Numerical Study on Infrared Radiation Characteristics of Stealth Coating for Turbofan Engine Tail Nozzle

Infrared stealth technology plays a vital role in improving the survivability of future aircraft. The exhaust system is the main source of infrared radiation on the rear side of the aircraft, and stealth coating is an effective measure to reduce the infrared radiation on the solid wall of the nozzle. Mature commercial computational fluid dynamics software was used to obtain and analyze accurate data of the flow field to study the infrared radiation characteristics of the stealth coating on the turbofan engine nozzle. Furthermore, infrared simulation software based on the reverse Monte Carlo method, line-by-line calculation technique, and database technology for high-temperature gas parameters of a narrowband model were used to numerically simulate the exhaust system of a turbofan engine with infrared suppression coating. Assuming that the damage percentage of the external adjusting plate is constant, the findings reveal that the overall infrared radiation intensity exhibits a steadily increasing trend with the increase in the number of damaged adjusting plates. The maximum change in the infrared radiation intensity between eight damaged adjusting plates and one damaged adjusting plate was 11.67%. Thus, regular inspection and maintenance are required for the stealth coating on the external adjusting plate of the aero-engine tail nozzle to maintain stealth integrity

Pulmonary hypofunction due to calcium carbonate nanomaterial exposure in occupational workers: a cross-sectional study

<p>Calcium carbonate nanomaterials (nano-CaCO₃) are widely used in both manufacturing and consumer products, but their potential health hazards remain unclear. The objective of this study was to survey workplace exposure levels and health effects of workers exposed to nano-CaCO₃. Personal and area sampling, as well as real-time and dust monitoring, were performed to characterize mass exposure, particle size distribution, and particle number exposure. A total of 56 workers (28 exposed workers and 28 unexposed controls) were studied in a cross-sectional study. They completed physical examinations, spirometry, and digital radiography. The results showed that the gravimetric nano-CaCO₃ concentration was 5.264 ± 6.987 mg/m³ (0.037–22.192 mg/m³) at the workplace, and 3.577 ± 2.065 mg/m³ (2.042–8.161 mg/m³) in the breathing zone of the exposed workers. The particle number concentrations ranged from 8193 to 39 621 particles/cm³ with a size range of 30–150 nm. The process of packing had the highest gravimetric and particle number concentrations. The particle number concentration positively correlated with gravimetric concentrations of nano-CaCO₃. The levels of hemoglobin, creatine phosphokinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the nano-CaCO₃ exposure group increased significantly, but the white blood cell count (WBC), Complement 3 (C3), total protein (TP), uric acid, and creatinine (CREA) all decreased significantly. The prevalence rate of pulmonary hypofunction was significantly higher (<i>p</i> = 0.037), and the levels of vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, peak expiratory flow and forced expiratory flow 25% (FEF 25%), FEF 25–75% were negatively correlated with gravimetric concentrations of nano-CaCO₃ (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Logistic analysis showed that nano-CaCO₃ exposure level was associated with pulmonary hypofunction (<i>p</i> = 0.005). Meanwhile, a dose-effect relationship was found between the accumulated gravimetric concentrations of nano-CaCO₃ and the prevalence rate of pulmonary hypofunction (<i>p</i> = 0.048). In conclusion, long-term and high-level nano-CaCO₃ exposure can induce pulmonary hypofunction in workers. Thus, lung function examination is suggested for occupational populations with nano-CaCO₃ exposure. Furthermore, future health protection efforts should focus on senior workers with accumulation effects of nano-CaCO₃ exposure.</p