Compact and rapid heat transfer technology can, within ultra-confined spaces and on the order of milliseconds, efficiently capture and transport large amounts of heat from the intake or internal components. It is the core determinant of both performance and technical success for a precooled engine. Conventional civil use heat exchanger analysis, design procedures, and experimental testing approaches are insufficient for validation due to the harsh operating environment and demanding performance requirements inside such systems. Therefore, conducting highly targeted, application oriented research on compact and rapid heat transfer technology specifically for precooled engines carries significant academic and engineering value. In this paper, the research progress of compact and rapid heat transfer technology from multiple dimensions, including underlying mechanisms, technical approaches, and experimental methods, is systematically reviewed, and the principal challenges it faces when applied to precooled engines are analyzed. Existing studies have yielded extensive and in-depth results in several areas: the mechanisms of rapid and intensive heat transfer of supercritical working fluids in microscale channels and cross-flow tube bundles; rapid simulation and similarity analysis methods for fluids with sharply varying properties; refined and uncertainty quantification based design methodologies; and experimental testing techniques tailored for extreme thermal environments in confined spaces, etc. Overall, in terms of fundamental research, it is urgent to deepen our understanding of the coupled flow heat transfer mechanisms under complex thermal conditions at micro scales and to further enrich high accuracy empirical correlation databases for compact and rapid heat transfer. From an analysis and design perspective, attention should be paid to integrating emerging techniques into analysis and design methods to enhance overall performance across broad operating ranges. In terms of experimental validation, more sophisticated flow-field measurement techniques appropriate for intricate structures in confined spaces must be developed, and complete temperature and full pressure testing must be conducted under actual engine installation circumstances. These research efforts will provide a solid foundation for improving the maturity of compact and rapid heat transfer technology and for advancing and validating precooled engine technology.

Governments and large automakers worldwide are aggressively investing in and developing all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) as a next-generation battery technology because of their promise to provide high specific energy and improved safety. However, significant challenges remain in terms of research and development as well as large-scale industrialization. Conducting modeling and simulation studies on ASSBs can help reveal their underlying operational mechanisms and clarify the factors influencing their performance. This, in turn, enables the design of ASSBs that meet targeted specifications and achieve desired operational performance, ultimately shortening the cycles of experimental testing and development. This paper provides a comprehensive review and analysis of modeling and simulation efforts in the areas of molecular dynamics calculations, key materials and interfacial characteristics, and electrochemical performance of ASSBs. Particular emphasis is placed on the microstructural modeling of sulfide-based solid electrolytes, interfacial behavior, ion transport mechanisms, stress generation, and fracture induced by the interphase between electrodes and electrolytes. The study also identifies possible research goals, describes future trends in ASSB modeling and simulation, and attempts to use these insights to hasten the industrialization and practical application of ASSBs.

The sustained escalation in aero-engine thrust-to-weight ratios and turbine inlet temperatures has established thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) as an indispensable solution for surpassing the intrinsic temperature limits of hot-section components and ensuring their long-term service reliability. Nevertheless, the service response of TBCs involves exceedingly complex thermo-mechanical-chemical (TMC) multi-field coupling and cross-scale damage evolution, which poses severe fundamental challenges to conventional single-scale experimental and analytical methodologies. This review systematically summarizes the advances in conventional and advanced modeling, simulation, and analysis techniques for TBC and further extends the discussion to the application of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The study aims to provide a systematic overview of analysis methods for TBC service behavior and structural optimization strategies for coatings and to promote the implementation of proactive maintenance strategies. The technical methods covered include thermal conductivity modeling, thermal stress simulation, crack propagation analysis, and mechanical behavior studies of TBC systems, which predominantly rely on diverse techniques such as multiscale modeling and finite element analysis. The paper focuses on the use of AI in TBC simulation, including data-driven modeling approaches and machine learning algorithms such as support vector machines, random forests, neural networks, and deep learning. The findings indicate that AI holds the potential to revolutionize TBC technology in multiple respects, encompassing material and structural design, performance optimization and prediction, condition monitoring, fault diagnosis and health management, and remaining useful life (RUL) prediction, while significantly improving prediction accuracy. Novel TBCs are anticipated to offer robust support for next-generation aero-engines to transcend temperature limits and achieve improved efficiency and reliability with ongoing advancements in the intelligent design of new materials.

Superelasticity is one of the most important functional characteristics of shape memory alloys, which essentially originates from stress-induced reversible thermoelastic martensitic transformation. The superelastic working temperature range is mainly influenced by the synergistic effect of alloy chemical composition and microstructure. The development status of several shape memory alloy systems with broad temperature range superelastic properties over the last ten years is methodically reviewed in this article, with an emphasis on contrasting the features and variations of various alloys in important performance parameters like recoverable strain, temperature dependence of critical stress, and superelastic temperature window. This article uses comparative analysis to support the design, preparation, and engineering application of novel wide-temperature-range superelastic shape memory alloys theoretically and practically, as well as to offer opportunities for the field's future development.

