Evaluation of the improvement of IRI-2016 over IRI-2012 at the India low-latitude region during the ascending phase of cycle 24

This paper investigated the performance of the latest International Reference Ionosphere model (IRI-2016) over that of IRI-2012 in predicting total electron content (TEC) at three different stations in the Indian region. The data used were Global Positioning System (GPS) data collected during the ascending phase of solar cycle 24 over three low-latitude stations in India namely; Bangalore (13.02°N Geographic latitude, 77.57°E Geographic longitude), Hyderabad (17.25°N Geographic latitude, 78.30°E Geographic longitude) and Surat (21.16°N Geographic latitude, 72.78°E Geographic longitude). Monthly, the seasonal and annual variability of GPS-TEC have been compared with those derived from International Reference Ionosphere IRI-2016 and IRI-2012 with two different options of topside electron density: NeQuick and IRI01-corr. It is observed that both versions of IRI (i.e., IRI-2012 and IRI-2016) predict the GPS-TEC with some deviations, the latest version of IRI (IRI-2016) predicted the TEC similar to those predicted by IRI-2012 for all the seasons at all stations except for morning hours (0500 LT to 1000?LT). This shows that the effect of the updated version is seen only during morning hours and also that there is no change in TEC values by IRI-2016 from those predicted by IRI-2012 for the rest of the time of the day in the Indian low latitude region. The semiannual variations in the daytime maximum values of TEC are clearly observed from both GPS and model-derived TEC values with two peaks around March-April and September-October months of each year. Further, the Correlation of TEC derived by IRI-2016 and IRI-2012 with EUV and F10.7 shows similar results. This shows that the solar input to the IRI-2016 is similar to IRI 2012. There is no significant difference observed in TEC, bottom-side thickness (B0) and shape (B1) parameter predictions by both the versions of the IRI model. However, a clear improvement is visible in hmF2 and NmF2 predictions by IRI-2016 to that by IRI-2012. The SHU-2015 option of the IRI-2016 gives a better prediction of NmF2 for all the months at low latitude station Ahmedabad compare to AMTB 2013.     

Retrieval and validation of aerosol optical depth using GF-1 WFV cameras data

Conventional AOD (Aerosol Optical Depth) retrieval is restricted to the global and regional scale due to the limited spatial resolution of satellites. This does not allow for aerosol monitoring at the city level. The Chinese GF-1 Wide Field of View (WFV) sensors have sufficiently fine resolution as a data source for AOD retrieval with fine spatial resolution and a 4-day revisit time. In this study, principles similar to those in the Deep Blue (DB) and Dark Target (DT) algorithms were used to retrieve AOD at 100 m spatial resolution from GF-1 WFV images supported by Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectraradiometer (MODIS) surface reflectance (SR) products (MOD09A1). The derived GF-1 WFV AOD were compared with a combination of MOD04_3K DT AOD and MOD04_L2 DB AOD (MODIS AOD) to find that they yield reasonable Spearman correlations (R_S > 0.82) over Taiwan and Beijing. The derived GF-1 WFV AOD were also validated against Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) AOD; the Spearman correlation values were R_S = 0.911 in Beijing and R_S = 0.858 in Taiwan.     

Investigation on surface integrity of electron beam melted Ti-6Al-4 V by precision grinding and electropolishing

