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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Contents

1 Foreword

2 National Engineering Laboratory

2 Anticipating Calibration Needs

2 Measuring Electromagnetic Radiation

3 Testing Integrated Circuits 4 Preparing for the Manufacturing Future

5 Measuring Process Flow

5 Predicting Fire Growth

6 Improving Structural Safety

8 National Measurement Laboratory

8 Improving Materials Processing

9 Studying Surface Properties 10 Expanding the Measurement Frontier

1 1 Developing New Measurement Techniques

1 1 Ensuring Measurement Accuracy

13 Institute for Computer Sciences and Technology

13 Facilitating Networking

14 Using Database Management Systems Effectively

15 Improving Computer Security

16 Revising COBOL

17 Services and Special Programs

17 Calibration Services

IV Standard Reference Materials

1 7 National Standard Reference Data System

1 8 Measurement Assurance Program Services

18 Standards and Certification Information Service

19 Energy-Related Inventions Program

19 Research Associate Program

19 State and Local Liaison

19 Guest Worker Program

20 Postdoctoral Research Associate Program

20 Information Services

20 Publications

21 Resources

22 Directory
Foreword

FOR over 80 years the National Bureau of Standards has pro- vided the basis for uniform and

accurate measurements throughout the U.S. economy. When the Bureau was

established most precision measuring in- struments were foreign-made. Even

those produced in the United States had

to be calibrated abroad. Many measure- ment procedures were inadequate—as in the newly emerging area of electricity measurements. Manufacturers lacked

standards and methods for assuring

quality control in the production of materials and products. They needed a better understanding of the materials they were working with. Since then NBS research has laid the groundwork for undreamed of advances

in electricity, aviation, automotive engineering, and materials. It has provided

essential improvements in electrical standards and developed better standards of length and new standards of light,

temperature, and time. In fact, fre- quency measurements completed re- cently by NBS scientists make it possible for the first time to tie all measure- ments of time and length to a single very precise standard. And, the Bureau

has pioneered work in aeronautics,

radio, and cryogenics.

Today, as always, our goal is to maintain and improve the Nation's measurement capabilities. By doing so, we

contribute directly to the competitiveness of U.S. industry, we help other Federal agencies and State and local governments to meet their goals, and

we assist the scientific and engineering

communities as they search for solutions

to their measurement problems.

Of course, our programs change in response to new demands. Years ago we checked the accuracy of railroad watches against a standard pendulum

clock; today, our cesium-beam clock can be referenced nationwide via radio and satellite broadcasts. But our basic mission—that of serving the Nation's

economy by providing technical support—is unchanged.

As a nonregulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, NBS

provides the measurement foundation

needed by an industrial economy. By

this I mean we work on the standards,

measurement techniques, reference data,

test methods, and calibration services

that help to ensure national and international measurement capability and compatibility. We have, for example, de- veloped linewidth measurement methods

and artifacts that the semiconductor in- dustry uses to calibrate its process in- strumentation and research equipment.

In another case, we have designed a system called resonance neutron radiography, a powerful new tool for inspecting objects without damaging them.

The value of our work grows in di- rect proportion to its responsiveness and

usefulness to others. A prime example

of our close collaboration with our

clients is the Research Associate Pro- gram. Since the 1920's scientists and

engineers working for various private

organizations have come to the Bureau

to undertake projects of mutual interest. Through the program, NBS is now host- ing over 100 scientists and engineers

who are working with NBS researchers on a wide range of projects, including

materials research, analytical chemistry,

standard reference data, and time and

frequency measurements. The program gives research as- sociates the opportunity to develop,

learn, and take new skills back to their companies and organizations. It also al- lows them to benefit from the use of

NBS facilities and from collaboration and consultations with the NBS professional staff. At the same time, NBS

gains the services of highly trained professionals and learns firsthand the views

and needs of the industrial community.

With the information we get from

these interactions—as well as many

others—we determine the measurement

capabilities required to facilitate the prompt introduction of new technologies

that will strengthen our economy. As

you read through this report of our work

over the past 2 years, you will see we

are working today to lay the measure- ment foundation for the technologies our clients will be using tomorrow.

Ernest Ambler

Director

1
National Engineering

Laboratory

FROM basic studies of the subtle behavior of microelectronic

circuits to its work in engineering standards, the staff of the National

Engineering Laboratory apply the Bureau's resources and basic skills in

scientific measurement to a broad

spectrum of national concerns. NEL scientists and engineers conduct research in engineering and the

applied sciences, studying problems in electronics, automation and manufacturing, chemical engineering, the behavior (and prevention) of fires, and

the design -and construction of buildings. NEL research and services in applied mathematical and computer

sciences support technical programs

throughout the Bureau.

Selected examples of research in these areas over the past 2 years

follow.

Anticipating Calibration

Needs

One activity cuts across all NEL

programs: measurement, or calibration, services. NEL provides measurement services for mass, force, fluid flow, density, humidity, microwave

power, antennas, accelerometers, laser power, and electrical metering. For

example, the watt hour meter calibra- tion is the basis for ensuring accurate

electric utility bills for every homeowner or apartment dweller in the United States. NEL, also, maintains

the world's standard against which it calibrates transfer gauges for the threads of pipes used in drilling oil wells—a service that is of growing

importance with the trend to deeper

oil wells.

Greater use of rapidly changing

technologies such as digital signal processing, optical fiber transmission, and

higher data transmission rates has

sparked demand for new or improved

calibration services from the Bureau. For instance, NEL has initiated a new

calibration service for analog-todigital (A/D) and digital-to-analog

(D/ A) data converters, vital elements

of modern measurement equipment

which link analog phenomena to the world of digital computing and data

processing.

Based on a special reference 20-bit D/ A converter developed by NEL

engineers, the new calibration service supports a class of devices with an

estimated annual market of $600 million. The service will help manufacturers and users of A/ D and D/ A converters meet a variety of measurement

needs, including testing individual converters destined for highly demanding applications, satisfying traceability

requirements imposed by military or government contracts, verifying their own test procedures through the use of

transfer standards, checking the per- formance of converters used in auto- matic test equipment, and testing

experimental converter designs during

development.

To help assure the speed and accuracy that will be required in future

services. NEL researchers have devel- oped and demonstrated on a research

basis an A/ D signal converter that is the fastest yet produced. This device,

based on superconducting Josephson

junction technology, can deliver 6-bit resolution for 4 billion samples per

second. Data conversion rates of this order will be required for metrology in emerging digital transmission and

radar systems and for a coming generation of measurement systems for very

fast transient events. NEL researchers are working to improve the capability

of the device, a key element of the

metrological capability needed to support the ultra-high-speed technology

of gigabit electronics. Josephson junctions are also the

basis of a number of extremely sensitive measurement devices and standards used

at NBS. NEL researchers recently made

a valuable addition to our knowledge of

the behavior of these devices. Using

sophisticated methods of computer modeling and numerical analysis, they are studying "chaos" in Josephson junctions."Chaos" is the name researchers have given to what—theoretically—can happen in a wide variety of physical

systems. Under certain narrow conditions, systems which usually follow comparatively simple, rigid mathematical patterns behave very erratically.

NEL researchers showed that chaotic

behavior can take place in Josephson

junctions, under the right conditions,

and seriously affect the performance of

the instrument involved. Such behavior

has been confirmed through indirect ex- periments. Mathematical models like the one produced in NEL demonstrate that

this rather esoteric phenomenon can

take on a practical importance for in- strument designers.

Measuring

Electromagnetic

Radiation

The effects of electromagnetic

radiation and problems with electro- magnetic interference are of concern

to all levels of government, industry,

and the public. Existing measurement

techniques and instrumentation are inadequate for determining the characteristics of the electromagnetic envir2
onment or the susceptibility of elec- tronic components to that environ- ment.NEL researchers are improving

techniques for measuring electromagnetic radiation and for measuring the response of electronically controlled

devices to such radiation. For example, NEL's electronic engineers have

developed two portable field monitors

to measure electromagnetic radiation: one measures the electric field and the other the magnetic field component.

The isotropic electric-field monitor

(EFM-5) covers the frequency range

200 kHz to 1000 MHz, which includes

the AM, FM, and TV broadcast bands

as well as special industrial applications. It responds to a wide range of

signal strengths with an accuracy of

±2 dB. Now produced commercially,

the EFM-5 is completely self- contained, portable, and intended for use by one person in a variety of

environments.

The portable, isotropic magneticfield monitor (MFM-10) gives accurate magnetic field measurements over

the frequency range 300 kHz to 100

MHz. Operating in this range are high-power industrial sources of radiofrequency energy such as sealers,

gluers, dryers, and induction heaters; the range also includes all the commercial AM and FM radio bands, TV

channels 2 through 6, most amateur

radio bands, and low-frequency industrial bands. Developed in cooperation

with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, MFM-10

was designed for characterizing workplace environments that contain high

magnetic-field components of electro- magnetic fields.

Testing Integrated

Circuits

NEL's work on semiconductors

provides the technical basis for voluntary standards for the buying and sell- ing of semiconductor production

equipment, materials, and devices. This effort responds to demands for new measurement capabilities,

demands generated by the markedly

smaller (micrometer and sub-micrometer) dimensions and the vastly

increased complexity of very large

scale integrated (VLSI) circuits. New

testing concepts as well as tighter control of dimensions, material purity,

and other parameters are required.

Since the 1970's, NEL research has

provided the semiconductor industry

with a number of special measurement

tools—microelectronic test structures. Similar in design and construction to

circuits used in integrated circuit "chips," test structures are used by

manufacturers to evaluate the perfor- mance of their manufacturing processes and estimate the yield of a pro- duction run of integrated circuit chips.

NEL researchers have designed a variety of structures to test key process parameters such as line width, sheet

resistivity, and random faults in metal

interconnects.

One of their most recent developments is a test structure for contact

resistance, the electrical resistance that occurs at the points where two differ- ent conducting layers of an integrated

circuit are connected through "windows" in an insulating layer. Until

recently, contact resistance was considered a fairly minor factor in the per- formance of integrated circuits. With

the trend toward VLSI, however, the

size of features in an integrated circuit has become progressively smaller,

while the number of individual fea- tures in a single circuit has increased

dramatically. Smaller contact windows

have meant larger values for contact

resistance, and so this once rather unimportant factor is becoming more

and more significant to the successful operation of the circuit. The new test structure for contact resistance not only manages the difficult task of

making direct measurements of contact resistance, but also minimizes a number of "parasitic" resistances (those generally associated with the contact resistance) which have contributed to the uncertainty of earlier measurements of this factor. Another NEL researcher has developed techniques to make extremely

sensitive spreading resistance profile

measurements of semiconductor devices. Both chemical stains and spreading resistance measurements on lapped

bevels are used to measure the loca- tion and depth of doped junction

regions in silicon chips, but modern

implant technologies are producing

such shallow layer depths and junction

thicknesses that they are nearly undetectable at present measurement levels. The improved techniques make use of very shallow angle bevels (about a thousandth of a radian) to expose the various layers of the device. Careful

preparation of both the specimen and

the resistance probes permits measurement of resistance profiles of

dopant layers as thin as 50 nanometers

with a vertical resolution of 1 to 2.5 nanometers in some cases. Preliminary

results suggest close to an order of

magnitude improvement over pre- viously published measurements.

