Design of a canard configured TransCruiser using CEASIOM

CEASIOM is a multidisciplinary software environment for aircraft design that has been developed as part of the European Framework 6 SimSAC project. It closely integrates discipline-specific tools such as those used for CAD, grid generation, CFD, stability analysis and control system design. The environment allows the user to take an initial design from geometry definition and aerodynamics generation through to full six degrees of freedom simulation and analysis. Key capabilities include variable fidelity aerodynamics tools and aeroelasticity modules. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the potential of CEASIOM by presenting the results of a Design, Simulate and Evaluate (DSE) exercise applied to a novel, project specific, transonic cruiser configuration called the TCR. The baseline TCR configuration is first defined using conventional methods, which is then refined and improved within the CEASIOM software environment. A wind tunnel model of this final configuration was then constructed, tested and used to verify the results generated using CEASIOM.     

Optimization of the centrifugal impeller flow passage in high-speed pumps

Based on the jet-vortex model for flow passage hydrodynamics in a high-speed centrifugal pump with the open-type impeller, we present the calculated relations for design and optimization of the experimentally verified pump design parameters.     

Application of the parameter-averaging method to calculations of gas ejectors with cylindrical mixing chambers

In this paper, one of the most possible methods for calculations of ejector devices equipped with the cylindrical mixing chambers is considered; the method is based on averaging the flow parameters at the chamber inlet. We present the calculation results and their comparison with the earlier published data, as well as the quantitative assessment of this method and feasibilities of its use for different technical devices embodying the concept of ejection.     

Optimization of a tool kit for machining by methods of graph theory

Some methods of optimizing a cutting tool kit by the minimum labour content criterion in milling of an article are considered. Their advantages and disadvantages are given.     

Heat transfer at various methods of thermal protection in the systems of power-driven gas turbine plants (GTP)

The scheme variants of implementing the thermal protection against heat flows being generated by the body of a high-temperature stationary gas turbine engine (GTE) are presented. The scheme of the experimental bench with a working section is given. Methodical approaches to the heat transfer calculation at different variants of forced and natural convection organization and under various operating conditions are described. The generalized results of the experiments carried out using a heat curtain being generated by porous injection are presented.     

On choice of the blade back profile curvature in transonic turbine cascades

Some design and experimental data on three cascades with the same 12° bending angle for the primary nozzle block of a gas turbine are presented. As is seen from the investigation the most efficient at the transonic velocities of the outward flow are the blades, the back curvature of which in the bevel cut zone decreases to the trailing edge. Also presented is the fact that the blade with the increasing back curvature has noticeably larger losses.     

System sensitivity to parametric variations in the problem of lateral motion flight vehicle control

The results of investigation of dynamic system sensitivity to parametric variations in the channel of flight vehicle lateral motion are presented using the notion of infinitesimal transformation. The exact relationships establishing a link between the structure of parameter deviation and that of system phase coordinate deviation are obtained.     

Potential of salt-accumulating and salt-secreting halophytic plants for recycling sodium chloride in human urine in bioregenerative life support systems

This study addresses the possibility of growing different halophytic plants on mineralized human urine as a way to recycle NaCl from human wastes in a bioregenerative life support system (BLSS). Two halophytic plant species were studied: the salt-accumulating Salicornia europaea and the salt-secreting Limonium gmelinii. During the first two weeks, plants were grown on Knop’s solution, then an average daily amount of urine produced by one human, which had been preliminarily mineralized, was gradually added to the experimental solutions. Nutrient solutions simulating urine mineral composition were gradually added to control solutions. NaCl concentrations in the stock solutions added to the experimental and control solutions were 9 g/L in the first treatment and 20 g/L in the second treatment. The mineralized human urine showed some inhibitory effects on S. europaea and L. gmelinii. The biomass yield of experimental plants was lower than that of control ones. If calculated for the same time period (120 d) and area (1 m²), the amount of sodium chloride taken up by S. europaea plants would be 11.7 times larger than the amount taken up by L. gmelinii plants (486 g/m² vs. 41 g/m²). Thus, S. europaea is the better choice of halophyte for recycling sodium chloride from human wastes in BLSS.     

Seasonal and diurnal behavior of NO2 column density in Antarctica as observed by Mark IV,Brewer Ozone Spectrophotometer Number 153

The Meteorology Department of India has been measuring vertical column density of NO₂ at Maitri (70.7°S, 11.7°E), Antarctica since July 1999 using a Mark IV, Brewer Ozone Spectrophotometer. Maitri is situated at the south of the Antarctic circle. An analysis of 6 years of data shows that NO₂ column has seasonal variation with a maximum value during summer. It is also found that during the period when sun does not set, the NO₂ column exhibits a diurnal variation, with a peak around noon and lower values in the morning and afternoon hours. Using a simple steady-state chemical reaction scheme, an attempt has been made to explain these features.     

Investigation into impact of tropical cyclones on the ionosphere using GPS sounding and NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis data

Ionospheric response to tropical cyclones (TCs) was estimated experimentally on the example of three powerful cyclones – KATRINA (23–31 August 2005), RITA (18–26 September 2005), and WILMA (15–25 October 2005). These TCs were active near the USA Atlantic coast. Investigation was based on Total Electron Content (TEC) data from the international network of two-frequency ground-based GPS receivers and the NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis data. We studied the spatial–temporal dynamics of wave TEC disturbances over two periods of ranges (02–20 min and 20–60 min). To select the ionospheric disturbances which were most likely to be associated with the cyclones, maps of TEC disturbances were compared with those of meteorological parameters.