Preliminary Flight Test Program on Telecom and Broadcasting Using High Altitude Platform Stations

Telecommunication and broadcasting systems using radio-relay/base stations on board the high altitude platforms are expected to create the largest business market among its possible applications. They could also be integrated with satellite- and terrestrial-based systems in the future to construct the more powerful mobile and/or broadband networks. Prototype onboard equipment and ground equipment are being developed on schedule in the fixed, mobile, and broadcasting services. The performance of them will be demonstrated and evaluated in the preliminary flight tests planned in 2002 using alternative aerial vehicles: a helicopter, a jet, and a solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), before flight tests using the high altitude airships. This paper presents activity in Japan on the R&D of wireless access systems using high altitude platform stations and the detail of the preliminary flight test program. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Sharing and Compatibility Study between Fixed Service Using High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) and Other Services in the 31/28 GHz Bands

In the World Radiocommunication Conference 2000 (WRC-2000), use of the 31 GHzand 28 GHz bands was permitted for the fixed service (FS) by using highaltitude platform stations (HAPS) in some countries. This paper examines thesharing and compatibility of the HAPS-based FS with the other services usingthe same and adjacent frequency bands and establishes the conditions of thecoexistence with those services. Feasibility of dynamic channel assignment(DCA) scheme among the different communication systems to facilitate thecoexistence is also studied.     

The mechanical properties and microstructure of SiC–AlN particulate composite

Silicon carbide (SiC) and aluminium nitride (AlN) were found to form a solid solution at temperatures above 1800°C. Based on this interesting result, the composite was fabricated by mechanical mixing of the SiC and AlN powders, and hot pressed under 40 MPa at 1950°C in an argon atmosphere. The objective was to achieve full density and minimize solid solution formation. During the sintering process, the SiC–AlN system passed through three steps to form the solid solution at the end. First, the AlN particle is vaporized from its surface; next, the evaporated AlN is deposited on the surface of the SiC grains and the AlN particle, accompanied by a reduction in its size, and finally, partial SiC and AlN solid-solution formation on the boundary of the SiC grains. Because of the AlN deposition and solid-solution formation at the boundary of SiC grains, a barrier layer was present on the surface of SiC grains. This leads to the formation of fine grains. The toughening mechanism is thought to be by thermal residual stresses, due to the difference between the coefficients of thermal expansion of the matrix SiC and that of the dispersed AlN particles, and crack deflection around the SiC grains. Therefore, it is that which improves the mechanical properties of the SiC–AlN composite. © 1998 Chapman & Hall     

Effect of wall slip on blown film thickness distribution

One of the most important materials for blown film is high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) with wide molecular weight distribution. First, we computed a wall stress at the entrance of a spiral groove in a particular die during blown film processing on a particular condition, to which a similar condition is widely utilized in a film works. The computed value is about 170 kPa, while the HDPE melt slips at die wall at stresses above approximately 50 kPa. The stress of 170 kPa is sufficiently large for the slip occurrence of the melt. Then, we investigated the effects of wall slip and melt visosity on film thickness distribution in the circumferential direction; the distribution tends to decrease with decreasing wall slip and melt viscosity. This tendency is explained by considering flow distribution in a spiral mandrel die and polymer melt flow characteristics.     

Study of asynchronizing phenomena using generator model with field mutual leakage reactance

This paper describes the effect of mutual leakage reactance in the rotor circuit on the analysis of generator transient characteristics. The authors derive a detailed equivalent circuit model for a 48P‐15,750‐kVA generator, analyze sudden short circuits and asynchronization phenomena of the generator by simulations with an electromagnetic transients program (ATP‐EMTP), and compare the results with experimental data. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 153(3): 31–40, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20147     

Studies of aqueous resins

Summary Polyesters were modified by introducing small amounts of sodium sulfonate groups as hydrophilic groups in their backbones. Stable aqueous dispersions of the polyesters could be obtained by using 2-butoxyethanol (BEA) as a cosolvent. To clarify the role of the cosolvent, they were separated into two layers, polymer and supernatant layers, byultracentrifugation. Cosolvent contents were found to be different in the former and latter layers; i.e., the contents of BEA in the former layer are low in the case of crystalline polyesters and high in the case of noncrystalline ones. Characteristics of the dispersions such as viscosity are strongly affected by the content of the cosolvent.     

Fatigue failure of poly(methyl methacrylate) in alcohol environments

Fatigue tests of poly(methyl methacrylate) were conducted in environments of methanol, 1-butanol, and 1-octanol at room temperature under cyclic tensile loading at 10 Hz. The fatigue lifetime increased as the molar volume of the environmental alcohol increased, and indicated no correlation with the solubility parameter. The scanning electron micrographs of the fracture surfaces reveal that crazes strongly participate in the fatigue fracture, and suggest that a great increase in the fatigue lifetime in methanol brought about by pre-soaking the specimen in methanol for a period below 100 h, which has been previously reported, is caused by the combined effects both of the case II diffusion of methanol producing the softened matter and the internal compressive stress in the swollen surface layer and of a cooperative work of crazing, shear flow and/or shear cracking taking place under cyclic tensile loading.     

A biosensor in the time domain based on the diffusion coefficient measurement: intermolecular interaction of an intermediate of photoactive yellow protein

A new type of biosensor is presented for the first time. This method is based on the diffusion measurement in the time domain by the transient grating method. As the first demonstration of this new method, various intermolecular interactions with a reaction intermediate of photoactive yellow protein, such as the protein-protein interaction, protein-DNA interaction, and protein-small molecule binding are detected. The characteristic advantages and limitations are summarized.