Numerical study on the effect of rigid inclusions on existing railroads

Railroad track problems have been exacerbated by the continuous increase in freight loads and train traffic. The need to implement soil improvement technique in a relatively short window-time (ie, to minimize train-traffic disruption) is a key aspect to be considered when adopting a convenient remedial solution to control settlements in railroads constructed on problematic subgrades. Rigid inclusions are selected in this paper because they are reliable solutions relatively easy to implement. Furthermore, they can be used in different ground conditions and are suitable for short construction times (eg, do not require a curing time, as in grouting methods). Typical (analytical) methods for the design of rigid inclusions are adopted in this paper to define an optimal distribution of piles for the case of existing railroads. The selected layout is then analyzed in detail by means of a 3-D dynamic finite element simulator using both, elastoplastic and elastic models. The performance of rigid inclusions is studied considering different operational scenarios, with dynamic and static loads, as well as involving subgrades with different plasticity index values. It is found that the predictions from the analytical design methods for rigid inclusion tend to be unconservative when compared against the finite element results. As for the numerical solutions, the most unfavorable stress condition is associated with the dynamic elastoplastic finite element solution. It is estimated that the rigid inclusions will contribute to a reduction in the ground settlements of around 15% to 20%, depending on the subgrade plasticity index.     

General relativity with variable speed of light and Pioneers anomaly

We consider a General Relativistic RW’s metric, with variable speed of light, and find a field of Universal acceleration, numerically coincident with the value of the Pioneers anomalous one. This deceleration may decrease with time, as we calculated. This is relevant to understand the Physics that may be involved in the Cosmological approach to the Pioneers anomaly.     

Effects of the middle Holocene high sea-level stand and climate on Amazonian mangroves

The high sea-level stand during the mid-Holocene is a benchmark in mangrove dynamics along the north-east/south-east coast of Brazil and provides a reference point for landward and seaward mangrove migrations corresponding to changes in relative sea level (RSL). However, evidence of the impacts associated with RSL fall on the northern Brazilian coast is scarce. Multi-proxy data from the highest tidal flats of the Bragança Peninsula in northern Brazil revealed modern herbaceous areas were occupied by mangroves Rhizophora and Avicennia from ~6250 to ~5850 cal a bp , and only Avicennia between ~5850 and ~5000 cal a bp . The same tidal flats were vegetation-free between ~5000 and ~4300 cal a bp . A combination of a high sea-level stand (0.6 ± 0.1 m) at ~5000 cal a bp and a dry early–middle Holocene in the Amazon probably caused an increase in porewater salinity of tidal flats, which resulted in a mangrove succession from Rhizophora to Avicennia dominance. RSL fall accentuated this process, contributing to mangrove degradation between ~5000 and ~4300 cal a bp . RSL fall, and a wetter period over the past ~4300 cal a bp caused a mangrove migration from highest to lowest flats, followed by expansion of herbaceous vegetation on the highest flats.     

Experimental estimation of soil profiles through spatial phases analysis of surface waves

The proposed techniques in recent years for the analysis of superficial waves with multiple transducers have been focused in the identification of different types of waves in the ground. The multistation tests avoid the ambiguous phase unwrapping procedure required to obtain experimental dispersion curves for the SASW technique. However, the soil profiles with stiffness inversion in depth involve the contribution of higher modes, and the inversion process through “apparent” or “effective” dispersion curves presents difficulties since these contributions depend of the transducers layout. The technique proposed herein is based on the test simulation through an updating model with low computational cost and good accuracy that include all propagation modes. Two actual test cases performed with only six transducers shows the advantages of a new objective function called “spatial phase dispersion” whose experimental determination does not require subjective interventions by the analyst.     

Multidecadal changes in the relationship between extreme temperature events in Uruguay and the general atmospheric circulation

We analyze changes in the relationship between extreme temperature events and the large scale atmospheric circulation before and after the 1976 climate shift. To do so we first constructed a set of two temperature indices that describe the occurrence of warm nights (TN90) and cold nights (TN10) based on a long daily observed minimum temperature database that spans the period 1946?C2005, and then divided the period into two subperiods of 30?years each (1946?C1975 and 1976?C2005). We focus on summer (TN10) and winter (TN90) seasons. During austral summer before 1976 the interannual variability of cold nights was characterized by a negative phase of the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) with a cyclonic anomaly centered off Uruguay that favoured the entrance of cold air from the south. After 1976 cold nights are associated not with the SAM, but with an isolated vortex at upper levels over South Eastern South America. During austral winter before 1976, the El Ni?o phenomenon dominated the interannual variability of warm nights through an increase in the northerly warm flow into Uruguay. However, after 1976 the El Ni?o connection weakened and the variability of warm nights is dominated by a barotropic anticyclonic anomaly located in the South Atlantic and a low pressure center over South America. This configuration also strengthens the northward flow of warm air into Uruguay. Our results suggest that changes in El Ni?o evolution after 1976 may have played a role in altering the relationship between temperature extreme events in Uruguay and the atmospheric circulation.     

