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Contribution of RFBR to enhancement of basic research

in engineering sciences

A.V.Kirillin, S.A.Voronov

Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR)

32a, Leninsky prospect, Moscow, 119991, Russia

RFBR establishment history in brief and main goals of RFBR

Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) was established according to the Decree No.426 of the President of the Russian Federation of 27 April 1992 as a self-regulatory state organization, the main goal of which is to support the basic research meeting the principles of free scientific creative work. The Foundation is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year. The same Decree requires "sending 3% of funds budgeted for the scientific purposes to the Foundation". The Decree No.845 of the Russian Government of 3 November 1992 approved the charter of RFBR. RFBR Council was approved on 10 December 1992. It includes 28 members [1].

The establishment of RFBR was a milestone which opened an absolutely new way out of the crises that spread over the scientific sphere by the end of the 20^th century due to long-term impact of a complex of political, social and economic factors.

Andrey Alexandrovich Gonchar was appointed Director of the Foundation. The applications for the first competition of initiative research projects were received already in 1992. Such projects have constituted the basic activity of the Foundation. More than 17,000 applications had been received by February 1993. The experts and Council of RFBR picked 3020 projects to be funded by the Foundation.

In 1993, besides the competition of initiative research projects, competitions of projects for publishing, expeditions and field research, development of information-and-computer resources and participation of Russian scientists in Russian and foreign scientific events were announced.

рПДРЙУШ:
Academicians A.A.Gonchar, V.E.Fortov, M.V.Alfimov RBFR was headed by:

1993-1997 - Academician Vladimir Evgenyevich Fortov;

1997-2003 - Academician Mikhail Vladimirovich Alfimov;

2003-2008 - Academician Vladislav Yuryevich Khomich.

Academician Vladislav Yakovlevich Panchenko was appointed the Chairman of the Foundation Council in 2008. The number of competitions has significantly increased since then. Moreover, the funding has increased, the works on the programs supporting regional science, collaboration with CIS and other countries, the competitions on the programs of "Scientific electronic library" and "Travel grants for young scientists" have started and are being developed; dedicated basic research on the topical subjects has been promoted and is highly appreciated by the scientific and engineering society.

Table 1 gives all the competitions conducted by the Foundation supporting basic research projects in 1993-2011.

Table 1

љљљљљљљ љљљYear

Competition type

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Initiative scientific projects

Projects of creation and development of information, computation and telecommunication resources for scientific research

Publication projects

Support of experimental basis for scientific research

Support of scientific journals

Multiuser centers

Scientific expeditions and field research

Scientific events in Russia

Participation in scientific events abroad

Regional competitions

International competitions

Support of scientific libraries

Electronic scientific library

Software for supercomputers

Competition of popular science articles

Competition of analytical reviews

Grants for young scientists

Competition of innovative projects on the basis of fundamental research

Dedicated basic research

Emergency support of research

Competitions in cooperation with departments and state corporations

Competitions of projects implemented in cooperation with CIS countries

Competitions of dedicated basic research projects on topical interdisciplinary subjects

RFBR is governed by the Council, which includes 26 prominent scientists of RAS, RAMS, RAAS, and universities, heads of the scientific institutions of Moscow, St. Petersburg and other Russian cities. Meeting at least twice a year, the Council defines strategic issues of activity and development of RFBR, directions of participation of RFBR in national scientific-and-technical policy, including the regional and international levels, approves the composition of the Council of experts, results of new applications and reports on complete projects, etc.

Over almost 20-year history of RFBR, the Foundation received more than 230,000 applications. More than 105,000 projects were funded. These projects were implemented or are being implemented by about 100,000 scientists from 2000 scientific organizations of almost all the regions of Russia. Huge amount of scientific research and experimental work in all the spheres of knowledge has been accomplished: mathematics, mechanics, information science; physics and astronomy; chemistry and material sciences; biology and medicine; earth sciences; humanities and social sciences; information and communication technologies and computation systems; fundamentals of engineering sciences. The Foundation funded publication of about 5000 scientific monographs, organization of about 47,000 Russian and international conferences; more than 5000 Russian scientists obtained grants to travel abroad for scientific purposes.

