保证试验对陶瓷试件疲劳强度的影响

 应用断裂力学理论分析了保证试验对陶瓷试件造成的损伤及其对疲劳强度的影响。保证试验后试件的最低强度可根据材料的亚临界裂纹扩展参量、保证应力和保证试验的卸载速率估算。采用惰性试验环境和高的卸载速率可获得较高的试件最低剩余强度值。     

Flux and isotopic composition of helium in the ancient solar wind

The isotopic composition and concentrations of helium are investigated in 9 samples taken from different depths of a soil column delivered by the Luna-24 mission. It is demonstrated that, with allowance made for random errors, the isotopic composition of helium remains invariable. The concentrations of helium are subject to considerable variations, the increases and decreases relative to the average value reaching a factor of 1.5–2. Assuming that the full length of the soil column was formed due to long-term accumulation of lunar clastic rocks (regolith), based on measurements of cosmogenic isotopes, a method of determining the rate of regolith accumulation has been developed, as well as a method of determining the age of the column soil samples. It is found that the rate of regolith accumulation is variable, and it changes over the column length within the limits (0.2–0.8 cm)/10⁶ years. The range of the time for formation of the investigated part of the column is 100–600 million years. The observed decreases of concentration (at 250 and 600 million years) can be associated with both solar and lunar processes. In particular, a possibility of diffusion losses of helium due to the mechanism of jump-like diffusion is discussed, and diffusion parameters are found. A comparison of time periods of the observed variations in the solar wind with paleontological epochs and periods is made.     

Crystallization of metal alloys in microgravity and uniform compression conditions

This is an analysis of the experimental results to study the metastable phase formation while crystallization of binary metal melts in microgravity and quasi-isostatic (uniform) compression takes place. The alloy system PbSn serves as an illustration     

Microgravity effects on "postural" muscle activity patterns.

Changes in neuromuscular activation patterns associated with movements made in microgravity can contribute to muscular atrophy. Using EMG to monitor "postural" muscles, it was found that free floating arm flexions made in microgravity were not always preceded by neuromuscular activation patterns normally observed during movements made in unit gravity. Additionally, manipulation of foot sensory input during microgravity arm flexion impacted upon anticipatory postural muscle activation.     

粉末耐热钛合金组织性能及成形技术

采用热等静压技术及旋转电极粉,采用预合金粉粉末冶金工艺开展了粉末耐热钛合金TC11(Ti-6.5AJ-3.5Mo-1.5Zr-0.3Si)制备技术研究,研制出了全致密粉末TC11合金,通过热处理工艺研究优化粉末TC11材料的组织和性能.利用光学显微镜,对其组织进行了分析,用SEM观察了旋转电极粉末形貌,对室温及高温(550℃)拉伸性能及弹性模量等进行了测试分析.粉末TC11合金的组织和性能与同批次TC11锻棒材料进行了对比研究.利用特殊模具成形,开展了粉末TC11构件近净成形技术的研究,实现了整体大尺寸、带网格加强筋的薄壁粉末TC11合金航天飞行器舱体件近净成形,且未检测出内部缺陷.研究结果表明,粉末TC11合金具有与锻造材料相当的拉伸性能,而弹性模量更优,其金相组织均匀细致,形成了网篮组织,并有围绕其分布的等轴α.粉末TC11合金及合适的近净成形技术可在高性价比、高可靠性的轻质耐热航天飞行器构件制备中得到应用.     

Cosmic Ray Energetics And Mass for the International Space Station (ISS-CREAM)

The Cosmic Ray Energetics And Mass (CREAM) instrument is configured with a suite of particle detectors to measure TeV cosmic-ray elemental spectra from protons to iron nuclei over a wide energy range. The goal is to extend direct measurements of cosmic-ray composition to the highest energies practical, and thereby have enough overlap with ground based indirect measurements to answer questions on cosmic-ray origin, acceleration and propagation. The balloon-borne CREAM was flown successfully for about 161 days in six flights over Antarctica to measure elemental spectra of Z = 1–26 nuclei over the energy range 10¹⁰ to >10¹⁴ eV. Transforming the balloon instrument into ISS-CREAM involves identification and replacement of components that would be at risk in the International Space Station (ISS) environment, in addition to assessing safety and mission assurance concerns. The transformation process includes rigorous testing of components to reduce risks and increase survivability on the launch vehicle and operations on the ISS without negatively impacting the heritage of the successful CREAM design. The project status, including results from the ongoing analysis of existing data and, particularly, plans to increase the exposure factor by another order of magnitude utilizing the International Space Station are presented.     

Global Response of Martian Plasma Environment to an Interplanetary Structure: From Ena and Plasma Observations at Mars

As a part of the global plasma environment study of Mars and its response to the solar wind, we have analyzed a peculiar case of the subsolar energetic neutral atom (ENA) jet observed on June 7, 2004 by the Neutral Particle Detector (NPD) on board the Mars Express satellite. The “subsolar ENA jet” is generated by the interaction between the solar wind and the Martian exosphere, and is one of the most intense sources of ENA flux observed in the vicinity of Mars. On June 7, 2004 (orbit 485 of Mars Express), the NPD observed a very intense subsolar ENA jet, which then abruptly decreased within ∼10 sec followed by quasi-periodic (∼1 min) flux variations. Simultaneously, the plasma sensors detected a solar wind structure, which was most likely an interplanetary shock surface. The abrupt decrease of the ENA flux and the quasi-periodic flux variations can be understood in the framework of the global response of the Martian plasma obstacle to the interplanetary shock. The generation region of the subsolar ENA jet was pushed towards the planet by the interplanetary shock; and therefore, Mars Express went out of the ENA jet region. Associated global vibrations of the Martian plasma obstacle may have been the cause of the quasi-periodic flux variations of the ENA flux at the spacecraft location.     

An Adaptive Array Signal Processing Algorithm for Communications

An algorithm is described for initial synchronization in a communication system with a digital adaptive array. This algorithm can also be used for message extraction. A set of consecutive complex video samples of the array output is processed to obtain optimum adaptive array weights, based on a least mean square (LMS) error criterion. This computation is performed for each of the possible alternative signals which may be present during an observation interval. The correct synchronization time or message symbol is selected as the one which yields the minimum LMS error. Assuming orthogonality of the alternative codes, a probability distribution for the output of this processor has been derived.     

Recent developments in micrometeoroid simulation

In the first part the state of the art of the most advanced micrometeoroid simulation techniques is reviewed. Then a new accelerator is described, which was developed jointly by the Technische Universität München and the N.A.S.A. George C. Marshall Space Flight Center. Finally the use of this new technique is indicated for basic research in fields other than astronautics.