Boundary discontinuous Fourier analysis of thick beams with clamped and simply supported edges via CUF

This paper presents an analytical solution for static analysis of thick rectangular beams with different boundary conditions.Carrera's Unified Formulation (CUF) is used in order to consider shear deformation theories of arbitrary order.The novelty of the present work is that a boundary discontinuous Fourier approach is used to consider clamped boundary conditions in the analytical solution,unlike Navier-type solutions which are restricted to simply supported beams.Governing equations are obtained by employing the principle of virtual work.The numerical accuracy of results is ascertained by studying the convergence of the solution and comparing the results to those of a 3D finite element solution.Beams subjected to bending due to a uniform pressure load and subjected to torsion due to opposite linear forces are considered.Overall,accurate results close to those of 3D finite element solutions are obtained,which can be used to validate finite element results or other approximate methods.     

The Modulation of Galactic Cosmic Rays in the Heliosphere: Theory and Models

Almost all theoretical and numerical models for the modulation of cosmic ray in the heliosphere are based on Parker's transport equation which contains all the important basic physical processes. The relative importance of the various mechanisms is however not established and may vary significantly over 22 years. The simultaneous measurements of solar wind parameters, heliospheric magnetic field properties and cosmic rays over a wide range of energies and positions in the heliosphere have brought the realization that modulation is much more complicated than what the original drift models predicted. In the process the sophistication of models based on solving Parker's equation has increased by orders of magnitude. A short review of the global modulation of cosmic rays is given from a theoretical and modelling point of view.     

Introduction

Space Science Reviews -     

Solar Wind Electron Proton Alpha Monitor (SWEPAM) for the Advanced Composition Explorer

The Solar Wind Electron Proton Alpha Monitor (SWEPAM) experiment provides the bulk solar wind observations for the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE). These observations provide the context for elemental and isotopic composition measurements made on ACE as well as allowing the direct examination of numerous solar wind phenomena such as coronal mass ejections, interplanetary shocks, and solar wind fine structure, with advanced, 3-D plasma instrumentation. They also provide an ideal data set for both heliospheric and magnetospheric multi-spacecraft studies where they can be used in conjunction with other, simultaneous observations from spacecraft such as Ulysses. The SWEPAM observations are made simultaneously with independent electron and ion instruments. In order to save costs for the ACE project, we recycled the flight spares from the joint NASA/ESA Ulysses mission. Both instruments have undergone selective refurbishment as well as modernization and modifications required to meet the ACE mission and spacecraft accommodation requirements. Both incorporate electrostatic analyzers whose fan-shaped fields of view sweep out all pertinent look directions as the spacecraft spins. Enhancements in the SWEPAM instruments from their original forms as Ulysses spare instruments include (1) a factor of 16 increase in the accumulation interval (and hence sensitivity) for high energy, halo electrons; (2) halving of the effective ion-detecting CEM spacing from ∼5° on Ulysses to ∼2.5° for ACE; and (3) the inclusion of a 20° conical swath of enhanced sensitivity coverage in order to measure suprathermal ions outside of the solar wind beam. New control electronics and programming provide for 64-s resolution of the full electron and ion distribution functions and cull out a subset of these observations for continuous real-time telemetry for space weather purposes. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Rocket berthing to an asteroid: Design problems

The results of research in a process of a probe rocket berthing to an asteroid are presented. Control laws were obtained as solutions of three problems, namely berthing considering transient processes in a rocket engine, fastest berthing with regard to fuel consumption and berthing in a scheduled time considering fuel consumption. A program trajectory obtained at solving of the first problem is suitable for mathematical modeling of berthing with the feedback control law and stabilization of angular motion. The solutions of the problems are reduced to simple formulas for controlling parameters calculation in the corresponding structures of control laws. The results can be applied in designing promising space vehicles intended for berthing to other space objects.     