At present, more than 30 competitions aimed at support of the scientists have been announced by the Foundation, including the international (with 22 countries) and regional programs (with 64 regions of all the Federal Districts).

The program "Young Scientists", which started according to the Instructions of the President of the Russian Federation V.V.Putin of 17 October 2006 (No.Pr-2221), is one of the Foundation's priorities.

New charter of RFBR was approved this year. It states that the Foundation is a non-profit federal state-financed institution that is among the most prominent scientific organizations.

The Government of the Russian Federation acts as a founder of the Foundation on behalf of the Russian Federation. The Foundation acts in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.

The main objectives of the Foundation are approved as follows: financial and organizational support of basic scientific research, which promotes the state scientific and technical policy and is based on the principles of entitling the scientists to free creative work, choice of directions and methods of investigations.

To achieve the main goals stipulated by its charter, the Foundation provides the following grants on a competitive basis:

- initiative scientific-and-research projects aimed at obtaining new knowledge about nature, humans and society in the spheres supported by the Foundation;

- dedicated basic research, including the interdisciplinary one;

- publication of scientific works in the spheres of basic natural and exact sciences prepared in the framework of scientific projects supported by the Foundation; publication of memorial books dedicated to the scientific heritage of prominent Russian and foreign scientists;

- special projects of support of young scientists aimed at stabilization of scientific groups and consolidation of highly skilled young scientists' positions;

- holding of scientific events (conferences, workshops, etc.) in the fields supported by the Foundation;

- projects supporting the international and regional scientific collaboration in the sphere of basic scientific research;

- projects of information support of basic scientific research, including funding of subscription for foreign electronic editions for the benefit of Russian scientists;

- publication of articles and interviews describing the main directions and results of RFBR activity.

The Foundation is funded mainly by the subsidies supplied by the state budget. The state budget pays the Foundation for the services rendered according to its mission.

The Foundation supports the studies aimed at acquisition of new scientific knowledge on nature, humanities and society in the following fields:

(01) mathematics, mechanics and information science;

(02) physics and astronomy;

(03) chemistry and material sciences;

(04) biology and medicine;

(05) earth sciences;

(06) humanities and social sciences;

(07) information technology and computation systems;

(08) fundamentals of engineering sciences.

All kinds of support of basic scientific research are performed by the Foundation on a competitive basis regardless of the scientists' age, academic title, academic degree or position, and irrespective of the department to which the scientific organization, where the applicant works, belongs.

Basic concepts of RFBR work

The work of a scientific foundation is specific mainly due to the important features inherent in basic science: certain financial risks of scientific activities caused by the unpredictability of scientific results and probabilistic character of obtaining these results. Results of research funded by RFBR usually become national property and must be published to be used in different fields of science and other spheres.

It should also be noted that all decisions concerning the financing of projects are made only on a competitive basis and solely according to the opinions of experts, who are authoritative specialists in their fields of basic knowledge. This condition defines the priority of scientific society in making decisions in the sphere of scientific work, which is a complicated field that cannot meet any standards and quantitative assessments.

The state scientific foundation provides the scientists with the funds in a non-profit, non-repayable way. This accounts for "the scientific risk" in basic research and defines great responsibility of expert councils, as the Foundation is funded by the state budget.

The following principles are equally important:

- non-departmental character (RFBR provides the scientists with financial support of basic research irrespective of their department and legal status of organization, where the scientists work; the scientific level of the project plays the crucial role here);

- target financing (the Foundation funds not an organization on the whole but the specific scientific group, which performs the approved project).

Implementing the abovementioned principles, the Foundation has become a link between the state and scientists.

It should be once again noted that the crucial role of scientific society is a specific feature of "state-foundation-scientists" system. It is scientists who submit the topics of future basic research; it is scientists who examine the projects and allocate funds acting as experts. It is also important that competitive system permanently stimulates creative activity of the scientists, since the decision on further funding of a project is made on the basis of examination of annual scientific and financial reports. It means that allocation of funds is also made by the scientists-experts.

