Applications of tuned mass dampers to improve performance of large space mirrors

In order for future imaging spacecraft to meet higher resolution imaging capability, it will be necessary to build large space telescopes with primary mirror diameters that range from 10 m to 20 m and do so with nanometer surface accuracy. Due to launch vehicle mass and volume constraints, these mirrors have to be deployable and lightweight, such as segmented mirrors using active optics to correct mirror surfaces with closed loop control. As a part of this work, system identification tests revealed that dynamic disturbances inherent in a laboratory environment are significant enough to degrade the optical performance of the telescope. Research was performed at the Naval Postgraduate School to identify the vibration modes most affecting the optical performance and evaluate different techniques to increase damping of those modes. Based on this work, tuned mass dampers (TMDs) were selected because of their simplicity in implementation and effectiveness in targeting specific modes. The selected damping mechanism was an eddy current damper where the damping and frequency of the damper could be easily changed. System identification of segments was performed to derive TMD specifications. Several configurations of the damper were evaluated, including the number and placement of TMDs, damping constant, and targeted structural modes. The final configuration consisted of two dampers located at the edge of each segment and resulted in 80% reduction in vibrations. The WFE for the system without dampers was 1.5 waves, with one TMD the WFE was 0.9 waves, and with two TMDs the WFE was 0.25 waves. This paper provides details of some of the work done in this area and includes theoretical predictions for optimum damping which were experimentally verified on a large aperture segmented system.     

Strong geomagnetic activity forecast by neural networks under dominant southern orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field

The paper deals with the relation of the southern orientation of the north–south component _Bz$B_z$ of the interplanetary magnetic field to geomagnetic activity (GA) and subsequently a method is suggested of using the found facts to forecast potentially dangerous high GA. We have found that on a day with very high GA hourly averages of _Bz$B_z$ with a negative sign occur at least 16 times in typical cases. Since it is very difficult to estimate the orientation of _Bz$B_z$ in the immediate vicinity of the Earth one day or even a few days in advance, we have suggested using a neural-network model, which assumes the worse of the possibilities to forecast the danger of high GA – the dominant southern orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field. The input quantities of the proposed model were information about X-ray flares, type II and IV radio bursts as well as information about coronal mass ejections (CME). In comparing the GA forecasts with observations, we obtain values of the Hanssen–Kuiper skill score ranging from 0.463 to 0.727, which are usual values for similar forecasts of space weather. The proposed model provides forecasts of potentially dangerous high geomagnetic activity should the interplanetary CME (ICME), the originator of geomagnetic storms, hit the Earth under the most unfavorable configuration of cosmic magnetic fields. We cannot know in advance whether the unfavorable configuration is going to occur or not; we just know that it will occur with the probability of 31%.     

星上控制力矩陀螺群隔振平台的动力学特性

为能够给星上有效载荷提供一种超静环境,提出一种星上控制力矩陀螺群(CMGs,Control Moment Gyroscopes)的隔振方案,并对所使用的隔振平台的动力学特性进行研究分析.首先介绍了不同参数模型的隔振元件工作原理和参数特性;其次利用牛顿-欧拉法对含有隔振平台和CMGs的卫星进行动力学建模;最后通过频域和时域的方法分析并对比了各个参数模型下的隔振平台力衰减特性以及对星体姿态稳定度的改善程度.结果表明:两参数加调谐质量阻尼器模型下的隔振平台对共振峰值有一定的衰减作用,三参数模型下的隔振平台在力衰减和对姿态稳定度的改善程度上要明显优于其他2种模型.     

Preliminary characterization of carbon dioxide transfer in a hollow fiber membrane module as a possible solution for gas–liquid transfer in microgravity conditions

In microgravity, one of the major challenge encountered in biological life support systems (BLSS) is the gas–liquid transfer with, for instance, the necessity to provide CO₂ (carbon source, pH control) and to recover the evolved O₂ in photobioreactors used as atmosphere bioregenerative systems.     

基于STLS的卫星质量质心在轨估计

提出了一种使用结构总体最小二乘(Structured Total Least Squares,STLS)进行卫星质量和质心参数在轨估计的方法。其相对于现有方法有三个优点:采用完整的动力学模型,考虑敏感器测量误差,估计模型中不包含误差很大的推力值。首先推导了卫星质量和质心参数的估计方程,将其化为STLS模型的形式,对该模型定义了质量质心参数的STLS估计,并使用结构总体最小范数(Structured Total Least Norm,STLN)算法进行具体求解。证明了当敏感器噪声为高斯分布时,该估计为极大似然估计。仿真结果验证了该STLS估计方法的有效性。     

微克量级激光微烧蚀质量测量方法

激光微推进性能研究离不开比冲的测量,烧蚀质量测量的好坏一定程度上决定了比冲的测量精度。提出了一种激光微烧蚀质量测量方法——体积修正法,介绍了此方法的构建思路和原理,与平均质量法和体积估算法进行了比较分析,建立了激光微烧蚀质量测量装置,以透射式激光烧蚀黑纸靶为例,对实验结果进行了分析。研究表明:此方法能够有效测量微克、十微克量级的激光微烧蚀质量,测量精度较高,为激光微烧蚀质量的性能研究提供了一种简便、快捷的测量手段。     

六自由度气浮台及其姿态平台自动平衡系统设计

针对卫星交会对接中相对姿态和位置的控制问题,设计一种6自由度（DOF）气浮台,并推导出描述两个气浮台模拟卫星交会对接运动的耦合6自由度(DOF)动力学模型。为解决气浮台模拟空间失重环境中的重力力矩干扰问题,设计一种基于应用新颖的快速非奇异终端滑模面的自适应有限时间控制器的自动平衡系统,估计出质心位置,通过控制三个平衡质量块补偿姿态平台质心与旋转中心之间的位置偏差。李雅普诺夫理论推导和仿真结果表明,该方法可以快速完成对姿态平台质心位置的准确估计,实现质心与旋转中心的高度重合。     

分腔流量比对涡轮曲端壁表面冷却特性实验

利用高速风洞及压敏漆（PSP）技术,研究了端壁表面不同分腔流量比对端壁表面的气膜冷却效率的影响。对比各个分腔在不同流量比下端壁表面的气膜冷却效率的详细分布发现：端壁表面的气膜冷却效率随着槽缝流（分腔1）流量比的增加而增大,随着槽缝喷射冷气流量的增加,冷气在端壁表面的覆盖范围变广,同时冷却效果也有所提升;随着端壁前部分腔（分腔2）冷气流量比的增加,叶栅通道喉部上游区域的冷却流体会出现明显的吹离壁面的情况,端壁表面的气膜冷却效率也会随之减小;端壁后部分腔（分腔3）冷气流量比对端壁表面的冷却效率的影响与分腔2类似。