An approximated method of calculating the cellular insert influence in the carrying capacity of the direct-flow labyrinth seal

A method for calculating the flowrate of the gas flowing through the cellular insert cells over the labyrinth seal strip is proposed. The gas density is taken to be average with respect to the decisive section. It is assumed that jets flowing out of cells disrupt the direct flow of the labyrinth seal. A practical implementation of the method is confirmed by the known experimental data.     

Numerical modeling of large elastoplastic strains in terms of principal stretches. I. Kinematics of elastoplastic strains

A technique for numerical finite element analysis of large elastoplastic strains is proposed. A problem is formulated in terms of principal stretches and their logarithms in the current basis of the left distortion tensor. It is shown that the “classical” multiplicative decomposition of the total strain gradient into the product of elastic and plastic strain gradients is equivalent to the presentation of total stretches as a product of elastic and plastic stretches.     

Ion-marking aerodynamic angle and airspeed sensor with logometric informative signals and interpolation processing scheme

We reveal a functional diagram, design features of a receiver electrode system, a principle of forming primary informative signals, a technique for synthesizing angular characteristics and estimating indicated errors, channel realization and algorithms of forming output signals of an ionmarking aerodynamic angle and airspeed sensor with logometric informative signals and interpolation processing scheme.     

Modeling of cooling processes in the variable section channel of a gas conduit

Using the results of numerical modeling of nonstationary gas hydrodynamic working processes in the gas conduit variable section channel when removing and cooling hot gases of different purpose technical plants, an engineering technique has been developed to provide the gas conduit operation under limitations on the flow temperature in the outlet plant section. A multiparametric area of permissible gas conduit operation connecting the characteristics of technical plants, gas conduit and water feeding system is presented.     

Grad-Shafranov Reconstruction of Magnetic Flux Ropes in the Near-Earth Space

Electric currents permeate space plasmas and often have a significant component along the magnetic field to form magnetic flux ropes. A larger spatial perspective of these structures than from the direct observation along the satellite path is crucial in visualizing their role in plasma dynamics. For magnetic flux ropes that are approximately two-dimensional equilibrium structures on a certain plane, Grad-Shafranov reconstruction technique, developed by Bengt Sonnerup and his colleagues (see Sonnerup et al. in J. Geophys. Res. 111:A09204, 2006), can be used to reveal two-dimensional maps of associated plasma and field parameters. This review gives a brief account of the technique and its application to magnetic flux ropes near the Earth’s magnetopause, in the solar wind, and in the magnetotail. From this brief survey, the ranges of the total field-aligned current and the total magnetic flux content for these magnetic flux ropes are assessed. The total field-aligned current is found to range from ∼0.14 to ∼9.7×10⁴ MA, a range of nearly six orders of magnitude. The total magnetic flux content is found to range from ∼0.25 to ∼2.3×10⁶ MWb, a range of nearly seven orders of magnitude. To the best of our knowledge, this review reports the largest range of both the total field-aligned current and the total magnetic flux content for magnetic flux ropes in space plasmas.     

The Balloon Array for RBSP Relativistic Electron Losses (BARREL)

BARREL is a multiple-balloon investigation designed to study electron losses from Earth’s Radiation Belts. Selected as a NASA Living with a Star Mission of Opportunity, BARREL augments the Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission by providing measurements of relativistic electron precipitation with a pair of Antarctic balloon campaigns that will be conducted during the Austral summers (January-February) of 2013 and 2014. During each campaign, a total of 20 small (～20 kg) stratospheric balloons will be successively launched to maintain an array of ～5 payloads spread across ～6 hours of magnetic local time in the region that magnetically maps to the radiation belts. Each balloon carries an X-ray spectrometer to measure the bremsstrahlung X-rays produced by precipitating relativistic electrons as they collide with neutrals in the atmosphere, and a DC magnetometer to measure ULF-timescale variations of the magnetic field. BARREL will provide the first balloon measurements of relativistic electron precipitation while comprehensive in situ measurements of both plasma waves and energetic particles are available, and will characterize the spatial scale of precipitation at relativistic energies. All data and analysis software will be made freely available to the scientific community.     

An analysis of magnetic protection of spacecraft against penetrating radiation

Negative effect of cosmic ray particles is a serious danger for astronauts and onboard equipment. When planning interplanetary flights it becomes one of the main obstacles. The aim of this work is to analyze currently available methods of protecting spacecraft against cosmic rays using magnetic fields and to choose the most effective method. Three variants of protection systems were considered, two of which had been described in scientific literature: with azimuth and axial magnetic filed. The third, more general method (with helical magnetic field) is suggested here for the first time. The first two variants are extreme special cases of the third one. The exact solution is obtained for the problem of motion of a charged relativistic particle in the helical magnetic field, and a criterion of particle reflection is determined. A comparative analysis of reflection characteristics of the chosen systems has been performed, and the conclusion about the optimal configuration of the magnetic protection is drawn.     

Investigation of direct integration for nonlinear finite element equations of motion by the modified central difference method

The investigation of stability and precision of the previously proposed implicit scheme of direct integration for the finite element equations of motion is presented. The scheme parameter values that ensure its unconditional stability in the nonlinear problems are determined and comparison with existing procedures is given.     

Simulation of liferaft string water drop

A mathematical model of motion for a string of liferafts being water dropped is presented under the assumption of a plane system motion. An example of calculations is given.     

A Problem of choosing an optimal number of information unmanned aerial vehicles

Using formalism of the queueing theory, we propose two-objective models for optimizing the number of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) designed for remote monitoring (reconnaissance) of certain regions. A model that takes into account the UAV failure in performing a flight mission is considered. The numerical method and examples of solving problems stated are presented.