3
Preparingfor the

Manufacturing Future

The discrete parts manufacturing

industries, which make parts for

aircraft, automobiles, and machine

tools, produce goods that account for 75 percent of all U.S. trade in manufactured goods. Although this sector of the U.S. economy includes 35

percent of all U.S. firms, 87 percent of

them have fewer than 50 employees.

These industries can reap significant

benefits from automation, and it now

appears they must automate to compete successfully in both foreign

and domestic markets.

NEL provides the basis for measurement assurance including

traceability to national standards and

assists in the development of voluntary

standards necessary for industry to automate successfully. NEL is now

focusing its research efforts on the completely automated small-batch

manufacturing system, which is made

up of metal-cutting machines, computers, terminals, robots, conveyors, and measuring or inspection systems.

Such a system produces a variety of

shapes and sizes of parts and may

proceed to assemble them into larger

systems.

Historically, the Bureau has

provided calibration services for measuring devices, such as micrometers, used in machine shops.

As machined parts have become more

complex, however, so have the measurement techniques, and it now

takes nearly as much time to make the measurement as it does to machine the

original parts. Further, the part is

measured after it is made, thus the measurement serves to make a

decision to accept or reject but does

not directly affect the manufacturing

process. In the future, with the advent

and availability of economical

computers, it is likely that the process can be designed to make only

acceptable parts. In principle, through

"deterministic metrology," it should

be possible to account for all the contributions to machine error, correct them in the software of the machine controller, and have a machine that cannot make a bad

part—except in the case of mechanical

failure in the system. NEL is working on the means and methods for providing traceability to national

standards that will be consistent with

this new way of looking at quality

control. These concepts are being applied

by NEL to a fully computerized

vertical milling machine, and they will be tested further in the automated

manufacturing research facility

(AMRF) being installed in the Bureau's machine shop. This is to be a

small, modular flexible manufacturing

system that will serve as a test bed to see if NEL's measurement concepts

will provide the assurance required by

industry.

NEL researchers work closely with

their counterparts in private industry on

this project, and industry has provided

much valuable support. Already, in the

early stages of the AMRF project, about

a dozen private firms have assisted NEL

with the loan of equipment and people.

No fewer than eight industry-sponsored

research associates are now working

with NEL on the AMRF, and approximately $400,000 worth of equipment

has been lent to the project.

The AMRF is also designed to be

the test bed for the standards needed

for interfaces in modular automated

systems. NEL is primarily concerned

with standards for the many interfaces between components of computeraided manufacturing (CAM) systems and

interfaces between the system and the

design, planning, and control of the manufacturing operation. Wherever

there is a pair of computer-aided components interacting, there is an interface. If the components are made by

different manufacturers, they cannot

be coupled directly except by custommade software interfaces. A series of non-proprietary interfaces, which permits two components to interact through it without revealing

proprietary software, may be devel- oped as a research base for consensus

standards. In such cases, NEL works

on the technical details, validates the procedures in the laboratory, and

submits its results to the appropriate

standards committees. For example,

the American National Standards

Institute recently adopted as a stan- dard the Initial Graphics Exchange

Specification (IGES), which was devel- oped by an industry-government coalition managed by NBS. IGES permits

data to be transferred from one

computer-aided design (CAD) system

to another CAD system of different manufacture and provides a first step

toward allowing data transfer from

CAD systems to CAM systems,

robots, and other manufacturing components. NEL is now working on a more advanced version of IGES that

will allow improved surface geometry

and improve the handling of nongeometric data such as text and

dimensional information.

4
Measuring Process Flow

NEL provides the chemical process and associated industries with fundamental measurement science and criti- cal data which enable them to cali- brate their measurements—many of

which must be made in harsh

environments—to national standards

and to obtain data essential for process design and control. NEL researchers are working on new techniques to measure the flow of

solid/ fluid mixtures and to determine

the flow stream composition, temperature, viscosity, and density. In addition, they are developing calibration

services for fluid measurements needed

for industrial process control and for equity in trading liquids and gases. For example, under the sponsorship of

the American Petroleum Institute,

NEL has begun a project to generate a new database for orifice meter per- formance. Orifice meters are widely

used in gas pipelines to measure flow

rates. The testing program will document pertinent background parameters and determine performance coefficients for a wide range of flow

conditions in NEL's fluid meter cali- bration facilities. The resulting database will enable improved fluid measurement and custody transfer through

millions of these meters around the world.

Thermophysical properties data

are also needed for reactants and products in process streams. Predictive

models are required to extend the measured data from a small set of

measured substances to predictions of

these data for many other substances over wider ranges of conditions.

NEL engineers have designed a model for the prediction of the density, viscosity, and thermal conductivity of broad classes of industrial fluid mixtures including such chemicals as

ethylene, alcohols, and vinyl chloride;

natural and synthetic gases; and coal,

oil shale, and tar sand liquids. The

computer model predicts transport

properties of pure hydrocarbons and

their mixtures through the carbon-20

molecular weight range across the

entire range of pressure-volumetemperature (PVT) states. Known as TRAPP, the model is being distrib- uted by the Gas Processors Association and the NBS Office of Standard

Reference Data. Chemical and process engineers

require transport properties to design

heat exchangers, compressors, pumps,

and pipelines. Owing to the complexity of transport phenomena, most

engineering calculations of transport

properties are based on empirical

correlations which are generally

limited to narrow ranges of pressure and temperature and, very frequently,

to pure fluids. To evaluate and vali- date predictive techniques, NEL

researchers have constructed an apparatus that will measure the PVT rela- tions in hydrocarbon, chemical, and

petrochemical fluids. The experimental capability of the apparatus ranges from room temperature to 900 kelvin

at pressures up to 35 MPa. This apparatus, which was tested by making

PVT measurements on propane, will be used to provide property data for

industrial chemicals of key interest to the industry, including toxic chemicals.

For example, a measurement pro- gram using hydrogen sulfide is underway.

NEL researchers have also de- veloped a new high-temperature optical

fiber thermometer made from a single

crystal sapphire which should aid in the measurement and control of high temperatures in chemical processes, gas tur- bines, and internal combustion engines.

The optical fiber thermometer could

also be used in power generation equipment, nuclear energy systems, weapons,

and space applications.

In contrast to the present ther- mocouple standards that are based on

calibration and interpolation between

fixed points, the optical fiber thermometer is based on fundamental radiation laws and may be used to measure ther- modynamic temperatures directly. Because of its accuracy and stability, the new thermometer could eventually re- place the ANSI Type S thermocouple,

which was originally developed in 1886

and is currently used to realize the In- ternational Practical Temperature Scale from 630.74 °C to 1064.43 °C. Moreover, the NBS optical fiber thermometer

can extend this temperature range to ap- proximately 2000 °C and has the potential to be 10 times more accurate than

the existing standard. In gas streams,

the device responds eight times faster than conventional measurement tech- niques. It also has lower heat transfer losses and, therefore, can measure temperatures at lower gas stream velocities. Measurements made with this ther- mometer are free from interference caused by strong nuclear and elec- tromagnetic radiation fields.

Predicting Fire Growth

Other NEL researchers are concerned about how things burn

and how to keep them from burning.

NEL's fire research has three elements:

study of fundamental phenomena,

development of techniques to predict

fire behavior, and development of

proposals for more effective standards,

codes, and practices to facilitate transfer and use of the new information.

Techniques to predict fire behavior and

hazards are essential for materials

5
manufacturers, designers, and code

officials who must know the effects of

changes in materials, configuration,

ventilation, and connection to other

parts of the building on fire growth

and spread.

One technique used by NEL

researchers is mathematical modeling.

With mathematical models, re- searchers take what is known about

fires and predict what would happen if a particular fire were to break out in different-sized rooms or under differ- ent conditions. Giving researchers a

cost effective way to assemble a fire's separate components and processes for study, models help researchers see how

these parts fit together and thereby

further the understanding of fire as a

physical and chemical phenomenon.

The main goal of this research is to use models to predict how fires grow

and the temperature and behavior of

the gases and smoke they produce.

Eventually it should be possible to use models to help design buildings and

materials to meet higher standards of

fire safety.

Researchers are also working on

techniques for measuring the fire properties of materials. One technique determines the rate of heat

release of materials in a room by

measuring the oxygen consumed in the burning process. Researchers have

used the oxygen consumption tech- nique to measure the rate at which

heat is released from selected upholstered furniture when it burns. They

have also measured the overall rate of

heat release in full-size rooms in which

there is successive involvement of

combustible contents and building

materials. Successful prediction of the course of the fire indicates the size of

the fire at a given time, the rate of fire growth, the time available for escape

or suppression, and the types of suppressive action that will be effective. Another factor affecting fire growth is soot formation. In large

fires, the thermal radiation from soot

aids flame spread and heat transfer. Inhalation of soot poses serious health

hazards due to adsorption of toxic

gases, and heavy smoke in a fire obscures vision and hinders escape. NEL

scientists are conducting a long-term

study of the fundamental chemistry

and physics of soot formation. An

understanding of soot formation processes in flames should greatly aid in the development of methods for reducing the amount of soot produced and

in controlling its properties. At present

there is little understanding of the soot formation process at the molecular

level, that is, how small molecules

grow rapidly to become soot particles.

NEL and NML studies have produced new data for proposed models of

soot formation through investigations of

the ion-molecule chemistry of hydrocarbon ions, thought to be key precursors, and fluorescence from polycyclic

aromatic molecules, which are likely to be important building blocks in soot for- mation. In addition, using a new laser- based method that relies on the optogalvanic effect, NEL researchers have esti- mated the mass and diameter of very

small soot particles in flames. Experi- ments using multiphoton ionization on

nitric oxide and phosphorus oxide have

shown that this technique is extremely

sensitive for flame diagnostics. New

studies have also increased our understanding of the radiant ignition of solid combustibles, including the importance

of vapor phase absorption of radiation and the role of oxygen in surface igni- tion processes. The vast majority of fire deaths are due to the inhalation of smoke or hot

gases. Although carbon monoxide, a combustion product of most burning

materials, has been widely considered

as the primary cause of these deaths,

laboratory tests and analyses of some

fire victims have suggested that other

toxicants or factors may contribute

to some deaths. Product manufacturers, building officials, and others who

want to know more about the toxicity

of the combustion products of various

materials have been handicapped by

the lack of an agreed upon laboratory

test.NEL researchers recently devel- oped and published a test method

that product manufacturers and materials researchers can use to assess the acute inhalation toxicity of materials

when they burn. The test, primarily

intended for research and preliminary

screening purposes, was developed in cooperation with representatives from

industry, academia, and other

government agencies. It involves heat- ing a sample of material in a special

furnace and exposing test animals

(rats) to the combustion products. The

materials are tested under both flaming and non-flaming conditions in an

attempt to reflect two major modes of

material decomposition. The NBS test will aid in assessing acute toxicity, but

additional factors, such as the quantity

of material present, ventilation conditions, and building occupancy, must

be considered in evaluating the potential toxic hazard posed by a material

in a given situation and in making

decisions about the suitability of materials for a particular use.

