Research starts with PhD students

Chapter 109 You are our hero! Wang Zhiguo: No one would agree to this!

In the conference room.

Zhou Yongchang pushed his glasses and looked carefully at the calculations on the manuscript paper.

There isn't much to calculate, but it's very difficult to understand.

Du Bin and others also came over to take a look, and discussed in a low voice, "There was a frequency resonance during the jetting process!"

"That makes sense."

"We also believe that there is a problem with the jet propulsion, but the calculation seems a bit complicated..."

Zhou Yongchang was also watching carefully.

He could immediately see what the conclusion expressed, and now he was trying to understand the calculation process.

He hoped the calculations were correct.

Zhou Yongchang has spent his entire life studying rockets and is a nationally recognized rocket expert.

He studied power engineering and was sent abroad on a government scholarship. After returning to China, he has been engaged in aerospace-related work.

He initially joined a rocket engine research project and later began to engage in rocket design work. He has participated in the development of three types of launch vehicles. With his rich experience and outstanding work results, he was appointed chief engineer for the design and development of a new generation of large launch vehicles.

The research of large launch vehicles, that is, heavy rockets, is a huge challenge, and there are many difficulties to overcome.

Heavy rocket engines are one of the biggest technical difficulties.

The overall design of the rocket, coordinating the heavy rocket engine to maximize its effectiveness and ensure safety and stability, is also a very complex project.

Over the past few years, Zhou Yongchang led his team to overcome difficulties one after another and finally entered the rocket test launch phase, but encountered a completely unexpected problem -
Very serious pogo vibrations!

Previous generations of launch vehicles also had pogo vibration problems, but they had never been so serious. They had developed various types of accumulators specifically to solve the pogo vibration problem.

Such severe pogo vibrations, which even directly threaten the rocket's separation at high altitude, cannot be solved by installing an accumulator internally.

After a lot of analysis and research, they attributed the problem to jet propulsion.

This is a judgment based on experience.

There must be a reason for such severe pogo vibration. The internal structure will only produce pogo vibration and will not make the problem so serious.

If the jet power cannot be fully controlled, there may be some problem that amplifies the pogo vibration.

That's why the rocket team found a large number of scholars to make more detailed calculations on jet propulsion.

However, the final summarized data showed that the jet power was in line with the design expectations of the rocket, and the deviation from the actual experimental test data was also very small.

What's the problem?
"Same frequency resonance!"

Zhou Yongchang is willing to believe this result.

After he understood the calculation results, he felt that everything made sense. The only thing he didn't understand was one question -

How to do the calculation!

Zhou Yongchang read it for more than ten minutes and understood most of the steps in the calculation. He even discussed some parts with others and finally determined that there was no problem with the calculation.

However, a new problem arises:

Where does the initial data for the calculation come from?

Those are already the calculation results, but we don’t know how they were calculated.

Zhou Yongchang moved his eyes away from the paper and looked up at Zhang Shuo. Several people nearby also looked up and saw Zhang Shuo.

Their actions also made the venue quiet again.

Zhou Yongchang asked earnestly, "Professor Zhang Shuo, your calculations are very sophisticated, but we don't quite understand where you got your initial data. Can you tell us more about it?"

Zhang Shuo did not stand up to speak. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "I have the manuscript in my office. I'll go get it."

"we will wait for you."

Zhou Yongchang nodded and then announced the adjournment of the meeting.

Zhang Shuo went to the office to get the manuscript.

Sheng Zhenhua quickly followed, and after walking a few steps out of the conference room, he caught up with her and couldn't help but ask worriedly, "Are you sure?"

He was indeed worried.

The content of the meeting is too important!

Large launch vehicles are national strategic projects that can reflect a country's level and ability to utilize and develop space technology. Related research and development involves a country's scientific and technological strength and directly affects the development of deep space exploration and other aerospace activities.

This strategic-level project has a huge impact.

When Zhang Shuo stood up to express his opinion, Sheng Zhenhua's heart was gripped with anxiety. In a meeting to study important issues, it didn't matter if he said something wrong. After all, Zhang Shuo was still very young and was a complete layman when it came to rocket technology.

