Intertidal gastropod assemblages shaped by key environmental variables across the northern Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Omanss

Variations in environmental factors can alter the species distribution pattern in intertidal rocky shores. The Persian Gulf (PG) and the Gulf of Oman (GO) vary substantially with respect to environmental and oceanographic conditions. The abundance and biodiversity of intertidal rocky gastropods in five locations across the northern PG and the GO were compared, and the environmental variables underlying the distribution pattern of these organisms were investigated. A total of 67 gastropod species were identified. The largest average density (294 ind./m²) and diversity (N = 43) for gastropods occurred in the Hotel Lipar station (LIP) located in Chabahar Bay in the GO. Clypeomorus bifasciata (107.43 ind./m²) followed by Cerithium caeruleum (94.67 ind./m²) were the most abundant species. Planaxis sulcatus and Siphonaria spp. occurred in all locations during both sampling occasions. Species richness and abundance of gastropods showed significant differences between LIP and remaining locations. A significant difference was found in assemblage structure across locations. In general, the species richness and density in the locations at GO were significantly larger than those locations in the PG, suggesting that the harsh environmental condition in the PG might be the forcing factor for this diminish. Distinct grouping was observed in both assemblage structure and species composition between locations in the PG and the GO. The spatial and temporal distribution patterns of gastropods assemblages were significantly correlated with variation in salinity and substrate rugosity.     

Influence of vibration grinding and calcination on the physico-chemical properties of Egyptian kaolinite

Summary The effects of vibratory grinding and calcination on the structure and reactivity of Kalabsha kaolinite were studied by means of XRD, IR, DTA and surface area determination. Leaching experiments on ground and calcined samples were carried out using 20% HCl for aluminum extraction. At the early stages of grinding, partial destruction of stacked kaolinite layers occurred. These changes were associated with an increase in surface area due to formation of fine grains with numerous boundaries. Further grinding, as well as calcination, led to deterioration of the kaolinite structure. A significant increase of surface area was observed, starting from 18 m²/g for the original sample to a maximum of 42 m²/g after 120 minutes of grinding and 30 m²/g after calcination at 300°C. The extraction of aluminum after 30 minutes leaching time was about 97% for kaolinite ground for 240 minutes, and about 93% for kaolinite calcined at 550°C.

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Der Einfluß von Aufmahlen und Kalzinierung auf die physiko-chemischen Eigenschaften von ägyptischem Kaolinit

Zusammenfassung Die Effekte von Vibrations-Mahlung und Kalzinierung auf die Struktur und die Reaktivität von Kalolinit aus Kalabsha wurden mit XRD, IR, DTA und Methoden zur Bestimmung der Oberfläche untersucht. Auslaugungsexperimente zur Extraktion des Aluminiums erfolgten an gemahlenen und kalzinierten Proben unter Verwendung 20% er Salzsäure. In den Frühstadien des Mahlprozesses tritt eine teilweise Zerstörung der Kaolinitschichtstruktur auf. Diese Änderungen gehen mit einer Zunahme der Oberfläche, infolge der Neubildung von Körnern mit zahlreichen Korngrenzen, einher. Weiteres Aufmahlen und Kalzinieren führt zu zusätzlicher Zerstörung der Kaolinitstruktur. Eine signifikante Zunahme der Oberfläche von 18 m²/g für das Ausgangsmaterial auf 42m²/g nach 120 min Aufmahlen, bzw. auf 30 m²/ g nach Kalzinierung bei 300°C ist zu beobachten. Die Extraktion von Aluminium nach 30 minütiger Auslaugung liegt bei 97% für gemahlenen Kaolinit (240 min) und bei 93% für bei 550°C kalzinierten Kaolinit.

     

Effect of inertia nonlinearity on dynamic response of an asymmetric building equipped with tuned mass dampers

This study investigates the effect of nonlinear inertia on the dynamic response of an asymmetric building equipped with Tuned Mass Dampers (TMDs). In the field of structural engineering, many researchers have developed models to study the behavior of nonlinear TMDs, but the effect of nonlinear inertia has not received as much attention for asymmetric buildings. To consider nonlinear inertia, the equations of motion are derived in a local rotary coordinates system. The displacements and rotations of the modeled building and TMDs are defined by five-degree-of-freedom (5-DOFs). The equations of motion are derived by using the Lagrangian method. Also in the proposed nonlinear model, the equations of motion are different from a conventional linear model. In order to compare the response of the proposed nonlinear model and a conventional linear model, numerical examples are presented and the response of the modeled buildings are derived under harmonic and earthquake excitations. It is shown that if the nonlinear inertia is considered, the response of the modeled structures changes and the conventional linear approach cannot adequately model the dynamic behavior of the asymmetric buildings which are equipped with TMDs.     

Spatial and temporal patterns of sediment storage over 45 years in Carnation Creek,BC, a previously glaciated mountain catchment

The movement of sediment through mountain river networks remains difficult to predict, as processes beyond streamflow and particle size are responsible for the entrainment and transport of bedload sediment. In deglaciated catchments, additional complexity arises from glacial impacts on landscape organization. Research to date indicates that the quantity of sediment stored in the channel is an important component of sediment transport in systems which alternate between supply and transport limited states, but limited long-term field data exist which can capture storage-transfer dynamics over a timescale encompassing episodic supply typical of mountain streams. We use a 45-year dataset with annual and decadal-scale data on sediment storage, channel morphology, and wood loading to investigate the spatial and temporal organization of storage in Carnation Creek, a previously glaciated 11 km² catchment on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Sediment is supplied episodically to the channel, including additions from debris flows in the early 1980s just upstream of the studied channel region. Analyzing the spatial and temporal organization of sediment storage along 3.0 km of channel mainstem reveals a characteristic storage wavelength similar to the annual bedload particle travel distance. Over time, two scales of variation in storage are observed: small-scale fluctuation of 3–10 years corresponding to local erosional and depositional processes, and larger scale response over 25–35 years related to supply of sediment from hillslopes. Complex relationships between storage and sediment transfer (i.e., annual change in storage) are identified, with decadal-scale hysteresis present in storage-transfer relations in sites influenced by hillslope sediment and logjams. We propose a conceptual model linking landscape organization to temporal variability in storage and to storage–export cycles. Collectively, our results reaffirm the importance of storage to sediment transport and channel morphology, and highlight the complexity of storage–transport interactions. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experiment on morphological and hydraulic adjustments of step-pool unit to flow increase

