MICROSCOPE On-ground and In-orbit Calibration

The MICROSCOPE mission, to be launched in 2011, will perform the test of the universality of free fall (Equivalence Principle) to an accuracy of 10^?15. The payload consists of two sensors, each controlling the free fall of a pair of test masses: the first for the test of the Equivalence Principle (titanium/platinum), the second for performance verification (platinum/platinum). The capability to detect a faint violation signal of the EP test is conditioned upon the rejection of disturbances arising from the coupling and misalignments of the instrument vectorial outputs. Therefore the performance of the mission depends on the success of the series of calibration operations which are planned during the satellite life in orbit. These operations involve forced motion of the masses with respect to the satellite. Specific data processing tools and simulations are integral parts of the calibration and performance enhancement process, as are the tests operated on ground at the ZARM drop tower. The presentation will focus on the current status of the MICROSCOPE payload, the rationale for the in-orbit calibrations, the data processing operations and the tests performed at the ZARM drop tower.     

Determination of the Equivalence Principle Violation Signal for the MICROSCOPE Space Mission: Optimization of the Signal Processing

The MICROSCOPE space mission aims at testing the Equivalence Principle (EP) with an accuracy of 10^?15. The test is based on the precise measurement delivered by a differential electrostatic accelerometer on-board a drag-free microsatellite which includes two cylindrical test masses submitted to the same gravitational field and made of different materials. The experiment consists in testing the equality of the electrostatic acceleration applied to the masses to maintain them relatively motionless at a well-known frequency. This high precision experiment is compatible with only very little perturbations. However, aliasing arises from the finite time span of the measurement, and is amplified by measurement losses. These effects perturb the measurement analysis. Numerical simulations have been run to estimate the contribution of a perturbation at any frequency on the EP violation frequency and to test its compatibility with the mission specifications. Moreover, different data analysis procedures have been considered to select the one minimizing these effects taking into account the uncertainty about the frequencies of the implicated signals.     

The Confrontation Between General Relativity and Experiment

We review the experimental evidence for Einstein’s general relativity. A variety of high precision null experiments confirm the Einstein Equivalence Principle, which underlies the concept that gravitation is synonymous with spacetime geometry, and must be described by a metric theory. Solar system experiments that test the weak-field, post-Newtonian limit of metric theories strongly favor general relativity. Binary pulsars test gravitational-wave damping and aspects of strong-field general relativity. During the coming decades, tests of general relativity in new regimes may be possible. Laser interferometric gravitational-wave observatories on Earth and in space may provide new tests via precise measurements of the properties of gravitational waves. Future efforts using X-ray, infrared, gamma-ray and gravitational-wave astronomy may one day test general relativity in the strong-field regime near black holes and neutron stars.     

The gravitational potential for a moving observer, the perihelionshift of Mercury, and photon deflection

Acceptance of Einstein's second postulate, combined with the Principle of Equivalence, requires the introduction of space-time curvature in the presence of massive objects. In this paper, it has been demonstrated that the radiation continuum model (RCM) of light results in a modification to Newton's static gravitational potential. Applying this modified potential to the case of Mercury's anomalous perihelion advance accounts for the entire 43" per century, and provides a form equivalent to that of GRT. Thus, this model will work equally well for any system to which it is applied, all without resorting to the space-time curvature of GRT. The same potential, applied to the problem of a solar grazing photon, gives a solution identical in form and content to that of GRT as well. Such results lead to the conclusion that these effects are not attributable to massive objects curving space-time     

Satellite Skin-Force Modelling for Atmospheric Drag Calculations

Satellites in low Earth orbits are influenced by the Earth’s atmosphere. The interactions between the molecules and the spacecraft cause the highest non-gravitational force, which in magnitude is comparable to planetary disturbances. Therefore the modelling of atmospheric drag effects is important for many missions with a scientific background like STEP (Satellite Test of Equivalence Principle). With the STEP mission variations between gravitational and inertial mass shall be measured with an accuracy of 10^?18. The results are of great interest for cosmological and gravitational theories. To achieve the aimed accuracy, a precise model of external disturbances is necessary. In this article the method of Ray-Tracing is used to quantify the atmospheric drag forces and torques for spacecrafts of arbitrary shape.     