Electron beam melting (EBM), as an excellent Additive Manufacturing (AM) technology, enables the printing of Ti-6Al-4 V alloy for a wide range of applications such as aerospace and biomechanical industries. It improves functionality and integrity of components and negates complexities in assembly processes. However, due to the poor surface and sub-surface integrity represented by the rough surface finish and low dimensional accuracy, achieving a favorable surface condition is quite challenging. Therefore, post processing becomes essential for these electron beam melted (EBM-ed) Ti-6Al-4 V alloys. Being the most common technique to improve such parts, milling of Ti-6Al-4 V alloy is very challenging and resulting tool wear issues, due to its unique material properties. Thus, this paper presents a comprehensive study on the surface integrity of EBM-ed Ti-6Al-4 V parts processed by precision grinding and electropolishing, aiming to qualitatively and quantitatively clarify the interrelation between process parameters and processed surface quality. The surface and subsurface characteristics such as profile accuracy, surface roughness, microstructure, defective layer and residual stress before and after post processing were compared and evaluated. The results show that by precision grinding, the profile accuracy was improved from over 300 µm PV to 7 µm PV, while surface roughness (R_a) was reduced from 30 µm to about 2 µm. The layer with partially melt particles was removed, but introduced a deformed subsurface layer with more residual stress. Then by applying electropolishing, the residual stress was released and the deformed layer was removed. In addition, R_a was further reduced to 0.65 µm. The research can serve as a reference for the integration of post machining processes with AM.     

简析一起飞机转弯航向误差大的故障原因及预防措施

某型飞机装有两套HZX-1航向姿态系统，飞行中同时出现转弯航向误差大现象，本文通过分析故障原因，找出了引起故障的关键产品，并针对故障制定了预防措施。     

Physical properties and long-term evolution of the debris clouds produced by two catastrophic collisions in Earth orbit

The population of cataloged orbital debris increased by approximately 40% in just a couple of years, from January 2007 to February 2009. This was due to two collisions in space, which involved the catastrophic destruction of three intact satellites (Fengyun 1C, Cosmos 2251 and Iridium 33) in high inclination orbits. Both events occurred in the altitude range already most affected by previous launch activity and breakup events, thus boosting the cataloged population in low Earth orbit by more than 60%.     

Upgrade of the GOCE Level 1b gradiometer processor

This paper describes the upgrade of the GOCE Level 1b gradiometer processing as part of ESA’s Payload Data Segment (PDS). Four processing steps have been identified which can be improved: 1. The optimal determination of the angular rates of the satellite, based on a combination of star sensor and gradiometer data. This is the so-called angular rate reconstruction. 2. The optimal determination of the spacecraft’s attitude, again based on a combination of star sensor and gradiometer data. 3. The combination of data of all simultaneously available star sensors. And, 4. the calibration of the measured accelerations is improved by taking the time dependence of selected calibration parameters into account.     

Tribological evaluation of surface modified H13 tool steel in warm forming of Ti–6Al–4V titanium alloy sheet

The H13 hot-working tool steel is widely used as die material in the warm forming of Ti–6Al–4V titanium alloy sheet. However, under the heating condition, severe friction and lubricating conditions between the H13 tools and Ti–6Al–4V titanium alloy sheet would cause difficulty in guaranteeing forming quality. Surface modification may be used to control the level of friction force, reduce the friction wear and extend the service life of dies. In this paper, four surface modification methods(chromium plating, TiAlN coating, surface polishing and nitriding treatment)were applied to the H13 surfaces. Taking the coefficient of friction(CoF) and the wear degree as evaluation indicators, the high-temperature tribological behavior of the surface modified H13 steel was experimentally investigated under different tribological conditions. The results of this study indicate that the tribological properties of the TiAlN coating under dry friction condition are better than the others for a wide range of temperature(from room temperature to 500 C), while there is little difference of tribological properties between different surface modifications under graphite lubricated condition, and the variation law of CoF with temperature under graphite lubricated is opposite to that under the dry friction.     

月球主要构造特征：嫦娥一号月球影像初步研究

月球在31亿年前已基本停止地质活动,从而保留了其形成初期的信息．这些信息对于认识月球、地球乃至太阳系的形成演化具有重要意义．在已有研究成果的基础上,结合嫦娥一号探月卫星CCD影像数据,从月海穹窿、撞击坑、月岭、断裂、月坑链、月溪及月谷等方面介绍了月球主要构造形式的地质特征、形貌特征及遥感影像特征,对其成因以及所隐含的地质意义进行了分析．结果表明,嫦娥一号CCD影像信息丰富,影像清晰,利用其CCD影像数据进一步研究月球的构造现象是可行的．