacturers from around the world.

Engine Design
The SwRI Engine Design Section specializes in design and analysis of engines including mechanical design and analysis as well as thermodynamic analyses of engine performance.

Evaluation of Oil Corrosiveness
The standard test methods for evaluating the corrosiveness of diesel engine oil, ASTM D6594 and ASTM D5968, are bench tests that evaluate diesel engine lubricants to determine their tendency to corrode alloys of lead and copper.

Fleet and Field Evaluations
Fleet testing is often the final important phase of vehicle research that provides proof of performance and comparative data under actual operational conditions.

FOCAS: Gasoline Burner-Based Catalyst Aging System
SwRI has developed a burner-based exhaust catalyst aging system that provides many advantages over engine-based aging methods.

Fuel Cell Technology
Fuel cells are becoming an important part of the world’s energy mix. SwRI’s wide range of expertise enables conception and development of new fuel cell chemistries and architectures, enhancement of chemical conversions and manufacturing processes, and integration of fuel cells with the devices they power.

Fuel Economy Testing
Southwest Research Institute has more than 20 years of experience conducting SAE fuel economy evaluation procedures (J1264, J1321, J1376, and J1526) that have been used to generate fuel economy results accepted by the U.S. trucking industry.

Fuel Systems and Contamination Research
Excessive wear and malfunctions in automotive systems are often caused by contaminants or small particles that may be built in, self generated, or ingested from the environment. SwRI address these contamination problems using a multidisciplinary approach.

Gasoline Two-Stroke Cycle Lubricants
Concern about energy conservation and environmental pollution has led to leaner oil-to-fuel ratios, which, in turn, have affected lubricant requirements. Exhaust emissions reduction could contribute to a two-stroke cycle engine’s viability in the future. Southwest Research Institute evaluates lubricants used in two-stroke cycle, air-cooled engines using the ASTM-TC and JASO test sequences.

Heavy-Duty Emissions Measurement in High-Altitude Departments
SwRI has developed a transient-capable test cell that provides a range of environmental conditions for heavy-duty diesel engine products that meet the challenges of stringent emission control. This "Super Cell" has the capacity to evaluate engines from 100 to 750 hp while applying altitude-like conditions to both engine intake and exhaust during transient and steady-state operation.

HEDGE Consortium
SwRI is conducting a four-year consortium to develop  a high-efficiency gasoline engine. HEDGE seeks to improve gasoline engine technology for light- and heavy-duty applications.

Hydraulic Systems Design and Development
Hydraulic fluid power systems produce unparalleled levels of power with tremendous flexibility and minimal size and weight requirements. SwRI is uniquely qualified to aid clients in developing specialty hydraulic systems and components while identifying and resolving pneumatic and hydraulic fluid power problems.

Hydrogen Technology Information
The hydrogen technology information project will provide a report describing and evaluating the status and future prospect for generating hydrogen for use as an automotive fuel using energy derived from fission nuclear reactors. The work will focus on hydrogen generation and reactor technologies that have a reasonable likelihood of being deployed within the next 50 years in the United States.

International Lubricant Evaluations
SwRI performs a number of international lubricant tests and evaluations that fall under ACEA Engine Procedures and ACEA Laboratory Tests.

Locomotive Testing
Southwest Research Institute has more than 30 years of experience in locomotive engine research.

Measuring Fine, Ultrafine, and Nanoparticle Emissions from Engines
Southwest Research Institute is a pioneer in automotive emission research. The Institute offers clients a broad range of capabilities for understanding and measuring exhaust particulate mass and assists industry and government clients in developing and evaluating technologies to meet present and future standards. 

Motorcycle Technology
SwRI has assembled a Motorcycle Development Team to provide services ranging from concept design to durability and verification testing. This dedicated team of motorcycle enthusiasts assists motorcycle and high-power engine manufacturers in their efforts to produce world-class vehicles.

Tractor Testing and Technology
SwRI has more than 30 years of experience in tractor testing and technology. The Institute is recognized as a leader in the lubricant testing field.

Turbocharger Test Facility
To meet engine requirements for power output, efficiency, and emissions reduction, turbochargers must be optimized for efficiency and matched to the specific engine. Southwest Research Institute maintains a state-of-the-art test facility in which turbochargers can be tested without the added complexity of an engine test cell setup.

