Structural health management technologies for inflatable/deployable structures: Integrating sensing and self-healing

Inflatable/deployable structures are under consideration as habitats for future Lunar surface science operations. The use of non-traditional structural materials combined with the need to maintain a safe working environment for extended periods in a harsh environment has led to the consideration of an integrated structural health management system for future habitats, to ensure their integrity. This article describes recent efforts to develop prototype sensing technologies and new self-healing materials that address the unique requirements of habitats comprised mainly of soft goods. A new approach to detecting impact damage is discussed, using addressable flexible capacitive sensing elements and thin film electronics in a matrixed array. Also, the use of passive wireless sensor tags for distributed sensing is discussed, wherein the need for on-board power through batteries or hardwired interconnects is eliminated. Finally, the development of a novel, microencapuslated self-healing elastomer with applications for inflatable/deployable habitats is reviewed.     

Damage assessment of large space structures through the variational approach

The present investigation is focused on the solution of a dynamic inverse problem which is concerned with the assessment of damage in large space structures by means of measured vibration data. This inverse problem has been presented as an optimization problem and has been solved through the use of the conjugate gradient method with the adjoint equation, also called the variational approach. When a high number of damaged elements has to be found and these elements are also severely damaged, it is shown that the use of an additional method is necessary in order to provide a better initial guess for the conjugate gradient method. A stochastic method, represented by the genetic algorithm method, has been chosen because it provides robust search in complex spaces and also reduces the chance of converging to local optima. The application of this hybrid approach showed that better results can be achieved, although the computational time for the application analyzed here could increase. The damage estimation has been evaluated using noiseless and noisy synthetic experimental data, and the reported results are concerned with a space truss structure.     

空间可充气气球应用研究

简述了空间可充气结构的国外应用情况及可充气结构的导弹诱饵和气球卫星,介绍了可充气气球的设计特点,包括采用压力刚化铝箔的刚化结构、充气装置和释放装置,分析了太空环境中原子氧和紫外线辐射对可充气刚化气球的影响程度。     

固体火箭发动机性能可靠性评估的Bayes方法

在研制阶段试验信息以及积累以往试验信息的基础上,运用Bayes方法,建立了固体火箭发动机性能可靠性仿真模型,给出了仿真模型可信性检验的最大熵谱方法;将仿真信息作为验前信息,结合现场试验信息确定了性能可靠性的近似分布,并给出了性能可靠性的点估计和置信下限估计。     

Shape error study of inflatable antennas using a numerical model

We conduct an in-depth study on the shape error of initially curved antennas to investigate errors that occur in the design and manufacturing processes. First, a numerical model is developed to simulate the actual surfaces. This model features a main advantage that it can predict the effects of cutting patterns on the shape error. The model is used to evaluate and optimize the design of cutting patterns. An error sensitivity analysis is performed to quantify and distinguish between the effects of error sources in manufacturing. The following sources are analyzed: errors in the elastic modulus of the membrane, pressure variations, and boundary deviations. The boundary deviation is found to be the most significant error source, and thus, boundary perturbation is recommended as an efficient error control measure. Finally, an inflatable antenna model is used to experimentally validate the numerical model. The experimental results display acceptable agreement with the numerical results. Thus, the developed numerical model and error control measure are shown to be feasible and efficient.     

Sensitivity studies of the deployment of a square inflatable solar sail with vanes

This paper summarizes the results of numerical experiments to determine the sensitivity of the final attitude of an inflatable solar sail with vanes after deployment to various parameters affecting the deployment process. These parameters are: in- and out-of-plane asymmetries during deployment, length inflation profile, and vane deployment failures. We show how robust the sail deployment is to geometric asymmetries before a 35° off-Sun angle is reached. Differential delays in the time to inflate the booms and a boom sweep-back angle affect the stability favorably. Adjacent vane failures to deploy affect the stability unfavorably, while the failure of opposing vanes is acceptable. Realistic boom length rate profiles obtained during ground tests are used in the simulation showing that failing adjacent vanes in conjunction with initial inflation delays in adjacent booms represent the worst case. We also demonstrate that by feeding back attitude and attitude rate measurements so that a corrective action is taken during the deployment, the final attitude can be maintained very close to the initial attitude, thus mitigating the attitude changes incurred during deployment.     

Mechanical study on initial profile solution for inflatable reflector made of orthotropic material

The woven fabric membrane materials are widely used in space and terrestrial inflatable reflectors. However the material?s anisotropy makes the design analysis more complex. The deviation from the desired shape, so-called “W-profile error”, influences the precision of the membrane surface significantly. In this study, a model of an axisymmetric paraboloid surface using membrane theory is established for the purpose of facilitating the surface precision optimization. Analytical solutions for displacements of the reflector are derived. An iteration method of initial reflector profile solution is stated and a finite element (FE) software employed in the solution is presented. A case study is illustrated to make a comparison between numerical and theoretical analyses. Finally, the conclusions are drawn that the analytical method and the FE iterative method for initial profile solution are feasible and efficient.     

ENVISAT RA-2 advanced radar altimeter: Instrument design and pre-launch performance assessment review

RA-2 is a second generation spaceborne radar altimeter designed and developed by ALENIA AEROSPAZIO (ALS) in the frame of the European Space Agency (ESA) ENVISAT programme. The project, started at beginning of 1990, reached its completion in October 1998 with the delivery of the Instrument Flight Model to Daimler-Benz Aerospace, Dornier (the mission prime contractor of ENVISAT) for its integration on the platform.