Modelling of the MICROSCOPE Mission

The French space mission MICROSCOPE aims at testing the Equivalence Principle (EP) up to an accuracy of 10^?15. The experiment will be carried out on a satellite which is developed and produced within the CNES Myriade series. The measuring accuracy will be achieved by means of two high-precision capacitive differential accelerometers that are built by the French institute ONERA, see Touboul and Rodrigues (Class. Quantum Gravity 18:2487–2498, 2001). At ZARM, which is a member of the science team, the data evaluation process is prepared. Therefore, a comprehensive simulation of the real system including the science signal and all error sources is built for the development and testing of data reduction and data analysis algorithms to extract the EP violation signal. Currently, the ZARM Drag-Free simulator, a tool to support mission modelling, is adapted for the MICROSCOPE mission in order to simulate test mass and satellite dynamics. Models of environmental disturbances like solar radiation pressure are considered, also. Additionally, detailed modelling of the on-board capacitive sensors is done. The actual status of the mission modelling will be presented. Particularly, the modelling of disturbances forces will be discussed in detail.     

Microscope Instrument Development,Lessons for GOCE

Two space missions are presently under development with payload based on ultra-sensitive electrostatic accelerometers. The GOCE mission takes advantage of a three axis gradiometer accommodated in a very stable thermal case on board a drag-free satellite orbiting at a very low altitude of 250 km. This ESA mission will perform the very highly accurate mapping of the Earth gravity field with a geographical resolution of 100 km. The MICROSCOPE mission is devoted to the test of the “Universality of free fall” in view of the verification of the Einstein Equivalence Principle (EP) and of the search of a new interaction. The MICROSCOPE instrument is composed of two pairs of differential electrostatic accelerometers and the accelerometer proof-masses are the bodies of the EP test. The satellite is also a drag-free satellite exhibiting a fine attitude control and in a certain way, each differential accelerometer is a one axis gradiometer with an arm of quite null length. The development of this instrument much interests the definition and the evaluation of the sensor cores of the gradiometer. The in flight calibration process of both instruments is also very similar. Lessons form these parallel developments are presented. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

先进铝化物涂层制备技术进展

铝化物涂层是现役发动机热端部件高温氧化防护的主要手段。未来,高性能铝化物涂层仍是发展先进发动机所必需的技术。传统基于化学气相的制备方法不仅污染环境,腐蚀设备,效率低下,更重要的是难以有效制备高性能铝化物涂层。高效"绿色"化将是先进铝化物涂层制备技术的发展趋势。近年通过利用机械能辅助的策略获得了高效制备铝化物涂层的方法。另外,利用真空物理气相沉积加高温扩散的策略,"绿色"制备高性能铝化物涂层的研究也进展显著。结合上述两种策略,利用真空等离子辐照形成的离子撞击能,可高效、"绿色"地制备铝化物涂层,为高性能铝化物涂层的制备提供了一种新的有效途径。     

Certain features of GTE combustion chamber open-type nozzles

In this paper, we consider the capability of GTE centrifugal open-type nozzles to recover combustion in the main combustion chamber at short-term fuel cutoffs into the fuel manifolds, when the anti-surge system operates, as well at actuation of “emergency brake” or the “dipping and shutdown valve”. We describe some features of the centrifugal open-type nozzles that make it possible to ensure the stable operation of the combustion chamber even at the “lean” blow-off boundary at α _CC ^max ≤ 65. The possibility of combustion recovery without using the spark plugs after the anti-surge system actuation has been experimentally confirmed.     

一种用于机动目标跟踪的新自适应卡尔曼滤波算法

在“当前”模型的概念下,从工程实现的背景出发,提出了一种用于机动目标跟踪的新自适应卡尔曼滤波算法。基本思想是通过对加速度项引入加权因子来进一步突出“当前”信息的作用,为“当前”模型提供更加准确的“当前”信息。蒙特卡罗模拟结果表明,算法不仅克服了“当前”模型自适应卡尔曼滤波算法的缺陷,而且使跟踪性能得到进一步的提高。     

Plasmaspheric Density Structures and Dynamics: Properties Observed by the CLUSTER and IMAGE Missions

Plasmaspheric density structures have been studied since the discovery of the plasmasphere in the late 1950s. But the advent of the Cluster and Image missions in 2000 has added substantially to our knowledge of density structures, thanks to the new capabilities of those missions: global imaging with Image and four-point in situ measurements with Cluster. The study of plasma sources and losses has given new results on refilling rates and erosion processes. Two-dimensional density images of the plasmasphere have been obtained. The spatial gradient of plasmaspheric density has been computed. The ratios between H⁺, He⁺ and O⁺ have been deduced from different ion measurements. Plasmaspheric plumes have been studied in detail with new tools, which provide information on their morphology, dynamics and occurrence. Density structures at smaller scales have been revealed with those missions, structures that could not be clearly distinguished before the global images from Image and the four-point measurements by Cluster became available. New terms have been given to these structures, like “shoulders”, “channels”, “fingers” and “crenulations”. This paper reviews the most relevant new results about the plasmaspheric plasma obtained since the start of the Cluster and Image missions.     

