Towards a One Percent Measurement of Frame Dragging by Spin with Satellite Laser Ranging to LAGEOS, LAGEOS 2 and LARES and GRACE Gravity Models

During the past century Einstein’s theory of General Relativity gave rise to an experimental triumph; however, there are still aspects of this theory to be measured or more accurately tested. Today one of the main challenges in experimental gravitation, together with the direct detection of gravitational waves, is the accurate measurement of the gravitomagnetic field generated by the angular momentum of a body. Here, after a brief introduction on frame-dragging, gravitomagnetism and Lunar Laser Ranging tests, we describe the past measurements of frame-dragging by the Earth spin using the satellites LAGEOS, LAGEOS 2 and the Earth’s gravity models obtained by the GRACE project. We demonstrate that these measurements have an accuracy of approximately 10%. We then describe the LARES experiment to be launched in 2010 by the Italian Space Agency for a measurement of frame-dragging with an accuracy of a few percent. We finally demonstrate that a number of claims by a single individual, that the error budget of the frame-dragging measurements with LAGEOS-LAGEOS 2 and LARES has been underestimated, are indeed ill-founded.     

Gravitomagnetism in Physics and Astrophysics

Based on general relativity, the article reviews gravitomagnetism in physics and astrophysics. Emphasis is put on observational effects. Accelerated reference frames in flat spacetime are discussed to illuminate the gravitomagnetic field. Compact insight into the dynamics of gravitationally interacting non-spinning and spinning objects is achieved by employing the Hamilton formalism.     

涡喷发动机压气机失速、喘振及喘振点参数的测量和分析

本文介绍涡喷发动机在“净”和畸变进气下,涡轮一导面积减小12％或标准一导时,进行旋转失速和喘振试验的试验方法、测量方法及其试验的结果和分析。还介绍两种逼喘方法的试验,一种是静态逼喘,另一种是动态逼喘。试验结果表明,逼喘方式与喘振点参数有关联,动态逼喘的喘振点上的压比值与流量值分别比静态逼喘的低2.8％和1.7％。      

In space, CDs play a new tune

The development of a prototype instrument for biological tests aboard the International Space Station is reviewed. The instrument will employ specially formatted glass and plastic compact disks to conduct tests on biological samples. Special dyes will indicate the presence of proteins, DNA, and other chemicals. One benefit will be the ability to increase the number of trials in an experiment, lending greater validity to the results.     

Problems in formation and control of a required microacceleration level at spacecraft design,tests, and operation

In this paper, we consider the main aspects of a problem in formation and control of a required microacceleration level as the most important characteristic of the space laboratory intended for realizing the gravitational and sensitive technological processes. The estimation model and methodology to control and estimate the microaccelerations are presented that are necessary for the well-founded choice of the spacecraft parameters and carrying out their flight and space tests, when the new special-purpose space laboratories are designed and constructed.     

Study on ballistic penetration resistance of titanium alloy TC4, Part II: Numerical analysis

Enhancing containment capability and reducing weight are always great concerns in the design of casings. Ballistic tests can help to mitigate a catastrophic event after a blade out, yet taking time and costing money. A wise way is to hunt for a validated numerical simulation technology, through which the material dynamic behavior over the strain rate range in the ballistic tests should be represented and reasonable failure strain should be defined. The simulation results show that the validation of the numerical simulation technology based on the test data can accurately estimate the absorption energy, describe the physical process and failure mode during the penetration, as well as the failure mechanism. It is found that energy dissipation of projectiles is in manner of compression stage, energy conversion stage, and interactive scrap stage. An effect indicator is proposed, where the factors of critical velocity including impact orientation and mass of projectiles and thickness of casings are considered. The critical velocity presents a linear relation with the effect indicator, which implies the critical velocity obtained by the flat casing could underestimate the capability of the real casing.     

Aircraft with outboard horizontal stabilizers,history, current status,development potential

The potential of using outboard horizontal stabilizers (OHS) to reduce aircraft drag, and hence improve fuel economy, was investigated historically, experimentally and theoretically. The feasibility of OHS configurations on the basis of the structural stress levels expected was also studied. The findings of the work showed that from simple, low Reynolds number, wind-tunnel tests, at a wing-chord-based Reynolds number of approximately 6×10⁴ and also from theoretical analyses for a higher Reynolds number of 9×10⁶, lift/drag (L/D) value increases in the region of 40–50% for wing and tail surfaces can be expected relative to corresponding values for conventional aircraft. When account is taken of fuselage and tail-support boom drag, the expected overall L/D increase is in the region of 30–35%. The analytical stress-level work showed that contrary to what, on a first thought basis, might be expected, there were no major stress problems. Flight tests at the University of Calgary, and by others elsewhere, employing radio-controlled, powered, model aircraft (i.e. UAVs) showed that aircraft of the OHS type were easily controlled in flight and were stable. An examination was made of additional areas that may contribute yet further to the development of the OHS concept.     

