Modelling of fluid–solid interactions using an adaptive mesh fluid model coupled with a combined finite–discrete element model

Fluid–structure interactions are modelled by coupling the finite element fluid/ocean model ‘Fluidity-ICOM’ with a combined finite–discrete element solid model ‘Y3D’. Because separate meshes are used for the fluids and solids, the present method is flexible in terms of discretisation schemes used for each material. Also, it can tackle multiple solids impacting on one another, without having ill-posed problems in the resolution of the fluid’s equations. Importantly, the proposed approach ensures that Newton’s third law is satisfied at the discrete level. This is done by first computing the action–reaction force on a supermesh, i.e. a function superspace of the fluid and solid meshes, and then projecting it to both meshes to use it as a source term in the fluid and solid equations. This paper demonstrates the properties of spatial conservation and accuracy of the method for a sphere immersed in a fluid, with prescribed fluid and solid velocities. While spatial conservation is shown to be independent of the mesh resolutions, accuracy requires fine resolutions in both fluid and solid meshes. It is further highlighted that unstructured meshes adapted to the solid concentration field reduce the numerical errors, in comparison with uniformly structured meshes with the same number of elements. The method is verified on flow past a falling sphere. Its potential for ocean applications is further shown through the simulation of vortex-induced vibrations of two cylinders and the flow past two flexible fibres.

     

Optimizing statistical classification accuracy of satellite remotely sensed imagery for supporting fast flood hydrological analysis

The aim of this study is to improve classification results of multispectral satellite imagery for supporting flood risk assessment analysis in a catchment area in Cyprus. For this purpose, precipitation and ground spectroradiometric data have been collected and analyzed with innovative statistical analysis methods. Samples of regolith and construction material were in situ collected and examined in the spectroscopy laboratory for their spectral response under consecutive different conditions of humidity. Moreover, reflectance values were extracted from the same targets using Landsat TM/ETM+ images, for drought and humid time periods, using archived meteorological data. The comparison of the results showed that spectral responses for all the specimens were less correlated in cases of substantial humidity, both in laboratory and satellite images. These results were validated with the application of different classification algorithms (ISODATA, maximum likelihood, object based, maximum entropy) to satellite images acquired during time period when precipitation phenomena had been recorded.     

Cell-free soil bio-cementation with strength,dilatancy and fabric characterization

Acta Geotechnica - A multi-disciplinary approach is adopted in the present work towards investigating bio-cemented geo-materials which extends from sample preparation, to microstructural inspection...     

Numerically obtained vortices in granular media

With our meshfree numerical code SPARC (Soft PARticle Code), which is based on strong solutions of the equations of equilibrium, we were able to derive vortex patterns ("turbulence") in deformations hitherto believed to be homogeneous. The formation of such vortices demonstrates the nonuniqueness of the corresponding boundary value problem. We present some evidence that such vortices can be related with ptygmatic folds, which are observed in rock.     

Kinematics of shear bands

Shear bands appear at limit states of soil bodies. They are analysed as thin zones of localised deformation that takes place as simple (i.e. dilatant) shear. It can be observed, however, that shear bands are discontinuous and also may be “reflected” at rigid boundaries. These phenomena appear as incompatible with the assumed shear deformation. The analysis in this paper reveals the kinematics of such “incompatibilities” in terms of continuous deformation fields.     

Geometry of growth strata in a transpressive fold belt in field and analogue model: Gosau Group at Muttekopf,Northern Calcareous Alps,Austria

The thrust sheets of the Northern Calcareous Alps were emplaced during Late Cretaceous thrust‐dominated transpression expressed by thrust sheets segmented by closely spaced tear faults. Thrust sheet‐top sediments were deposited during thrusting and associated fold growth and were controlled by active folding and tearing. We observe two types of angular unconformities: (1) Angular unconformities above folds between tear faults conform with the model of progressive unconformities. Across these unconformities dip decreases upsection. (2) Here, we define progressive unconformities that are related to tear faults and are controlled by both folding and tearing. Across these unconformities both strike and dip change. In growth strata overlying folds dissected by high‐angle faults, such unconformities are expected to be common. We used analogue modelling to define the geometry of the tear faults and related unconformities. Within the syn‐tectonic sediments, a steep, upward flattening thrust within a broader, roughly tulip‐shaped drag zone develops. The thrust roots in the tear fault in pre‐tectonic deposits and is curved upward toward the downthrown block. Vertical offset on the thrust is related to differential vertical uplift caused by, for example, growth of folds with different wavelength and amplitude on either side of the tear fault. Formation of progressive unconformities is governed by the relationship between the rates of deposition and vertical growth of a structure. Fault‐related progressive unconformities are additionally controlled by the growth of the vertical step across the tear fault. When the rates of vertical growth of two neighbouring folds separated by a tear fault are similar, the rate of growth across the tear fault is small; if the first differ, the latter is high. Episodic tear fault activity may create several angular unconformities attached to a tear fault or allow the generation of angular unconformities near tear faults in sedimentary systems that have a rate of deposition too high to generate classical progressive unconformities between the tear faults.     