Improving Structural

Safety

NEL carries out laboratory studies of the structural performance of

buildings to provide the technical basis for building design criteria and

measurement methods. This work is relied upon by various private sector

6
organizations in the development and

issuance of voluntary building

standards and model codes. These

standards and codes, in turn, are adopted widely by State and local building regulatory agencies. NEL has

participated in many investigations of

structural performance; such

investigations help determine the probable cause for specific collapses

and other building failures, while

giving NBS and others an opportunity

to learn more about structural performance so the building design

criteria and measurement methods can

be improved.

At the request of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), NEL researchers inves- tigated the March 1981 collapse of the Harbour Cay Condominium in Cocoa

Beach, Florida. The five-story, flat- plate reinforced concrete building col- lapsed while under construction, kill- ing 1 1 workers and injuring 23 others. After conducting onsite technical investigations, laboratory tests, and a variety of analytical studies, the researchers concluded that "the most

probable cause of the failure was

insufficient punching shear capacity in the fifth floor slab to resist the applied

construction loads." Punching shear

capacity refers to the strength of the connection between the floor slab and

the supporting columns.

NEL and NML investigators also determined the most probable cause of

the July 1981 collapse of two walkways in the Kansas City Hyatt

Regency Hotel, which killed 1 14 people and injured over 200. The study,

which was conducted at the request of

the mayor of Kansas City and

members of the Missouri congressional delegations, concluded that critical connections in the walkways were

capable of supporting less than onethird of the load expected to be

carried by a connection designed

under the Kansas City building code.

The investigators found that the connections as initially detailed and

approved for construction provided a

capacity far below that which would

have been required to satisfy the building code. In addition, a change in the supporting hanger rod arrange- ment essentially doubled the load to be transferred by the connections, thus

further aggravating an already critical situation. And, also at the request of OSHA,

researchers undertook an investigation

into the most probable cause of the

collapse of a highway bridge ramp in East Chicago, Indiana, which killed 13 workers and injured 17 others. Investigations by NBS of structural collapses as part of the construction

safety research program have shown a need for improved test methods for de- termining the strength of structures. We

are currently working on this problem.

A uniform set of probability based-load

criteria developed in conjunction with

the American National Standards Insti- tute will be used for the design of all types of structures resulting in simple,

less costly design procedures and safer, more economical structures. Under the National Earthquake

Hazards Reduction Program, which was established in response to the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of

1977, NEL gives technical support to the development of seismic design and

construction provisions for buildings

in the private and public sectors and

conducts research on performance

criteria and supporting measurement

technology. For example, NEL „ participates in the Interagency

Committee on Seismic Safety in Construction (ICSSC), which was

formed to develop guidelines to assist Federal agencies involved in construction in reducing earthquake

hazards. NEL has published the Draft

Seismic Standard for Federal

Buildings called for in the national

program developed by ICSSC.

NEL has also published 1 1 reports

for the Building Seismic Safety

Council (BSSC), which was formed by

NEL and the Federal Emergency

Management Agency. The BSSC

reports reviewed and refined the

tentative seismic provisions for use in

trial building designs and provide the

basis for the development of

recommended seismic provisions.

Other NEL earthquake research is addressing the development of

measurement and test methods to ascertain the potential for soil liquefaction in earthquakes and of a means to predict the strength and

energy-absorbing capacity of masonry

structures in earthquakes.

Through work sponsored in part

by the Department of Energy and at the request of the Federal Trade

Commission, NEL has recently made

available calibrated samples of

thermal insulation. Using a specially

designed, high-precision, guarded hot

plate, NEL engineers produced

calibrated thick insulation transfer specimens in thicknesses of 25, 75, and

150 mm (1,3, and 6 inches). The

transfer specimens are being

distributed for use in conjunction with

the "representative thickness"

provision of the Federal Trade

Commission rules on "Labeling and

Advertising of Home Insulation."

These samples should help ensure

that competing firms make comparable measurements in determining

the R-value (thermal resistance) of

their insulation and that consumers

will actually get the R-value advertised on the product. Previously, insulation

manufacturers had to calculate the Rvalue of thicker insulation from

measurements made on a tested thin

insulation sample. However, the accuracy of the calculated R-values was not known because no reference samples of thick, low-density

insulation that could be used to calibrate testing equipment existed.
National Measurement

Laboratory

SCIENTISTS and engineers of the National Measurement Laboratory

(NML) perform research in many

scientific disciplines covering a broad

range of applications. The ultimate aim

of their research is to assure that tech- nological development is not hindered

by a lack of accurate physical or chemical measurement standards and, especially, to provide the basic measurement

technology needed to support advanced

scientific fields of critical importance to the Nation.

Some examples of NML research achievements for fiscal years 1981 and

1982 are described below.

Improving

Materials Processing

NML's work in materials processing

provides industry with the measurements, data, standards, and new conceptual understanding needed to im- prove process quality control and productivity, conserve energy, and develop

advanced materials. NML develops

basic concepts relating processing conditions, structures, and properties.

These concepts are often expressed as models to support development of improved materials or improved use of

materials. For example, a fracture map

has been completed for silicon carbide,

which is a possible replacement for superalloys at high temperatures. This

map, built up by combining the results of theory and experiment, predicts the mechanical behavior that can be ex- pected under various combinations of

temperature and load conditions. NML also operates a number of centers which compile and evaluate data from published technical papers and

develop predictive techniques for important physical and chemical properties. In

a major extension of a successful 4-year program, NML, the National Engineering Laboratory, and the American Society of Metals (ASM) have embarked on

a worldwide program to gather,

evaluate, store in computers, and dis- seminate alloy phase diagrams. These

diagrams are "road maps" or "blueprints" used by metallurgists and engineers in selecting, designing, and pro- cessing alloys. They graphically represent the thermodynamic relationships

among different metals in alloys and are' used to understand and predict the al- loys' structure at different temperatures

or pressures. Reliable phase diagrams are important to a variety of jobs, including find- ing substitutes for and recycling scarce

metals, devising smelting and refining processes to make the most efficient use of metallic ore, and selecting materials

for use in harsh environments or in crit- ical applications. ASM estimates that the lack of the computer-readable, criti- cally-evaluated phase diagrams costs U.S. industry and consumers many millions of dollars each year. The society has mounted a major fundraising drive

for the expanded NBS/ASM program

and expects that the program will be

self-sustaining within about 4 years through the sale of phase diagram infor- mation services. More than $4 million has been pledged to the effort by industrial firms.

In the future, rapidly solidified al- loys may replace other materials in many applications. Rapid solidification involves freezing liquid metals or alloys

at rates as fast as a million degrees per second to achieve supercooling prior to

solidification. By solidifying metals so

quickly, new alloys can be formed with more refined and homogeneous struc- tures having improved characteristics such as greater strength and lighter

weight. NML is identifying concentrations and solidification velocities favor- ing particular microstructures and desired properties. This will aid researchers in predicting the microstructures that

result from specific conditions and in developing industrial processes for improved alloys.

Composite materials, in which rein- forcing fibers are bound together in layers by a polymer, are seeing increas- ing use. New carbon fiber composites

are particularly important in the aero- space industry where tough, lightweight

materials are in demand. Delamination,

the growth of cracks between the layers

of fibers, is a problem, however, in applications where the materials are subjected to loading or other stresses. In cooperation with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the University of Illinois, and a number of in- dustrial laboratories, NML is studying

the resistance of fiber-reinforced polymer composites to fracture and de- lamination. The researchers are designing measurement methods that can be

used to evaluate the fracture resistance of the polymer matrix under various

conditions. Mixing polymers is one of the most

rapidly growing and inexpensive tech- niques for producing polymeric materials with new properties. During pro- cessing, however, many of these polymer blends separate into phases of

different compositions, adversely affect- ing their physical properties. The causes

of phase separation are not well understood, hindering their industrial de- velopment. NML scientists are working

with researchers from several industrial laboratories to develop measurement

methods, data, and general theoretical descriptions of phase behavior in blends. Their theoretical work has al- ready established the underlying ther- modynamic basis for phase diagrams of some polymer blends, which are markedly different from those of other materials.

8
In another area of polymer research,

scientists have developed a new dental

restoration technique. The new process

requires less drilling than other tech- niques, reduces treatment time, and in- creases patient comfort. The procedure

permits bonding of plastic filling materials to the hard tooth tissues—enamel

and dentin. With current clinical tech- niques it is only possible to bond the

filling materials to the tooth enamel.

Developed by the American Dental Association's Health Foundation research

unit at NBS, the procedure calls for the application of some compounds not pre- viously used in dentistry. A ferric oxalate solution is used to change the sur- face atoms in the enamel and dentin and

then two surface-active monomers are applied to adhere the composites to them. The American Dental Association

is coordinating biocompatibility testing

of these materials prior to clinical trials.

Studying

Surface Properties

The study of surface atoms or molecules of a material is a rapidly de- veloping field important in many areas of science and technology including

catalysis, corrosion prevention,

semiconductor devices, and communications. NML researchers and others are developing new experimental and

theoretical tools to probe and understand

at fundamental atomic and molecular

levels, the physics and chemistry of

complex surface processes. Some of

these tools are already used in industrial and university research laboratories to study catalysts. For example, multipur- pose chambers pioneered in NML for monitoring surface reactions are now

available as commercial instruments.

The arrangement and kinds of atoms on the surface of an alloy play a critical role in its behavior as a catalyst and in the way it will bond to other metals. Knowledge of the changes in energy

that take place in an alloy when one of

its components migrates to the surface

(called the heat of segregation) can help

metallurgists select the best alloy for various industrial applications. But such

thermodynamic properties have been

difficult to measure accurately. An

NML researcher has demonstrated a new method—based on the x-ray photoelectron spectra of alloys—that can be used to determine these properties with accuracy and ease. With this technique,

it is possible to relate shifts in the corelevel binding energies of atoms in bi- nary alloys to such important ther- modynamic values as the heat of segre- gation of an alloy's components. This

technique is still experimental, but the accuracy with which heats of segregation can be determined (for coppernickel alloys in particular) appears to be

extremely high.

