Electromagnetic containerless undercooling facility and experiments for the shuttle

An electromagnetic furnace is being prepared for flights aboard the space shuttle. This apparatus is capable of melting metals and alloys up to 1400°C melting point by induction heating with subsequent solidification of the freely levitated melt without contact with any container. The solidification can be carried out with greatly reduced fields resulting in minimal heating and stirring of the free melt. Sequential specimens can be processed during flight. Several experiments are planned for a series of flights, beginning in 1985 with an undercooling experiment on NiSn alloys. These will be interspersed with detailed studies of fluid flow caused by low and high field levels in order to quantify the corresponding effect upon the solidification process.     

小天体的多种尺寸颗粒样品收集容器流域的数值模拟

采集小天体表面的样品并返回是当前小天体探测的核心目标之一,样品容器流域设计是氮气激励采样技术的关键.为了保证样品容器具备高效的收集性能,要求样品容器的流域设计能够对样品颗粒形成陷阱效应,并对样品颗粒进行有效的分级.旋风式样品收集容器方案利用旋风离心力和引导叶片的共同作用对样品颗粒进行收集和分级.为了验证这种方案在微重力环境下的性能和可行性,本文利用Fluent软件进行了流域的数值模拟.模拟结果表明:在确定容器的结构下,样品容器的最优氮气入口速度为0.6 m·s-1,容器在该速度下的样品收集效率达到99.7%.样品容器的流域具备很好的颗粒分级功能,对小于2mm的样品颗粒的捕获率超过了90%,其压力损失也在合理的范围之内.本文研究结果可为小天体采样任务提供借鉴.      

微重力环境下半球形贮箱液体重定位试验研究

本文利用落塔形成的微重力环境,对半球形贮箱中液体重定位问题进行了试验研究。所用液体与半球形箱壁之间的接触角为零并在加载前形成了失重初始凹液面.本试验分侧向不加干扰及加干扰两种初始条件.通过高速摄影机观察了液体重定位的全过程并测量了重定位流速和重定位时间。试验结果表明,液体重定位呈壁流流型.实测重定位时间与理论估算值一致.      

高温燃气风洞加热特性仿真分析

提出了利用亚音速高温燃气流进行近空间高超飞行器热环境地面模拟的试验方案,在试验装置试验段,通过高温高速的燃气流引射低速的冷气流,达到仅使飞行器头锥驻点附近区域产生局部高温而其余头锥蒙皮表面低温的目的.对某型高超音速飞行器的头锥利用高温燃气进行加热并利用CFD(Computational Fluid Dynamics)方法对13种模拟工况进行了数值仿真分析.将数值模拟计算结果与飞行器在高超音速飞行状态下对应机体部位气动热的理论计算值进行了对比,证实了亚声速高温燃气热环境模拟方法的可行性,为高温燃气地面模拟设备技术方案论证提供了依据.      

THE SPACE EXPERIMENT OF PROTEIN CRYSTALLIZATION ABOARD THE CHINESE SPACECRAFT SZ-3

Using a new flight hardware, a Chinese mission of space protein crystallization has been performed on the Chinese spacecraft SZ-3 for seven days from March 25 to Apr. 1, 2002. The rate of yielding crystals in the 60 samples is 75%, a little higher than the ground control experiment. Preliminary analysis of the experimental results have shown that among the 16 proteins involved in the mission, about 4 kinds of better diffraction-quality protein crystals were produced in space. At least one kind of protein crystals, i.e. crystals of cytochrome b5 mutant could diffract X ray beyond the highest resolution reported so far. In addition, some rules derived from our numerical studies of the liquid/liquid diffusion protein crystallization were proved by the crystallization of lysozyme as model protein in this space experiment,which also clearly showed the advantages and disadvantages of the gelled protein solution used in microgravity growth of protein crystals. In order to exploit this mission, more diffraction work with the grown crystals and detailed analysis of data to be obtained will be done in the next few months.     

