Viscoelastic behaviour of pumpkin balloons

The lobes of the NASA ULDB pumpkin-shaped super-pressure balloons are made of a thin polymeric film that shows considerable time-dependent behaviour. A nonlinear viscoelastic model based on experimental measurements has been recently established for this film. This paper presents a simulation of the viscoelastic behaviour of ULDB balloons with the finite element software ABAQUS. First, the standard viscoelastic modelling capabilities available in ABAQUS are examined, but are found of limited accuracy even for the case of simple uniaxial creep tests on ULDB films. Then, a nonlinear viscoelastic constitutive model is implemented by means of a user-defined subroutine. This approach is verified by means of biaxial creep experiments on pressurized cylinders and is found to be accurate provided that the film anisotropy is also included in the model. A preliminary set of predictions for a single lobe of a ULDB is presented at the end of the paper. It indicates that time-dependent effects in a balloon structure can lead to significant stress redistribution and large increases in the transverse strains in the lobes.     

A challenge to the highest balloon altitude

Development of a balloon to fly at higher altitudes is one of the most attractive challenges for scientific balloon technologies. After reaching the highest balloon altitude of 53.0 km using the 3.4 μm film in 2002, a thinner balloon film with a thickness of 2.8 μm was developed. A 5000 m³ balloon made with this film was launched successfully in 2004. However, three 60,000 m³ balloons with the same film launched in 2005, 2006, and 2007, failed during ascent. The mechanical properties of the 2.8 μm film were investigated intensively to look for degradation of the ultimate strength and its elongation as compared to the other thicker balloon films. The requirement of the balloon film was also studied using an empirical and a physical model assuming an axis-symmetrical balloon shape and the static pressure. It was found that the film was strong enough. A stress due to the dynamic pressure by the wind shear is considered as the possible reason for the unsuccessful flights. A 80,000 m³ balloon with cap films covering 9 m from the balloon top will be launch in 2011 to test the appropriateness of this reinforcement.     

La2O3纳米晶的制备与表征

用聚乙二醇法备了Ｌａ２Ｏ３纳米晶,用Ｘ射线粉末衍射（ＸＲＤ）,透射了显微镜（ＴＥＭ）及ＢＥＴ比表面吸附对Ｌａ２Ｏ３纳米晶的粒径和形貌进行了表征。其粒径随热处理温度的上升而增大,形貌由球形变为片状。粒径分布窄,无硬团聚现象产生。在６００℃热自理得到单斜与六方晶系的混合Ｌａ２Ｏ３纳米晶,随着热处理温度的升高,六方晶系所占的比例上升,８５０℃以上热处理时,得到纯的六方晶系。拉曼光谱测试的结果验证了晶体的     

金属氟塑料衬套的研制

聚四氟乙烯金属带材具有极高承载和超长使用寿命等特点，因此，在飞机上得到广泛的应用，以满足高、低温，高负荷，长寿命等苛刻条件下对润滑材料的要求。本文介绍了这种材料的研制过程，并提出了材料的验证试验方法。     

超高分子量聚乙烯纤维性能及其应用

文中介绍了新型超高分子量聚乙烯纤维(简称UHMW—PE)的性能。该纤维是目前世界上达到工业化生产的几种合成纤维中具有最高强质比的纤维。它有众多的优越的物理机械性能、耐光性能和高能量吸收性能,因此受到高度重视。文中还介绍了该纤维在高科技领域中的应用前景。     

NEPE推进剂中聚乙二醇的结晶性

利用X射线衍射技术研究了NEPE推进剂中聚乙二醇的结晶特性。探讨了填料、化学交联和增逆剂对聚乙二醇结晶的影响，实验结果表明上述几种因素都会显著降低聚乙二醇的结晶性。     

聚乙烯在固体燃料冲压发动机中燃烧特性的数值研究

为准确模拟聚乙烯在固体燃料冲压发动机中的燃烧状态,估算了乙烯-空气两步反应中,相关组分的粘性、导热系数随温度的变化,并进行多项式拟合;同时使用UDF进行质量、动量、能量添加.数值计算的结果表明:燃面退移速率的计算误差不超过11.3％,其变化规律与已有实验相同;补燃室温度的误差不大于5.2％;补燃室温度随来流空气质量流率的增大而减小;高来流空气总温或低来流空气质量流率的工况下,燃料充分燃烧所需的补燃室更长;几何相似,其它条件相同时,小尺寸发动机内流场传向燃料表面的热流密度更大,燃面退移速率更高.     

超高分子量聚乙烯纤维及其复合材料的研究进展

对超高分子量聚乙烯纤维的研究现状，纤维的制造表面处理，复合材料的制备等进行了综述，并对其应用前景进行了展望。