Non‐local damage modelling of concrete: a procedure for the determination of model parameters

This paper presents a procedure for the determination of parameters of non‐local damage models. This is to assure a consistent response of a non‐local damage model, as choice of the internal length and other parameters of the model are varied. Correlations between the internal length and other parameters governing the local constitutive behaviour of the model are addressed and exploited. Focus is put on the relationship between the internal length of the non‐local model and the width of the fracture process zone. Numerical examples are used to demonstrate the rigour of the proposed method. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The relationship between dissolved hydrogen and nitrogen fixation in ocean waters

Fixed nitrogen is a key nutrient involved in regulating global marine productivity and hence the global oceanic carbon cycle. Oceanic nitrogen (N₂) fixation is estimated to supply 8×10¹² moles N y^?1 to the ocean, approximately equal to current riverine and the atmospheric inputs of fixed N, and between 50 and 100% of current estimates of oceanic denitrification. However, the spatial and temporal variability of N₂ fixation remains uncertain, mostly because of the normal low resolution sampling for diazotroph distribution and fixation rates. It is well established that N₂ fixation, mediated by the enzyme nitrogenase, is a source of hydrogen (H₂), but the extent to which it leads to supersaturation of H₂ in oceanic waters is unresolved. Here, we present simultaneous measurements of upper ocean dissolved H₂ concentration (nmol L^?1), and rates of N₂ fixation (μmol N m^?3 d^?1), determined using ¹⁵N₂ tracer techniques (at 7 or 15 m), on a transect from Fiji to Hawaii. We find a significant correlation (r=0.98) between dissolved H₂ and rates of N₂ fixation, with the greatest supersaturation of H₂ and highest rates of N₂ fixation being observed in the subtropical gyres at the southern (～18°S) and northern (18°N) reaches of the transect. The lowest H₂ saturation and N₂ fixation were observed in the equatorial region between 8°S and 14°N. We propose that an empirical relationship between H₂ supersaturations and N₂ fixation measurements could be used to guide sampling for ¹⁵N fixation measurements or to aid the spatial interpolation of such measurements.     

Slope-control on the aspect ratio of river basins

Although it is traditionally thought that drainage basins are geometrically similar, we present new results which indicate that the aspect ratio of weakly dissected river basins at large scales (10–10³ km²) depends on the surface slope: steeper surfaces develop narrower and lengthier basins whereas more gently dipping surfaces develop more equant and wider basins. This relationship is interpreted to be related to the nature of water flow over rough surfaces, with steeper slopes causing less flow convergence and lengthier and narrower basins. We derive an empirical relationship that can be used to infer the slope of a surface on which a river basin acquired its geometry based solely on a measure of its basin form. This relation provides a unique means of inferring the relative chronology of river basin development with respect to surface tilting and therefore provides a direct link between river basin morphology and tectonics.     

Discrete modelling of time‐dependent rockfill behaviour

This modelling study deals with the time‐dependent behaviour of rockfill media, which is of particular interest during the life of rockfill dams. Breakage of rock blocks and crack propagation are the main processes responsible for rockfill creep and collapse. The modelling procedure presented here is performed on two scales: on the rock block scale, where the grain is taken to be an assembly of rigid particles initially endowed with cohesive bonds, and on the rockfill scale, which is taken to involve a set of breakable grains interacting via contact and friction processes. The grain breakage process is described in term of a thermodynamically consistent damage interface model, where the damage is a gradual delayed process. This model was implemented in a non‐smooth contact dynamics code. The effects of the main parameters involved were analysed by performing numerical studies. The ability of the model to predict the creep behaviour of rockfill media is confirmed by presenting several simulations. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Density,porosity, and magnetic susceptibility of carbonaceous chondrites

Abstract– We report physical properties (bulk and grain density, magnetic susceptibility, and porosity) measured using nondestructive and noncontaminating methods for 195 stones from 63 carbonaceous chondrites. Grain densities over the whole population average 3.44 g cm^?3, ranging from 2.42 g cm^?3 (CI1 Orgueil) to 5.66 g cm^?3 (CB Bencubbin). Magnetic susceptibilities (in log units of 10^?9 m³ kg^?1) averaged log χ = 4.22, ranging from 3.23 (CV3 Axtell) to 5.79 (CB Bencubbin). Porosities averaged 17%, ranging from 0 (for a number of meteorites) to 41% (for one stone of the CO Ornans). Notably, we found significant differences in porosity between the oxidized and reduced CV subgroups, with the porosities of CV_o averaging approximately 20% and CV_r porosities approximately 4%. Overall, porosities of carbonaceous chondrite falls trend with petrographic type, from type 1 (CI) near 35%, type 2 (CM, CR) averaging 23%, type 3 (CV, CO) 21%, to type 4 (CK and some CO) averaging 15%. There is also a significant decrease in porosity between meteorites of shock stage S1 and those of S2, indicative of shock compression.     