Universal Synthetic Gas Reactor™ 
The Universal Synthetic Gas Reactor™ (USGR™), developed by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), is used to test the performance of small-core catalysts. The USGR evaluates the performance of catalyst technologies in several applications.

Vehicle Research and Development
Vehicle components are designed, evaluated, and developed by the Vehicle Research and Development group at SwRI. Vehicle components are designed using state-of-the-art solid modeling Pro/Engineer^® CAD workstations, which also allow structural and thermal finite element analyses. To improve performance, efficiency, and durability, vehicle components are developed using the latest equipment in modern facilities.

Automation, Bioengineering, Avionics, and Training Systems

Automated Video Security
Southwest Research Institute has developed unique capabilities to provide heightened security and surveillance for a variety of applications. The cornerstone of this capability is our expertise and experience in real-time image processing and machine perception. Video surveillance can provide automatic detection of people and vehicles in video feeds from multiple CCTV (closed circuit TV) cameras.

Bioengineering
For more than 25 years, the SwRI Bioengineering Section has supported the healthcare industry through innovative research and development.

Cyber Security and Information Assurance
Southwest Research Institute is an active participant in the community of researchers working to improve the security of our global networking infrastructure. As a member of national working groups in cyber security, SwRI is involved in examining issues, threats, and areas that could benefit from additional research and development.

EMC
The Electromagnetic Compatibility Research (EMCR) Section at Southwest Research Institute provides full-service EMC support for testing, design, and analyses. SwRI strives to give clients the best and most complete EMC services at a reasonable cost. Since 1956, SwRI has developed EMC standards, specifications, hardware, and software for a wide range of EMC applications.

Machine Vision
Machine or computer vision can provide the same functions as the human eye. By using visible and infrared cameras, imaging scanners, ultrasonic probes, and other sensors, computer vision gathers data for processing by machines.

Manufacturing Systems
SwRI provides advanced automated systems and solutions -- from "clean-sheet" feasibility studies to sophisticated "turnkey" systems -- to help commercial and government clients achieve dramatic gains in productivity and product quality.

Medical Device Development
For more than 25 years, the Bioengineering Department at SwRI has performed medical device design, development, and testing in support of the healthcare industry.

Process Monitoring Technology
SwRI uses a multitude of technological capabilities and expertise to develop and apply sensor technology and monitoring techniques for even the most stringent of process control requirements.

Software-Defined Radio
A software-defined radio (SDR) uses software to modulate and demodulate digitized radio signals. An SDR performs signal processing using software algorithms, producing a radio that receives and transmits signals in a software-controllable fashion. SwRI engineers have conducted research and development projects on many different aspects of SDR.

Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC)
The Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) enables small manufacturers to better compete in the international marketplace. TMAC's charge is to expand and improve manufacturing throughout Texas. The center uses federal and industry funding combined with existing private and public resources to improve the work place and workforce in the state.

Training, Simulation, and Performance Improvement
The Training, Simulation, and Performance Improvement department develops technologies and applies systems engineering processes to produce complete solutions to simulation, training, and high technology system problems.

Workforce Development
Organizations are interested in developing their workforce for greater productivity and overall job satisfaction. This commitment to attaining training goals requires an investment.

Materials Research and Structural Mechanics

Fluid Dynamics and Multiphase Flow
With more than 50 years of experience in fluid and multiphase flow technologies, Southwest Research Institute has emerged as a world leader in providing comprehensive, state-of-the-art solutions to fluid dynamic needs.

Gas Turbines and Centro de Tecnología de Turbinas de Gas
The gas turbine industry continually challenges engineers to design, construct, and operate reliable and efficient turbines that meet market needs and respect the environment.  SwRI works with users, suppliers, and manufacturers of gas turbines, providing technical services, expertise, and research facilities to meet the challenge. 

Integrity and Reliability Software
Southwest Research Institute has extensive experience in the development and application of advanced methods for component life prediction and probabilistic structural analysis. Many of these advanced methods are now available as licensable software tools with user-friendly graphical user interfaces. 