RA-2 only partly resembles in its characteristics those of ERS-1 / ERS-2 first generation Radar Altimeters, designed by ALS. Principal innovative features of the RA-2 are: dual frequency operation (Ku and S band) for ionospheric bias correction of the range measurements, enhanced precision range measurements over oceans, capability of including in the instrument telemetry data down linked to ground In-phase and Quadrature samples of individual Ku band radar echoes, resolution adaptivity and robust tracking algorithms to allow range measurements and radar echoes collection not only over open oceans but also at land-ocean boundaries, ice and land regions with the real objective of continuous global Earth topography mapping.

Aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the instrument key design characteristics and to present instrument pre-launch performance results derived from the evaluation of the test results gathered during the instrument integration and characterisation campaign of the Flight Model (FM).     

Biomedical performance monitoring and assessment of astronauts by means of an ocular–vestibular monitoring system

The paper focuses on the strong correlation between unmitigated symptoms exhibited by post Space flight astronauts, and symptoms associated with postural deficiency syndrome (PDS) that can be correctly assessed, identified, and monitored via a neurophysiological ocular–vestibular monitoring system (OVMS). From examining clinical data taken over a 10-year period from patients experiencing PDS related acute and chronic post-traumatic medical conditions, the authors show the potential for current assessment and monitoring techniques to examine better the impacts on astronaut neurophysiology. The data presented provide strong evidence that this biomedical monitoring and assessment methodology along with appropriate technology can lead to a better understanding of astronaut post-flight neurophysiology, which is necessary if human exploration in Space is to continue on a successful path.     

Initial design of laboratories for sustainable habitation

An effective and self-sustainable artificial habitat design is essential for human spaceflight and expansion of mankind into orbit or towards other celestial bodies. There are two approaches that need to be implemented in future sustainable habitats: the use of re-cycling technologies in order to gain experience in closed-loop processes and the primary production of resource materials using In Situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU) principles. Various products will be provided and, where applicable, recycled in such a system taking into account basic human factors requirements such as crew work load capacity, safety and well-being, namely:     

中国国际商业发射服务创业初期

１９９０年４月７日２１点３０分，我国的长征三号运载火箭在西昌卫星发射中心为亚洲卫星通信有限公司发射亚洲一号卫星获得圆满成功。从这个时间算起，追溯到１９８５年１０月，共历经５年。１９８５年１０月，原航天工业部部长李绪鄂代表中国政府在一次记者招待会上正式向世界宣布：“中国长征系列的长征二号和长征三号运载火箭正式投放国际卫星商业发射服务市场。”这个消息在中国乃至世界上引起了不小的震动。它是中国航天工业对外改革开放、“请进来、走出去”所产生的必然结果，也是中国航天技术从５０年代创业发展到今天的一个必然结…     

高填充复合推进剂的初始粘弹性泊松比

本文从粘弹性力学和复合材料力学理论说明，高填充复合固体推进剂的初始粘弹性泊松比可能小于０．４，并讨论了粘弹性泊松比的测试方法，利用一种新方法得出了相应的实验数据。     

风险管理在管制岗位培训中的初步应用

在民航高速发展的今天,空管系统人力资源的培训和管理已经成为各项建设中举足轻重的一环。新员工所占比例迅速增加,各种针对性培训紧锣密鼓地进行,可以说,知识、技术、经验的传承及安全意识的培养,已在日常运行中占据相当的比重。空中交通管制作为特殊行业,其岗位培训存在周期长、知识量大、易懂难精、安全意识培养困难等特点,培     

捷联惯导系统中陀螺的初始测漂

本文介绍捷联惯导系统中多个陀螺初始常值漂移的测定和补偿。所谓“常值漂移”是指固定不变的漂移和一部分在各次启动时都不相同的并随时间缓慢变化的“随机常值”。本文采用“双位置(测漂)法”可以测出两个角速度陀螺沿载体系X_b,y_b和z_b测量轴的常值漂移。经过仿真证明,这一方法是完全可行的。     

月面巡视探测器散热系统方案初步研究

文章利用计算模拟手段分析了月面巡视探测器可以采用的数种散热系统方案的散热能力,并通过比较得出了几种可行的和比较优化的散热系统方案,可为月面巡视探测器的热控设计提供依据。     

液体镜头技术应用于空间探测的初步探讨

文章介绍了一种方兴未艾的镜头技术——液体镜头技术,分析了几种典型液体镜头的工作原理和控制方法,并初步探讨了其在空间探测领域应用的可能性。     

便携式红外寻的防空导弹初制导探索

对便携式红外寻的防空导弹的初制导进行了定性研究。根据期望前置角,讨论了导弹发射出筒后的侧向力控制方案,给出了发射时下沉的补偿措施。分析了俄制针式便携式红外寻的防空导弹初制导系统的控制律并进行了讨论。     

卡尔曼滤波初始条件对捷联惯导对准的影响

针对捷联惯导对准卡尔曼滤波器初始条件无法很准确给定的情况,研究了卡尔曼滤波器初始条件对捷联惯导对准精度的影响。分析了错误先验假设条件下卡尔曼滤波算法的误差,推导了滤波器计算均方误差与实际均方误差的关系。对于一般多元回归系数估计问题,比较了卡尔曼滤波算法与最小二乘算法,给出了当先验假设不准确时卡尔曼滤波算法优于最小二乘算法的一个充分条件。对捷联惯导静基座对准问题进行了仿真,仿真结果表明:合理选择初始均方误差矩阵能大大改善卡尔曼滤波启动阶段性能。初始均方误差矩阵选择为真实初始均方误差矩阵的一个较小上界是合理的。     

平台惯导系统初始对准的解耦设计

提出并设计了把状态空间解耦原理应用于平台惯导系统的一种快速初始对准方法。通过配置控制器将三个平台失调角进行解耦使其跟踪三个方向上的陀螺漂移 ,采用内外两层卡尔曼滤波器进行状态估计。仿真结果表明 ,该方法收敛较快、对漂移的抑制效果较好、对准精度高、简单易行。