Tomography: A window on the role of sulfur in the structure of micrometeorites

Abstract– To determine the role played by sulfides in the formation of vesicles and FeNi metal beads, we mapped the locations and tabulated the numbers of sulfides, metal beads, and vesicles in 1583 sectioned micrometeorites (MMs) using conventional microscopy and in 190 whole MMs using synchrotron computed microtomography (SCMT). Both the section and the SCMT images show that sulfides melt, coalesce, and migrate to the MMs surface. The decomposition of sulfides may occur during all these stages. Given the sulfide morphologies and compositions that we see in section, we think the breakdown of Ni sulfides produces the FeNi beads. The SCMT images show that metal beads are common in melted MMs, >50% have them. Vesicles in porphyritic and scoriaceous MMs are also probably formed as sulfides decompose. Not only do sulfides abut the vesicles but also the temperatures at which sulfides decompose overlap those at which MM surfaces first melt and temporarily seal, suggesting that S gases could produce most of these vesicles. As the vesicle shapes and patterns of distribution differ among MM classes, tomography can be used to nondestructively screen for specific types of MMs. Tomography is a powerful tool for visualizing the three‐dimensional distribution of metal beads, sulfides, mean densities, and vesicles in MMs.     

Relative chronology of crust formation on asteroid Vesta: Insights from the geochemistry of diogenites

The eucrites and diogenites are meteorites that probably originate from asteroid 4-Vesta. The upper part of the crust of this body is certainly composed of eucrites which are basaltic or gabbroic rocks. Diogenites are ultramafic cumulates whose relationships with eucritic lithologies are unknown. Here, we show that the orthopyroxenes of some diogenites display very deep negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu∗ close to 0.1 or lower). The contamination of the parental magmas of diogenites by melts derived by partial melting of the eucritic crust can satisfactorily explain the range of the Eu anomalies displayed by diogenites. Thus, these anomalies are the first firm indication that parental melts of diogenites have intruded the eucritic crust, and consequently are younger than eucrites.     

Construction of three-phase data to model multiphase flow in porous media: Comparing an optimization approach to the finite element approach

Multiphase flow modelling is a major issue in the assessment of groundwater pollution. Three-phase flows are commonly governed by mathematical models that associate a pressure equation with two saturation equations. These equations involve a number of secondary variables that reflect the fluid behaviour in a porous medium. To improve the computational efficiency of multiphase flow simulators, several simplified reformulations of three-phase flow equations have been proposed. However, they require the construction of new secondary variables adapted to the reformulated flow equations. In this article, two different approaches are compared to quantify these variables. A numerical example is given for a typical fine sand.     

Truncated dunes as evidence of the 2004 tsunami in North Sumatra and environmental recovery post‐tsunami

The 2004 tsunami transformed the coast of Indonesia. This research investigates a sand dune area in Lampuuk, Sumatra, that was scoured by tsunami flow. We assessed geomorphology one‐year post‐event and examine the timescale of vegetation recovery. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) evidence shows an eroded succession of thin dipping units, overlain by aeolian layers 0 to 50 cm thick. Incipient dunes were absent, indicating limited dune rebuilding at one‐year post‐tsunami, possibly resulting from channelised airflow and the absence of vegetation. Recolonisation by vegetation was initially limited but progressed rapidly between 2005 and 2011, highlighting the temporal non‐linearity of recovery processes.     

Seasonal prediction of global sea level anomalies using an ocean–atmosphere dynamical model

Advanced warning of extreme sea level events is an invaluable tool for coastal communities, allowing the implementation of management policies and strategies to minimise loss of life and infrastructure damage. This study is an initial attempt to apply a dynamical coupled ocean–atmosphere model to the prediction of seasonal sea level anomalies (SLA) globally for up to 7 months in advance. We assess the ability of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology’s operational seasonal dynamical forecast system, the Predictive Ocean Atmosphere Model for Australia (POAMA), to predict seasonal SLA, using gridded satellite altimeter observation-based analyses over the period 1993–2010 and model reanalysis over 1981–2010. Hindcasts from POAMA are based on a 33-member ensemble of seasonal forecasts that are initialised once per month for the period 1981–2010. Our results show POAMA demonstrates high skill in the equatorial Pacific basin and consistently exhibits more skill globally than a forecast based on persistence. Model predictability estimates indicate there is scope for improvement in the higher latitudes and in the Atlantic and Southern Oceans. Most characteristics of the asymmetric SLA fields generated by El-Nino/La Nina events are well represented by POAMA, although the forecast amplitude weakens with increasing lead-time.