A continual model of soil organic matter transformations for predicting soil forming dynamics inside higher plant CELSS

A continual model of humification and mineralization of soil organic matter (SOM) formed under the conditions of a Lunar base from biological waste materials is proposed. The model parameters corresponding to the conditions of several Earths climatic regions are estimated. The time necessary for the formation of organic matter in the soil based on regolith and higher plant residues has been evaluated. Soil formation under tropical conditions are shown to be the most appropriate for Lunar base CELSS due to high matter turnover rate, relatively short formation time, minimum deposited mass, and satisfactory predictability of expected soil parameters.     

Application of Autoscala to ionograms recorded by the VIPIR ionosonde

In November 2008, the ionosonde station at Boulder, Colorado, USA (40.0°N; 105.3°W) became the host of a new ionosonde (VIPIR, Vertical Incidence Pulsed Ionospheric Radar) developed and built by Scion Associates.     

Application of neural networks to South African GPS TEC modelling

The propagation of radio signals in the Earth’s atmosphere is dominantly affected by the ionosphere due to its dispersive nature. Global Positioning System (GPS) data provides relevant information that leads to the derivation of total electron content (TEC) which can be considered as the ionosphere’s measure of ionisation. This paper presents part of a feasibility study for the development of a Neural Network (NN) based model for the prediction of South African GPS derived TEC. The South African GPS receiver network is operated and maintained by the Chief Directorate Surveys and Mapping (CDSM) in Cape Town, South Africa. Vertical total electron content (VTEC) was calculated for four GPS receiver stations using the Adjusted Spherical Harmonic (ASHA) model. Factors that influence TEC were then identified and used to derive input parameters for the NN. The well established factors used are seasonal variation, diurnal variation, solar activity and magnetic activity. Comparison of diurnal predicted TEC values from both the NN model and the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-2001) with GPS TEC revealed that the IRI provides more accurate predictions than the NN model during the spring equinoxes. However, on average the NN model predicts GPS TEC more accurately than the IRI model over the GPS locations considered within South Africa.     

Simulation of the MELiSSA closed loop system as a tool to define its integration strategy

Inspired by a terrestrial ecosystem, Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative (MELiSSA) is a project focused on a closed-loop life support system intended for future long-term manned missions (Moon and Mars bases). Started by the ESA in 1989, this 5-compartment concept has evolved through a mechanistic engineering approach designed to acquire both theoretical and technical knowledge. In its current state of development, the project can now start to demonstrate the MELiSSA loop concept at pilot scale. Thus, an integration strategy for a MELiSSA Pilot Plant (MPP) has been defined, describing the different test phases and connections between compartments. The integration steps are due to be started in 2008 and completed with a complete operational loop in 2015. The ultimate objective is to achieve a closed liquid and gas loop fulfiling 100% of oxygen requirements and at least 20% of food requirements for one-man. Although the integration logic could start with the most advanced processes in terms of knowledge and hardware development, this logic needs to be expanded to encompass a high-level simulation policy. This simulation exercise will make it possible to run effective demonstrations of each independent process, followed by progressive coupling with other processes in operational conditions mirroring as far as possible the final configuration.     

A novel testability model for health management of heading attitude system

Prognostics and health management (PHM) is very important to guarantee the reliability and safety of aerospace systems, and sensing and test are the precondition of PHM. Integrating design for testability into early design stage of system early design stage is deemed as a fundamental way to improve PHM performance, and testability model is the base of testability analysis and design. This paper discusses a hierarchical model-based approach to testability modeling and analysis for heading attitude system health management. Quantified directed graph, of which the nodes represent components and tests and the directed edges represent fault propagation paths, is used to describe fault-test dependency, and quantitative testability information is assigned to nodes and directed edges. The fault dependencies between nodes can be obtained by functional fault analysis methodology that captures the physical architecture and material flows such as energy, heat, data, and so on. By incorporating physics of failure models into component, the dynamic process of a failing or degrading component can be projected onto system behavior, i.e., system symptoms. Then, the analysis of extended failure modes, mechanisms and effects is utilized to construct fault evolution-test dependency. Using this integrated model, the designers and system analysts can assess the test suite’s fault detectability, fault isolability and fault predictability. And heading attitude system application results show that the proposed model can support testability analysis and design for PHM very well.     