Features of competitions in "Fundamentals of engineering sciences"

The department of Fundamentals of engineering sciences (FES) (field of knowledge 08) was established in 2005 and has immediately become one of the most popular among the applicants. The department is notable for a wide range of scientific directions which includes:

1. machine science and mechanics;

2. heat and mass transfer processes, properties of substances and materials;

3. electrophysics, electrical engineering and electrical power engineering;

4. power engineering;

5. nuclear power engineering;

6. engineering systems and processes of control.

In 2011, 2211 applications were submitted for the competitions in field 08. According to the Foundation's rules, all the applications underwent a multistage independent examination. Only 403 of 1326 initiative projects submitted in 2001 were approved and funded. It makes 30.4%, with RFBR standard of 29+1%.

Besides the applications approved in 2011, 347 projects of 2009 and 397 projects of 2010 kept on receiving the financial support. The total amount of funding of 1147 initiative projects was 427,593,000 rubles. An average grant was 372,800 rubles. Of course, it does not allow a large-scale basic research, but can be a great help in promoting pilot researches with possible transformation into basic projects. 282 experts carried out examination of applications in 2011. All of them were leading specialists in their areas. Council of experts of FES department is headed by Academician G.A.Philippov and consists of 61 members, including 2 Academicians (full members) of RAS, 11 corresponding members of RAS, and 48 Doctors of sciences. 18 new members entered the Council in 2011. Annual rotation factor is 29.5%. Average period of employment in the Council is 1.61 years. The Council includes the scientists of 28 Moscow, 6 St. Petersburg and a number of regional organizations.

Broad geography of approved projects should be noted. In 2011, 1147 projects were funded, which were carried out in a majority of regions of the Russian Federation. Almost half of projects (47%) were submitted by research teams from Moscow and Moscow Region, 10% - from St. Petersburg, 16% - from Novosibirsk and Tomsk Regions, 8% - from Ural District, 7% - Volga District.

There is the following branch distribution:

RAS institutions - 32.7%;

Siberian branch of RAS - 13.7%;

Ural branch of RAS - 4.3%;

Far East branch of RAS - 1.1%;

Ministry of Education and Science - 34.6%;

Moscow State University - 3.2%;

Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation - 2.1%;

Ministry of Nuclear Power Engineering - 1.3%;

Ministry of Fuel and Power Engineering - 1.3%.

High level of researches should be noted, which is confirmed by a large number of publications, including the ones in reviewed journals. The results are reported at the conferences and symposiums of different levels including the international one.

Let us give an example of some results obtained in the framework of projects funded by RFBR.

S.N.Rukin (Electrophysics Institute of Ural branch of RAS, Tomsk) in his project studies super-fast switching of current on the basis of tunnel-impact ionization front by a powerful semiconductor switching device. It is shown that a tunnel-impact peaker embedded into a coaxial line can provide pulses with a maximum allowable short edge. It was established that minimum possible output leading-edge time is defined by the critical frequency of TE wave emergence. Record-breaking (for semiconductor devices) commutation performance is reached. The area of structures of 0.06-0.12 cm² and current density of 30-50 kA/cm²result in commutation of peak power of 450-720 MW in 60-90 picoseconds. Maximal rate of current and voltage rise in a transmitting line with wave impedance of 48 Ω is 45 kA/ns and 2.2 MV/ns, respectively. The results obtained in the framework of the research of tunnel-impact commutation of current in semiconductors are pioneer. Such values of peak power, commutation time and rate of output voltage and current rise had been reached earlier only with the help of a spark commutator with gaseous or liquid dielectric breakdown.

S.A.Chaikovsky (Institute of High-Current Electronics, SB RAS, Tomsk) studied generation of the source of X-ray emission of micron-level sizes and nanosecond pulse duration on the basis of x-pinch and small-size low-inductance high-current generator. His results are important from the scientific and practical points of view, because his work resulted in the development of a unique powerful acute-focus source of soft X-rays, which is compact and applicable in neighboring fields, in particular, in experiments on extremal states (thermonuclear plasma, frame-by-frame radiography, etc.) In 2011, a small-size low-inductance generator was finished and put into operation with a charge voltage of 100kV, current amplitude for short-circuited load of 190 kA, and current rise time of 120 ns. Diagnostic procedure to determine ion density and electron temperature of x-pinch plasma has been developed. It is based on comparison of experimentally obtained size of X-ray source, ratio of spectral line intensities and radiation power with radiation loss calculated using a collisional-radiative model. Density and temperature of x-pinch plasma were measured (x-pinch consisted of aluminum conductors). Preliminary experiments with similar compact current generators were carried out with x-pinch as a load. The experiments demonstrated the capabilities of creating a two-frame system for sensing a soft X-ray spectrum range with a delay between the frames adjusted using an external device.

