Cutting path-dependent machinability of SiCp/Al composite under multi-step ultra-precision diamond cutting

Particle-tool interactions, which govern the synergetic deformation of SiC particle reinforced Al matrix composites under mechanical machining, strongly depend on the geometry of particle position residing on cutting path. In the present work, we investigate the influence of cutting path on the machinability of a SiCp/Al composite in multi-step ultra-precision diamond cutting by combining finite element simulations with experimental observations and characterization. Be consistent with experimentally characterized microstructures, the simulated SiCp/Al composite is considered to be composed of randomly distributed polygonally-shaped SiC particles with a volume fraction of 25vol%. A multi-step cutting strategy with depths of cut ranging from 2 to 10 μm is adopted to achieve an ultimate depth of cut of 10 μm. Intrinsic material parameters and extrinsic cutting conditions utilized in finite element simulations of SiCp/Al cutting are consistent with those used in corresponding experiments. Simulation results reveal different particle-tool interactions and failure modes of SiC particles, as well as their correlations with machining force evolution, residual stress distribution and machined surface topography. A detailed comparison between numerical simulation results and experimental data of multi-step diamond cutting of SiCp/Al composite reveals a substantial impact of the number of cutting steps on particle-tool interactions and machined surface quality. These findings provide guidelines for achieving high surface finish of SiCp/Al composites by ultra-precision diamond cutting.     

Deorbiter CubeSat mission design

This paper presents the mission design for a CubeSat-based active debris removal approach intended for transferring sizable debris objects from low-Earth orbit to a deorbit altitude of 100 km. The mission consists of a mothership spacecraft that carries and deploys several debris-removing nanosatellites, called Deorbiter CubeSats. Each Deorbiter is designed based on the utilization of an eight-unit CubeSat form factor and commercially-available components with significant flight heritage. The mothership spacecraft delivers Deorbiter CubeSats to the vicinity of a predetermined target debris, through performing a long-range rendezvous maneuver. Through a formation flying maneuver, the mothership then performs in-situ measurements of debris shape and orbital state. Upon release from the mothership, each Deorbiter CubeSat proceeds to performing a rendezvous and attachment maneuver with a debris object. Once attached to the debris, the CubeSat performs a detumbling maneuver, by which the residual angular momentum of the CubeSat-debris system is dumped using Deorbiter’s onboard reaction wheels. After stabilizing the attitude motion of the combined Deorbiter-debris system, the CubeSat proceeds to performing a deorbiting maneuver, i.e., reducing system’s altitude so much so that the bodies disintegrate and burn up due to atmospheric drag, typically at around 100 km above the Earth surface. The attitude and orbital maneuvers that are planned for the mission are described, both for the mothership and Deorbiter CubeSat. The performance of each spacecraft during their operations is investigated, using the actual performance specifications of the onboard components. The viability of the proposed debris removal approach is discussed in light of the results.     

Ionospheric total electron content response to annular solar eclipse on June 21, 2020

The effects of physical events on the ionosphere structure is an important field of study, especially for navigation and radio communication. The paper presents the spatio-temporal ionospheric TEC response to the recent annular solar eclipse on June 21, 2020, which spans across two continents, Africa and Asia, and 14 countries. This eclipse took place on the same day as the June Solstice. The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) based TEC data of the Global Ionosphere Maps (GIMs), 9 International GNSS Service (IGS) stations and FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 (F7/C2) were utilized to analyze TEC response during the eclipse. The phases of the TEC time series were determined by taking the difference of the observed TEC values on eclipse day from the previous 5-day median TEC values. The results showed clear depletions in the TEC time series on June 21. These decreases were between 1 and 9 TECU (15–60%) depending on the location of IGS stations. The depletions are relatively higher at the stations close to the path of annular eclipse than those farther away. Furthermore, a reduction of about ?10 TECU in the form of an equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) was observed in GIMs at ~20° away from the equator towards northpole, between 08:00–11:00 UT where its maximum phase is located in southeast Japan. Additionally, an overall depletion of ~10% was observed in F7/C2 derived TEC at an altitude of 240 km (hmF2) in all regions affected by the solar eclipse, whereas, significant TEC fluctuations between the altitudes of 100 km ? 140 km were analyzed using the Savitzky-Golay smoothing filter. To prove TEC depletions are not caused by space weather, the variation of the sunspot number (SSN), solar wind (V_SW), disturbance storm-time (Dst), and Kp indices were investigated from 16th to 22nd June. The quiet space weather before and during the solar eclipse proved that the observed depletions in the TEC time series and profiles were caused by the annular solar eclipse.     

GEO/IGSO混合区域导航星座的设计与优化算法

区域导航星座能够以较低成本和较短时间获得目标区域导航能力，且地球同步轨道是构建非极区区域导航星座的重要轨道类型。提出一种基于GEO（地球静止轨道）和IGSO（倾斜地球同步轨道）的区域导航星座设计方法。基于星下点轨迹特性构造对称星座设计参数和优化参数集，并考虑地球扁率长期摄动影响，计算星座轨道参数。以导航服务区的统计GDOP（几何精度因子）为目标函数，利用差分进化算法构建星座优化模型。以印度IRNSS的7星星座为例，仿真检验了设计和优化算法的正确性，讨论了IRNSS星座优化构型和轨道类型选取。本方法采用的对称星座设计参数少，能够提升GEO/IGSO混合区域导航星座的全局优化效率，为后续非对称星座快速提供最佳星数和构型设计。     