正态分布置信检验方法

正态母体特征值(母体均值、百分位值、百分率、标准差和变异系数等)的检验是工程中常见的问题。本文根据置信检验理论,建立了正态母体特征值的置信检验方法,包括母体均值、百分位值、百分率、标准差和变异系数的强检验、弱检验和弱强检验,可以满足不同的实际需求。置信检验克服了显著性假设检验在接受原假设时缺乏说服力的弱点,能够以高概率判断正态母体特征值是否满足工程中规定的条件。不但比传统的正态分布假设检验和抽样检验具有更高的精度,而且更加便于应用,许多假设检验和抽样检验难以处理的问题(如母体百分率和百分位值的检验),采用置信检验可以容易地得到解决。      

Stability,flying qualities and longitudinal parameter estimation of a twin-engine CS-23 certified light aircraft

This paper presents some results of the flight test campaign conducted on the Tecnam P2006T aircraft, on the occasion of its certification process. This twin-engine propeller airplane is certified under the normal category CS-23 and FAR 23. A prototype of this light aircraft has been tested in flight for a post-design performance optimization and for the assessment of flight qualities. These experiences have led to the application of two winglets to the original wing. The final configuration has been extensively tested for the achievement of CS-23 certification. The longitudinal and lateral-directional response modes have been assessed and quantified. At the same time the longitudinal airplane model, through a dedicated set of flight maneuvers, has been characterized by means of parameter estimation studies. The aircraft stability derivatives have been estimated from the acquired flight data using the identification technique known as Output Error Method (OEM). Some estimated stability derivatives have been also compared with the corresponding values extracted from leveled flight tests and from wind tunnel tests performed on a scaled model of the aircraft.     

宽温宽频宽动态位移下ZN-33材料的黏弹行为

对ZN-33黏弹阻尼材料进行温度、频率和动态位移的扫描实验和不同温度、载荷下蠕变实验。研究了材料在宽温、宽频、宽动态位移下的动态阻尼特性。得到了ZN-33材料复模量和损耗因子随温度、频率和动态位移变化的规律。同时对该材料的蠕变特性进行了研究,揭示其蠕变行为的非线性特性,进行了蠕变柔量的时间—应力等效性描述。     

试验信息系统兼容性测试策略

结合试验信息系统的特点,以测试发射试验信息系统与安全管理系统的兼容性测试为例,提出了对试验信息系统进行兼容性测试的主要策略,包括业务软件与新增支撑软件在同一运行环境下的运行稳定性、安装/卸载兼容性测试;新增支撑系统或设备在运行期间对交换机网络流量影响的测试;新增系统或软件对CPU（中央处理器）、内存、端口等的占用情况测试等。通过对应用该测试策略的测试结果进行分析,发现了系统兼容性方面的问题。这些策略也可为其他类似系统的兼容性测试提供参考。     

Instrumenting embedded test software in support system integration, factory production, and depot repair

Embedded built-in test (BIT) software typically provides a system-level go/no-go indication and, in the presence of a failure, may provide some level of sub-system isolation. This level of reporting, while meeting the customer's operational requirements, does little to support system integration, production, and repair. To support these other needs, "instrumentation code" is added to the BIT software to provide detailed test data through an external interface. Since the BIT software already accesses the hardware parameters for testing, it becomes the most logical component for the instrumentation. This paper describes the techniques of embedding instrumentation during BIT design and development to support a broad range of program test needs. It explains the costs and benefits associated with the use of instrumentation. It gives specific examples of instrumented software and describes how instrumentation data can be used during environmental tests, factory test, and depot test. The impact instrumentation has on software development time, code size, execution time, and reliability is discussed as well as the cost of retrofitting BIT software to add instrumentation. Some of the benefits as well as the challenges to developing effective embedded instrumentation is also examined.     

民用飞机尾旋研究不同试验方法的比较

飞机的失速尾旋问题是飞机设计者在研发阶段所需要关注的重点之一,截至目前,已有多种手段可以采用,譬如数值计算、风洞试验、模型自由飞试验等。针对飞机尾旋的研究通常在尾旋风洞中进行,采用的试验手段有两种:自由尾旋试验和旋转天平试验,这两种试验原理和方法不同,但都能从不同的角度反映出飞机的尾旋特性。详细阐述了两种试验方法的过程和原理,通过实例表明了两种试验的结果是相辅相成的。     

Design of nonparametric truncated sequential detectors withparallel linear boundaries

