Ionospheric total electron content response to annular solar eclipse on June 21, 2020

The effects of physical events on the ionosphere structure is an important field of study, especially for navigation and radio communication. The paper presents the spatio-temporal ionospheric TEC response to the recent annular solar eclipse on June 21, 2020, which spans across two continents, Africa and Asia, and 14 countries. This eclipse took place on the same day as the June Solstice. The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) based TEC data of the Global Ionosphere Maps (GIMs), 9 International GNSS Service (IGS) stations and FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 (F7/C2) were utilized to analyze TEC response during the eclipse. The phases of the TEC time series were determined by taking the difference of the observed TEC values on eclipse day from the previous 5-day median TEC values. The results showed clear depletions in the TEC time series on June 21. These decreases were between 1 and 9 TECU (15–60%) depending on the location of IGS stations. The depletions are relatively higher at the stations close to the path of annular eclipse than those farther away. Furthermore, a reduction of about ?10 TECU in the form of an equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) was observed in GIMs at ~20° away from the equator towards northpole, between 08:00–11:00 UT where its maximum phase is located in southeast Japan. Additionally, an overall depletion of ~10% was observed in F7/C2 derived TEC at an altitude of 240 km (hmF2) in all regions affected by the solar eclipse, whereas, significant TEC fluctuations between the altitudes of 100 km ? 140 km were analyzed using the Savitzky-Golay smoothing filter. To prove TEC depletions are not caused by space weather, the variation of the sunspot number (SSN), solar wind (V_SW), disturbance storm-time (Dst), and Kp indices were investigated from 16th to 22nd June. The quiet space weather before and during the solar eclipse proved that the observed depletions in the TEC time series and profiles were caused by the annular solar eclipse.     

Evaluation of SARAL/AltiKa performance using GNSS/IMU equipped buoy in Sajafi,Imam Hassan and Kangan Ports

Performance of SARAL/AltiKa mission has been evaluated within 2016 altimeter calibration/validation framework in Persian Gulf through three campaigns conducted in the offshore waters of Sajafi, Imam Hassan and Kangan Ports, while the altimeter overflew the passes 470, 111 and 25 on 13 Feb, 7 March and 17 June 2016, respectively. As the preparation, a lightweight buoy was equipped with a GNSS receiver/choke-ring antenna and a MEMS-based IMU to measure independent datasets in the field operations. To obtain accurate sea surface height (SSH) time series, the offset of the onboard antenna from the equilibrium sea level was predetermined through surveying operations as the buoy was deploying in the onshore waters of Kangan Port. Accordingly, the double-difference carrier phase observations have been processed via the Bernese GPS Software v. 5.0 so as to provide the GNSS-derived time series at the comparison points of the calibration campaigns, once the disturbing effects due to the platform tilt and heave have been eliminated. Owing to comparing of the SSH time series and the associating altimetry 1?Hz GDR-T datasets, the calibration/validation of the SARAL/AltiKa has been performed in the both cases of radiometer and ECMWF wet troposphere corrections so as to identify potential land contamination. An agreement of the present findings in comparison with those attained in other international calibrations sites confirms the promising feasibility of Persian Gulf as a new dedicated site for calibration/validation of ongoing and future altimetry missions.     

面向空间天线的TWF复合材料性能研究

利用碳纤维三向编织物（triaxial woven fabric，TWF）作为增强材料，与柔性基体材料硅橡胶复合，制成兼具一定柔性和刚性的复合材料壳膜结构，用于卫星天线反射器，是一种新型的高精度可展开天线实现方案。采用复合材料细观方法，对碳纤维增强硅橡胶TWF复合材料进行了力学性能的研究。首先由纤维和基体的材料特性得到均质纤维束的材料特性；接下来考虑纤维束交织情况（起伏波动）建立由纤维束组成的单胞实体有限元模型；然后对单胞实体有限元模型进行均匀化分析，施加周期性边界条件，最终得到等效的均质材料特性；为满足天线反射器高性能需求，分析了碳纤维种类、纤维体积分数对单胞等效性能的影响规律。对该材料力学性能的研究，可以为其未来应用于大型高精度可展开天线反射器提供一定的理论依据。     

Robust model predictive control for satellite formation keeping with eccentricity/inclination vector separation

This study presents model predictive formation control based on an eccentricity/inclination vector separation strategy. Alternative collision avoidance can be accomplished by using eccentricity/inclination vectors and adding a simple goal function term for optimization process. Real-time control is also achievable with model predictive controller based on convex formulation. Constraint-tightening approach is address as well improve robustness of the controller, and simulation results are presented to verify performance enhancement for the proposed approach.     

Case study of inclined sporadic E layers in the Earth’s ionosphere observed by CHAMP/GPS radio occultations: Coupling between the tilted plasma layers and internal waves

We have used the radio occultation (RO) satellite data CHAMP/GPS (Challenging Minisatellite Payload/Global Positioning System) for studying the ionosphere of the Earth. A method for deriving the parameters of ionospheric structures is based upon an analysis of the RO signal variations in the phase path and intensity. This method allows one to estimate the spatial displacement of a plasma layer with respect to the ray perigee, and to determine the layer inclination and height correction values. In this paper, we focus on the case study of inclined sporadic E (E_s) layers in the high-latitude ionosphere based on available CHAMP RO data. Assuming that the internal gravity waves (IGWs) with the phase-fronts parallel to the ionization layer surfaces are responsible for the tilt angles of sporadic plasma layers, we have developed a new technique for determining the parameters of IGWs linked with the inclined E_s structures. A small-scale internal wave may be modulating initially horizontal E_s layer in height and causing a direction of the plasma density gradient to be rotated and aligned with that of the wave propagation vector k. The results of determination of the intrinsic wave frequency and period, vertical and horizontal wavelengths, intrinsic vertical and horizontal phase speeds, and other characteristics of IGWs under study are presented and discussed.     