乘方和 QUICK 格式在非对称扩压器内流动计算的比较

采用Ｓｐｅｚｉａｌｅ的非线性ｋ－ε模型计算了非对称扩压器内的流动,着重用数值方法考察了两种典型的对流差分格式（乘方格式和ＱＵＩＣＫ格式）对模型预测性能的影响,得出两种紊流模型对对流差分格式并不敏感的结论。     

程序载荷下疲劳可靠性分析的损伤等效递推方法

以载荷循环数－疲劳寿命干涉模型为基础,分析了程序载荷（包括随机载荷历程）作用下的疲劳可靠性问题的特点及计算方法。通过对疲劳失效过程的分析,针对复杂载荷下疲劳问题的物理本质,提出了一个以损伤等效原则转换不同载荷水平的当量循环数的可靠性递推方法,并进行了试验验证。     

高结构效率的斜流压气机结构设计

针对高负荷斜流压气机的结构设计需求,引入和完善斜流叶盘的结构效率评估方法,用以协调各种设计要求和优化结构设计.基于提高结构效率的设计思想,提出“C”型和“M”型两种新型斜流叶盘结构方案,并通过平均应力值、振动鲁棒系数和轮缘变形协调系数3项的分析和结构效率系数的对比,论证了新型轮盘结构在减轻质量、提高可靠性和降低叶尖损失等方面的优势.分析结果表明:“M”型叶盘结构方案可使平均应力提高24.7%,质量降低20%,振动响应降低37.9%,轮缘最大变形降低67.6%.      

非定常预处理方法在倾转旋翼飞行器悬停状态气动干扰模拟中的应用

针对倾转旋翼飞行器的多种速度尺度并存的复杂流动问题,发展了能够统一求解同时包含不可压缩流动和可压缩流动的非定常预处理方法和一种考虑了流场物理信息传播方向的预处理远场边界条件。结合适用于倾转旋翼飞行器的复杂外形及大位移问题的非结构混合网格技术和重叠插值技术,建立了倾转旋翼飞行器的数值模拟方法。在此基础上,首先通过悬停算例验证了数值方法的有效性,确定了选择预处理截断参数的原则。然后探究了倾转旋翼飞行器直升机模式悬停状态的尾迹涡结构演化过程,研究了“喷泉效应”和“地面效应”对倾转旋翼气动性能的影响。计算结果表明,旋翼尾迹涡的耗散在不同方位角存在较大差异。“地面效应”抑制了旋翼尾迹的发展,提高了旋翼整个方位角区域的升力系数,而不仅限于机翼上方方位角区域。 “地面效应”作用强于“喷泉效应”作用,使旋翼相对于孤立旋翼拉力系数略微增大了5.26%,但同时整个倾转旋翼飞行器的总的向上的力只有孤立旋翼拉力的82.46%。结论表明预处理方法和预处理远场边界条件能够较好地模拟倾转旋翼飞行器悬停状态的干扰流场,兼顾了数值计算的耗散性和稳定性。气动干扰对倾转旋翼飞行器整体气动性能有重大影响。      

Progress and future prospects of CFD in aerospace—Wind tunnel and beyond

A historical perspective of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in aerospace in the last 30 years is firstly given. It is shown that there still remain a number of problems that are geometrically simple but difficult to simulate even after many simulations were conducted over complex body configurations. The fact indicates that CFD research is now in the “specific phase” and requires some innovation.The innovation includes “evolutionary effort” and “revolutionary effort”. As an example of evolutionary effort, large eddy simulations/ Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulations (LES/RANS) hybrid method and its application examples are presented. A shift from RANS to LES/RANS hybrid method occurs not because of the advancement of computers but because of our recognition that separated flows are inherently unsteady and successful simulations require LES-like computations.Comment is given that there may be other types of research necessary to make CFD a real useful tool for a design in addition to simply showing CFD capability for complex body configurations. As one of the examples, construction of a CFD database is presented. Another issue is to make CFD infrastructures so that people outside CFD community may use CFD as a tool to formulate or refine their ideas.To find out revolutionary effort, the message given by Prof. Dean Chapman in 1977 is referred. Observation of current CFD research reveals that evaluation methods of “scale effect” that were believed to be the most important benefit of CFD have not yet been established. Such establishment is the key for the revolution of CFD and researchers need to focus their effort on the development of technologies to evaluate scale effect. Only with such new CFD technologies can “conceptual design with CFD” become feasible.     

