Study on the Historical Distribution of Metals in Aquatic Sediments

In this study, the historical distribution of metals, phosphorous, and sulfur at four different depths in the sediments of different lakes formed in the course of an urban river (in Londrina, Parana State, Brazil) were determined. The transport of metals along the course of the river was observed mainly for Mn, Cr, and Zn. High concentrations of Pb in the Capivara Bay and Cr in the river were attributed to contamination from a battery plant and a tannery, respectively. The concentrations of heavy metals in the deepest layers of the sediments remain high several years after deposition.     

A Study of the Solar-Like Properties of β Hydri

We investigate properties of the internal structure of HR2021, better known as Hydri, a G2 IV subgiant with mass close to solar and for which observations by Bedding et al. (2001) have shown the presence of solar-like oscillations.We have computed models of Hydri,based on updated global parameters,and compared the computed frequencies for the models with the observed oscillation spectrum.     

Tornadoes in Southern Apulia (Italy)

Numerous tornadoes have traversed southern Apulia in the course of the last five centuries, causing severe damage and a significant loss of life. Historical chronicles and newspaper articles allowed more than 30 tornadic events to be identified; in particular, 26 of these have occurred during the last two centuries. In all, 24 small towns and villages of southern Apulia suffered on at least one occasion the disastrous effects of being hit by a tornado.Collated data reveals that tornadoes generally form from May to December, with the most powerful events taking place in the month of September, followed by October and November. Tornadoes generally cluster in the southernmost area of the region and typically follow a path leading from the south-west to the north-east. Path length were observed to vary from 8 to 73km, and widths ranging from 60 to 850m.The metereological analysis carried out for the events occurred after 1950, even if based on a limited data set, reveals a few typical meteorological scenarios associated with the development of tornadoes over Salento.In southern Apulia tornadoes can be classified from levels A2 to A4 in accordance with the Damage Area Scale.     

Light curve and orbital elements of V 337 Aquilae

From photoelectric observations of V 337 Aql a new solution is carried out. Transit at primary eclipse in disagreement with the Wright-Dugan results is found. Both Russell-Merrill and Kitamura methods of light curve solution are used. The slight period variation and the distortions of the light curve would support the idea that a mass exchange could be in act.     

Convection in a rotating deep compressible spherical shell: Application to the Sun

In this paper we study the interaction of rotation with convection in a deep compressible spherical shell as the Sun's convection zone. We examine how the energy transport and the large scale motions can be affected by rotation. In particular we study how a large scale meridional circulation can give rise to variations of angular velocity with latitude and depth.It is assumed that the energy transport is only due to convection and that the mixing-length theory gives an adequate representation of it. Furthermore we assume that rotation acts as a perturbation of the turbulent convective flux through its transport coefficient.The equations involved in the model are integrated numerically in the limit of large viscosity and slow rotation. After having expanded all physical quantities to the first order in terms of Legendre polynomials, the fitting with the observed solar differential rotation gives the expansion parameter, which represents the coupling constant between rotation and convection.The results show a three-cell circulation extending from the poles to the equator. The first one is located in the lower half of the convection zone with the fluid rising at the equator and sinking at the poles. In the second one the direction of the motion is reversed while the third one, located in a thin upper layer, shows the same characteristics of the first one. The meridional velocities at the surface are directed towards the poles and are about 20 cm s^-1. In the other cells the meridional velocities are typically of a few cm s^-1 while the radial velocities are of the order of a few tenths of cm s^-1.The heat flux relative variation at the surface is about 10^-4 (3 × 10^-3 at the bottom) with a polar excess. The temperature variation at the surface is of the same order, with an equatorial excess however. The convection seems to be stabilized stronger at the equator. The angular velocity increases inwards and varies about 6% between the surface and the bottom of the convection zone.An attempt is made for explaining the picture which emerges. In particular the negligible flux and temperature variations at the surface are explained in terms of equalization by the particular structure of the latitudinal flow. This configuration of large scale circulation is attributed to the high stratification of the convection zone with depth.     

Surface Reynolds stresses determined from the analysis of facular motions and the maintenance of the Sun's differential rotation

From the analysis of the motions of faculae for a four year period from 1967 to 1970, the latitudinal angular momentum transport by Reynolds stresses at the Sun's surface is calculated. The result agrees fairly well with the one obtained by Ward analyzing spot motions. A comparison with theory suggests that the Sun's differential rotation could be maintained only by Reynolds stresses at the surface. The implications of this result are discussed.     

Simulation of the Steady-State Flow in Discrete Fracture Networks with Non-Conforming Meshes and Extended Finite Elements

In this paper a numerical method for the simulation of the steady-state fluid flow in discrete fracture networks is described. It is based on the use of non-conforming meshes, enrichment functions and an optimization procedure. The meshing process is performed on each fracture independently of the other fractures, i.e. without geometrical conformity at the intersections (traces). The slope discontinuities due to the flux exchange at the traces are then captured with the enrichment functions of the extended finite elements, and finally a functional is minimized by resorting to an optimization procedure. The method can be easily implemented for parallel computers being based on many small independent problems. In order to show the effectiveness of the method and the quality of the results, simulations of fluid flow in simple networks are illustrated.     

Bonding degradation and stress–dilatancy response of weakly cemented sands

The progressive bond breakage of artificially cemented sands induced by shear straining was investigated through conventional isotropically consolidated drained triaxial compression tests. Sand specimens were prepared with a low degree of cementation by adopting a chemical grout. Test results were interpreted in terms of two stress–dilatancy theories for cohesive-frictional materials proposed in literature. The influence of debonding on the stress–dilatancy behaviour of cemented sands was analysed with particular emphasis on the ‘delayed dilatancy’ phenomenon. A bonding degradation curve was determined for each test relating the interparticle cohesion (c) to the magnitude of the total plastic strain vector (ε_d) and a bond degradation rate factor (D_c) was assessed from each curve. The maximum value of interparticle cohesion (c₀) before the onset of bond degradation under shearing was found to correspond with a sharp decrease in the soil stiffness of the specimens. The influence of the effective confining stress (p^′_c) on both c₀ and D_c parameters gathered from each test was also ascertained.     

From computed tomography to mechanics of granular materials via level set bridge

This paper details the ‘level set bridge’: a single platform for the characterization of various aspects of granular micro-mechanics, including grain morphology, grain kinematics, and inter-granular contact. This platform is studied and verified for accuracy using synthetic examples, in particular, its robustness with respect to the variables of image resolution and noise. The level set bridge is then applied to analysis of XRCT images of real 3D triaxial experiments of two types of granular materials. Contact statistics and kinematics are reported inside and outside of the failure band of one, and kinematics inside a failure band are reported in the other, from preload to critical state.