Wolf-Rayet binaries: Evolutionary causes for their distribution in the Galaxy

On the basis of the most recent data, the fraction of known Wolf-Rayet binaries is 0.22. In the solar neighbourhood (d<2.5 kpc) this fraction is 0.34In order to assess the relative importance of massive binary evolution as one of the ways to produce WR stars, the galactic distribution of WR binaries is compared with that of single WR stars using improved intrinsic parameters and new data for the fainter WR stars.In the galactic plane the increase of the binary frequency with galactocentric distance is confirmed.In a direction perpendicular to the galactic plane it is demonstrated at all distances from the Sun that the single-line spectroscopic WR binaries with small mass functions have definitely larger -distances than the single WR stars and the WR binaries with massive companions. This is consistent with the evolutionary scenario for massive binaries summarized by van den Heuvel (1976). Among the single WR stars the fraction of those with large |z|-distances is increasing with galactocentric distance, like the fraction of the known binaries. This implies that among the high-|z| single WR stars as well as among the WR stars with lower |z|-values many binaries are still to be discovered.The total WR binary frequency in the Galaxy could be well above 50%.Contribution from the Bosscha Observatory No. 79.Invited paper presented at the Lembang-Bamberg IAU Colloquium No. 80 on Double Stars: Physical Properties and Generic Relations, held at Bandung, Indonesia, 3–7 June, 1983.     

Validation of a new generation system for bottom boundary layer beneath solitary wave

Understanding of sea bottom boundary layer characteristics, especially bottom shear stress acting on the sea bed, is an important step needed in sediment transport modeling for practical application purposes. In the present study, a new generation system for bottom boundary layer under solitary wave is proposed. Applicability of this system is examined by comparing measured and numerical solution velocities. Moreover, transitional behavior from laminar to turbulence was investigated. It is concluded that the critical Reynolds number in the experiments shows good agreement with DNS result of Vittori and Blondeaux (2008) and laboratory data of Sumer et al. (2010), indicating validity of the generation system. Since the present generation system enables continuous measurement to obtain ensemble averaged quantities, it can be effectively utilized for future experimental studies on solitary wave boundary layers, including sediment transport experiments with movable bed.