Techniques developed by NML sci- entists to probe the magnetic characteristics of the outermost atomic layers of ferromagnets are stimulating new

theoretical and experimental investigations of surface magnetism. Researchers

from NML and the Swiss Federal Insti- tute of Technology have answered a fundamental question about surface magnetism that has eluded experimental

investigators for 15 years. Using a tech- nique called spin-polarized low-energy

electron scattering, they measured the

effect of surface magnons—longwavelength surface spin waves—on the surface magnetization of a ferromagnetic material. Their results proved an earlier theory that surface magnetization

would follow Bloch's law just as bulk magnetization does (that is, as temperature increases, surface magnons would

decrease surface magnetization and increase the surface specific heat), but a key coefficient was found to be about

50 percent greater than originally theorized. As a byproduct of their research into chemical processes, NML researchers have patented an idea that may lead to an improved method of removing sulfur dioxide—and, possibly, nitrogen

oxides—from industrial gas streams such as flue gas from fossil fuel power

plants. At present, sulfur dioxide is re- moved from exhaust gases by circulat- ing the gas through a slurry of powdered limestone suspended in water, a process called "scrubbing." The process

is messy and the equipment tends to plug with residue. Moreover, the end

product is a precipitate that has minor

commercial uses but usually winds up

being buried in industrial waste sites. While there is a large gap between

the reaction scheme proposed by the NML chemists and a successful commercial process for cleaning sulfur out

of industrial waste gases, their research does suggest some alternatives to pres- ent methods. The proposed reaction chain involves only gases, which could

avoid the plumbing problems caused by

slurries. In addition, the sulfur dioxide

and nitrogen oxides are converted to sulfuric acid and nitric acid mists,

which can be readily removed with

existing methods and converted to solid ammonium nitrates and sulfates, basic components of commercial fertilizers. This reaction chain also produces a combustible, sulfur- and nitrogen-free

hydrocarbon that could be commercially

useful, or at least easily destroyed. If successfully developed, this process would allow power plant operators, for example, to burn almost any fuel, in- cluding cheap, high-sulfur coal, without any pretreatment.

9
Expanding the

Measurement Frontier

The demands of our highly technical society for increasing measurement accuracy have resulted in a need for more

sophisticated standards. And the de- velopment of these standards requires an

ever deepening understanding of the physical world. One of the biggest obstacles to improving the resolution of laser spectroscopy and the precision of atomic clocks and frequency standards is the Doppler

broadening and shifting of atomic and

molecular resonances, an effect caused

by the velocity of the a'om or molecule

being observed. NML researchers have

attacked this problem with the aid of

carefully tuned laser beams that slow

down, or "cool," oncoming atoms or molecules. To do this, NML scientists have isolated the particles from perturbing influences by suspending them in an

electromagnetic "trap" and then lowering their temperature.

Such devices can be used to study

thousands of ions or a single particle,

cooling them to near absolute zero. The

ability to deal with particles in a rela- tively undisturbed state could permit the development of time and frequency

standards that are 100 times better than

those presently available and lead to a

significant improvement in ultra-high re- solution spectroscopy.

Electromagnetic traps will hold only

ions—charged particles—however, so

other NML researchers have studied the problem of cooling a stream of neutral atoms. They succeeded in what is believed to be the first definitive experiment to slow down a stream of neutral atoms in the beam of a cooling laser. The NML researchers used the Zeeman

effect in which the energy levels of

quantum states are shifted in magnetic

fields. Their success depended in part on the invention of a special solenoid

which was used to create a gradually

changing magnetic field along the path

of the neutral atoms, keeping them "in tune" with the opposing laser beam.

In some of the most precise chemis.-

try experiments ever, NML researchers have measured the atomic weight of

silver to the unprecedented accuracy of

about 0.5 part per million (ppm), a five- fold improvement on the best previous measurement. This work, combined

with previous experiments by other NML researchers to determine the elec- trochemical equivalent of silver, yielded

a new value for the Faraday constant es- timated to be accurate to 1 .4 ppm, a measurement five times as accurate as the best previously directly measured

value.The Faraday constant relates the amount of electricity used in a chemical

reaction to the amount of substance

reacted. A fundamental constant of nature, the Faraday is linked directly to a number of other important constants, in- cluding the proton mass, the proton

gyromagnetic ratio, the proton magnetic

moment, and the Avogadro constant. As a result of this work, NML re- searchers demonstrated a significant dis- crepancy between the value of the Fara- day as determined by an electrochemical

experiment and the value as calculated from related fundamental constants. This reinforced previously observed dis- crepancies between the calculated and

experimental values for the Faraday.

The implication is that other values in

the interrelated circle of constants that includes the Faraday are less accurate

than previously thought. Researchers are now looking at the experimental values

for both the ampere and Avogadro's

constant as possible sources of the dis- agreement.

Applying metrology to geophysics,

scientists at the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (JILA), a research group operated jointly by NBS and the University of Colorado, are making

measurements that have direct bearing on the study of earthquakes and may

lead to more accurate earthquake prediction. JILA scientists are using two very

different methods to measure g, the ac- celeration due to gravity. The first is based on an instrument called a falling corner cube gravimeter which measures

g with an accuracy of 6 parts per bil- lion. This is equivalent to detecting

changes of 4 centimeters in the distance from the surface to the center of the

earth. Such measurements permit detection of long-term crustal movements and mass motions below the earth's surface.

It is believed that these motions may be

associated with the buildup of stress before earthquakes.

In the second method, relative gravimeters and tiltmeters are used to measure extremely small changes in the value of g or in the angle between the direction of g and a line perpendicular

to the earth's surface. Tidal distortion of

the solid earth causes the value of g to go through a daily cycle. The amplitude

of this change, equivalent to a change

of about 30 centimeters in the distance from the earth's surface to its center.

10
can be measured to 1 ppm; changes in the direction of g can be measured to a

billionth of a degree. By comparing

such measurements with theoretical pre- dictions, scientists can study the elastic properties of the earth, and, in particular, any changes in these properties that may be related to changes in the earth's

crust. JILA scientists are currently in- stalling an array of ten tiltmeters at Yel- lowstone National Park to study the

elasticity of the molten rock beneath the surface in some areas of the park.

Developing New

Measurement Techniques

NML scientists have developed and

installed a new research facility de- signed to expand NBS and U.S.

capabilities for neutron scattering studies of microscopic structures in materials. The new facility performs measurements at smaller scattering angles

(thus allowing studies of large struc- tures) and with data rates up to 1 00

times faster than the instrument that it replaces at the NBS reactor. This en- hances the ability of researchers to study the microstructure of materials such as metals, glasses, magnetic materials, polymers, and biomaterials. Small

angle neutron scattering (SANS) is a nondestructive technique with a diversity of applications ranging from the study of density variations in alloys or other structural materials to the determination of the size and shape of large

molecules such as polymer chains or

proteins.

While instruments with similar

capabilities have been in operation in Europe for several years, NBS is one of

only a few research institutions in this country with SANS facilities. The in- creased measurement capability of this facility is a result of a combination of

several developments: a novel beam col- limator; the use of a 65-centimeter- square area detector linked to a computerized, color-enhanced display sys- tem; and the availability of continuously

variable neutron wavelengths incident on the samples. Like other facilities at the NBS reactor, the new SANS facility

is available for use by industry, university, or other government researchers working on cooperative projects with

NML scientists. Highly "pure" specialty materials,

such as superalloys or electronic materials, may be rejected in production or

fail in service due to defects introduced

by small amounts of very localized impurities. Similarly, certain dangerous

chemicals or toxic metals may concentrate on the surface of small, respirable

particles or in specific organs of plants or animals. In such cases, researchers need to know the exact distribution of

molecules and atoms. NML scientists are working on

analytical methods employing primary

beams of electrons, ions, or photons

and detecting as signals the x-rays or

scattered photons produced during inter- action with the sample. These tech- niques can be used to prepare "area maps," which plot lateral distributions,

and depth profiles of elemental or molecular constituents. In addition to providing the basic information needed

for relating composition and behavior,

these compositional maps also reveal in- formation on the formation and likely

origins of materials—whether a particle

is manmade or natural, for example.

Another technique developed by

NML scientists could help industrial chemists solve a longstanding measure- ment problem—how to determine quickly and accurately the extent of PCB, or polychlorinated biphenyl, contamination

in lubricating and cooling oil samples.

PCB's were used extensively as coolants in electrical systems until their manufacture was banned in 1979 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

for most applications. PCB's physically

resemble lubricating oils and have fre- quently been added mistakenly to oil stocks destined for recycling.

The NML researchers combined gas chromatography with high-performance

liquid chromatography (HPLC) to achieve detection sensitivities of better than 1 ppm. Major interfering components in an oil sample are first selectively removed with HPLC, and the "clean" sample is then separated into its components using a wall-coated, opentubular gas chromatographic column.

Other techniques for analyzing PCB's

involve extensive sample preparation,

are time consuming, and can often pro- duce ambiguous results.

Ensuring

Measurement Accuracy

NML researchers are also working

on a Standard Reference Material

(SRM) that will consist of separate solutions of two commercial PCB mixtures, one each in a transformer oil and a motor oil base. The new SRM should
be useful to the electrical industry, the

oil recycling industry, and environmental monitoring organizations for calibrat- ing analytical PCB monitoring procedures.SRM's, produced by NBS since 1906, play a major role in increasing

and ensuring the accuracy of measurements. Reliable measurements can help

avoid costly manufacturing mistakes and

unnecessary overdesign of products and

systems; they can provide the basis for sound and economical environmental

and safety regulations; and they can im- prove health care by increasing the validity of clinical tests and procedures.

NBS recently issued an urban dust SRM that is the first air particulate material to be certified by NBS for the concentration of selected polynuclear

aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's), such as compounds from engine combustion and

burning fuels. Many of these PAH's

have been found to be carcinogenic and

have been identified as priority pollut- ants by EPA.

In addition, NBS has made available

a human serum SRM. It was developed

for use in assessing the accuracy of

clinical methods that measure certain constituents in human serum, calibrating

instrumentation used in these analyses,

and validating in-house or commercially

produced quality control materials.

And, in an effort to ease the short- age of high-accuracy standard gas samples used in calibrating pollution measurement instruments and methods,

NML and EPA developed a procedure

to allow commercial gas suppliers to produce certified reference materials (CRM's) that are traceable to NBS

SRM's. The procedure provides for the production by specialty gas companies

of standard gas mixtures (such as car- bon monoxide in air) according to protocols specified by NBS and in accor- dance with a quality control program

audited by EPA. The use of CRM's will be accepted by EPA as meeting ambient

air and stationary source emissions reg- ulations that require gas standards to be

"traceable to NBS Standard Reference

Materials."

Working with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NML scientists have designed and built a new calibration source for testing neutron personnel

dosimeters and protection instruments. Because it is sometimes necessary for workers to enter a reactor containment

area while the reactor is operating,

measuring a neutron dose received by

the workers is a vital part of radiation protection programs. When dosimeters were calibrated using conventional pro- cedures, they gave results that were too high by a factor of 30. With the new NML calibration source that factor is re- duced to 1.5. The new source, a 30- centimeter sphere of heavy water sur- rounding a Californium-252 fission neutron source, is now being copied at several U.S. and European laboratories and is being written into both the latest American National Standard and Inter- national Standard for testing personnel

dosimeters.

In an expansion of the Bureau's ser- vices in electrical measurements, NML

has begun a regional measurement as- surance program through which companies in the New York City-New Jer- sey area can check the accuracy of their voltage measurements. The defense, aerospace, electrical instrumentation,

and independent calibration laboratory

communities use these services to ensure the accuracy of their electrical measurements necessary to new product

development and production quality

control.

In regional measurement assurance programs, the client's complete measurement system, not just an instrument,

is "calibrated." A stable, well-character- ized "transfer standard" and a description of appropriate measurement tech- niques are sent from NBS to one of the

participating laboratories. The laboratory makes measurements on the standard and compares its measurements to those made at NBS. The transfer standard is then circulated to the other laboratories

in the group and, finally, returned to NBS for remeasurement. NBS and the participating laboratories then analyze

the data and work together to eliminate

any problems found in the laboratories' measurement systems.

