Tipping the scales: short-term interventions and counterinsurgency

Particularly in African operations, United Nations (UN) peacekeeping forces have faced significant problems in restoring stability. In at least a few situations, unilateral national military interventions have been launched in the same countries. In the cases of Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire, the British and French interventions respectively played a significant role in re-establishing stability. Lessons from these operations suggest that if effective coordination and liaison channels are established, such hybrid unilateral-UN missions can in fact be more successful than “pure” peace operations.     

车辆悬挂系统的主动优化控制器设计及仿真

基于特征结构配置参数化结果,提出了车辆悬挂系统的主动优化控制器设计方法。该方法直接基于车辆悬挂系统的参数矩阵,便于工程应用。车辆悬挂系统的仿真实例表明所提主动优化控制器设计方法简单且有效。     

基于改进遗传算法的平流层飞艇定点悬停控制(英文)

平流层飞艇定点悬停控制是飞艇应用领域的关键技术。该控制问题可以转化为非线性多目标优化问题来求解。遗传算法是解决现代非线性多目标优化问题的一种重要方法。但是基本遗传算法在解决定点悬停飞艇实际控制问题时,具有易陷入局部最优解、在遗传进化过程中随机性较强、搜索效率低下及耗时多等缺陷。通过借鉴并行遗传算法、模拟退火算法和向量评价遗传算法的基本思想,在基本遗传操作中添加切断算子和拼接算子,设计一种改进遗传算法来改善上述缺陷。仿真结果表明该方法是有效可行的。     

The People’s Liberation Army and China’s Smart Power Quandary in Southeast Asia

Abstract

China has a strong interest in pursuing a smart power strategy towards Southeast Asia and has worked laboriously to engage with regional countries economically, socially, and politically. But China has been only partially successful in achieving its goals in the region. This paper argues that China’s security policy towards Southeast Asia significantly contradicts many other objectives that Beijing wishes to accomplish. Given the deep-seated, narrowly-defined national interests of the Chinese military in the South China Sea disputes, it is likely that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) will continue to pose the main obstacle to the effective implementation of a Chinese smart strategy in Southeast Asia.     

Operation ‘Serval’: A Strategic Analysis of the French Intervention in Mali, 2013–2014

In 2013, France launched Operation ‘Serval’ to halt the southwards advance of Islamist insurgents in Mali. Using a Clausewitzian analytical framework, this article provides an assessment of France’s political and military aims in Mali and the degree to which they have been attained. Clear political goals, coordinated international diplomacy, an effective use of military force and blunders by the rebel forces turned ‘Serval’ into a short-term success. Strategically, however, the mission has proven unable to address the conflict’s underlying causes. Serval’s long-term effect is probably better measured by what it prevented than what it contributed.     

发射车多轴连通式油气悬架的连通耦合效应

重载导弹发射车多使用4轴连通式双气室油气悬架,为了研究其连通耦合效应,以便对发射车设计进行参考。在2轴连通式油气悬架数学模型的基础上,基于AMESim软件分别建立2轴/4轴连通式双气室油气悬架系统的仿真模型,在几种不同信号频率与相位激励下分析了多轴连通式双气室油气悬架系统的连通耦合效应影响。结果表明:连通式油气悬架在低频激励作用下具有明显的阻尼特性。4轴连通式悬架系统与2轴连通式悬架系统相比,其外特性具备明显优势。连通式油气悬架系统受低频激励时外特性表现比较激烈,而在受高频激励时外特性表现良好,这说明系统在处于高频环境时更能衰减系统的不同步振动。     

悬浮固相颗粒对储集层基质孔隙的堵塞规律研究

应用胜利油区8个不同区块的岩心及注入水,采用岩心流动实验手段,研究了注入水中悬浮颗粒对储层孔隙的堵塞特征,发现悬浮颗粒对储层的堵塞特征表现为孔隙逐步堵塞和迅速堵塞两种类型;悬浮颗粒浓度低且孔径与粒径的比值较大时易形成孔隙避步堵塞;悬浮颗粒浓度大或孔径与粒径的比值较小时易形成迅速堵塞;悬浮颗粒对储层的堵塞程度、堵塞类型是颗粒浓度、颗粒粒径与储层孔喉匹配综合作用的结果;迅速堵塞特征的初始堵塞效果主要取决于孔径与粒径的匹配关系,最终堵塞效果主要与注入水中的颗粒浓度有关;高浓度的小颗粒对孔隙基质的堵塞特征表现为迅速堵塞。     

车用磁流变减振器动力性能实验分析

MRF阻尼器结构简单、体积小、能耗低、反应迅速且阻尼力可调范围广, 已经成为新型履带车辆半主动悬挂系统优先选择的方案。基于磁流变液体本构关系的Bingham模型,对影响车用磁流变减振器的阻尼力的各种因素进行了综合分析。对自行研制的双出杆剪切阀式磁流变减振器进行了实验研究,获得了不同振幅、频率、电流强度下的阻尼力变化曲线,从不同的侧面获得了MRF阻尼器的动力性能。结合Hrovat限界最优半主动控制算法和车辆悬挂系统振动的半主动控制策略,仿真分析了磁流变阻尼器对整车振动的控制效果,并与LQR控制结果作了比较。     

基于响应面法的悬架系统优化研究

提出了应用响应面分析履带车辆悬架系统特性的方法。构建了悬架系统特性参数和整车行驶平顺性及可靠性之间的二阶响应面模型,并依据响应面分析结果,进行悬架系统的优化研究。优化结果表明了该方法的有效性。     

Terrorism as Method in Nepali Maoist Insurgency, 1996–2016

During the period 1996–2006, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) waged overt people’s war to seize state power and institute a new order that realized the party’s understanding of ‘New Democracy’ as posited by Mao Tse-tung. Contextual shifts led to a crucial strategic turning point in September 2005, when the Maoists agreed to a united front with estranged legal parties to oust the monarchy and establish a republic. Though touted as acceptance of political reintegration, the move was tactical rather than strategic. The party had no intention of supporting a parliamentary version of democracy and thus, 2006–2016, engaged in a covert effort to seize power. Central to this effort was the paramilitary Young Communist League (YCL), the members of which responded to inflammatory party verbiage and exhortations with attacks upon rival political actors. These attacks, academically and legally, were terrorism and offered a salient illustration of intra-state unrestricted warfare. Ultimately, organizational, national, and regional circumstances caused the main Maoist movement to move decisively away from its covert approach. By that time, however, radical splinters had embraced the use of terrorism against rival political actors, creating a situation whereby local politics is yet a dangerous endeavor in certain areas and at certain times.