基于LS-DYNA直齿轮动态啮合特性分析

基于接触有限元分析理论和显式计算方法,利用LS-DYNA软件,可以高保真地模拟齿轮动态啮合过程。通过建立某实验研究中齿轮的精确啮合有限元分析模型,利用上述方法,模拟实验齿轮的动态啮合过程,根据数值计算结果分析齿轮动态啮合过程的振动特性。研究表明:齿轮动态啮合过程的数值模拟结果与实验结果具有很好的一致性;薄壁齿轮易产生结构振动,且其轮缘振动明显;降低轮缘及腹板的厚度,会使得轮缘及腹板承担齿轮啮合载荷的比重增大;当腹板位置不在齿宽中心时,会导致直齿轮动态啮合过程产生轴向啮合力。此外,研究还得出齿轮的共振条件以及齿轮共振状态的判定方法。      

不同重力条件下单气泡池沸腾现象的数值研究

对不同重力条件下常压饱和水中单气泡池沸腾现象的气泡生长过程及传热特性进行了数值模拟. 采用简化的润滑流模型计算生长气泡底部微液膜的贡献, 而其他宏观区域的气液两相介质则用连续界面模型统一处理. 气液界面形状和加热面上接触线的运动分别采用Level Set方法和固定的表观接触角来近似刻画. 计算结果表明, 气泡生长过程中, 当量直径近似与生长时间的1/3～1/2次方成正比, 重力对相关趋势的影响不大, 但强烈影响着气泡脱落直径和生长时间, 其中脱落直径反比于重力的1/3次方, 生长时间反比于重力的4/5次方. 在固定的核化点数密度条件下, 加热面平均热流密度近似与壁面过热度的3/2次方成正比, 该趋势并不随重力的减弱而改变.      

基于地形高程数据的复杂地形风场建模方法

提出了一种以地形高程数据为基础,进行三维复杂地形建模及其风场分布求解的数值仿真方法.该方法利用曲面样条插值技术建立复杂地形的三维数字模型,并将地形曲面离散为若干个涡环网格,结合位势流理论与地面边界条件计算得到复杂地形影响下的三维风场.数值计算结果显示,相比基于球绕流理论的工程模拟方法,该方法可对复杂地形做出更为真实的描述,并给出更为合理的风场分布形式.同时该方法建模过程简单,便于实际操作,适于飞机飞行性能评估或飞行模拟器环境建模的工程应用.      

Changes in developmental capacity of artemia cyst and chromosomal aberrations in lettuce seeds flown aboard Salyut-7 (Biobloc III experiment).

This paper gives the results of investigations performed on the first container (A) of the Biobloc III experiment, flown aboard the orbital station Salyut 7 for 40 days. The space flight resulted in a decreased developmental capacity of Arterlia cysts, hit or not hit by the HZE particles. No effect was observed in cysts in bulk. A synergetic effect of microgravity and gamma pre irradiation is described. The germination of in-flight lettuce seeds was decreased. The space flight resulted also in a higher percentage of cells with chromosomal aberrations. Relations between biological response, TEL and location of HZE particles are discussed.     

无振荡、无自由参数格式在数值模拟盔型磁场中太阳风流动的应用

提出了一种离散二维三分量理想磁流体力学守恒型方程组（MHD）的算法（NNDMHD），它有效地控制了磁场散度不为零误差对动量方程组的影响，把气体动力学中计算跨音速流动问题的有效算法——无振荡、无自由参数（NND）格式推广应用到MHD方程组中。利用该算法首先对常见一维和二维算例进行数值试验，得到比较好的结果，消除了间断处的非物理振荡。然后对太阳风在子午面轴对称盔形磁场位形中流动进行数值试验，在这个算例中，物理量沿径向变化大，NNDMHD格式仍然能够有效地控制磁场散度离散不为零误差导致的非物理流动。这个算例的计算结果表明：在网格划分比通常情况和稀4倍时，该算法仍保持很好的计算稳定性。     

Optimization of moisture content for wheat seedling germination in a cellulose acetate medium for a space flight experiment.