12
Institute for Computer

Sciences and Technology

THE efficient and economical

use of computers—along with

the related information tech- nology—presents a major challenge to industry and Federal, State, and local governments. Large and complex

computer systems must operate

reliably and securely to protect the

sensitive and valuable data and

personal information they contain

from abuse, theft, sabotage, and

natural hazards.

With a program designed to improve the management and use of

information technology, the NBS

Institute for Computer Sciences and

Technology (ICST) provides Federal

agencies with scientific and technical

services in the area of automated data

processing (ADP), recommends uniform Federal ADP standards, and

conducts the necessary supporting

research. For the past few years, ICST

has addressed critical ADP-related

problems: rising software costs; incompatibilities among system

components, systems, and networks;

vulnerable computer data and

resources; and user needs for guidance

in selecting and applying information

technology. Federal Information

Processing Standards (FIPS) issued by

ICST are designed to help improve

productivity in the Federal government through more efficient procurement, management, and use of

its computer resources. ICST works closely with industry

and Federal, State, and local governments to determine standards needs. ICST computer scientists meet regularly with the Information Technology

Strategic Group, a group of senior

management officials which advises

ICST on its programs and which

represents over 95 percent of Federal

information processing resources. Partly as a result of this interaction,

ICST has modified its program plan

to include the development of guidelines and information reports that are needed for ADP planning and soft- ware management. User needs in data

management and database management are the chief concerns of the Federal Data Management Users Group, recently organized by ICST.

ICST also communicates regularly

with State and local government

representatives and with other groups

of Federal officials such as the internal auditors who are responsible for ensuring that public funds are put to the best possible use. ICST develops standards in cooperation with both national and

international voluntary industry

standards groups whenever possible so

that Federal standards will be

compatible with industry standards.

Prototype standards are tested in cooperation with industry and

government organizations. ICST

collects and analyzes data on

technology trends and the costs, benefits, and impacts of standards. In efforts directed toward the

efficient and effective management of

computers and information processing, ICST provides scientific and

technical advisory services to other

Federal agencies. These services include studies of technical feasibility,

assistance in design and selection of

systems, evaluation of systems, and

development of special information

processing techniques. For example,

ICST helped the Federal Bureau of

Investigation by developing pro- cedures for automatically identifying

and matching fingerprints, assisted the Naval Air Development Command in assessing the state-of-the-art of speech

recognition systems, and advised the National Institutes of Health on a long-term project to microrecord

medical records.

Facilitating

Networking

ICST is giving high priority to the development of standards to improve

the interoperability of computers and

components. Without common,

accepted processes for transmitting

and receiving information between

parts of a system or between systems

in a network, equipment cannot be

linked into compatible systems, and

networks cannot be developed from

commercially available products. This

lack of compatibility and interoperability hampers computer users who

want to tailor systems to meet their

specific needs. For example, to take full advantage of public data networks, satellite networks, local area networks, and

computer-based office systems, computer users need standard protocols

that operate over a variety of communication technologies. But such

standard protocols are not available. As a result, users cannot easily transfer files, execute jobs remotely,

send electronic messages, or communicate graphics information through

heterogeneous networks.

13
ICST is developing specifications

for computer network protocol stan- dards that represent the first steps

toward the full and cost-effective inte- gration through networks of the dif- ferent equipment available. When the complete set of planned network

standards is issued, agencies will be

able to develop computer networks

using off-the-shelf network products,

and manufacturers will not have to design expensive, unique networks for

different customers. Because these efforts will not be

successful without consensus among

manufacturers and users, NBS computer scientists are working closely with

such national and international organizations as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the Network Users Association, the Consultative Committee for International

Telegraph and Telephone, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and the European Computer

Manufacturers Association. ICST's

proposed protocols are patterned on

ISO's Open Systems Interconnection

reference model and specify functions

to support communications and data

processing through networks. Specifications have been completed for the transport function that provides the

reliable and in-sequence delivery of

data across (within) a computer sys- tem, which is necessary in almost all network communications. The dia- logue and data management services are covered in the session protocol,

which is also completed. Under devel- opment is the file transfer/ data presentation protocol that will aid in file transfer, terminal access, computerbased messaging, and remote job

entry.

After the proposed protocols are reviewed, formal proposals of the protocols as Federal standards will be put

together. During this phase, the protocols will be tested by NBS and a number of other organizations that have expertise in the design, implementation, and testing of computer

network protocols.

To test and evaluate prototype

protocol implementation, ICST has

developed a network protocol laboratory that will be used to ensure that the protocols work accurately and

adequately in different environments.

ICST has made this facility available

via government and commercial net- works so users and vendors can test protocols themselves.

As another part of its effort to facili- tate the connection of computers and

terminals to networks, ICST, in cooperation with the National Communications System, has announced a proposed joint FIPS and Federal

Standard (FED STD) for interconnecting computer systems to public

data networks. The joint standard was

based on X.25, "Interface Between

Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) and

Data Circuit-Terminating Equipment

(DCE) for Terminals Operating the Packet Mode on Public Data Net- works," as adopted by the International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee of the Inter- national Telecommunications Union.

Approval is expected for another FIPS that covers the format

and content of messages exchanged

between computer-based message sys- tems. This proposed standard, the first FIPS developed for office systems,

will enable users of message systems of

widely varying design and complexity

to send messages to each other. Supported by leading suppliers of elec- tronic mail software and services, the

format standard consists of data ele- ments and fields that will facilitate the transmission of electronic mail between otherwise incompatible

networks.

Using Database

Management Systems

Effectively

ICST's computer scientists are also giving high priority to the development of standards and guidelines that

will permit economical use of flexible software systems that format, store, manipulate, and access the government's large databases. Called

database management systems, such

systems offer significant benefits in centralizing data collection, reducing

duplicate files, and providing users, especially non-technical users, with

easy access to shared information.

While estimates of the number of

Federally-owned database management systems range from about 500 to over 3700, there is agreement that the Federal government has a large

investment in a wide variety of database management systems and that these systems will fill an increasingly

large role in data processing. A survey done by ICST showed that ADP

managers were pleased with the power, flexibility, and cost effective- ness of database management systems.

However, the major benefits of a database management system are increased

versatility and productivity, not reduced costs.

14
ICST is presently working on

guidelines and standards that will permit more effective use of data files and enable personnel to move from

one system to another without extensive retraining. A proposed architecture for database management stan- dards, developed under ICST direction,

has been circulated to government

agencies, commercial vendors, independent consultants, and other inter- ested parties for comment and review.

The generic architecture for a database

management system is designed to unify the wide variety of functions and

components of database management

systems. It is based on several key fea- tures including the comprehensive

identification of database management

system functions, the grouping of

these functions into components, the support of multiple data model stan- dards, and the specification of both

internal and external interfaces. Each

of these key features should contribute

to the development of effective database management system standards.

Another guideline issued by ICST

provides explicit advice on achieving

database integrity and security control. Published as FIPS publication

88, "Guideline on Integrity Assurance

and Control in Database Administration," the guideline documents a stepby-step procedure for examining and

verifying the accuracy and completeness of a database. The guideline suggests methods for assuring the proper

operation of controls designed to prevent, detect, correct, or reduce the

possibility that the computerized data

in the database can be altered or des- troyed either accidently or

maliciously.

Improving Computer

Security

With the increases in the number

of networks and database management systems, providing adequate

security for the information stored in these systems becomes a major chal- lenge to Federal agencies. ICST computer scientists are working on proce- dures that ADP managers can use to assess and deter threats to their computer resources, to assure that only

authorized users have access to computer systems and data, to audit ADP

processes for possible misuse, and to assure data integrity. The standards

and guidelines will cover: techniques

and methods to control access to computer networks, data encryption

to protect information in transmission

between computers, physical security measures, and controls for applications systems.

As part of this program, ICST has

issued "Guidelines for Implementing

and Using the NBS Data Encryption

Standard" (FIPS PUB 74), which is to be used by Federal agencies when they

decide that cryptographic protection is required for sensitive or valuable

computer data. These guidelines are to be applied in conjunction with the "Data Encryption Standard" (FIPS

PUB 46) issued by NBS in 1977 and

with the recently published "DES

Modes of Operation" (FIPS PUB 81). The Federal Data Encryption

Standard (DES) specifies a cryptographic algorithm for the cryptographic

protection of sensitive, but unclassified, computer data. Originally devel- oped for Federal use, the Data

Encryption Standard has been

adopted as a voluntary industry

standard and is being used by the banking community to protect elec- tronic funds transfers. The standard

"DES Modes of Operation" describes

four ways in which the DES may be

used in a wide variety of applications

to encrypt (cryptographically protect)

and decrypt (return to original form)

data. The modes covered are: Elec- tronic Codebook mode, Cipher Block

Chaining mode, Cipher Feedback

mode, and Output Feedback mode.

The standard specifies the numbering

of data bits, the way bits are encrypted

and decrypted, and the data paths and

data processing necessary for encrypting and decrypting data or messages. The new guidelines (FIPS PUB 74)

present factors that should be considered when cryptographic or key

management schemes are implemented. With improper implementation

and use, data encryption may provide

only an illusion of security. With

inadequate understanding of encryption techniques, data managers may

not recognize the need for other protection techniques. However, with

proper management controls, adequate implementation specifications,

and applicable usage guidelines, data

encryption will not only aid in protecting data communications but can provide protection for a myriad of specific

data processing applications. These

guidelines also describe a number of

implementation techniques.

15
While security measures are employed to prevent or detect accidental or intentional disclosure, modification, or destruction of data or loss of

the means of processing those data,

contingency plans are also necessary

to minimize the damage caused by

unexpected and undesirable events in and around ADP facilities. "Guidelines for ADP Contingency Planning,"

FIPS PUB 87, describes what ADP

managers should consider when devel- oping a contingency plan for an ADP

facility. Although a recommended

plan is not given, the guideline does

suggest three elements that any contingency plan for a data processing

activity should contain. The first is emergency response procedures neces- sary to protect lives, limit damage, and

minimize the effect on data processing

operations in case of fire, flood, civil disorder, natural disaster, bomb

threat, or any other incident or activity. Backup operations procedures are

also needed to ensure that essential data processing tasks can be con- ducted after operations at the primary

data processing facility have been dis- rupted. And, each plan should contain

recovery procedures to facilitate the rapid restoration of a data processing

facility following physical destruction,

major damage, or loss of data.

As a companion to this guideline,

ICST recently issued an "Executive

Guide to ADP Contingency Planning," which is intended for executives

and managers who depend on ADP

resources, but who may not be

directly responsible for the daily management or supervision of data processing activities or facilities. This

executive guide contains the background and basic information they

need to understand how ADP contingency plans are developed.

Revising COBOL

ICST also produces high level programming language standards and

guidelines that are designed to improve productivity of computer pro- grammers, ease conversion of

programs written for one system to use on other systems, encourage

transportability of both programs and

programming skills, make program

modifications easier, and enhance

documentation and program testing.