What I am afraid of is that even if I say something wrong, the rocket expert group will still accept it.

By then, the rocket development team made improvements in the ‘wrong direction’, and then major problems arose…

Zhang Shuo said as he walked, "Don't worry, Director Sheng, I have confidence in my calculation ability."

“I can’t say anything about the others, but if it’s a problem with the jet power, it’s definitely in that position, and that’s clearly calculated.”

"Human judgment can be wrong, but mathematics cannot be wrong."

"Whoo~~~"

Sheng Zhenhua exhaled lightly and nodded, "It's good that you know what's going on."

As he said this, he couldn't help but sigh that geniuses have really strong self-confidence.

For such an important meeting and such an important issue, he dared to present his own calculation results and even dared to say that he had identified the problem.

I dare not even think about such a thing.

Zhang Shuo brought the manuscript from the office.

The manuscripts he wrote were very clear and contained a lot of content. There were more than forty pages in total, all filled with densely packed calculations. Just one look at them made my scalp tingle.

This is the result of a week.

The rocket expert group is still waiting in the conference room.

Others did not leave either. Some simply stood at the door and shouted from afar, "Zhang Shuo is back!"

"Zhang Shuo is here!"

The people at the door consciously made way.

Zhang Shuo nodded to the people around him as he walked, and then he walked into the conference room and handed the manuscript to Zhou Yongchang. "That's all. There's too much content. You guys study it. If you have any questions, you can ask me."

The people in the Rockets expert group understood why Zhang Shuo didn't speak directly.

There are dozens of pages of manuscripts, and the content of each page is very complex.

Du Bin took one and looked at it carefully, then looked at the pile of manuscripts on the table and asked blankly, "Did you do all this? After you came here?"

"Yes."

Zhang Shuo nodded.

Everyone around was silent.

Looking at the pile of manuscripts on the table and thinking about the past week, I don’t know how I feel.

Zhou Bing suddenly stood up and said, "Zhang Shuo's level is just like this." He gave a thumbs up and said, "After he joined our team, our work efficiency has increased dramatically!"

Someone immediately reacted and laughed and scolded, "No wonder your group 2 completes so many calculations every day, and they are so accurate."

"Are you hiding the treasure so that no one will know about it?"

"I said that you, Zhou Bing, don't have this level, it's strange..."

"It turns out to be Zhang Shuo!"

……

After Zhang Shuo handed the manuscript to the rocket expert group, he had some free time.

The other invited experts also had some free time.

The calculation work for the power group has been completed.

Zhang Shuo said that they had found the key problem in jet propulsion, so the rocket expert group has been studying his manuscript, and the others have nothing to do.

They gathered in groups of three or four and simply wandered around the base.

The next step is to wait for the results.

The best result is that Zhang Shuo's calculation is correct and he successfully found the key point of pogo vibration, so the rocket team can find a way to correct it.

If there is a problem with the calculation, we will need to continue researching, but if we cannot determine it in a short time, we will have to go back.

Many people also privately commented on Zhang Shuo's computational analysis skills, "Such a large amount of content, and it was completed in a week! I feel like I can't finish it even if I am given a month."

"That's not just calculation, it's analysis. To this day, I still can't figure out how they figured out the resonance position!"

"Didn't you hear what Zhou Bing said? Zhang Shuo only needs half an hour to complete the calculation work assigned to him every day, and he only does the most difficult work."

"In terms of computing power, I have never seen anyone more amazing..."

Many people came to meet Zhang Shuo. The experts who came to work at the Second Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology were all well-known experts in computational mathematics, or scholars in the fields of aerodynamics and fluid dynamics, and experts from the Aircraft Design Institute who were engaged in the research of aero-engine jet power. Zhang Shuo also met many people along the way.

Zhou Bing also came over and said to Zhang Shuo, "I went in to take a look. They said it was difficult to verify the content from beginning to end. It seemed that some of the conversions were difficult to understand. Later they decided to only calculate the position you mentioned."