The Porous Tube Plant Nutrient Delivery System (PTPNDS), a hydrophilic, microporous ceramic tube hydroponic system designed for microgravity, will be tested in a middeck locker of the Space Shuttle. The flight experiment will focus on hardware operation and assess its ability to support seed germination and early seedling growth in microgravity. The water controlling system of the PTPNDS hardware has been successfully tested during the parabolic flight of the KC-135. One challenge to the development of the space flight experiment was to devise a method of holding seeds to the cylindrical porous tube. The seed-holder must provide water and air to the seed, absorb water from the porous tube, withstand sterilization, provide a clear path for shoots and roots to emerge, and be composed of flight qualified materials. In preparation for the flight experiment, a wheat seed-holder has been designed that utilizes a cellulose acetate plug to facilitate imbibition and to hold the wheat seeds in contact with the porous tube in the correct orientation during the vibration of launch and the microgravity environment of orbit. Germination and growth studies with wheat at a range of temperatures showed that optimal moisture was 78% (by weight) in the cellulose acetate seed holders. These and other design considerations are discussed.     

Convective motions in liquid metals for material processings. Numerical simulation of oscillation regimes and effect of rotation

The paper is concerned with the numerical simulation and the analysis of some kinds of flow regimes which can develop in Bridgman and Czochralski systems for material processings. The flows in the liquid phase are investigated considering two-dimensional and axisymmetric models. The time-dependent regimes were studied for a zero-Prandtl-number fluid layer confined inside a two-dimensional cavity of aspect ratio (length-to-height) A=4, involving a stress-free upper surface and submitted to a horizontal temperature gradient. The range of Grashof number was varied up to the conditions at which the flow goes from oscillatory to chaotic type behaviours. The combined influence of the temperature gradients and of the rotations of the crucible and of the seed/crystal was investigated for a Czochralski model. The axisymmetric regimes were studied for a Pr_m=0.015 liquid melt confined inside a cylindrical crucible of aspect ratio (height-to-radius) A_m=2, and coupled to a viscous encapsulant liquid layer (10<Pr_e<1200) of aspect ratio A_e=0.5. A number of steady and (transient) time-dependent flow patterns are identified.     

Spaceflight hardware allowing unilateral irradiation and chemical fixation in petri dishes.

To accommodate a spaceflight experiment with moss (SPM), experiment-unique equipment (EUE) was developed by engineers at Kennedy Space Center. The hardware allows sterile culture for an extended period of time in commercial petri dishes, lateral illumination of each culture with light of a specific wavelength (660 nm; other wavelengths are possible) and a range of intensities (0.05-5 micromoles photons m-2 s-1), incubation in complete darkness, and chemical fixation to terminate the experiment under conditions of microgravity. The use of a fixative required triple containment to protect the astronaut crew. An external panel on the experiment container allowed the timing of illumination and fixation to be controlled by the crew. Light quality is provided by light emitting diodes (LEDs) that are located in the lid of the outer container, the BRIC (Biological Research In Canisters)-LED. Each canister accommodates 6 Petri Dish Fixation Units (PDFUs), and each PDFU holds one 6 cm petri dish. All components are autoclavable. LED illumination is piped through a transparent glass rod. Each PDFU contains fixative in a reservoir that is released by the depression of an actuator. This hardware performed well during its first flight, the 16-day STS-87 mission in Nov./Dec., 1997 as part of the Collaborative USA and Ukrainian Experiment (CUE). It supported vigorous and sterile moss growth, cells were maintained in position and were well-fixed, and there was a vigorous and consistent response to light. Although here used for moss, in future flight experiments this unique new hardware can be used for many types of organisms normally grown in petri dishes, with or without a requirement for illumination.     

环形浅液池内低Prandtl数流体超临界热毛细对流演化

为研究低Prandtl数（Pr）流体热毛细对流演化过程，对环形浅液池内Pr=0.011的流体热毛细对流进行三维数值模拟.研究发现:当Marangoni数较小时，流动为轴对称稳态流动；当Marangoni数超过某一临界值后，流动失稳并转变为热流体波，其波数随Marangoni数增加而减小，而波动主频增大；随着Marangoni数增加，流动加强，沿周向运动的热流体波演变为沿径向运动的径向波，其波数大大减小；当Marangoni数继续增加时，波动频谱曲线噪声增加，呈广谱特性.因此，在计算范围内热毛细对流的演化过程为:轴对称稳态流动-热流体波-单周期径向波-多周期三维振荡流动.      