航空发动机双转子系统“临界跟随”现象的机理及影响

为了探明“临界跟随”现象导致航空发动机振动居高不下的产生机理,建立了考虑中介轴承的双转子动力学模型,推导了双转子发生“临界跟随”现象时参数之间的关系,分析了“临界跟随”状态下转子系统的动力学特性。结果表明:“临界跟随”现象会导致转子系统无法越过盘偏摆振型临界转速,造成转子振动对不平衡质量分布极其敏感,其主要影响因素为盘极转动惯量与直径转动惯量的比值(简称惯量比)以及双转子增速比;当高压盘等效惯量比等于1,或增速比与任意低压盘惯量比相等时,转子系统表现出高压激励条件下的“临界跟随”特征;当低压盘惯量比等于1,或增速比与高压盘等效惯量比的乘积等于1时,转子系统表现出低压激励条件下的“临界跟随”特征。提出了必须严格控制航空发动机叶盘的等效惯量比以及双转子转速控制律的设计建议。      

出口宽高比及旋流角对双涵道S弯喷管温度分布的影响

采用数值方法研究了出口宽高比及旋流角对基于真实排气混合器构型的双涵道S弯喷管内/外流场温度分布的影响.结果显示:在圆转方弯曲构型的作用下,波瓣混合器及尾锥诱导产生的流向涡在第二弯通道及等直段内部卷吸着热流冲击S弯喷管壁面形成"热斑".在完全遮挡高温部件准则的约束下,随着出口宽高比的增加,S弯喷管壁面的"热斑"温度先增大...     

Large Amplitude Oscillations in Prominences

Since the first reports of oscillations in prominences in the 1930s, there have been major theoretical and observational developments to understand the nature of these oscillatory phenomena, leading to the whole new field of the so-called “prominence seismology”. There are two types of oscillatory phenomena observed in prominences; “small-amplitude oscillations” (2–3 km?s^?1), which are quite common, and “large-amplitude oscillations” (>20 km?s^?1) for which observations are scarce. Large-amplitude oscillations have been found as “winking filament” in Hα as well as motion in the plane-of-sky in Hα, EUV, micro-wave and He 10830 observations. Historically, it has been suggested that the large-amplitude oscillations in prominences were triggered by disturbances such as fast-mode MHD waves (Moreton wave) produced by remote flares. Recent observations show, in addition, that near-by flares or jets can also create such large-amplitude oscillations in prominences. Large-amplitude oscillations, which are observed both in transverse as well as longitudinal direction, have a range of periods varying from tens of minutes to a few hours. Using the observed period of oscillation and simple theoretical models, the obtained magnetic field in prominences has shown quite a good agreement with directly measured one and, therefore, justifies prominence seismology as a powerful diagnostic tool. On rare occasions, when the large-amplitude oscillations have been observed before or during the eruption, the oscillations may be applied to diagnose the stability and the eruption mechanism. Here we review the recent developments and understanding in the observational properties of large-amplitude oscillations and their trigger mechanisms and stability in the context of prominence seismology.     

High-Definition Television System Onboard Lunar Explorer Kaguya (SELENE) and Imaging of the Moon and the Earth

The High-Definition television (HDTV) system onboard the Japanese lunar explorer Kaguya (SELENE) consists of a telephotographic camera and a wide-angle camera that each have 2.2 M-pixel IT-CCDs (interline transfer charge-coupled devices) and LSIs (large-scale integrated circuits) of the several-million-gates class. One minute-long motion pictures acquired by the HDTV system at 30 fps (frames per second) are recorded in a 1 GB semiconductor memory after compression, and then transmitted to a ground station. In the development of the space-going HDTV system, a commercial ground-model HDTV system was extensively modified and evaluated for its suitability to withstand the harsh environment of space through environmental tests. The HDTV acquired a total of 6.3 TB of movies and still images of the Earth and the Moon over the mission period that started on September 29, 2007, and ended on June 11, 2009. Footage of an “Earth-rise” and an “Earth-set” on the lunar horizon were captured for the first time by the HDTV system. During a lunar eclipse, images of the Earth’s “diamond ring” were acquired for the first time. The CCDs and the instruments used in the system remained in good working order throughout the mission period, despite the harsh space environment, which suggests a potential new approach to the development of instruments for use in space.