The Role of GNSS Vertical Velocities to Correct Estimates of Sea Level Rise from Tide Gauge Measurements in Greece

In this study, we show how the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-derived vertical velocities contribute to the correction of tide gauge (TG) measurements used for the sea level rise estimation in Greece. Twelve sites with records of local sea level heights are processed in order to estimate their trend. Certain error sources related to TGs, e.g. equipment changes, data noise, may lead to biased or erroneous estimations of the sea level height. Therefore, it would be preferred to follow a robust estimation technique in order to detect and reduce outlier effects. The geocentric sea level rise is estimated by taking into account the land vertical motion of co-located GNSS permanent stations at the Hellenic area. TGs measure the height of the water relative to a monitored geodetic benchmark on land. On the other hand, using GNSS-based methods the vertical land motion can be derived. By means of extended models fitted to the GNSS time-series position, obtained from seven years of continuous data analysis, periodic signals are well described. The synergy of the two co-located techniques results in the correction of TG relative sea level heights taking into account the GNSS vertical velocities and consequently obtaining the conversion to absolute (geocentric) sea level trend.     

Imaging Pathways in Fractured Rock Using Three‐Dimensional Electrical Resistivity Tomography

Major challenges exist in delineating bedrock fracture zones because these cause abrupt changes in geological and hydrogeological properties over small distances. Borehole observations cannot sufficiently capture heterogeneity in these systems. Geophysical techniques offer the potential to image properties and processes in between boreholes. We used three‐dimensional cross borehole electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) in a 9 m (diameter) × 15 m well field to capture high‐resolution flow and transport processes in a fractured mudstone contaminated by chlorinated solvents, primarily trichloroethylene. Conductive (sodium bromide) and resistive (deionized water) injections were monitored in seven boreholes. Electrode arrays with isolation packers and fluid sampling ports were designed to enable acquisition of ERT measurements during pulsed tracer injections. Fracture zone locations and hydraulic pathways inferred from hydraulic head drawdown data were compared with electrical conductivity distributions from ERT measurements. Static ERT imaging has limited resolution to decipher individual fractures; however, these images showed alternating conductive and resistive zones, consistent with alternating laminated and massive mudstone units at the site. Tracer evolution and migration was clearly revealed in time‐lapse ERT images and supported by in situ borehole vertical apparent conductivity profiles collected during the pulsed tracer test. While water samples provided important local information at the extraction borehole, ERT delineated tracer migration over spatial scales capturing the primary hydrogeological heterogeneity controlling flow and transport. The fate of these tracer injections at this scale could not have been quantified using borehole logging and/or borehole sampling methods alone.     

Sand fabric evolution effects on drain design for liquefaction mitigation

This paper revisits the seminal work of Seed and Booker (1977) [21] on the design of infinitely permeable drains for liquefaction mitigation. It is shown that their basic mathematical assumption for the rate of earthquake-induced excess pore pressure generation overlooks sand fabric evolution effects during cyclic loading and eventually leads to underestimation of the drain effectiveness. This is because such effects cause peak excess pore pressures to be attained at the early stages of partially drained shaking, followed by a gradual attenuation even if shaking continues undiminished, a response feature not predicted by the original formulation. In addition, special emphasis is given to the analytical relation describing the excess pore pressure build-up until liquefaction in undrained tests. This relation was considered unique in the original work, for reasons of simplicity, thus neglecting sand fabric evolution effects that may differentiate it for various sands, densities and loading conditions. Hence, a revised analytical formulation is proposed, which takes into account both above effects of sand fabric evolution. The paper provides a quantitative assessment of their influence on drain effectiveness and establishes a new set of charts for drain design. Experimental measurements from shaking table tests, as well as robust numerical simulations are shown, which underline the necessity for the revised solution and design charts.     

Derivation of new SAC/FEMA performance evaluation solutions with second‐order hazard approximation

A novel set of SAC/FEMA‐style closed‐form expressions is presented to accurately assess structural safety under seismic action. Such solutions allow the practical evaluation of the risk integral convolving seismic hazard and structural response by using a number of idealizations to achieve a simple analytical form. The most heavily criticized approximation of the SAC/FEMA formats is the first‐order power‐law fit of the hazard curve. It results to unacceptable errors whenever the curvature of the hazard function becomes significant. Adopting a second‐order fit, instead, allows capturing the hazard curvature at the cost of necessitating new analytic forms. The new set of equations is a complete replacement of the original, enabling (a) accurate estimation of the mean annual frequency of limit‐state exceedance and (b) safety checking for specified performance objectives in a code‐compatible format. More importantly, the flexibility of higher‐order fitting guarantees a wider‐range validity of the local hazard approximation. Thus, it enables the inversion of the formulas for practically estimating the allowable demand or the required capacity to fulfill any design objective. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.