Numerical investigation of flow mechanisms of tandem impeller inside a centrifugal compressor

This study numerically investigated a single stage centrifugal compressor ‘‘Radiver’’ with a wedge diffuser and several tandem-designed impellers to explore the flow phenomena within the tandem impeller and the potential to enhance compressor performance. The results demonstrate that tandem design and clocking fraction (λ_s) significantly affects the compressor performance. The compressor stage with tandem impellers of Series A of boundary layer growth interruption alone are observed to have a widely operating range but efficiency and total pressure ratio penalty compared with that of conventional impeller. The tandem impeller with at least the same impeller efficiency as the conventional design is considered as a critical design criteria so that further modification process based on the flow characteristic of tandem impeller is necessary. In order to restrain the inducer wake and exducer shock losses, parameters modification of blade angle and thickness distributions are necessary and the modified tandem impeller of Series B is obtained. The modified tandem impeller with 25% clocking arrangement shows an 8.45% stall margin increase and maintains the total pressure ratio and efficiency as the conventional design, which proves the potential of tandem impeller to improve compressor stage performance. It is noteworthy that the tandem impellers of Radiver have not shown obviously balanced exit flow field and the fundamental mechanism of stall margin extending of tandem impeller lies on the improved impeller/diffuser matching performance resulting from the incidence angle variation at diffuser inlet.     

Streamwise vortex generation by the rod

The technology development related to aerodynamics is leading to ever increasing loads of wings, airfoils and turbine and compressor blades. The increase in aerodynamic forces is often leading to flow separation and depreciation of the aerodynamic performance of flying objects or propulsion systems. Flow control methods are required to avoid these negative effects. In the recent two decades the flow control by means of air-jet vortex generators has been also intensively investigated. In this method a streamwise vortex is introduced by an oblique jet. The necessity to supply air by a pipe system may be considered a disadvantage. In order to eliminate this feature, it has been proposed to put out a rod instead of a jet. It has been shown that the application of a rod can introduce the same effect as a jet, as long as the streamwise vortex generation is concerned and appropriate dimensions are used. The present paper focuses on the influence of rod vortex generators on a flow pattern downstream. The results presented here concern experimental and numerical investigations and provide guidelines for the design of a new flow control method dedicated mainly to external flows.     

A novel control method for turboshaft engine with variable rotor speed based on the Ngdot estimator through LQG/LTR and rotor predicted torque feedforward

In order to compensate for the disturbance of wide variation in rotor demanded torque on power turbine speed and realize the fast response control of turboshaft engine during variable rotor speed, a cascade PID control method based on the acceleration estimator of gas turbine speed (Ngdot) and rotor predicted torque feedforward is proposed. Firstly, a two-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) model is applied in the integrated rotor/turboshaft engine system to achieve variable rotor speed. Then, an online estimation method of Ngdot based on the Linear Quadratic Gaussian with Loop Transfer Recovery (LQG/LTR) is proposed for power turbine speed cascade control. Finally, according to the cascade PID controller based on Ngdot estimator, a rotor demanded torque predicted method based on the Min-batch Gradient Descent-Neural Network (MGD-NN) is put forward to compromise the influence of rotor torque interference. The simulation results show that compared with cascade PID controller based on Ngdot estimator and the one combined with collective pitch feedforward control, the novel control method proposed can reduce the overshoot of power turbine speed by more than 20%, which possesses faster response, superior dynamic effect and satisfactory robustness performance. The control method proposed can realize the fast response control of turboshaft engine with variable rotor speed better.     

A boundary vector cell model of place field repetition

Hippocampal place cells are thought to form the neural substrate of a global cognitive map. However, in multicompartment mazes, these cells exhibit locally repeating representations, undermining the global cognitive map view of place cells. This phenomenon appears to be related to the repetitive layout of these mazes, but still no hypothesis adequately explains it. Here, we use a boundary vector cell (BVC) model of place cell firing to model the activity of place cells in numerous multicompartment environments. The activity of modeled place cells bears a striking resemblance to experimental data, replicating virtually every major experimental result. Our results support the BVC model and indicate that locally repeating place cell firing could result purely from local geometry.     

Analytical Calculation Model for Mach Wave Parameters

When a wave shaper is embedded in a liner,Mach wave will emerge above the liner,which affects the head shape of an explosively formed projectile.Mach wave parameters,including radius and pressure need to be determined to effectively match Mach wave with the liner,so that a good head shape can be obtained.An analytical calculation model for Mach wave parameter is presented based on three-shock theory,and the theoretical values agree well with the experimental ones.The analysis shows that when the radius of the wave shaper is constant,the radius of the Mach wave increases,whereas the pressure decreases while increasing the distance between the liner and the wave shaper.When the distance between the liner and the wave shaper is constant,the radius of the Mach wave increases,whereas the pressure decreases when decreasing the radius of the wave shaper.