Zhang Shuo nodded thoughtfully, "There are a few places that involve equation calculation and conversion, and my latest research is used."

He shook his head. "Not necessarily. Maybe there's too much content."

Zhou Bing gave a thumbs up. "You spent a week researching. At their speed, it would take you another week to understand it."

……

The rocket expert team did not study the manuscript from beginning to end, but instead focused on the calculations in the manuscript regarding the nozzle position.

The next morning, an expert named Wang Zhiguo was the first to complete the calculation. He couldn't help but shout excitedly, "Engineer Zhou! Professor Du!"

"The data matches, there is indeed resonance at the exit cone!"

He stared at the two overlapping lines on the computer, and a look of surprise appeared on his face. Others immediately gathered around him.

"Yes?"

"The data is completely consistent? Are you sure?"

"Is the calculation Zhang Shuo made in a week so accurate? There is not even any deviation?"

"We have so many experts and scholars who have done so much research in a week, and even if he alone has a problem..."

"Isn't that outrageous?"

"Is this genius?"

A bunch of people were chattering about it, and it was obvious that they were all relieved. The fact that the data matched directly meant that there was no problem with the calculation.

At the same time, it also shows that the problem lies in the exit cone.

Zhou Yongchang let out a long breath. He hoped more than anyone else that Zhang Shuo's calculations were correct.

Now that it has finally been determined, the next step is to study how to improve it.

The resonance occurring at the exit cone position does not mean that there is a problem with the exit cone. The fundamental problem is that the engine jets are mixed together, forming a resonance at the same frequency at the exit cone position.

While the problem can be traced back to the complexity of the engine, there are many solutions once you know what the problem is.

Zhou Yongchang immediately decided to hold a meeting to discuss solutions.

This was an internal meeting of the rocket research and development team, so the invited experts did not attend, but Zhang Shuo was still invited.

Before the meeting began, Zhou Yongchang expressed his gratitude to Zhang Shuo on behalf of the Rockets team, "Professor Zhang Shuo, you are our hero!"

"You found the key to such an important problem, saving us countless time and energy."

"On behalf of the Second Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology and everyone in the large launch vehicle project team, thank you!"

Zhou Yongchang bowed slightly in excitement.

Zhang Shuo quickly helped him up, "I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it, this is what I should do."

"I'm just researching it because I'm interested. There's no need to do this."

He was polite.

After the meeting started, Zhang Shuo sat aside and listened.

When it comes to the field of rockets, he is really a layman. Some of the content involves the structure of rockets, overall stability, etc., and he can't even understand it.

Zhou Yongchang also kept asking Zhang Shuo, "What do you think about this issue?"

"How about the solution just now?"

"Professor Zhang Shuo, please share your opinion. This is a discussion meeting, and everyone can express their opinions..."

Zhang Shuo didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and then he simply said, "Academician Zhou, I don't understand rocket issues. You guys have your meeting. Otherwise, I'll leave first."

"I won't ask anymore. I won't ask anymore."

Zhou Yongchang said quickly.

After the meeting, Zhou Yongchang discussed a lot of professional issues with Zhang Shuo. He wanted to keep Zhang Shuo for a few more days, hoping to arouse Zhang Shuo's interest in rocket research.

To put it bluntly, they hope that Zhang Shuo can work in the field of rocket research, and it would be best if he could directly join the Second Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology.

A super genius in computational mathematics, such talent is so hard to find!
Zhang Shuo left anyway.

He went with Sheng Zhenhua and Deng Qiang. Zhou Yongchang, Du Bin and other rocket experts sent them to the main gate.

Sheng Zhenhua and Deng Qiang were just incidental, but there were still several people chatting with them, but they only asked about things related to Zhang Shuo.

"Zhang Shuo is our treasure at Soochow University. How much research has he completed in the past year? He will definitely win an international mathematics award in the future."

"I think there is hope for Fields!"

