Ion engine grids: Function,main parameters,issues, configurations,geometries, materials and fabrication methods

Ion optics are crucial components of ion thrusters and the study of the different ion extraction solutions used since the beginning of the electric propulsion era is essential to understand the evolution of ion engines. This work describes ion engine grids' main functions, parameters and issues related to thermal expansion and sputter erosion, and then introduces a review of ion optics used for significant launched and tested ion thrusters since 1970. Configurations, geometries, materials and fabrication methods are analyzed to understand when typical ion thrusters use two or three grids, what are the thicknesses and aperture sizes of the screen, accelerator and decelerator grids, why molybdenum and carbon-based materials such as pyrolytic graphite and carbon–carbon are the best available options for ion optics and what is the manufacturing method for each material.     

Materials selection for electronic enclosures in space environment considering electromagnetic interference effect

Using low power electronic devices for space applications to reduce the mass and energy consumption has lead to electromagnetic interference (EMI) problem. Electronic enclosures are used to shield electronic devices against EMI. In the past, electromagnetic shielding has been mainly the only criteria considered in electronic enclosure design. However, there are several structural and thermal requirements for selection of shielding materials which should also be taken into account. In this research work, three quantitative materials selection methods, i.e. Digital Logic (DL), Modified Digital Logic (MDL), and Z-transformation, are employed to select the best material from among a list of candidate materials. Composite and metallic electronic enclosures are explored and the best material is selected. Z-transformation method is applicable to both of the considered case studies while DL and MDL can only be used for solving one of them. Z-transformation method ranks aluminum as the first choice among various metallic materials. The wide range of Z-transformation application and its practical results confirm the superiority of Z-transformation method over DL and MDL methods.     

介质材料对频率选择表面传输特性的影响

通过理论计算和实验验证分析了介质材料对频率选择表面传输特性的影响规律,讨论了蒙皮的厚度、介电常数,芯层厚度、介电常数四个因素对FSS的通带位置、宽度、损耗的影响。结果表明,蒙皮和芯层厚度增厚会使通带位置向低频移动,厚度减小通带位置向高频移动;蒙皮和芯层介电增大会使通带位置向低频移动,介电减小通带位置向高频移动。并测试了同样结构的FSS平板传输特性,理论分析和实验结果一致性较好。     

航天产品非金属材料/ 制品贮存寿命评估技术

从非金属材料老化机理与寿命预测模型、老化行为表征技术、贮存环境试验与寿命评估技术等方面,概述了国内外的技术发展和现状,介绍了航天产品用非金属材料及制品贮存寿命评估技术的发展及其应用进展。     

卫星结构先进复合材料应用发展

文章简要回顾我国卫星结构复合材料的应用概况,卫星结构材料基本要求,且简要介绍了当前国内外一些卫星结构复合材料应用发展趋向等内容。     

Friction Stir Welding of Metal Matrix Composites for use in aerospace structures

Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a relatively nascent solid state joining technique developed at The Welding Institute (TWI) in 1991. The process was first used at NASA to weld the super lightweight external tank for the Space Shuttle. Today FSW is used to join structural components of the Delta IV, Atlas V, and Falcon IX rockets as well as the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle. A current focus of FSW research is to extend the process to new materials which are difficult to weld using conventional fusion techniques. Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) consist of a metal alloy reinforced with ceramics and have a very high strength to weight ratio, a property which makes them attractive for use in aerospace and defense applications. MMCs have found use in the space shuttle orbiter's structural tubing, the Hubble Space Telescope's antenna mast, control surfaces and propulsion systems for aircraft, and tank armors. The size of MMC components is severely limited by difficulties encountered in joining these materials using fusion welding. Melting of the material results in formation of an undesirable phase (formed when molten Aluminum reacts with the reinforcement) which leaves a strength depleted region along the joint line. Since FSW occurs below the melting point of the workpiece material, this deleterious phase is absent in FSW-ed MMC joints. FSW of MMCs is, however, plagued by rapid wear of the welding tool, a consequence of the large discrepancy in hardness between the steel tool and the reinforcement material. This work characterizes the effect of process parameters (spindle speed, traverse rate, and length of joint) on the wear process. Based on the results of these experiments, a phenomenological model of the wear process was constructed based on the rotating plug model for FSW. The effectiveness of harder tool materials (such as Tungsten Carbide, high speed steel, and tools with diamond coatings) to combat abrasive wear is explored. In-process force, torque, and vibration signals are analyzed to assess the feasibility of on-line monitoring of tool shape changes as a result of wear (an advancement which would eliminate the need for off-line evaluation of tool condition during joining). Monitoring, controlling, and reducing tool wear in FSW of MMCs is essential to the implementation of these materials in structures (such as launch vehicles) where they would be of maximum benefit.     

Fast coating analysis and modeling for RCS reduction of aircraft

In order to fast analyze the aircraft Radar Cross Section(RCS) and accurately reduce it with Radar Absorbing Materials(RAM), a comprehensive analysis method based on Higher-Order Method of Moments(HOMOM), termed Locally Coating Method(LCM), is proposed in this paper. There are two steps to fast analyze coatings for RCS reduction in this method: analyze the RCS of various parts before coating the aircraft; model a coating over the aircraft and analyze the wave absorbing effect of it. The aircraft RCS is calculated as a whole but analyzed in various parts by LCM, and thus the RCS contribution of different parts can be compared without disturbing the current continuity. A model expansion algorithm is also presented in LCM to model absorption coatings on specified aircraft parts for later stage RCS calculation of the coated aircraft.     

金属材料晶粒大小测量方法的研究

主要研究了奥氏体不锈钢１Ｃｒ１８Ｎｉ５ＴｉＡ、高温合金ＧＨ１３２和钛合金ＴＣ４等金属材料的晶粒大小测量方法，除用传统的金相方法外，主要探讨了无损检测技术（超声、衰减等）应用于晶粒大小的测量，试验结果表明：无损检测技术测量金属材料的晶粒大小具有直接性和非破坏性，该方法具有实用价值。     

A study of the material density distribution of space debris

Material density is an important, yet often overlooked, property of orbital debris particles. Many models simply use a typical density to represent all breakup fragments. While adequate for modeling average characteristics in some applications, a single value material density may not be sufficient for reliable impact damage assessments. In an attempt to improve the next-generation NASA Orbital Debris Engineering Model, a study on the material density distribution of the breakup fragments has been conducted and summarized in this paper.     

Experiments in materials science on the ground and in reduced gravity using electrostatic levitators

To counter residual accelerations, dedicated levitators or positioners are necessary to support a host of materials science experiments on the ground and in microgravity. All levitators (e.g., aerodynamic, acoustic, electromagnetic, electrostatic, optical) have their own merits and limitations but the electrostatic scheme offers the combined advantages of processing millimeter-size objects, independent heating, quasi-spherical shape of molten materials, handling of materials under extreme temperatures for hours, virtually convection-free samples, and wide view around the samples for diagnostic. These attributes provide unique research opportunities in materials science on the ground as well as under reduced gravity. In particular, electrostatic levitators are very attractive to measure the physical and structural properties of equilibrium and non-equilibrium liquids, to synthesize multi-function materials, and to understand metastable phase formation, vitrification, and diffusion. In this paper, research and development carried out by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency over the years in the field of electrostatic levitation are summarized and the main results obtained in materials science are presented.