Because of their low density, magnesium alloys are strategically valuable for lightweight transportation equipment. Nevertheless, conventional casting processes encounter technical challenges, including shrinkage porosity, gas porosity, and oxidation. Thixomolding—an innovative forming process based on semi-solid processing principles-provides a viable approach to overcome these limitations. This work systematically elucidates the fundamental mechanisms of thixomolding, reveals the formation principles of non-dendritic microstructures and preparation methodologies for semi-solid slurries, and comprehensively analyzes the technology’s enhancement effects on the comprehensive properties of AZ-series and AM-series magnesium alloys. Currently, this technology has achieved industrial-scale implementation in consumer electronics and transportation equipment sectors. Supported by next-generation higher-tonnage forming systems, its applications are progressively expanding to large-scale structural component manufacturing, demonstrating exceptional development potential within the new energy vehicle industry. Among other crucial areas, future research should focus on defect control mechanisms for large-scale components, multi-physics coupled modeling of the forming process, and composition design of innovative thixomolded magnesium alloys.

Both monopropellant and bipropellant rocket engines frequently employ nitrous oxide (N₂O) as a non-toxic, stable, and secure self-pressurizing propellant. It holds significant research value and application potential, especially in the field of attitude and orbit control propulsion. In addition to outlining research priorities and development recommendations for N₂O propulsion technology in the field of attitude and orbit control, this paper reviews the development history and current research status of several types of nitrous oxide-based propulsion systems, summarizes their features and advantages, and identifies the key technologies facilitating their engineering application. The aim is to provide valuable references for the innovation and engineering practice of aerospace attitude and orbit control propulsion systems.

Due to their great energy efficiency and zero carbon emissions, fuel cell aircraft propulsion systems have become a crucial alternative to conventional fossil fuel-based power in the context of the aviation industry’s increasing attempts to become carbon neutral. This study focused on proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), systematically analyzing their working principles, system architectures, key technological challenges, and applicable scenarios. The research also compared these systems with lithium battery propulsion systems from multiple perspectives, including energy carrier type, power characteristics, service life, and environmental benefits. The findings reveal that while SOFC have great promise for long-endurance missions, PEMFC are better suited for short-range aircraft applications. Although challenges remain in hydrogen storage, thermal management, system integration, and cost, continued advances in structural optimization and hybrid energy architectures are expected to significantly improve the endurance and emission reduction performance of fuel cell-based aviation power systems. These developments support their role as a critical technological pathway toward green aviation.

One of the main goals of deep space exploration is asteroid exploration, which has great scientific significance. Faced with the challenges of long distances and limited knowledge of asteroid exploration targets, the rapidly evolving technology of artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising complement to existing space mission implementation paradigms. In addition to introducing the current state of research on the application of AI methods in asteroid exploration, this paper analyzes the methods of AI systems used in space exploration missions and asteroid ground observation systems. It also summarizes the challenges that these methods face. It also proposes key technologies with developmental potential for asteroid exploration.

In the many applications of lithium-ion batteries, the problem of thermal failure presents a significant safety risk. This failure is characterized by a sequence of events: the degradation of interface thermal stability, the onset of thermal runaway triggered by internal short circuits within a cell, and the subsequent thermal propagation at both the module and system levels. The coupled electro-thermal catastrophe serves as both a critical dimension in characterizing the thermal failure logic of lithium-ion battery systems and a key breakthrough in managing these thermal failures. This paper provides a thorough analysis of the thermal behaviors, such as self-generated heat, Joule heating, and heat conduction, that affect electrical behaviors during the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer decomposition of a single cell, the separator melting, and heat propagation at the module level for electro-thermal coupling catastrophe in lithium-ion battery systems over long cycles and across multiple scales. The heat generation and heat transfer behaviors associated with electrical phenomena are also analyzed, such as overcharging, overdischarging and battery aging. The paper also reviews the most prominent electro-thermal coupling models for both individual cells and modules, providing a synthesis of the mechanisms that govern the electro-thermal interactions in lithium-ion batteries. By exploring these interactions from both microscopic and macroscopic viewpoints, the study aims to shed light on the future advancements in the management of electro-thermal coupling in battery modules. The goal of this research is to improve the safety and dependability of lithium-ion battery systems through design, operation, and maintenance.

This paper systematically reviews an on-orbit life re-evaluation technology specifically designed for electromechanical products in response to the urgent need for quantitatively re-evaluating the on-orbit life of electromechanical products amid the lifespan extension of China Space Station. It does this by drawing on successful experiences from International Space Station lifetime evaluations and extensions as well as methods used during the development phase of China Space Station. Furthermore, we present technical development trends and offer pertinent recommendations. The suggested technology falls into two main categories: those that combine on-orbit and ground telemetry data and those that are mostly based on ground test data. It encompasses 9 specific techniques, among which are the traditional correction of lifetime evaluation outcomes, the re-evaluation of lifetime tests factoring in both integrated operations and degradation effects, complex dynamic profile re-design for lifetime tests, multi-level accelerated lifetime testing and evaluation, the re-evaluation of lifetime in integrated irradiation environments, the re-screening and re-evaluation of multi-source data stemming from both ground and space, intelligent fault diagnosis and degradation prediction, lifetime evaluation leveraging transfer learning between ground and on-orbit telemetry data, and the re-evaluation of lifetime based on on-orbit testing. This technology embodies innovative considerations and concepts for the re-evaluation of electromechanical product lifetimes as the China Space Station embarks on its protracted on-orbit operational phase. It stands poised to bolster the long-term and systematic endeavor aimed at extending the operational lifespan of the China Space Station.