Lithium Abundance in Pop.II Stars A post-HIPPARCOS discussion

The relation between the lithium abundance observed in Population II stars and the primordial abundance, is still an open question (see Cayrel and Duncan, this meeting). A few recent results are discussed. HIPPARCOS data show that the standard model of stellar evolution can explain the 6Li detection in HD 84937, suggesting a negligible depletion of 7Li. A slope in the Li/Teff relation for Pop II dwarfs and a spread of their Li abundance have been advocated, and both used as arguments in favor of Li depletion. The slope is not confirmed when two other independent temperature scales are used. The Li scatter around the plateau is hardly larger than the scatter predicted from determination errors. Hints from a scatter of Li in subgiants of the globular cluster M92 are not completely conclusive. The determination of more accurate Li abundances in the Pop II stars is an urgent but difficult task, requiring better model atmosphere (better convection treatment) and the help of observational data about Pop II stars (such as long base interferometry).     

The Time Structure of Ground Level Enhancements in?Solar Cycle 23

In a recent paper McCracken et al. (J. Geophys. Res. 113:A12101, 2008) proposed that the Ground Level Enhancement (GLE) of 20 January 2005 may have been produced by more than one acceleration mechanism, with the first acceleration due to the solar flare and the second one due to the CME associated with that event. They also noted several other GLEs with similar multiple pulse structures. This paper systematically investigates all the GLEs of solar cycle 23, from GLE 55 on 6 November 1997 to GLE 70 on 13 December 2006, to study their morphology and pulse structure, and to determine whether the multiple structures that may be found in these events are qualitatively similar to that of the GLE of 20 January 2005. We use all the data of all NMs that saw each event, to have as much directional and spectral information as possible. It is shown that three of these 16 events do contain such double-pulse structures, and the properties of these three are discussed in some detail.     

Ceramic ChemCam Calibration Targets on Mars Science Laboratory

The ChemCam instrument on the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity will use laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to analyze major and minor element chemistry from sub-millimeter spot sizes, at ranges of ～1.5–7?m. To interpret the emission spectra obtained, ten calibration standards will be carried on the rover deck. Graphite, Ti?metal, and four glasses of igneous composition provide primary, homogeneous calibration targets for the laser. Four granular ceramic targets have been added to provide compositions closer to soils and sedimentary materials like those expected at the Gale Crater field site on Mars. Components used in making these ceramics include basalt, evaporite, and phyllosilicate materials that approximate the chemical compositions of detrital and authigenic constituents of clastic and evaporite sediments, including the elevated sulfate contents present in many Mars sediments and soils. Powdered components were sintered at low temperature (800?°C) with a small amount (9?wt.%) of lithium tetraborate flux to produce ceramics that retain volatile sulfur yet are durable enough for the mission. The ceramic targets are more heterogeneous than the pure element and homogenous glass standards but they provide standards with compositions more similar to the sedimentary rocks that will be Curiosity’s prime targets at Gale Crater.     

Relativistic Reconnection and Particle Acceleration

This chapter mainly deals with magnetic reconnection and particle acceleration in relativistic astrophysical plasmas, where the temperature of the current sheet exceeds the rest mass energy and the Alfvén velocity is close to the speed of light. Magnetic reconnection now receives a great deal of interest for its role in many astrophysical systems such as pulsars, magnetars, galaxy clusters, and active galactic nucleus jets. We review recent advances that emphasize the roles of reconnection in high-energy astrophysical phenomena.     

A Cosmic-ray Composition Controlled by Volatility and a/q Ratio. snr Shock Acceleration of gas and Dust

The composition of Galactic Cosmic Ray Sources (GCRS) shows the following features: (i) an enhancement of the refractory elements relative to the volatile ones, and (ii) an enhancement of the heavier volatile elements relative to the lighter ones; this mass dependence should reflect a mass-to-charge (A/Q) dependence of the acceleration efficiency; among the refractory elements, there is only a very weak enhancement of heavier species, or none at all. We consider it fortuitous that the GCRS composition resembles that of the solar corona, which is biased according to first ionization potential. In a companion paper by Ellison et al. (1998, this issue), this GCRS composition is interpreted in terms of a supernova shock wave acceleration of interstellar and/or circumstellar (e.g., 22Ne-rich Wolf-Rayet wind) gas phase and especially dust grain material. These two papers summarize and complement the content of two papers that recently appeared in Astrophys. J. (Meyer et al., 1997; Ellison et al., 1997). This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.