V.G.Shpak (Electophysics Institute, UB RAS, Ekaterinburg) in his project "Dynamics of discharge processes in picosecond gas diode and characteristics of an initiating runaway electron" investigated the characteristics, mechanism and conditions of injection of runaway electrons as a factor initiating a picosecond breakdown of air electrode gaps with highly non-uniform distribution of electric field. Direct method to measure the injected zone of runaway electrons at a subnanosecond edge of a voltage pulse on a cathode was proposed and implemented experimentally. The method was successfully tested with variation of injection conditions over a critical field and demonstrated its applicability for immediate estimations during experiments. Experiments demonstrated the priority of ionization mechanism for the current break of a picosecond electron beam in the air in comparison with emission scenario. It was shown that the characteristics of picosecond beams of runaway electrons can be set and controlled, and an upper bound of energy in a beam spectrum can be measured. Experimental-and-computational methods yielded correct values of no-load voltage for an electrode discharge gap when a short-edge pulse is supplied. In combination with the procedure of stepless variation of subnanosecond accelerating pulse amplitude and measurement of electron energy using filters, it resulted in the statement on invalidity of the popular hypothesis on existence of runaway particles with anomalously high energies.

V.A.Burdovitsyn and E.M.Oks (Tomsk State University for Control Systems and Radio Electronics) supervised the research of emission processes and generation of electron beams in the systems with plasma cathode under increased pressure. They showed possibility to generate electron beams by plasma sources in previously inaccessible forevacuum range of pressures down to 100 kPa. It was established that when the beams are formed under the increased pressure, dense plasma, which is generated in the region of beam transport, completely compensates for the spatial charge of electron beam. This makes electron-beam modification of nonconductors (first of all, ceramics) possible. Experimental samples of forevacuum plasma sources of electrons developed in the framework of RFBR project are unique, as is the possibility to perform electron-beam processing of non-conductingљ ceramics.

E.A.Mirkin's project (RSC Energiya) deals with the development of methods and means for the so-called complex testing of software for a spacecraft under design using simulation technique and the elements of scenario approach. This results in software with a given quality level. Analysis of key requirements for the stages of complex testing of an onboard system yielded a methodology for testing and debugging of software of the onboard complex of control aimed at optimization of the latter according to time criterion using complex modeling test beds. Such an approach defines the sequence of the tested systems, units and modules, including the problem of choosing a set of tested lines, which provide the required characteristics of functional correctness of the onboard control complex in respect of the operation modes of onboard systems, standard flight operations and the whole flight program, including contingencies.

Besides, the models, methods and algorithms of analysis and structuring of contingencies emerging in the process of flight control have been developed. A formal model of choice of an optimal testing strategy is defined on the basis of time criterion under the limited cost of organization and implementation of testing. The described approach was implemented by the authors during the upgrade of control systems of Soyuz and Progress cargo vehicles (2010), development of information-and-control systems for new modules of Russian ISS segment, like Mini-Research Module 1 (2010), Mini-Research Module 2 (2009), Multipurpose Laboratory Module (2012), and a spacecraft for Earth remote sensing.

Two-phase gas flows with solid particles in cascades of blades and flowing separators are considered in Yu.M.Tsyrkunov's project (D.F.Ustinov Baltic State Technical University). Mathematical and numerical models of dust-laden gas flows allowing for a number of random factors not allowed for in conventional models of two-phase flows have been developed.

The dispersion of particle sizes in the base mixture, random positions of particles in an undisturbed flow, dispersion of particles after their rebound from the streamlined surfaces due to their non-spherical shape, particle collisions leading to chaotization of their motion are taken into account. The behavior of a disperse impurity was systematically studied; gas flow with solid particles in rotor-stator system of blades and in flowing separators is numerically studied. The considered flow in cascades of blades in some respect simulates the flow in an inlet compressor of an axial turbomachine. The sizes of cascades, transversal velocity of rotor cascade and parameters of undisturbed flow in calculations were taken almost as they are in an aviation turbojet engine.

