Don't stop with Joint Forces Command … cut AFRICOM too

Abstract

The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has been a military success but a strategic messaging failure. The United States’ relationships across Africa cannot be boiled down to military affairs. This paper argues that Africa has many more opportunities than challenges and thus requires a more balanced foreign policy solution from Washington DC than a new military command. For the military engagement that does need to take place, a more low-profile approach would benefit the United States in Africa.     

矩阵转置的一种快速算法

本文给出一个数据体积超过计算机可用内存容量的n×n 矩阵快速转置的新方法。与常用的算法相比,所需的计算时间显著减小。     

不同增强体镁基复合材料的阻尼性能

研究了短切碳纤维、碳化硅晶须、硼酸铝晶须为增强体的镁基复合材料在外加载荷下的阻尼性能,测量了它们的力学性能与断口特性。研究表明：增强体不同的镁基复合材料,阻尼性能不同;在所研究的几种增强体复合材料中,以短切碳纤维增强镁基复合材料的阻尼效果最好;短切碳纤维增强铁基复合材料界面对内耗有明显的影响。     

基于瞬时转速多特征融合的内燃机各缸工作状态识别

为分析内燃机瞬时转速波动过程与各缸工作相位的对应关系,进而识别各缸工作状态,提出了基于硬件计数原理的内燃机瞬时转速精确测试方法,在某自行火炮发动机上测取了发动机正常工作、燃烧不良和失火工况下的瞬时转速信号。对信号进行频谱分析,并利用分频带滤波方法分离出电调信号和各缸做功冲击信号,进而提出5个特征参数并计算各特征参数的相对偏差和偏差极性,最后根据不同特征参数的相对偏差幅值和偏差极性分布规律判别各缸工作状态并定位状态异常缸。     

轴向冲击载荷下圆柱壳的塑性动力屈曲

对于轴向冲击载荷下圆柱壳的轴对称塑性动力屈曲问题,将临界应力和屈曲惯性项指数参数作为双特征参数求解.由相邻平衡准则导出失稳控制方程、边界条件和波阵面上的连续条件.由失稳瞬间的能量转换和守恒准则,导出波阵面上的一个屈曲变形约束方程.由此得出定量求解2个特征参数和动力屈曲模态的完备定解条件.关于屈曲应力和屈曲波数的理论计算结果与已有实验吻合良好.     

平面杆系结构内力包络图仿真优化与编程

讨论受任意集中力、集中力偶和线性分布力等复杂移动荷载作用下的平面杆系结构内力包络图仿真优化技术。借助平面杆系结构分析软件Vsap2011,分析了单元截面离散方式和荷载移动步长对内力包络图求解精度的影响。研究表明:为了获得较高的内力包络图求解精度,对于移动荷载经过的单元,截面必须按步细分;对于活载任意布置的单元,截面必须在荷载作用点之间再插入足够多的分点;对于不受荷载的单元,两端刚结的必须按距离细分,而含有一个以上铰结点的不必细分。此外,在步长接近或相差不大的情况下,如果步长既能整除荷载队列的间距,又能整除载荷载通过单元的长度,那么就可以提高内力包络图的求解精度。如果将单元长度和荷载队列间距的最大公约数作为步长,既可获得较高的内力包络图求解精度,又可大大节省计算机时。     

The mechanism of liquid dispersing from a cylinder driven by central dynamic shock loading

A systematic investigation on the mechanism of dynamic liquid dispersing process via theoretical and experimental approach is presented. The experiments include weak and strong constrained scenarios using the high-speed camera technique and the flash X-ray radiography technique. Based on dynamic analysis, one-dimensional characteristics analysis and some numerical simulations on the propagating processes of blast waves before the container shell rupturing, further and detailed analyses of the experimental results are presented. The effects of the liquid viscosity on the dynamic dispersing flow are also analyzed, and the spall fracture mechanism is explored. Thus, the dominating forces determining the dispersing liquid flow are revealed, that is, the stretching and shearing action due to the interaction of two reflecting rarefaction waves in opposite propagating directions. The influence of container shell strength on the dispersing liquid flow is also investigated, and the characters of cavitation layered in liquid before shell rupturing are uncovered. Results revealed that different shell material results in different cavitating layers. Then the different cavitating layers drive the different dynamic liquid dispersing process coming into being. The metastable liquid states caused by pressure drop and cavi-tation generation are discussed.     

The crisis of American military assistance: strategic dithering and Fabergé Egg armies

ABSTRACT

The United States has provided substantial amounts of military assistance and aid since the end of World War Two. During the Cold War, it proved vital in protecting numerous regimes from communist takeovers. Successful outcomes occurred when American leaders made large initial aid commitments, and the states had the capacity and political willpower to use it effectively. However, Vietnam was an example of how U.S. support lagged, as leaders in Saigon preferred political survival instead of creating regime legitimacy. Following 9/11, American security aid focused on making weak countries develop stronger security forces. Unfortunately, this created Fabergé egg militaries: expensive and easily broken by insurgents. This article suggests long-term strategic commitments need to be made alongside more resources for the American State Department and similar organizations to focus on the politics of state-building. Finally, this article suggests strategies, such as “whole-of-government” approaches, to improve long-term security and political institution building.     

Can Governments Negotiate With Insurgents? The Latin American Experience

In June 2016, the Colombian Government and the FARC insurgent movement signed a ceasefire agreement, which brings the two sides one step closer to putting an end to over five decades of war. Unfortunately, Latin America has a rich history of insurgent movements, particularly during the cold war era, some of which continue to operate today. Most of these movements disappeared due to military operations, though some did so via peace negotiations. This essay aims to discuss the various ends of Latin American insurgencies to answer whether, indeed, insurgents can be negotiated with.     

Youth Between State and Rebel (Dis)Orders: Contesting Legitimacy from Below in Sub-Sahara Africa

Abstract

The Sahel has gained attention in international politics as one of the central theatres in the war on terrorism. International actors in this war seek alliances with states in the region, reinforcing the latter’s military strength and their legitimacy from outside. At the same time, increasingly-connected young populations question the legitimacy of their states, and contest that legitimacy from within and below. In the absence of states delivering any reasonable form of social contract, young people become torn between different governing orders and find themselves in a liminal space. In this article we present the cases of youth in Mali and Chad, who find themselves in a period of re-definition of their position in society and hence search for legitimate structures representation. In this search they may frame their belonging in terms of ethnicity, religion or political opposition – and increasingly also in adherence to global citizenship. New information flows and connectivity among young people in these regions, and between them and the diaspora, has given a new turn to their search for citizenship/belonging and rightful representation. However, whether their search will be successful in this geopolitical context is questionable.