Ion Surface Engineering
The ion surface engineering program at SwRI is an applied research and development and contract program for the practical treatment of materials and components using energetic ion beams. Processes include ion implantation of gaseous ions and ion beam assisted deposition of metals, ceramics, and diamond-like carbon.

Mechanical Testing
The Mechanical Testing Section of the Mechanical and Materials Engineering Division at Southwest Research Institute™ is housed in the Solid and Fracture Mechanics Laboratory, a high-bay facility equipped with more than 20 uniaxial, servohydraulic loading frames that focuses on experimental investigations of structural integrity (fatigue and fracture) and physical measurement of mechanical properties.

NASGRO
NASGRO is a fracture mechanics and fatigue crack growth analysis software, which analyzes fatigue crack growth and fracture, performs assessments of structural life, computes stresses, and processes and stores fatigue crack growth properties.

NESSUS
NESSUS, a modular computer software system for performing probabilistic analysis of structural/mechanical components and systems, combines state-of-the-art probabilistic algorithms with general-purpose numerical analysis methods to compute the probabilistic response and reliability of engineered systems.

Probabilistic Fracture Mechanics
SwRI developed a probabilistic-based damage tolerance computer program called DARWIN™ (Design Assessment of Reliability With INspection). This software integrates finite element stress analysis results, fracture mechanics-based life assessment for low-cycle fatigue material anomaly data, probability of anomaly detection, and inspection schedules to predict the probability of fracture as a function of applied operating cycles.

Space Science

Space Plasma Physics Web Page
This page hosts one of the largest collections of space plasma physics information available on the Internet.

Space Studies Web Page
The capabilities of the space studies group, located in Boulder, Colorado, expand SwRI's research efforts in planetary, astrophysical, and earth sciences.

Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses

Engineering Dynamics

Blast Containment Design
Containment structures are required for explosives processing, testing and demilitarization. SwRI has the expertise in blast effects, field testing, numerical modeling, fabrication, and environmental monitoring needed to solve unique blast containment problems. The Engineering Dynamics Department staff is knowledgeable on containment problems from conceptual design through fabrication, proof testing, and installation.

Computational Mechanics 
The Institute uses SwRI-developed and existing state-of-the-art computational tools, such as hydrocodes, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes, and engineering codes to investigate and study a broad range of problems such as penetration mechanics, computational constitutive modeling, turbulent fluid flow, complex fluid flows, large deformation material response, failure response, multiphase flow, and fate and transport modeling, using large-scale numerical and computational simulations, parallel computing, and scientific visualization.

Engineering Dynamics
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) engineering dynamics specialists study the nonlinear response of materials (solids and fluids), structures, and natural and engineered systems – in particular, the behavior of materials and structures subjected to large deformations at high strain rates – often to failure.

Explosion Hazards Evaluation
Accidental explosions and deliberate bombings by criminals and terrorists cause extensive structural and property damage, personal injury, and loss of life. SwRI provides practical solutions to problems associated with blast effects, fragmentation, penetration, and protection. The SwRI Engineering Dynamics Department offers a unique blend of experimental, analytical, and numerical expertise that permits a multifaceted approach to solving safety problems.

Fragmentation and Debris Dispersion Measurement and Prediction
(www.swri.org/4org/d18/engdyn/survmech/fragdeb/default.htm)
SwRI is involved in the measurement and prediction of debris launch characteristics and debris dispersion. The SwRI Engineering Dynamics Department combines experimental and analytical capabilities to develop debris prediction software, validated with data that can be used to conduct quantity-distance evaluations or explosive accident forensics.

Impact Shield Design and Testing
SwRI designs and tests unique impact shielding concepts to protect key assets and personnel from blast and fragmentation hazards resulting from the release and initiation of energetic materials. The SwRI Engineering Dynamics Department can develop impact shields from concept design to fabrication of final containment products, including experimental and numerical validation testing.

Measurement of Ballistic and Explosive Events
SwRI conducts fully instrumented, high-fidelity experiments to examine impact, penetration, and blast phenomena. The SwRI Ballistic and Explosion Test Facility has a variety of instrumentation, data recording and reduction systems available to measure, record, and analyze data. 