Exceptional flood events with a return period of about 50 years can be destructive to step-pool channel segments. However, field investigations and flume experiments have not examined the hydraulic and morphological feedbacks of step-pool morphology during unsteady hydrographs of exceptional flood events. We performed a series of flume experiments with a manually constructed step model, perturbed with three hydrographs that varied in the rate of water supply change. The bed texture, topography, flow regimes, surface flow field and water depth were characterized and measured as the flow rate was increased during the experiments. A distinct pool feature emerged downstream of the manually constructed step when the flow rate exceeded the threshold scaled to the peaks of ordinary flood events in well-graded mountain streams. The pool feature was modified in several different ways with flow rate increase. The bed surface steadily coarsened, micro-bedforms developed and became more pronounced, the bed topography became more spatially complex based on analysis using the Hurst exponent, and last, pool depth steadily increased. Pool modification was also linked to the flow regime: the impinging jet regime led to grain size segmentation in the pool while the jump regime contributed to decelerating flow velocity. The steeper rising limb of hydrograph led to a less developed pool feature, with smaller sized micro-bedforms in the pool bottom to outlet, and higher discharge threshold for distinct coarsening and scouring in the pool. The estimated energy dissipation within the step-pool unit decreased as a power function from low to high flow, quantified as the ratio h_c/H_S, where h_c is the critical water depth and H_S is scour depth. Our results highlight the interaction between morphology, hydraulics, and energy dissipation of step-pool unit and the crucial role of hydrograph shape on the interaction during flow increase © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A decadal-scale numerical model for wandering,cobble-bedded rivers subject to disturbance

Alluvial rivers are composed of self-formed channels which are sensitive to disturbances in their flow and sediment-supply regimes. Regime changes commonly occur over decadal and longer timescales and can be caused by anthropogenic alterations such as dam construction and removal. Advances in numerical modeling have increased our ability to explore geomorphic adjustments over long timescales; however, many models designed to be run for decades or longer assume that banks are immovable or that channel width is constant. Since river channels often respond to disturbance by adjusting their geometry, this is a significant shortcoming. To investigate the impact of long-term sediment supply alterations on channel geometry and stability, we have adapted MAST-1D, a reach-scale bed evolution model, to incorporate functions for bank erosion, vegetation encroachment, and local avulsions. The model is designed for medium-large, coarse multithreaded rivers and can be run over long (decades–centuries) timescales. Bank erosion is a function of the mobility and transport capacity for structurally-important grains which protect the bank toe. Vegetation growth is proportional to point bar width and occurs during conditions of low shear stress. Local avulsions occur when aggradation causes channel depth to drop below a threshold. We apply the model to the Elwha River in Washington, USA with the goal of investigating if and when the river recovers from dam emplacement and removal. The Elwha was dammed for nearly 100 years, and then two dams were removed, releasing a large pulse of sediment. We have modeled the set of reaches between the two dams. Our simulations suggest that channel response to dam emplacement occurs gradually over several decades but that the channel recovers to near pre-dam conditions within about a decade following the removal. The dams leave a lasting legacy on the floodplain, which does not completely recover, even after two centuries. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatial–temporal analysis of the shoreline change rate using automatic computation and geospatial tools along the Tetouan coast in Morocco

Natural Hazards - Analyzing and understanding coastline variability and dynamics are important for scientists and policy-makers. This study investigates the long-term process of shoreline change...     

海洋工程试验池中风场模拟

在考虑海洋工程装备在极端海况和运行海况下的载荷与受力,风载荷也是一个不可忽视的因素.目前物理模型试验仍是研究海洋工程结构物载荷与运动性能的重要手段,而深海结构物在水平漂移运动较大,如何在较大范围内得到满足试验要求的风场,是提高试验能力的重要问题.应用数值计算方法对大范围的风场模拟进行了分析,并进行了相应的物理实验,在此基础上对海洋工程试验的风场模拟提出了若干建议.     

A Chain-Code-Based Map Matching Algorithm for Wheelchair Navigation

Accurate vehicle tracking is essential for navigation systems to function correctly. Unfortunately, GPS data is still plagued with errors that frequently produce inaccurate trajectories. Research in map matching algorithms focuses on how to efficiently match GPS tracking data to the underlying road network. This article presents an innovative map matching algorithm that considers the trajectory of the data rather than merely the current position as in the typical map matching case. Instead of computing the precise angle which is traditionally used, a discrete eight-direction chain code, to represent a trend of movement, is used. Coupled with distance information, map matching decisions are made by comparing the differences between trajectories representing the road segments and GPS tracking data chain-codes. Moreover, to contrast the performance of the chain-code algorithm, two evaluation strategies, linear and non-linear, are analyzed. The presented chain-code map matching algorithm was evaluated for wheelchair navigation using university campus sidewalk data. The evaluation results indicate that the algorithm is efficient in terms of accuracy and computational time.