Streamwise vortex generation by the rod

The technology development related to aerodynamics is leading to ever increasing loads of wings, airfoils and turbine and compressor blades. The increase in aerodynamic forces is often leading to flow separation and depreciation of the aerodynamic performance of flying objects or propulsion systems. Flow control methods are required to avoid these negative effects. In the recent two decades the flow control by means of air-jet vortex generators has been also intensively investigated. In this method a streamwise vortex is introduced by an oblique jet. The necessity to supply air by a pipe system may be considered a disadvantage. In order to eliminate this feature, it has been proposed to put out a rod instead of a jet. It has been shown that the application of a rod can introduce the same effect as a jet, as long as the streamwise vortex generation is concerned and appropriate dimensions are used. The present paper focuses on the influence of rod vortex generators on a flow pattern downstream. The results presented here concern experimental and numerical investigations and provide guidelines for the design of a new flow control method dedicated mainly to external flows.     

Effect of Thermal Treatment on CFRP Parts Before and After Adhesive Bonding

Numerous non-destructive techniques are being investigated for assuring quality of the adhesive bonds.The research presented here is focused on non-destructive assessment of carbon fibre reinforced polymer(CFRP)parts.The surface condition directly influences the performance of adhesive bonds.The structural joints should ensure safe usage of a structure.However,some modifications of the surface may lead to weak bond that cannot carry the desired load.This is why there is a search for methods of surface assessment before bonding.Moreover,reliable techniques are required to allow to verify the integrity of the adhesive bond after manufacturing or bonded repair.We focus on the laser induced fluorescence(LIF)method for assessing the surface state.The LIF is a noncontact measurement method.In the context of adhesive bond assessment the electromechanical impedance(EMI)method is studied.The EMI uses surface bonded piezoelectric sensors for excitation and sensing.The investigated samples were made of CFRP layers.The samples were treated at elevated temperatures.The influence of the thermal treatment was studied using LIF.The thermal treatment at 220℃could be clearly distinguishedrom the rest of the considered samples.The thermally treated plates were bonded to untreated plate and then they were measured with the EMI method to study the influence of the treatment on the adhesive bond.The changes of EMI spectra were significant for the treatment at 280 ℃ and for some thermally treated samples that were later contaminated with de-icing fluid.     

Beta Pictoris and Other Solar Systems

Planetary systems come in a bewildering variety of shapes and sizes. In addition to the exoplanetary systems with giant planets, found in surveys of stellar radial velocity variations, an overlapping class of dusty disk-containing solar systems exists. The disks include large quantities of meteoroids and dust, and a varying complement of gas. Their solid material represents `replenished' dust born in the collisions/sublimation of planetesimals perturbed by planets. We present several such systems, including HR 4796A, HD 141569, HD 100546, and the prototypical replenished disk of Beta Pictoris. We discuss the composition, physical processing, and migration of dust in the disks, their evolutionary status, and the evidence of embedded planets. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A Review of Hypervelocity Debris Testing at the Air Force Research Laboratory

In this paper, we describe a compact, low cost, fast turn-around-time technique used at the Air Force Research Laboratory to study hypervelocity debris impact effects on spacecraft structures and components. The technique described was used to study debris effects in the areas of: shock physics, debris-produced contamination, chemical analyses of the impact ejecta and debris initiated spacecraft discharge. Examples of research results obtained with the technique are presented and illustrate problems encountered in the field of space debris effects on spacecraft.     

Impact of Distance Determinations on Galactic Structure. II. Old Tracers

Here we review the efforts of a number of recent results that use old tracers to understand the build up of the Galaxy. Details that lead directly to using these old tracers to measure distances are discussed. We concentrate on the following: (1) the structure and evolution of the Galactic bulge and inner Galaxy constrained from the dynamics of individual stars residing therein; (2) the spatial structure of the old Galactic bulge through photometric observations of RR Lyrae-type stars; (3) the three-dimensional structure, stellar density, mass, chemical composition, and age of the Milky Way bulge as traced by its old stellar populations; (4) an overview of RR Lyrae stars known in the ultra-faint dwarfs and their relation to the Galactic halo; and (5) different approaches for estimating absolute and relative cluster ages.     

Full Wavefield Analysis for Damage Assessment in Composite Materials

In this paper damage assessment based on guided elastic wave propagation phenomenon is presented.Guided waves are generated by piezoelectric transducer and registered by scanning laser doppler vibrometer(SLDV).Signal processing is based on the analysis of full wavefield measurements gathered from dense mesh of measurement points spanned over area of investigated samples.Full wavefield measurement approach allows creation of animations presenting the guided wave propagation in the structure.Moreover such approach is suitable for analysis of interaction of guided waves with discontinuities located in structure.In the research attention is paid especially on analysis of phenomenon of S0/A0′guided wave mode conversion due to interaction with investigated discontinuities-teflon inserts and impact damage.The presented work is related to glass fibre reinforced polymer(GFRP)samples.In the research,auxiliary non-destructive testing(NDT)method is also utilized.The aim of this method is to indicate the depth of discontinuity,and to prove that delamination was created in the case of impact damage.Auxiliary method is based on terahertz spectroscopy(THz)where the analysis of propagation of electromagnetic waves in the terahertz band is conducted.THz spectroscopy method can be utilized for damage assessment in the dielectric materials like GFRP.     

Cosmic radiation exposure of biological test systems during the EXPOSE-E mission

In the frame of the EXPOSE-E mission on the Columbus external payload facility EuTEF on board the International Space Station, passive thermoluminescence dosimeters were applied to measure the radiation exposure of biological samples. The detectors were located either as stacks next to biological specimens to determine the depth dose distribution or beneath the sample carriers to determine the dose levels for maximum shielding. The maximum mission dose measured in the upper layer of the depth dose part of the experiment amounted to 238±10 mGy, which relates to an average dose rate of 408±16 μGy/d. In these stacks of about 8?mm height, the dose decreased by 5-12% with depth. The maximum dose measured beneath the sample carriers was 215±16 mGy, which amounts to an average dose rate of 368±27 μGy/d. These values are close to those assessed for the interior of the Columbus module and demonstrate the high shielding of the biological experiments within the EXPOSE-E facility. Besides the shielding by the EXPOSE-E hardware itself, additional shielding was experienced by the external structures adjacent to EXPOSE-E, such as EuTEF and Columbus. This led to a dose gradient over the entire exposure area, from 215±16 mGy for the lowest to 121±6 mGy for maximum shielding. Hence, the doses perceived by the biological samples inside EXPOSE-E varied by 70% (from lowest to highest dose). As a consequence of the high shielding, the biological samples were predominantly exposed to galactic cosmic heavy ions, while electrons and a significant fraction of protons of the radiation belts and solar wind did not reach the samples.