多等级区域侦察弹性星座设计方法

针对传统侦察星座目标单一、弹性低的问题，提出了多等级区域侦察弹性星座的设计方法。该方法将星座设计过程按区域等级信息分为多个子星座逐步设计，直到整体星座对所有的区域性能满足设计要求。以区域被划分为3个等级为例，首先对星座设计需求、设计指标及设计步骤进行了分析。其次推导了地面最低分辨率和轨道高度的关系并确定了不同子星座的轨道高度。最后考虑轨道倾角、一箭多星发射、光照和升交点漂移同步约束，构建基础星座、子星座1和子星座2的优化模型。最终设计星座为3层混合星座，共8个轨道面和70颗卫星，星座对各等级区域的最大重访时间分别为10937s，12241s和17437s，弹性指数为2213%，2420%和6361%。结果表明该方法设计的星座可实现对区域覆盖和弹性分级的设计要求，证明了方法的有效性。对比Walker星座设计方法，在同等设计要求下，Walker星座所需卫星数为156颗，多等级区域侦察弹性星座所需卫星数远低于Walker星座，结果进一步证明了该星座设计方法的优越性。     

一种基于VPL 的元器件快速建模方法

为了更好地落实航空电子模块的可制造性设计审查工作,结合航空电子模块产品特点和技术要求,建设了基于Valor软件的PCB/PCBA设计与检测自动化分析系统.元器件模型库作为该系统的必要组成部分,其覆盖范围和数据精度对审查结果至关重要.本文将从元器件模型库建设必要性、建设过程和建模工艺要求三个方面进行阐述,并提出一种基于Valor VPL的元器件快速建模方法,应用结果表明,该方法能够高效构建满足系统审查精度的元器件模型,使大规模元器件模型库的建设成为可能.     

Development and performance evaluation of tropospheric scintillation model on Ku-band satellite link over Akure,Nigeria

Existing amplitude scintillation prediction models often perform less satisfactorily when deployed outside the regions where they were formulated. This necessitates the need to evaluate the performance of scintillation models developed in one region using data data from other regions while documenting their relative errors. Due to its variation with elevation angle, frequency, other link parameters and meteorological factors, we employed three years (January 2016 to December 2018) of concurrently measured satellite radio beacons and tropospheric weather parameters to develop a location-based amplitude scintillation prediction model over the Earth-space path of Akure (7.17^oN, 5.18^oE), South-western Nigeria. The satellite beacon measurement used Tektronix Y400 NetTek Analyzer at 1 s integration time while meteorological parameters, namely; temperature, pressure and relative humidity were measured using Davis Vantage Vue weather station at 1 min integration time. Comparative study of the model’s performance with nine (9) existing scintillation prediction models indicates that the best and worst performing models, in terms of root mean square error (RMSE), are the Statistical Temperature and Refractivity (STN) and direct physical and statistical prediction (DPSP) models with values 11.48 and 51.03 respectively. Also, worst month analysis indicates that April, with respective enhancement and fade values of 0.88 and 0.90 dB for 0.01% exceedance, is the overall worst calendar month for amplitude scintillation.     

插装式液控能源选择阀的设计与分析

针对液压系统油源的安全性及可靠性问题，提出油源冗余设计方法，即多油源供给多负载，当某一油源发生故障时能源选择阀切断故障油源，由其他油源给负载提供基本液压能源，系统能完成必须的服役性能。针对液压系统能源选择阀存在的频繁换向与振动问题，提出一种插装式液控能源选择阀，其先导阀采用锥阀和可变阻尼形式，主阀采用三台肩且终端有缓冲功能的滑阀。建立了插装式液控能源选择阀的数学模型，分析了能源选择阀在两种模拟故障下的切换压力及切换时间、油源压力脉动等特性。理论分析结果表明，油源压力阶跃和线性变化时，某能源选择阀切换时间分别为5 ms和7 ms。当压力发生波动时，主阀不会发生振动，还可通过液控先导阀结构设计来控制切换压力和回复压力大小。     

高背压等离子点火器及其液体燃料点火特性实验研究

航天应用的液体火箭发动机及燃烧型加热器燃烧室室压高、燃料流量大、温度低、有重复启动需求，实现安全可靠点火的难度较大。针对这些需求，研究了一种采用高背压设计的电弧等离子体点火器。实验研究了Ar，N₂气体工质在高进气压力下的伏安特性，发现N₂在宽压力范围内适用于点火。发射光谱分析表明，在高达数MPa的进气压力下，Ar，N₂等离子体射流电子密度符合局部热力学平衡判据（LTE判据），点火能量集中。N₂等离子体整体温度低于Ar，但阳极喷口附近温度高于Ar，N₂等离子体射流火焰长，卷吸沿程空气造成射流平均温度偏低，但有助于低温液体推进剂的蒸发混合和强化点火。等离子体射流引起了臭氧和氮氧化物的形成，具有促进点火和化学反应的作用。背压提高引起电源输出电压升高，提高供气压力和电流，有助于点火器在高背压环境中稳定电压。燃烧型空气加热器燃烧室的点火实验发现，采用N₂等离子体喷注面中心点火，可以在短时间内完成酒精-空气和酒精-液氧-空气的点火，最高燃烧室室压接近5MPa时，点火器仍能稳定工作，多次使用电极烧蚀不明显，在液体火箭发动机的重复可靠点火方面具有很好的应用前景。