A new online modelling method for aircraft engine state space model

To overcome the drawbacks of current modelling method for aircraft engine state space model, a new method is introduced. The form of state space model is derived by using Talyor series to expand the nonlinear model that is implicit equations and involves many iterations. A partial derivative calculation method for iterations is developed to handle the influence of iterations on parameters. The derivative calculation and the aerothermodynamics calculations are combined in the component level model with fixed number Newton-Raphson (N-R) iterations. Mathematical derivation and simulations show the convergence ability of proposed method. Simulations show that comparing with the linear parameter varying model and centered difference based state space model, much higher accuracy of proposed online modelling method is achieved. The accuracy of the state space model built by proposed method can be maintained when the step amplitudes of inputs are within 2%, and the responses of the state space model can match those of the component level model when each input steps larger amplitudes. In addition, an online verification was carried out to show the capability of modelling at any operating point and that state space model can predict future outputs accurately. Thus, the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated.     

Utilisation of turboelectric distribution propulsion in commercial aviation: A review on NASA’s TeDP concept

Emissions produced by the aviation industry are currently a severe environmental threat; therefore, aviation agencies and governments have set emission targets and formulated plans to restrict emissions within the next decade. Hybrid aircraft technology is being considered to meet these targets. The importance of these technologies lies in their advancements in terms of aircraft life cycles and environmental benignity. Owing to these advancements, hybrid electric systems with more than one power source have become promising for the aviation industry, considering that the growth of air traffic is projected to double in the next decade. Hybrid technologies have given future hybrid fans and motor-fan engines potential as alternative power generators. Herein, Turboelectric Distributed Propulsion (TeDP) is discussed in terms of power distribution and power sources. The fundamentals of turbofan and turboshaft engines are presented along with their electricity-generation mechanism. TeDP is discussed from a design viewpoint, with a detailed discussion of different types of hybrid electric and turboelectric systems. Examples of proposed TeDP aircraft models and numerical modelling tools used to simulate the performance of TeDP models are reviewed. Finally, innovative turboelectric systems in which electric power savers and mechanical gear changers have been discarded for weight optimisation are presented along with other prospective models, engines, approaches, and architectures. The findings of this review indicate the knowledge gaps in the field of numerical modelling for NASA’s TeDP and its capability to increase the efficiency by up to 24% with a 50% reduction in emissions relative to those of conventional gas turbines.     

基于改进FRAM的民机系统安全性分析

民机安全性分析的重要内容之一是系统运行过程分析，现有的运营安全性分析模型大多没有综合考虑人、飞机、运行环境等各类影响安全性的因素。本文综合考虑系统安全性分析功能间的时间、控制、资源、前提等影响，更加细致地分析影响系统安全运行的因素，建立了全面且规范化定量化安全性分析模型。运用功能可变性描述规则（RFV）、层次分析法（AHP）对功能共振分析法（FRAM）进行改进，建立民机系统安全性综合分析模型。使用模型还原143号班机安全运行所需条件，分析得出应重点防范的耦合变异与功能失效，且扩展了原事故调查报告结论，表明了该模型的可行性，提出的理论模型可为航空公司在运营系统安全性方面提供理论参考和技术支持。     

Finite element modelling and experimental investigation of the impact of filling different materials in copper tubes during 3D free bending process

3D free bending process, an advanced metal forming technology, has attracted much attention due to its unique geometrical flexibility and efficiency. Filling tubes with materials may effectively reduce the distortion in the cross-section area and restrain wrinkling and collapse of tube wall. In the present study, the impacts of filling different materials on the copper tubes during 3D free bending process were investigated. We have found that copper tubes filled with low melting point alloys could induce the most uniform stress distribution, which result in better formability and moderate thickness changing rates when compared to SS304 steel balls and PU rubbers. The lowest ellipticity reached to 1.467%.     

一种利用泛函网络进行导航卫星钟差预报的方法研究

为提高导航卫星钟差预报的精度和实时性,提出一种基于多项式和泛函网络相结合的钟差预报方法。该方法首先根据卫星钟的物理特性用多项式进行拟合,并用泛函网络对多项式拟合残差进行建模,其中泛函网络的结构是通过小波降噪及相空间重构的方法确定。最后以GPS卫星为例,进行四组短期预报实验。结果表明,所提方法能够实时有效地对导航卫星钟差进行拟合和预报,且精度优于IGUP星历。