"The Jebov conjecture he just completed is a Fields-level achievement. It's a pity that it was done by two people together. It would have been better if Sun Xingli hadn't been involved..."

Sheng Zhenhua said with some regret, "If it was one person, it should be Fields, right?"

Deng Qiang said, "Zhang Shuo almost came to our Institute of Science and Engineering, but unfortunately he ended up going to the Institute of Advanced Mathematics. He is a genius in computational mathematics and applied mathematics, and it's a pity that he went to the Institute of Advanced Mathematics!"

"But he is a specially invited expert for the cooperation project between us and the Second Hospital. With him here, we can ensure the smooth completion of this project..."

Zhang Shuo, Zhou Yongchang and Du Bin walked in front.

As they walked, Du Bin asked, "I heard that you have graduated and joined the Institute of Advanced Studies at Soochow University. What project are you going to do next?"

Zhang Shuo nodded and said, "I graduated at the end of August, not long ago. Now I only have a young talent support project from the school."

"The funding for the Young Talents Support Project shouldn't be much, right?" Du Bin asked curiously, "What kind of research is it doing?"

"Numerical simulation of the NS equations." Zhang Shuo said frankly.

Du Bin was stunned for a moment.

Zhou Yongchang was also stunned. He asked with certainty, "NS equation? Numerical simulation? This should be a huge research, right?"

Zhang Shuo nodded, "But I only have one youth support project. If I want to apply for other projects, it will take at least until next year."

He was referring to projects supported by the National Science Foundation, including General Science Foundation, Excellent Young Scholars, and Outstanding Young Scholars, etc.

These projects usually start preparation in March or April, and after the application is submitted, they are approved in August or September.

If it is a provincial support project, the project funds you get after applying for it for a long time may not be as much as the school's young talent support funds.

Zhou Yongchang thought for a moment and said, "This level of research is not appropriate to be listed under the Youth Support Project. Otherwise, Professor Zhang, our Second Hospital will cooperate with you and support you with 500,000 yuan of funding for your research."

Du Bin glanced at Zhou Yongchang.

The others also pricked up their ears.

Sheng Zhenhua kept winking at Zhang Shuo, and his face almost said, "Hurry up and agree, it's free money!"

"Academician Zhou has offered to give you a bonus!"

"You helped them solve a big problem, you deserve it!"

Zhang Shuo hesitated for a moment, but still shook his head. "The project funding is small, but it's enough for me to do the research alone."

"Besides, the research is almost complete and does not require so much funding."

The car drove over.

Zhang Shuo got into the car first, then opened the window and waved to Zhou Yongchang, Du Bin and others.

Sheng Zhenhua and Deng Qiang also got in the car.

After saying goodbye, the car had already driven a long way forward.

Zhou Yongchang stood there, puzzled, and asked Du Bin, "Why doesn't he agree? This is clearly a reward."

"Five hundred thousand is not a small amount, right?"

Zhou Yongchang couldn't figure it out.

Du Bin frowned and thought for a while. "It shouldn't be a matter of money. Last time I went to Soochow University, I invited him to be a specially-appointed expert for a project with Professor Sheng. I offered him 200,000 yuan, and he agreed."

"Why?"

"He seemed to say just now that the research is almost completed... Isn't that unlikely?" Du Bin said, shaking his head.

"I understand!"

Wang Zhiguo suddenly shouted, and he said in surprise, "Engineer Zhou, Professor Du, when I was studying Professor Zhang Shuo's manuscript, I found some NS equations, or other complex equations with similar forms. In the numerical solution process, several methods that I have never seen before were used. I don't understand them, but the verification is very accurate."

"I have always been very confused and thought it was my fault because I didn't know these methods. It turns out that these are Professor Zhang Shuo's latest research. He must have made great progress in numerical simulation of the NS equations!"

"That makes sense!"

Wang Zhiguo said seriously, "Numerical simulation of the NS equations, such an important research, isn't it the same as buying the results if we talk about cooperation now?"

"NS equation, five hundred thousand? Think about five million!"

"No one would agree to this!"

(End of this chapter)