Significant transversal redistribution of impurity has been established and layers with relatively high concentration of particles have been shown to form. However, this concentration is much less than in the case of conventional model of two-phase flow, which does not allow for the above mentioned random factors. Small particles undergo powerful impact of remote blade of the same cascade, which leads to additional interference of blades through disperse phase. The same models for gas and disperse phases were used to study two-phase flow in a direct-flow separator, in which shaped inserts were used to focus the flow of impurity in a near-axis region to evacuate them from the flow. Simultaneously with the numerical research, the gas was blown with different disperse particles. Computational and experimental results yielded upgrade of the initial version of model setup. Besides, at least 98% of disperse impurity was removed from the dust-laden flow.

Yu.P.Zezin (Research Institute of Mechanics of Lomonosov MSU) studied non-linear viscoelastic behavior of composites with an elastomeric matrix. Theoretically and experimentally substantiated models of non-linear viscoelastic behavior of polymer composites with elastomeric matrices (PCEM) under complex loading conditions were developed. The conditions included significant variation of temperature and environmental hydrostatic pressure. Such loading modes cause anomalous influence of temperature on viscoelastic properties of PCEM evident through significant increase of a relaxation modulus of PCEM under increase of temperature in a certain range. Growth of relaxation modulus also depends on strain values. Loading of PCEM by hydrostatic pressure with subsequent rapid unloading results in "caisson" damage of a material, which leads to the change of its viscoelastic properties. Thorough experimental research of the stated peculiarities of viscoelastic behavior of PCEM was conducted with subsequent generalization of the obtained data and development of models for the theoretical description of established effects. Mechanical properties of polymer coatings deposed on thin-walled structure elements were investigated. Methods for experimental evaluation of modulus of elasticity and Poisson ratio based on the data of mechanical testing and results of numerical simulation of the loading process were developed. Elastic constants for a number of powder coatings on steel surfaces were estimated.

Even the short list of scientific researches given above demonstrates the wide scope of problems in the sphere of fundamentals of engineering sciences that is thoroughly considered by the scientific society and is funded by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research. The majority of grants correspond to the Priority areas of development of science, technology and engineering in the Russian Federation and the List of crucial technologies approved by the Decree No.899 of the President of the Russian Federation of 7 July 2011.

In the run-up to its anniversary, RFBR is choosing new competitions capable of giving a stimulus to further development of basic research. On 29 March 2012, RFBR Council approved new list of competitions for 2012-2013. It includes:

- competition of initiative scientific projects;

- competition of dedicated projects of basic research, including interdisciplinary one;

- basic research conducted by young scientists;

- competition of projects of organizing Russian and international scientific events on Russian territory;

- competition of regional projects;

- competition of joint international scientific projects;

- competition of projects of information support of basic scientific research;

- competition for publication of scientific works resulted from the projects supported by RFBR;

- competition of projects of organizing expeditions (and field research).

Apart from the competition of the projects for participation of young scientists in international and Russian conferences and training of young scientists in the leading Russian scientific schools, additional initiative competitions for young scientists will be held: "My first grant", competition of the projects submitted by young scientists supervised by the Candidates and Doctors of sciences at scientific institutions of the Russian Federation. These projects may be supervised by young Candidates of sciences or young scientists without a degree, who are not older than 35, or Doctors of sciences not older than 39.

Terms and conditions for these competitions are being worked out now. Complete information on new competitions will be available on www.rfbr.ru website in the nearest future. We hope that the new competitions will attract young scientists to the development of new projects in the sphere of fundamentals of engineering sciences giving stimulus to new promising scientific researches, which will be used in all the priority fields of development of science and technology in the Russian Federation.

References

1. A.V.Kirillin, D.S.Mikhatulin. Russian Foundation for Basic Research. Department of the fundamentals of engineering sciences. International journal "Problems of Nonlinear Analysis in Engineering Systems", 1(31). Vol.15, 2009, 144-153.