ICST computer scientists are now

working with an ANSI committee and

Federal computer users to revise the American National Standard COBOL.

After evaluating user comments on

and doing its own analysis of a pro- posed revision, ICST recommended

that the proposed version be modified

and an analysis of its effect on users be done. ICST is conducting its own

study of the proposed revision's impact on Federal users and plans to share the results with the committee.

As further changes are made, ICST

will keep Federal users informed and

represent their interests on the committee.

Federal Information Processing Standards Publications

(FIPS PUBS) issued by ICST

are produced to help improve the management and use of information technology. All FIPS PUBS

are sold through the National

Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of Commerce,

Springfield, VA 22161. For

information on FIPS PUBS,

write to the Standards Processing Coordinator, B64 Technology Building, National Bureau of

Standards, Washington, DC

20234.

16
Services and

Special Programs

THE National Bureau of Stan- dards offers a broad range of

services and opportunities for cooperative activity with Federal, State, and local governments, industry, universities, technical societies, voluntary

standards groups, trade associations, in- ternational organizations, and the general public. Supplementing an informal,

long-standing tradition of consultation with the public and private sectors, these efforts are designed to foster the widest possible transfer of science and

technology from the Bureau to all scientific and technical communities. Listed

below are some of these services and

programs, along with information about

how to obtain additional details.

Calibration Services

The calibration of instruments and

devices is an essential feature of the Bureau's mission to provide the basis for a complete and consistent national system

of physical measurements. Each year NBS calibrates about 7,000 items ranging from ac voltage standards to x-ray and gamma-ray measuring instruments.

About 80 percent of these calibrations

are done for industry, especially those groups involved with product design,

research, government procurement, pro- duction quality control, and testing. For example, one large U.S. photographic company relies on photometric and radiometric calibrations by

NBS to generate 500 internal standards each year, which in turn are used to produce an annual sales volume of $5

billion. In another case, 60 NBS cali- brations a year for the primary standards

laboratory of a major U.S. instrument

manufacturer support the company's

measurement requirements for its re- search and development laboratory, for

10 of its technical service centers that repair and calibrate 18,000 instruments

annually, and for the company's two

manufacturing plants, which calibrate 75 percent of the instruments produced.

The Bureau's calibration services cover: mass and dimensional metrology;

mechanics and acoustics; electrical measurements (dc and low frequency); elec- tromagnetic measurements at radio,

microwave, and millimeter wave fre- quencies; time and frequency; ther- modynamic quantities; optical radiation measurements; and ionizing radiation. A

complete description of these and re- lated measurement services is provided

in Calibration and Related Measurement

Services of the National Bureau of Standards, NBS Special Publication 250. The catalog is available for $6 prepaid

from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402; order by

stock number 003-003-02446-5.

Standard

Reference Materials

Standard Reference Materials

(SRM's) are well-characterized,

homogeneous, stable materials or simple

artifacts with specific properties measured and certified by NBS. Produced

by NBS since 1906, SRM's are used

widely throughout the United States and

the world to help develop test methods

of proven accuracy, to calibrate instru- ments and measurement systems used to maintain quality control, to help assure equity in buyer-seller transactions, and

to assure the long-term reliability and

integrity of the measurement process. The Bureau currently has about

900 different SRM's available. For ex- ample, SRM's are used to establish re- ference points on the International Practical Temperature Scale, the scale to which all temperature measurements are referenced. The composition of 90 per- cent of the steel produced in the United

States is controlled by measurements

based on SRM's. SRM's help improve

the accuracy of clinical measurements,

including those of glucose, urea, and

sodium, that are used by physicians to diagnose and treat disease. A series of

gas SRM's provides the basis for accurate monitoring of automotive pollution

and mileage testing.

Each year NBS sells about 40,000

SRM units to more than 10,000 customers around the world. SRM's serve major segments of industry including those specializing in ferrous and nonferrous metals, mining, glass, rubber,

plastics, primary chemicals, nuclear power, electronics, automotives, and

computer instrumentation. For more in- formation on the NBS SRM program,

write or call the Office of Standard Reference Materials, B311 Chemistry

Building, (301) 921-2045.

National Standard

Reference Data System

The National Standard Reference Data System (NSRDS) gives scientists and engineers easy access to critically

evaluated, reliable data on physical,

chemical, and engineering properties of

substances and materials. Such data are

essential to the progress of science and

the translation of scientific understanding into useful technology. Lack of reli- able data for engineering design can result in costly overdesign or, possibly,

catastrophic failure. In one case, it was shown that a 1 percent uncertainty in design data could increase the annual

operating cost of a chemical plant by 10

to 15 percent.

r
A nationwide program, NSRDS is coordinated by NBS but involves many

groups in universities, government laboratories, and private industry. Researchers at more than 20 NSRDS data centers, located at NBS and throughout the country, pull together the results from

many diverse research activities, evaluate these data critically, and or- ganize them in a more dependable and

useful form. In fiscal year 1982, 4,360

pages of evaluated data were produced.

The data are used by industry in en- gineering design, process control, and new materials development; by the Federal government in defense, the space program, environmental modeling, and

long-range energy research and develop- ment; and by academia in research. For example, 50,000 scientists and en- gineers in chemical and petroleum in- dustries use NBS-evaluated data. The databases produced by this pro- gram are available in printed form, on

magnetic tape, and through on-line computer services. In cooperation with

the American Chemical Society and the American Institute of Physics, NBS

publishes the quarterly Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data.

Further information on this program is available from the NBS Office of Stan- dard Reference Data, A323 Physics

Building, (301) 921-2467.

Measurement Assurance

Program Services

A series of Measurement Assurance Programs (MAP) services developed by

NBS assists laboratories in improving or verifying their ability to make accurate measurements. These measurement as- surance services allow public or private

laboratories to test their entire measure- ment system for accuracy relative

to NBS. This is important because

final accuracy of a measurement de- pends on more than the calibration of a measurement instrument. It also de- pends on the environment in which the instrument is used, the skill of the tech- nician making the measurement, the measurement procedures used, and similar factors. Decisions with significant economic

consequences are frequently based on a measurement or series of measurements.

For example, in industry inadequate

quality control measurements may result

in a "good" lot of items being rejected or a "bad" lot being accepted. In either case the costs associated with such in- correct decisions can be appreciable. Or

a metrologist's organization could be a party to a lawsuit in which the accuracy

of measurements is a central question.

In such situations, a rigorous formal

measurement quality assurance program

including detailed documentation is essential. MAP's provide the basis for statisti- cal quality control procedures that in- dustry can use to increase productivity

and improve product quality. In setting

up measurement assurance programs, NBS works with both individual laboratories and groups of laboratories, in which case the laboratories share the cost of the program. At present, NBS

offers measurement assurance services

in mass; electrical resistance,

capacitance, power, and dc voltage;

laser power and energy; and temperature. For further information, contact

the NBS Office of Measurement Services, B362 Physics Building, (301)

921-2805.

Standards and

Certification Information

Service

The NBS National Center for Stan- dards and Certification Information

(NBS-NCSCI) maintains a comprehensive reference collection of engineering

and related standards. The NBS-NCSCI

collection includes over 240,000 stan- dards, specifications, test methods,

codes, and recommended practices is- sued by U.S. technical societies, professional organizations, trade associations,

State purchasing offices, Federal agencies, and foreign national and international standards organizations. The col- lection also contains reference books,

articles, reports, newsletters, and microfilm files. The center answers over 5,000 inquiries a year on standards and

standards-related subjects. Searches of

the standards literature by NBS-NCSCI,

with names of organizations where

copies of the standards can be obtained,

are available. Address requests (as specifically as possible) to the National Center for Standards and Certification Information (NBS-NCSCI), B166 Technology Building or telephone (301) 921

2587 or use Telex 89-8493.

18
In support of the Trade Agreements

Act of 1979, the center also operates a "hotline"—(301) 921-3200—that exporters, producers, standards organizations,

and others concerned with international trade can call for a recorded listing of

proposed mandatory foreign standards and certification systems. The hotline

reports on standards-related notifications from the Secretariat of the General

Agreement on Tariffs and Trade in Switzerland.

Energy-Related

Inventions Program

To ensure that promising energyrelated inventions receive a thorough,

objective review—particularly inventions from individual inventors and

small firms—the NBS Office of EnergyRelated Inventions offers free evaluations. Established by the Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974, the NBS program

provides a way for anyone with a nonnuclear, energy-related invention to have a technical review of the device,

material, process, and/or procedure. If the evaluation by NBS indicates that an

invention shows significant promise for saving or producing energy, NBS rec- ommends it to the Department of Ener- gy (DOE), which will consider assisting the inventor in its development.

From mid- 1975, when NBS opened

its inventions evaluation office, through

September 30, 1982, the Bureau re- ceived 18,412 requests for evaluations

and recommended 221 inventions to DOE. For more information and an

evaluation request form, contact the NBS Office of Energy-Related Inventions, A46 Technology Building, (301)

921-3694.

Research Associate

Program

The Research Associate Program enables scientists and engineers from in- dustrial, professional, trade, and other

organizations to work for specified

periods at NBS, providing a unique

mechanism for the transfer of technol- ogy. With their salaries paid by sponsoring employers and organizations, the associates work on a wide range of re- search, including automated manufacturing, fire safety, computer technology,

and dental materials, of clear mutual in- terest to NBS and their sponsors. Both NBS and the sponsoring or- ganizations profit from this type of in- teraction. Research associates benefit from the use of NBS facilities and from

the opportunity to do cooperative re- search with the diverse NBS professional staff. They then can take newly

developed technology back to their or- ganizations for prompt application. NBS

gains from the program by learning

firsthand the views and needs of the in- dustrial community.

During fiscal year 1982, 121 re- search associates worked with NBS on 44 different projects. Of these approximately 60 percent were sponsored by

private industrial companies and 40 per- cent by trade or professional organizations. More than 400 organizations and

1 ,000 individuals have participated in the program since it began in 1921. For

additional information, write or call the

Industrial Liaison Officer, A402 Administration Building, (301) 921-3591.

State and Local Liaison

A significant portion of NBS activities addresses matters of substantial

interest to State and local governments,

such as the Bureau's measurement work

in the areas of weights and measures,

analytical chemistry, and radiation re- search. Also important is NBS research

in the fields of fire prevention, building

codes and standards, computers, and

law enforcement. NBS works closely

with such groups as the National Conference on Weights and Measures and

the National Conference of States on

Building Codes and Standards to ensure

that the Bureau's programs provide the measurement foundation needed by

State and local officials concerned with

equity and safety in the marketplace. To

further the effective transfer of these technologies to their appropriate users,

the NBS Office of State and Local Governmental Affairs serves as a point of

contact for representatives of State and

local governments. For information,

write to the Liaison Officer, State and

Local Governmental Affairs, A402 Administration Building, (301) 921-3814.

Guest Worker Program

NBS also has a Guest Worker Pro- gram that brings researchers to the Bureau to work on specific projects as a way of providing better dissemination of

NBS research directly into user communities. The program permits specialists to work with NBS staff on projects

of mutual interest for periods of several months up to 2 years. Last year foreign

institutions and governments, international organizations, and U.S. groups

sponsored 144 scientists and engineers

from 31 countries and 162 domestic

guest workers who collaborated with Bureau researchers in such areas as materials, fire, and building technology.

