Operations research in the space industry

Operations research techniques have been used in the space industry since its infancy, and various competing methods and codes, with widely varying characteristics, have been used over time. This survey is intended to give an overview of current application cases of different operations research techniques and methodologies in the domain of space engineering and space science.     

真空冷却过程中实验条件对真空冷却速率的影响

以熟肉为实验材料,对实验条件对真空冷却速率的影响进行了理论分析和实验研究。实验结果表明:真空室有效容积越小、真空泵抽速越高,则真空冷却时间就会越短;冷阱温度对真空冷却速率有着明显的影响;当真空室内的最终压力在0.4～0.61kPa变化时,熟肉的表面温度一直在0℃以上,其真空冷却的时间随着真空室内压力的升高而增加。而真空室内的最终压力在0.3kPa左右时,熟肉的表面温度在真空冷却过程会低于0℃。     

Extensions of algorithmic senstivity calculations nonlinear programming using barrier and penalty functions

We provide a theoretical basis for approximating the sensitivity of a perturbed solution and the local optimalvalue function, using information generated by a sequential unconstrained minimization technique in the normal course of solving a mathematical program. We show that various algorithmic sensitivity results can be obtained without other assumptions than those needed for the corresponding nonalgorithmic results. Our results extend the algorithmic calculation of sensitivity information introduced by Fiacco, utilizing the logarithmic barrier function and quadratic penalty function     

Surface oxidability of pure liquid metals and alloys

The analysis of the oxygen-liquid metal interaction is a topic of particular technological interest. A deep knowledge of the kinetics and transport mechanisms involved in the oxidation phenomena is necessary: the effect of oxidation reactions taking place in the gas phase and the evaporation of oxides must be considered.This paper aims to review our works in order to provide a systematic analysis of the oxidation of pure metals and determine the most likely to keeping oxygen-free the surface in a binary alloy.In addition, the upgrading of this theoretical approach, here briefly described, is addressed to give a contribution to a better understanding of the evolution of oxidation phenomena close to the solid-liquid-gas interfaces.     

A Kochen-Specker inequality from a SIC

Yu and Oh (eprint) [1] have given a state-independent proof of the Kochen-Specker theorem in three dimensions using only 13 rays. The proof consists of showing that a non-contextual hidden variable theory necessarily leads to an inequality that is violated by quantum mechanics. We give a similar proof making use of 21 rays that constitute a SIC (symmetric informationally-complete positive operator-valued measure) and a complete set of MUB (mutually unbiased bases). A theory-independent inequality is also presented using the same 21 rays, as required for experimental tests of contextuality.     

Concave Pt-Cu-Fe ternary nanocubes:One-pot synthesis and their electrocatalytic activity of methanol and formic acid oxidation

Concave nanostructures may be developed to improve the specific mass activity of a catalyst for formic acid and methanol electro-oxidation. In this work, we report the elctrocatalytic oxidation of methanol and formic acid in acid medium over concave Pt-Cu-Fe ternary nanocubes (NCs), obtained by the galvanic exchange of Pt and Fe on Cu NCs. The concave Pt-Cu-Fe NCs exhibited improved electrooxidation performance contrasted to Pt-Cu NCs and purchased commercial Pt/C as demonstrated by their improved durability, lower onset potential, and more preferable anti-poisoning properties. These properties are believed to originate from the tailored concave structure of the catalyst and possible synergetic effects among the components of the Pt-Cu-Fe NCs.     

A note on a priori error estimates for augmented mixed methods

In this note we describe a strategy that improves the a priori error bounds for augmented mixed methods under appropriate hypotheses. This means that we can derive a priori error estimates for each one of the involved unknowns. Usually, the standard a priori error estimate is for the total error. Finally, a numerical example is included, that illustrates the theoretical results proven in this paper.     

Online induction heating for determination of isotope composition of woody stem water with laser spectrometry: a methods assessment

Application of stable isotopes of water to studies of plant–soil interactions often requires a substantial preparatory step of extracting water from samples without fractionating isotopes. Online heating is an emerging approach for this need, but is relatively untested and major questions of how to best deliver standards and assess interference by organics have not been evaluated. We examined these issues in our application of measuring woody stem xylem of sagebrush using a Picarro laser spectrometer with online induction heating. We determined (1) effects of cryogenic compared to induction-heating extraction, (2) effects of delivery of standards on filter media compared to on woody stem sections, and (3) spectral interference from organic compounds for these approaches (and developed a technique to do so). Our results suggest that matching sample and standard media improves accuracy, but that isotopic values differ with the extraction method in ways that are not due to spectral interference from organics.     

固体的冲击拉伸碎裂

固体材料在冲击拉伸载荷作用下常常会断裂成多个碎片(碎片化)，固体材料碎片化的物理机制是多点损伤同时在固体中成核和发展，导致固体多处破坏。自 Mott 对固体的动态碎裂问题进行了开创性研究后，几十年来，对固体动态碎裂机制的研究一直是应用物理学、力学、航天和兵器工程等领域共同关心的重要课题。本文介绍了在冲击拉伸载荷作用下固体的动态碎裂研究的发展历史，给出相关的理论分析、实验研究和数值模拟的研究进展，特别针对现有的各种关于碎片尺度、碎片分布、以及碎片化物理机制的理论模型进行了较详尽的阐述和讨论，最后指出现有实验和理论研究中仍然存在的关键科学问题及进一步的研究展望。     

Phase field approach with anisotropic interface energy and interface stresses: Large strain formulation

A thermodynamically consistent, large-strain, multi-phase field approach (with consequent interface stresses) is generalized for the case with anisotropic interface (gradient) energy (e.g. an energy density that depends both on the magnitude and direction of the gradients in the phase fields). Such a generalization, if done in the “usual” manner, yields a theory that can be shown to be manifestly unphysical. These theories consider the gradient energy as anisotropic in the deformed configuration, and, due to this supposition, several fundamental contradictions arise. First, the Cauchy stress tensor is non-symmetric and, consequently, violates the moment of momentum principle, in essence the Herring (thermodynamic) torque is imparting an unphysical angular momentum to the system. In addition, this non-symmetric stress implies a violation of the principle of material objectivity. These problems in the formulation can be resolved by insisting that the gradient energy is an isotropic function of the gradient of the order parameters in the deformed configuration, but depends on the direction of the gradient of the order parameters (is anisotropic) in the undeformed configuration. We find that for a propagating nonequilibrium interface, the structural part of the interfacial Cauchy stress is symmetric and reduces to a biaxial tension with the magnitude equal to the temperature- and orientation-dependent interface energy. Ginzburg–Landau equations for the evolution of the order parameters and temperature evolution equation, as well as the boundary conditions for the order parameters are derived. Small strain simplifications are presented. Remarkably, this anisotropy yields a first order correction in the Ginzburg–Landau equation for small strains, which has been neglected in prior works. The next strain-related term is third order. For concreteness, specific orientation dependencies of the gradient energy coefficients are examined, using published molecular dynamics studies of cubic crystals. In order to consider a fully specified system, a typical sixth order polynomial phase field model is considered. Analytical solutions for the propagating interface and critical nucleus are found, accounting for the influence of the anisotropic gradient energy and elucidating the distribution of components of interface stresses. The orientation-dependence of the nonequilibrium interface energy is first suitably defined and explicitly determined analytically, and the associated width is also found. The developed formalism is applicable to melting/solidification and crystal-amorphous transformation and can be generalized for martensitic and diffusive phase transformations, twinning, fracture, and grain growth, for which interface energy depends on interface orientation of crystals from either side.