A design method is proposed for a class of nonparametric truncated sequential detectors. These detectors test nonparametric statistics against two parallel linear boundaries with an abrupt truncation at some sample size. The proposed method obtains the asymptotic relative efficiencies (ARE) of these tests with respect to their corresponding fixed-sample-size (FSS) tests in terms of some parameters of the tests. There parameters are then chosen to optimize the ARE. This (asymptotically) optimal set of parameters is used to design the thresholds of the sequential tests. Numerical results are obtained and design examples are presented, using the sum of the signs of the observations as the test statistic. The method can be used for nonparametric sequential detectors and for robust and parametric sequential detectors as well     

空间用聚四氟乙烯材料的原子氧、温度、紫外辐射效应的试验研究

在 IFM原子氧剥蚀效应地面模拟设备中对空间常用材料聚四氟乙烯进行了原子氧剥蚀效应试验,试样温度升高对原子氧效应的影响以及原子氧与紫外辐射复合效应试验,对试验前后试样的质量及表面形貌进行了比较,得出了材料在设备中的反应特点以及温度升高、紫外辐射对材料的原子氧效应的影响规律。对原子氧与材料的反应机理也做了相应的分析。同时还测量比较了原子氧暴露试验前后、原子氧与紫外辐射复合作用前后试样的反射率、透射率等光学性质。     

Fallacies in computational testing of matrix positivedefiniteness/semidefiniteness

The status of computational tests for establishing matrix positive semidefiniteness and positive definiteness is reviewed. Two pervasive real-time tests that have been used for many years in varied applications to ensure that computed covariances encountered in Kalman filter applications are positive definite and discussed. Structural representations of covariance matrices are reviewed as a prelude to constructing a counterexample and demonstrating that it refutes these real-time tests. It is maintained that the latter are bogus approaches despite the fact that they are pervasive. It is suggested that such bogus tests arose as an attempt to fill the need for a quick check (over the entire mission time) of the massive number of matrices computationally encountered in real-time applications     

2.4 m跨声速风洞虚拟飞行试验技术研究

风洞虚拟飞行试验(WTBVFT)技术是在风洞环境中对飞行器机动运动最逼真模拟的物理过程,它不仅可以更加有效模拟飞行器的机动运动过程、获取气动/运动耦合特性和揭示气动/运动耦合机理,而且能够实现气动/飞行力学集成的相容性研究。鉴于此,简要介绍了2.4 m跨声速WTBVFT技术,包括:相似准则和模拟方法、试验模型支撑技术、气动/运动参数测试技术和操纵控制技术等,并开展了典型导弹模型开环控制、姿态角闭环控制、加速度闭环控制、俯仰/滚转耦合与解耦控制以及靶试弹道验证等WTBVFT。研究结果表明:WTBVFT系统运动灵活,气动参数和运动参数测量结果准确可靠,能够有效模拟导弹实际飞行过程,具备闭环控制与耦合运动解耦控制的试验模拟能力,初步形成了气动/飞行力学一体化试验研究能力。同时,该研究也为开展控制方法优化与验证、数据修正与应用以及发展复杂构型的WTBVFT奠定了技术基础。     

混合机织复合材料刚度、强度及低速冲击性能试验研究

将二维机织碳布和单向预浸料碳布按照一定比例铺设成的混合机织复合材料兼具比刚度、比强度高、抗低速冲击损伤以及工艺性好等优点。试验测定不同比例的混合机织复合材料的面内刚度、强度,采用落锤法进行多个能量级别的低速冲击试验和准静态横向压缩试验,用超声波C-扫描法记录各试验件的内部损伤面积,并测量剩余压缩强度,分析这种混合机织复合材料在综合考虑刚度、强度以及低速冲击损伤容限等因素下的最佳铺层比例。     

Life cycle testing of a sealed 24-V, 42-Ah nickel-cadmium aircraftbattery

Extensive research has been conducted in the design and manufacture of very long life sealed maintenance free nickel-cadmium aircraft batteries. This study presents data on a 100% depth of discharge (DOD) life test performed on a nominal capacity 42-Ah battery. The purpose of this study is to validate design concepts, determine the life characteristics of the newly designed sealed Ni-Cd batteries, and develop baseline information on failure rates and mechanisms. The data from this experiment can be used to compare depth of discharge versus battery life with similar tests such as the lower DOD experiments performed on spacecraft batteries. This information is important in the ongoing development of long life batteries and in developing failure models for life prediction     

航空发动机推力的测量和确定方法

从推力的定义和表达式及其导出的条件出发,讨论了航空发动机地面与飞行状态下在各类试验设备上推力的确定方法和程序以及必须进行的发动机部件与模型试验、整机地面试验和模拟高空试验乃至飞行试验,并分析了模拟高空试验在正确确定飞行推力中的重要作用。