Interested researchers from abroad

should contact the NBS Office of Interim
national Relations, A511 Administration

Building, (301) 921-2463, which will coordinate necessary clearances with the U.S. Department of State. U.S. re- searchers should contact individual NBS

divisions or centers directly.

Postdoctoral Research

Associate Program

Each year the NBS Postdoctoral Research Associate Program enables about

50 postdoctoral scientists and engineers

of unusual promise and ability to conduct research at NBS on problems that are compatible with Bureau interests and contribute to the overall NBS re- search effort. Operated in cooperation

with the National Research Council, the program is intended to be analogous to fellowships, associateships, and other temporary programs at the doctoral level

in universities. Further details may be

obtained from the Chairman, Postdoctoral Research Associate Program, A 1 1

Materials Building, (301) 921-2103.

Information Services

In fiscal year 1982 NBS received

about 40,000 requests from the public

for information on Bureau publications

and research activities. If you are inter- ested in more detailed information on

the Bureau's research program in any

area, you may write to: NBS Inquiry

Service, A537 Administration Building,

or call (301)921-2318.

NBS also has a media liaison group

to help reporters obtain information on

the Bureau's research activities. This

unit answers over 1 ,000 inquiries every

year from newspaper, magazine, and

radio and television reporters. Journalists can contact the Media Liaison

Office, A903 Administration Building,

or call (301) 921-3181 for detailed information about NBS and its activities.- For information on the Bureau's Boulder

Laboratories, write to the Program Infor- mation Office, 4001 Radio Building,

National Bureau of Standards, Boulder,

CO 80303, or call (303) 497-3244.

From its early days, NBS has been a gathering point for the exchange of

ideas and information. Scientists and

engineers from across the country and

around the world, representing every

discipline embraced by the Bureau, come to attend major scientific confer- ences; special seminars; and small, in- formal meetings and lectures. Each year NBS sponsors or cosponsors about 90

conferences and workshops that are at- tended by about 14,000 participants.

Such meetings are an important opportunity for Bureau researchers to stay abreast of the latest developments and

needs in their fields, and for other participants to become familiar with work

done at NBS. Information on upcoming

conferences and meetings at NBS can

be obtained from the Special Activities Office, (301) 921-2721.

Professionals and interested members of the public should also be aware

that NBS has produced a variety of au- diovisual products—films, videotapes,

and slide-audio shows—that describe

the results of particular research projects. Subject areas include building

technology, robotics, automation technology, safety, fire research, electronic technology, computer science, chemistry, materials science, measurement

techniques, and dental research. For more information, write: Audiovisual

Products and Services, A903 Administration Building, or call (301) 921-2721.

NBS also keeps its audiences in- formed through the use of special exhibits at conferences, trade shows,

science centers, and similar events. From October 1980 through October

1982, NBS sponsored exhibits that were viewed by more than 615,000 people.

Publications

NBS publications are among the most important conduits through which

the Bureau shares the results of its re- search and studies with its many audi- ences. Fourteen categories of publications, including the NBS Journal of Research, handbooks, and monographs,

are issued. During fiscal year 1982,

NBS published 1,531 papers in NBS

publications and external journals. For a complete annual list of NBS publications, write the U.S. Government Print- ing Office for Publications of the National Bureau of Standards, NBS SP

305, Supplement 13. The catalog is available for $12 prepaid; order by

stock number 003-003-02400.

20
Resources

HE work described in this report

is carried out by the Bureau's

highly skilled staff who are often recognized as national or international leaders in their specialities. Over

the past 2 years, the size of the permanent staff has been reduced from about

3,100 to approximately 2,665 full-time employees. In Gaithersburg, Maryland,

located north of Washington, D.C.,

NBS has about 2,280 full-time employees working in 26 buildings on 230 hectares (575 acres). The Bureau also has nearly 385 full- time staffers who work in 14 buildings on 83 hectares (208 acres) in Boulder,

Colorado. The Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, cosponsored by

NBS and the University of Colorado, is located in Boulder, where scientists study atomic and molecular physics and

astrophysics. At Ft. Collins, Colorado,

NBS operates radio stations WWV and

WWVB, which broadcast standard time

and frequency information. Another sta- tion, WWVH, broadcasts from Kauai,

Hawaii.

As the Nation's central reference

laboratory, the Bureau houses a number

of special facilities and equipment,

many of which are available for use by

the scientific and engineering communities. A high flux nuclear research

reactor is used daily by scientists from

NBS, other agencies, and universities in projects ranging from nuclear theory to analysis of food contaminants. A new

facility designed to expand NBS and

U.S. capabilities for neutron scattering

studies of microscopic structures in materials was recently installed at the NBS

reactor. The research tool—called a small angle neutron scattering facility

performs measurements at smaller angles (thus allowing studies of larger

structures) at data rates up to 100 times

faster than the instrument it replaced.

An electron accelerator, capable of

producing well-focused electron beams

of 140 million volts, is used to produce

high-energy electrons, positrons,

photons, and neutrons for nuclear re- search. Another facility, the Synchrotron Ultraviolet Radiation Facility

(SURF II) is the Nation's most accurately known source of ultraviolet and

soft x-ray radiation. As a result of changes to the magnetic field booster

and correction coils, SURF II can now

handle electron energies up to 275 MeV

and will be extended to 280. SURF II is a unique calibration facility used in studies of controlled nuclear fusion and

atmospheric science programs. Among other NBS facilities are a

Measurement and engineering

research and standards:

Measurement research and standards Engineering measurements and

standards Computer sciences and technology

Core measurement research for new

technologies

Fire research

Competence and central technical

support:

fire research laboratory, an experimental

computer facility, and several environmental chambers. In addition, an extensive instruments shops group answers

specialized research needs. Shop

capabilities include glass blowing, optics, and metalworking.

In fiscal year 1981, the Bureau

operated on a budget of $172.1 million. Direct Congressional appropriations ac- counted for about 62 percent of NBS'

fiscal year 1982 budget of $172.9 million, with an additional 31 percent re- sulting from work performed by NBS

for other government agencies. The sale of NBS goods and services, such as Standard Reference Materials and cali- brations, provided the final 7 percent.

FY 1982 FY 1983 FY 1984

(actual) (estimate) (estimate)

$157.1 $166 7 $151 5

77.3 79 5 80 5

45.2 48 3 45 4

13.2 1 1 4 5 0

14.0 19 2 18 5 7.4 8 3 2 1

15.8 26.1 15.7

Technical competence fund 7.4 7.0 7.7

Central technical support 8.4 19.1 8.0

Total NBS 172.9 192.8 167.2

Total NBS Operating Funds — All Sources

(in millions of dollars)

21
Directory

TECHNICAL work at NBS is carried out in the National Measurement Laboratory, the National Engineering Laboratory, and the

Institute for Computer Sciences and Technology. These groups are supported by the Office of the Director of Administration;

the Office of the Director, NBS/ Boulder

Laboratories; and the Office of the Associate Director for Programs, Budget, and

Finance. This amalgam of people and pro- grams forms a community dedicated to

service. An interdisciplinary approach

allows NBS to provide the Nation with

scientific measurements of high precision

and accuracy, coupled with solutions for current and future technological problems.

This report has only highlighted some

of the Bureau's programs. For more

information on specific projects, contact

the people listed in this directory. To reach

members of the Gaithersburg, MD, staff, dial (301) 921 + extension or write to the National Bureau of Standards,

Washington, DC 20234. Bureau staff located in Boulder, CO, can be contacted on (303) 497 + extension noted in the

directory, or write to the National Bureau

of Standards, Boulder, CO 80303. Boulder

staff members are designated in the directory with asterisks.

Office of the Director

Dr. Ernest Ambler, Director (241 1

Mr. Raymond G. Kammer, Deputy

Director (2451)

Legal Adviser Mr. Allen J. Farrar (2425)

Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs Mrs. Esther C. Cassidy, Director (2441)

Office of Research and Technology

Applications

Dr. Howard E. Sorrows, Director (2226)

Industrial Liaison Mr. Peter R. de Bruyn (3591)

State and Local Governments Liaison Mr. James M. Wyckoff (3814)

Associate Director for International

Affairs Dr. Edward L. Brady (3641)

Office of Product Standards Policy Dr. Stanley I. Warshaw, Director (3751) Mr. John L. Donaldson, Deputy Director

(3751)

DIRECTOR

Deputy Director

Office of the Legal Adviser

Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs Associate Director for International Affairs

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR

PROGRAMS, BUDGET & FINANCE

Program Office Budget Office

Office of the Comptroller

Planning Office

OFFICE OF PRODUCT

STANDARDS POLICY

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

NBS/BOULDER LABORATORIES

DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION

EEO Support

Library Technical Information & Publications Public Information Management Systems

Plant

Facilities Occupational Health & Safety Personnel

Office Management

NATIONAL MEASUREMENT LABORATORY

Center for Absolute Physical Quantities Center for Radiation Research

Center for Chemical Physics Center for Analytical Chemistry

Center for Materials Science

NATIONAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY

Center for Applied Mathematics

Center for Electronics & Electrical Engineering Center for Manufacturing Engineering Center for Building Research

Center for Fire Research

Center for Chemical Engineering

INSTITUTE FOR COMPUTER SCIENCES & TECHNOLOGY

Center for Programming Science & Technology

Center for Computer Systems Engineering

22
Office of the Associate

Directorfor Programs,

Budget, and Finance

The Office of the Associate Director

for Programs, Budget, and Finance plans,

develops, and evaluates Bureau-level programs and formulates and carries out

policies and strategies for programmatic,

budgetary, and financial matters. It develops techniques for and coordinates

the review of technical and overhead

programs; serves as the NBS Director's

staff for Bureau-level, programmatic

budget formulation and execution and

finance matters; and develops and

maintains mechanisms to monitor planned

and actual uses of resources by providing

integrated, evaluated information on program progress, opportunities, and

resources to the NBS Director. In addition, the Office advises management

on significant changes and deviations and

recommends program, budget, finance,

and accounting priorities to the NBS

Director.

Dr. Peter L.M. Heydemann, Associate Director (3361)

Program Office

Dr. Dennis A. Swyt, Chief (3137)

Budget Office Mr. Thomas A. Gary, Budget Officer (2544)

Office of the Comptroller Mr. David B. Shreve, Comptroller (2507)

Planning Office Dr. Kenneth F. Gordon, Director (3872)

Office of the Director

of Administration

The Office of the Director of Administration directs the management of Bureauwide facilities and information and administrative systems including information

and office services, procurement, technical

and public information functions, personnel, management consulting services, health, safety, and security functions, as

well as physical plant, facilities, and space management. The Office also decides on

policies and plans and directs actions to assure the responsiveness of these services to the needs of the technical programs.