可变桨距冲压空气涡轮混合型流场数值研究

冲压空气涡轮流场数值研究主要目的是模拟在实际高空加油工作状态下涡轮变桨距气动特性.数值风洞实验采用代数Baldwin-Lomax湍流模型,雷诺平均Navier-Stokes方程,模拟可变桨距冲压空气涡轮全三维混合型流场,并分析其流场主要气动特性,探讨桨叶载荷分布原因,然后将数值模拟结果与风洞实验数据进行了比较.改进桨叶近轮毂区域气动性能可进一步提高冲压涡轮载荷.      

The effect of microgravity on the development of plant protoplasts flown on Biokosmos 9.

An experiment using plant protoplasts has been accepted for the IML-1 Space Shuttle mission scheduled for 1991. Preparatory experiments have been performed using both fast and slow rotating clinostats and in orbit to study the effect of simulated and real weightlessness on protoplast regeneration. Late access to the space vehicles before launch has required special attention since it is important to delay cell wall regeneration until the samples are in orbit. On a flight on Biokosmos 9 ("Kosmos-2044") in September 1989 some preliminary results were obtained. Compared to the ground control, the growth of both carrot and rapeseed protoplasts was decreased by 18% and 44% respectively, after 14 days in orbit. The results also indicated that there is less cell wall regeneration under micro-g conditions. Compared to the ground controls the production of cellulose in rapeseed and carrot flight samples was only 46% and 29% respectively. The production of hemicellulose in the flight samples was 63% and 67% respectively of that of the ground controls. In both cases all samples reached the stage of callus development. The peroxidase activity was also found to be lower in the flight samples than in the ground controls, and the number of different isoenzymes was decreased in the flight samples. In general, the regeneration processes were retarded in the flight samples with respect to the ground controls. From a simulation experiment for IML-1 performed in January 1990 at ESTEC, Holland, regenerated plants have been obtained. These results are discussed and compared to the results obtained on Biokosmos 9. Protoplast regeneration did not develop beyond the callus stage in either the flight or the ground control samples from the Biokosmos 9 experiment.     

推进剂利用系统连续液位测量滤波算法研究

针对我国低温推进剂利用系统中连续液位测量中的错节问题,提出了一种基于流量的液位测量滤波算法。介绍了该算法的基本原理,对算法进行了数学建模与数字仿真。通过对仿真结果的分析证实了该算法可以有效解决火箭飞行过程中由于液位晃动造成的测量误差问题,具有一定的工程应用价值。     

Measurements of water vapour in the mesosphere with the spectral absorption line imager (SALI)

Water vapour concentration is one of the most important, yet one of the least known quantities of the mesosphere. Knowledge of water vapour concentration is the key to understanding many mesospheric processes, including the one that is primary focus of our investigation, Polar Mesospheric Clouds (PMC). The processes of formation and occurrence parameters of PMC constitute an interesting problem in their own right, but recent evidence had been provided which suggests that PMC are a critical indicator of climate change. In this context the feasibility of a low cost method of water vapour measurements using an instrument carried aloft by a sounding rocket has been examined and some of the results discussed. It is proposed to measure the strength of the 936nm water absorption line in a solar occultation configuration employing a CCD detector. This leads to the design of a small, low cost and low-mass instrument, which can be flown on a small rocket, of the type of the Orbital Sciences Corporation Viper 5. Alternatively the instrument can be flown as a “passenger” on larger rocket carrying other experiments. In either case flight costs are relatively low. Some performance simulations are presented showing that the instrument we have designed will be sufficiently sensitive to measure water vapor in concentrations that are expected at the summer mesopause, about 85 km height. Sufficient payload design work was carried out showing that the structural, thermal and electrical requirements for a flight on the Viper 5 rocket can be met and thus making the experiment feasible for a flight.