Signal Exploitation and Geolocation

Transitioning from Design to Production Using Leading-Edge Technology
 

Radiolocation Testing Range
 

Nondestructive Evaluation, Geosciences, and Electronics

Corrosion Science and Engineering
Experienced corrosion engineers and scientists at SwRI perform technical assistance and research related to corrosion risk assessment and mitigation. Multidisciplinary teams provide timely and cost effective solutions to any corrosion problem. 

Electronic and Electrical Component Analysis
Failure analysis and construction analysis of electronic and electrical components have been the primary emphases of the SwRI Component-Analysis Group since 1978. Using specialized equipment, experienced analysts perform package opening and decapsulation, microscopy, mounted and unmounted cross sectioning, plasma etching, wet-chemical etching and material removal, microprobing, hermeticity testing, wire-bond strength measurement, and particle-impact-noise detection.

Environmental Assessment Services Under NEPA
Southwest Research Institute has more than 20 years of experience working with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which requires federal agencies to consider the environmental impacts of proposed actions. Compliance with NEPA requires publicly accessible documents that integrate complex technical and policy issues.

Geomagnetic Research and Development
SwRI has developed methods for conducting high-resolution magnetic surveys that enable scientists and engineers to map shallow subsurfaces in greater detail and with more ease than ever before. A combination of geophysical surveying techniques, map processing, and geophysical modeling capabilities produces reliable results for applications as diverse as nuclear power plant siting, environmental remediation, and volcanic hazards assessment.

Geoscience Services for the Oil and Gas Industry
The Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses applies its extensive field, laboratory, and modeling expertise to provide innovative solutions for exploration and production problems in geologically complex settings.

Managing Water Resources in Karst Terranes
Southwest Research Institute established a karst hydrology program to address the environmental and water resources management challenges associated with karst aquifers.

MEMS (Microelectromechanical Systems)
The greatest promise of MEMS lies in its ability to produce mechanical motion on a very small scale. Such devices are typically low power and fast, taking advantage of such microscale phenomenon as strong electrostatic forces and rapid thermal responses.

Near Surface Geophysics
SwRI conducts integrated, high-resolution, geophysical surveys to characterize subsurface geological environments using surface-based electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic, gravity, and ground-penetrating radar measurements. These noninvasive measurements provide data at a variety of scales, from the regional geologic setting to the site-specific level.

Sensor Systems and Nondestructive Evaluation Technology Web Page
SwRI staff working in this area have expertise in electromagnetics, stress measurement, ultrasonics, and systems development.

Rapid Prototyping Capabilities
SwRI offers rapid prototyping services using ABS plastic. SwRI's FDM 2000 produces fully functional prototypes as large as 10"x10"x10" with an accuracy of ±0.005" from ABS plastic. The thinnest wall capability is 0.010", and white and black are the available colors. The resulting ABS parts have 85 percent of the strength of an actual injection molded part; and larger parts are produced by bonding multiple pieces together.

Reservoir Geophysics Research Program
SwRI's reservoir geophysics group specializes in seismic, acoustic, and electromagnetic analysis, modeling, and visualization. Scientists deliver effective solutions in areas such as reservoir characterization, cavity detection, and environmental geophysics. Key technical strengths include interpretation and modeling of interwell seismic measurements integrated with geological and well log data.

Environmental Sciences and Engineering

Environmental Testing Services (NEBS)
SwRI offers a one-stop engineering and testing organization for NEBS (Telcordia Network Equipment-Building System) compliance testing. All NEBS tests are performed on shelf-level and frame-level equipment, in one location.

Fire Technology

Fire Technology
As one of the largest organizations dedicated to fire research and testing, the Institute has test facilities and a full-time experienced staff in physical and analytical chemistry; chemical, mechanical, civil, structural, and fire protection engineering; physics; computer science, fire services technology, and toxicology.

Microencapsulation and Controlled Release

Microencapsulation and Controlled Release
SwRI has more than 50 years experience in microencapsulation and controlled release. Custom-made microspheres and microcapsules are provided to customers in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, consumer and personal care products, agricultural, veterinary medicine, industrial chemicals, biotechnology, biomedical, and sensor industries.