Mr. Guy W. Chamberlin, Jr., Director

(2477) Mr. Karl E. Bell, Deputy Director of Administration (3444)

Equal Employment Opportunity Support

Division Mr. Alvin C. Lewis, Chief (3494)

Library Division Ms. Patricia W. Berger, Chief (3405)

Technical Information and Publications Division Mr. John J. Rochford, Chief (2493)

Public Information Division Mr. Richard S. Franzen, Chief (3112)

Management Systems Division Mr. John W. Roach, Chief (3384)

Plant Division Mr. John N. Brewer, Chief (2825)

Facilities Services Division Mr. Walter J. Rabbitt, Chief (2525)

Occupational Health and Safety Division Mr. Lyman E. Pevey, Chief (3366)

Personnel Division Mrs. Elizabeth W. Stroud, Chief (3555)

Office Management Division Mr. Richard de la Menardiere, Chief

(3521)

Boulder Executive Office Mr. Arthur R. Hauler, Executive Officer (3955)*

Instrument Shops Division Mr. Donald W. Cook, Chief (3855)*

Plant Division Mr. Robert L. Rodger, Chief (3886)*

Office of the Director

NBS/ Boulder Laboratories

The Office of the Director,

NBS/ Boulder Laboratories, which is located in Boulder, CO, provides support

to the technical programs of the NBS/ Boulder Laboratories. These laboratories conduct research on measurement

science for the National Measurement

Laboratory in time and frequency, quan- tum physics, thermodynamics, and materials science. The laboratories also carry out programs for the National Engineering

Laboratory in electromagnetics, thermophysical properties, and fluid dynamics.

Dr. Robert A. Kamper, Director (3237)*

National Measurement

Laboratory

The National Measurement Laboratory

provides the national system of physical,

chemical, and materials measurement;

coordinates the system with measurement

systems of other nations; and furnishes

essential services leading to accurate and

uniform physical and chemical measure- ment throughout the Nation's scientific community, industry, and commerce. It conducts materials research leading to improved methods of measurement, stan- dards, and data on the properties of materials needed by industry, commerce, educational institutions, and government. NML

also furnishes advisory and research servi- ces to other government agencies; conducts

physical and chemical research; develops,

produces, and distributes Standard Refer- ence Materials; and provides standard ref- erence data and calibration services.

Dr. Donald R. Johnson, Acting

Director (2828)

Dr. C. Cary Gravatt, Deputy Director (2878)

Dr. David T. Goldman, Associate Director for Long-Range Planning (3304)

Office of Nondestructive Evaluation

Dr. H. Thomas Yolken, Chief (3331)

23
Office of Standard Reference Materials Mr. George A. Uriano, Chief (3479)

Office of Standard Reference Data

Dr. David R. Lide, Jr., Chief (2467)

Office of Recycled Materials

Dr. Harvey Yakowitz, Chief (2621) Measurement Services Dr. Arthur O. McCoubrey, Associate

Director for Measurement Services (3301)

Office of Measurement Services Dr. Brian C. Belanger, Chief (2805)

Center for Absolute Physical Quantities Dr. Karl G. Kessler, Director (2001) Dr. Joe D. Simmons, Deputy Director

(2001)

Electrical Measurements and Standards

Division

Dr. Barry N. Taylor, Chief (2701)

Temperature and Pressure Measurements

and Standards Division

Dr. Robert J. Soulen, Jr., Chief

(3315)

Length and Mass Measurements and

Standards Division Dr. Joe D. Simmons, Chief (2001)

Time and Frequency Division

Dr. Samuel R. Stein, Chief (3335)*

Quantum Physics Division

Dr. Gordon H. Dunn, Chief (3527)*

Center for Radiation Research

Dr. Chris E. Kuyatt, Director (2551

Dr. Wayne A. Cassatt, Deputy Director

(2551)

Atomic and Plasma Radiation Division

Dr. Wolfgang L. Wiese, Chief (2071)

Nuclear Radiation Division

Dr. Randall S. Caswell, Chief (2625)

Radiation Physics Division

Dr. William R. Ott, Chief (3201)

Radiometric Physics Division

Dr. Klaus D. Mielenz, Chief (3864)

Radiation Source and Instrumentation

Division

Dr. Samuel Penner, Chief (2503)

Center for Chemical Physics

Dr. Pierre J. Ausloos, Director (271 1

Dr. Ruth A. Haines, Deputy Director (2711)

Surface Science Division

Dr. Cedric J. Powell, Chief (2188)

Chemical Kinetics Division Dr. John T. Herron, Chief (2792)

Chemical Thermodynamics Division

Dr. Stanley Abramowitz, Chief (2131)

Molecular Spectroscopy Division

Dr. Alfons Weber, Chief (2021)

Center for Analytical Chemistry

Dr. Curt W. Reimann, Director (2851) Dr. Ranee A. Velapoldi, Deputy Director

(2852)

Inorganic Analytical Research Division Mr. Ernest L. Garner, Chief (3674)

Organic Analytical Research Division Dr. Harry S. Hertz, Chief (3778)

Gas and Particulate Science Division Dr. Harry L. Rook, Chief (2886)

Center for Materials Science Dr. Robert Mehrabian, Director (2891

Dr. Darrell H. Reneker, Deputy Director

(2891)

Inorganic Materials Division

Dr. Thomas D. Coyle, Chief (2847) Fracture and Deformation Division Dr. Richard P. Reed, Chief (3870)*

Polymer Science and Standards Division Dr. Ronald K. Eby, Chief (3734)

Metallurgy Division

Dr. Louis R. Testardi, Chief (2811)

Reactor Radiation Division Dr. Robert S. Carter, Chief (2421)

Institute for Computer

Sciences and Technology

The Institute for Computer Sciences and Technology develops computer stan- dards, conducts research, and provides

scientific and technical services to aid Federal agencies in the selection, acquisition,

application, and use of computer technol- ogy to improve effectiveness and economy

in government operations in accordance

with Public Law 89-306, relevant Executive Orders, and other directives. ICST

manages a government-wide program for standards development and use, including

management of Federal participation in ADP voluntary standardization activities.

In addition, ICST provides technical support in: the development of Federal ADP

management and procurement policies, the

selection and direction of Federally sponsored computer research and development,

and the resolution of computer utilization

issues.

Mr. James H. Burrows, Director (3151)

Vacant, Deputy Director (3151) Mr. Ross C. Bainbridge, Associate Director for Planning, Budget, and Evaluation

(3151)

Program Development Office Mrs. Marjorie A. Kay, Acting Chief (2834)

Center for Programming Science and

Technology Mr. Thomas N. Pyke, Jr., Director (3436) Data Management and Programming

Languages Division Ms. Helen M. Wood, Chief (3553)

Systems and Software Technology

Division Mr. Allen L. Hankinson, Chief (2208)

Center for Computer Systems Engineering Mr. Robert P. Blanc, Director (3817)

Systems and Network Architecture Division

Dr. John F. Heafner, Chief (3537)

Systems Components Division

Dr. John P. Riganati, Chief (2705)

National Engineering

Laboratory

The National Engineering Laboratory

furnishes technology and technical services to users in the public and private sectors to address national needs and to solve national problems in the public interest. NEL conducts research in engineering and

applied science in support of these efforts; builds and maintains competence in the necessary disciplines required to carry out

this research and technical services; and

develops engineering data and measure- ment capabilities. NEL also provides engineering measurement traceability services; develops test methods and proposes engineering standards and code changes;

develops and proposes new engineering

practices; and develops and improves

mechanisms to transfer results of its research to the ultimate user.

24 it U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1983 - 380-997 - 814/714
Dr. John W. Lyons, Director (3434) Dr. James R. Wright, Deputy Director for Operations (3574) Mr. Samuel Kramer, Deputy Director for Programs (3233) Dr. George A. Sinnott, Associate Director

for Technical Evaluation (3235)

Office of Energy-Related Inventions Mr. George P. Lewett , Chief (3694)

Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory Mr. Lawrence Eliason, Chief (3161)

Office of Product Safety Technology

Mr. Samuel Kramer, Acting Chief (3233)

Office of Sponsored Programs

Mr. Kenneth R. Goodwin, Chief (3235)

Center for Applied Mathematics

Dr. Burton H. Colvin, Director (2541) Dr. Joan R. Rosenblatt, Deputy Director

(2541) Dr. Glenn R. Ingram, Associate Director

for Computing (3395)

Mathematical Analysis Division

Dr. Ronald G. Rehm, Chief (2631)

Operations Research Division

Dr. Joseph H. Engel, Chief (3855)

Scientific Computing Division Dr. Francis E. Sullivan, Chief (3395)

Statistical Engineering Division

Dr. Harry H. Ku, Chief (3651)

Computer Services Division Mr. Martin R. Shaver, Chief (3424)

Center for Electronics and Electrical Engineering Mr. Judson C. French, Director (3357)

Dr. Alvin H. Sher, Deputy Director (3357)

Electrosystems Division Dr. Oskars Petersons, Chief (2328)

Electromagnetic Fields Division Mr. Charles K.S. Miller, Chief (3131)*

Electromagnetic Technology Division

Dr. Robert A. Kamper, Chief (3535)*

Semiconductor Materials and Processes

Division Mr. Robert I. Scace, Chief (3786)

Semiconductor Devices and Circuits Division

Dr. Kenneth F. Galloway, Chief (3541)

Center for Manufacturing Engineering

Dr. John A. Simpson, Director (3421

)

Mr. Gene A. Rowland, Deputy Director

(3421) '

Fabrication Technology Division Mr. David S. Bettwy, Chief (2436)

Mechanical Production Metrology

Division Mr. Daniel R. Flynn, Chief (3565)

Automated Production Technology

Division

Dr. Robert Hocken, Chief (2577)

Industrial Systems Division

Dr. James S. Albus, Chief (2181)

Center for Building Technology

Dr. Richard N. Wright, Director (3377) Dr. Charles G. Culver, Deputy Director

(3375)

Structures Division Dr. Edward O. Pfrang, Chief (2196)

Building Physics Division Dr. Preston E. McNall, Chief (3637)

Building Equipment Division Dr. James E. Hill, Chief (3465)

Building Materials Division

Dr. Geoffrey J. Frohnsdorff, Chief (3704) Center for Fire Research

Dr. Jack E. Snell, Director (3143) Dr. Clayton M. Huggett, Deputy Director

(3143)

Office of Fire Research Resources

Dr. Robert S. Levine, Chief (3845)

Fire Safety Technology Division Dr. Andrew J. Fowell, Acting Chief (3255)

Fire Measurement and Research Division Dr. Richard Gann, Chief (2963)

Center for Chemical Engineering Mr. Jesse Hord, Director (5108)* Dr. Merrill M. Deputy Director (2034)

Chemical Engineering Science Division Mr. Neil A. Olien, Chief (3257)*

Thermophysics Division Dr. Harold J. Raveche, Chief (2443)

Chemical Process Metrology Division

Dr. Merrill M. Hessel, Acting Chief (2034)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Bureau of Standards

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Malcolm Baldrige, Secretary

National Bureau of Standards

Ernest Ambler, Director

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, DC 20234

(301) 921-1000

National Bureau of Standards

Boulder, CO 80303

(303) 497-3000

February 1983 NBS Special Publication 643

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