Body armour – New materials,new systems

This is a very timely review of body armour materials and systems since new test standards are currently being written, or reviewed, and new, innovative products released. Of greatest importance, however, is the recent evolution, and maturity, of the Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene fibres enabling a completely new style of system to evolve – a stackable system of Hard Armour Plates. The science of body armour materials is quickly reviewed with emphasis upon current understanding of relevant energy-absorbing mechanisms in fibres, fabrics, polymeric laminates and ceramics. The trend in on-going developments in ballistic fibres is then reviewed, analysed and future projections offered. Weaknesses in some of the ceramic grades are highlighted as is the value of using cladding materials to improve the robustness, and multi-strike performance, of Hard Armour Plates. Finally, with the drive for lighter, and therefore smaller, soft armour systems for military personnel the challenges for armour designers are reported, and the importance of the relative size of the Hard Armour Plate to the Soft Armour Insert is strongly emphasised.     

Reactor-grade plutonium and nuclear weapons: ending the debate

The claim that reactor-grade plutonium cannot or will not be used to produce nuclear weapons has been used to justify non-nuclear-weapon states’ large stockpiles of plutonium that has been separated from highly radioactive spent fuel. However, by using reduced-mass plutonium cores, it is possible to manufacture reliable nuclear weapons with reactor-grade plutonium. These weapons can have the same design, size, weight, and predetonation probability as weapons using weapon-grade plutonium and would require no special cooling. The increased radiation from reactor-grade plutonium could be easily managed by shielding and operational procedures. Weapons using plutonium routinely produced by pressurized-water reactors could have a lethal area between 40 percent and 75 percent that of weapons using weapon-grade plutonium. In the past, both Sweden and Pakistan considered using reactor-grade plutonium to produce nuclear weapons, and India may be using reactor-grade plutonium in its arsenal today. Despite claims to the contrary, the United States used what was truly reactor-grade plutonium in a successful nuclear test in 1962. The capability of reactor-grade plutonium to produce highly destructive nuclear weapons leads to the conclusion that the separation of plutonium, plutonium stockpiling, and the use of plutonium-based fuels must be phased out and banned.     

压电材料中的共线非等长多裂纹问题

建立了横观各向同性压电材料中的共线非等长多裂纹模型。将裂纹模拟为连续分布的广义位错,推导了单点广义位错的格林函数,并基于此得到了共线非等长多裂纹的奇异积分方程组,最后由数值计算给出了裂纹尖端的能量释放率。对奇异积分方程组的退化分析和对称条件下的数值结果的讨论,验证了本文结果的正确性。研究表明:当共线裂纹间距小于裂纹长度时,裂纹尖端场存在显著的干涉效应;裂纹越长,干涉效应越显著;电载荷系数越大,能量释放率也越大;相对于外侧尖端而言,共线裂纹内侧尖端对电载荷系数更为敏感。     

压电界面电极的应力强度因子

建立了压电界面电极的力学模型,利用有限傅里叶变换方法将相应的力电耦合问题描述为奇异积分方程,并得到了界面应力及其强度因子的解析解。讨论了结构几何参数对应力强度因子的影响。基于强度设计的观点得到两方面的结论：一是界面中心电极优于偏置电极;二是界面长度的最优值为中心电极长度的2倍。     

B4C/Al复合板中应力波行为分析（Ⅰ）

依据7.62mm穿甲燃烧弹与B4C,Al板的物理和力学特性,提出弹、板的力学模型;在此基础上,给出弹板碰撞后B4C/Al复合板的弹性动力学方程,建立应力波的传播模型,讨论了应力波传播时复合板的力学行为,最后确定了复合板承受的初始冲击应力。理论分析表明：一维应变条件的B4C和Al板的弹性极限高于一维应力条件下的值;弹、板间的作用力服从指数衰减规律;B4C板的初始应力高于430MPa时,应力波的作用使Al板在卸载过程中发生反向屈服。     

未来能量互联的关键设备——固态变压器

固态变压器作为能源互联网中实现能量转换和控制的关键设备,有很多方面需要进行深入研究,文章结合固态变压器的自身特点,对其主要发展的核心技术,包括基于SiC新型宽禁带材料的研制、基于SiC的固态功率器件和固态变压器设计与实现、固态变压器的先进控制策略研究等进行了详细阐述。     

Feasibility of surface-coated friction stir welding tools to join AISI 304 grade austenitic stainless steel

An attempt is made to develop the tools that are capable enough to withstand the shear, impact and thermal forces that occur during friction stir welding of stainless steels. The atmospheric plasma spray and plasma transferred arc hardfacing processes are employed to deposit refractory ceramic based composite coatings on the Inconel 738 alloy. Five different combinations of self-fluxing alloy powder and 60% ceramic reinforcement particulate mixtures are used for coating. The best friction stir welding tool selected based on tool wear analysis is used to fabricate the austenitic stainless steel joints.     

Influence of Al2O3 particles on the microstructure and mechanical properties of copper surface composites fabricated by friction stir processing

The influence of three factors, such as volume percentage of reinforcement particles (i.e. Al₂O₃), tool tilt angle and concave angle of shoulder, on the mechanical properties of Cu–Al₂O₃ surface composites fabricated via friction stir processing was studied. Taguchi method was used to optimize these factors for maximizing the mechanical properties of surface composites. The fabricated surface composites were examined by optical microscope for dispersion of reinforcement particles. It was found that Al₂O₃ particles are uniformly dispersed in the stir zone. The tensile properties of the surface composites increased with the increase in the volume percentage of the Al₂O₃ reinforcement particles. This is due to the addition of the reinforcement particles which increases the temperature of recrystallization by pinning the grain boundaries of the copper matrix and blocking the movement of the dislocations. The observed mechanical properties are correlated with microstructure and fracture features.     

基于维修器材离散随机需求最佳库存量确定研究

结合装备维修器材保障工作,就维修器材离散随机需求最佳库存量确定进行研究,对其建模进行系统分析,结合修理厂维修器材最佳库存量进行实例计算,以指导维修器材最佳库存量的确定.     

The Trust Paradox in Nuclear Smuggling

ABSTRACT

This article explores the paradox of trust in the largest nuclear smuggling operation involving highly enriched uranium (HEU) discussed in open source literature. In the first effort to understand the type, extent, and role of trust in nuclear smuggling enterprises, it draws from literature on trust development in legitimate businesses as well as criminal enterprises. Observed behavioral patterns in this case challenge traditional notions of the internal dynamics of temporary groups engaged in nuclear smuggling and operational realities of such activities. The article seeks to explain why individuals agree (and continue) to operate in this high-risk environment, unbound by close personal ties, without any effort to verify the background, motives, or qualifications of the fellow conspirators. It offers ways to advance current nonproliferation efforts in non-state actor interdiction by exploiting the environment of shallow trust in temporary groups.