Succession and seasonal onset of colonization in subtidal hard‐bottom communities off northern Chile

Although there is extensive information concerning the colonization sequences of benthic communities, little is known about the successional development of subtidal hard‐bottom habitats in highly productive coastal upwelling areas. In these systems, succession is predicted to be fast due to high growth rate of the later dominant colonizers. Using artificial hard substrata a field experiment was conducted in a rocky subtidal area off Northern Chile (Humboldt Current System) and monitored at 3‐month intervals to test the following hypotheses: (i) epibenthic succession may proceed through consecutive replacement of species, (ii) there is a fast convergence rate towards natural communities, and (iii) different seasonal starting points for the colonization will produce different community structure over a 1‐year period of exposure. Panels were installed on a vertical wall at 17 m water depth. Three replicate panels were sampled every 3 months over a period of 27 months. As a reference, six haphazardly selected plots from the surrounding natural community were surveyed at each sampling date. To evaluate how seasonally varying substratum availability affects community development, further panels were exposed for a 12‐month period, starting in four different seasons (n = 3 replicates per season). Community succession was slow and occurred through progressive changes, between early encrusting red corallines, middle Balanus flosculus and late Lagenicella variabilis. After 27 months, the community composition, but not its structure, was similar between experimental and reference communities on surrounding rocky bottoms. Seasonality had no effects and after 1 year of exposure the experimental communities converged towards a common structure. This study indicates that succession of subtidal epibenthic communities follows a slow and predictable pattern with a dominant late colonial species. In addition, aseasonal variability might be more relevant during colonization and succession in this upwelling ecosystem.     

Calcareous algae bioclast contribution to sediment enrichment by arsenic on the Brazilian subtropical coast

Arsenic levels (up to 130 mg kg⁻¹) substantially exceeding the official threshold have recently been documented in beach and nearshore sediments along more than 50 km of coastline in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo between 19°50′ and 20°12′S. In an attempt to assess the sources of this enrichment, we performed a study on arsenic distribution in the main mineral substances and living organisms in the beach environment. Laboratory tests on arsenic retention by beach carbonate debris have also been carried out. The data suggest that sedimentary arsenic occurs largely bound to particles of the calcareous red alga Corallina panizzoi, whereby live specimens contained much smaller amounts of this metalloid than was the case for nonliving material (2.4 and 20.3 mg kg⁻¹, respectively). Experimental tests confirmed the ability of C. panizzoi detritus to retain arsenic at pH intervals and ionic strength characteristic of seawater. There are two potential sources of that metalloid for calcareous debris in sediments: brown macroalgae, which were found to contain high levels of As (up to 66.3 mg kg⁻¹), and ferruginized sandstones (up to 23.0 mg kg⁻¹). We argue that any contribution of brown algae to beach sediment enrichment by As would be minor, and consider the ferrous sandstones from coastal sedimentary rocks of the Barreiras Group as the principal large-scale source of arsenic in the marine environment of Espírito Santo. The experimental data, together with field studies, corroborate the interpretation that arsenic anomalies in sediments with calcareous debris can form when weathered continental rocks even only slightly enriched in As are leached by marine waters, and the As is at least partially retained by biogenic calcareous detritus in nearshore sediments. Considering that rocks of the Barreiras Group are exposed to marine erosion far to the north of Espírito Santo, we estimate that marine sediments containing calcareous material are “anomalously” enriched in As along approximately 2,000 km of the Brazilian tropical coastline.     

A unified model for bedform development and equilibrium under unidirectional,oscillatory and combined‐flows

The development of bedforms under unidirectional, oscillatory and combined‐flows results from temporal changes in sediment transport, flow and morphological response. In such flows, the bedform characteristics (for example, height, wavelength and shape) change over time, from their initiation to equilibrium with the imposed conditions, even if the flow conditions remain unchanged. These variations in bedform morphology during development are reflected in the sedimentary structures preserved in the rock record. Hence, understanding the time and morphological development in which bedforms evolve to an equilibrium stage is critical for informed reconstruction of the ancient sedimentary record. This article presents results from a laboratory flume study on bedform development and equilibrium development time conducted under purely unidirectional, purely oscillatory and combined‐flow conditions, which aimed to test and extend an empirical model developed in past work solely for unidirectional ripples. The present results yield a unified model for bedform development and equilibrium under unidirectional, oscillatory and combined‐flows. The experimental results show that the processes of bedform genesis and growth are common to all types of flows, and can be characterized into four stages: (i) incipient bedforms; (ii) growing bedforms; (iii) stabilizing bedforms; and (iv) fully developed bedforms. Furthermore, the development path of bedform; growth exhibits the same general trend for different flow types (for example, unidirectional, oscillatory and combined‐flows), bedform size (for example, small versus large ripples), bedform shape (for example, symmetrical or rounded), bedform planform geometry (for example, two‐dimensional versus three‐dimensional), flow velocities and sediment grain sizes. The equilibrium time for a wide range of bed configurations was determined and found to be inversely proportional to the sediment transport flux occurring for that flow condition.     

Exploring desiccation cracks in soils using a 2D profile laser device

The study of desiccation cracks in soils has been a subject of increasing attention in recent research. This paper presents the use of a 2D profile laser that is coupled with a motion controller (that allows scanning the overall surface of a drying soil) and electronic balance (to measure the water loss). The aim is to accurately track the three most relevant variables associated with the behavior of soils during desiccation: volume change, water loss and evolving crack network’s morphology. The paper presents the methodology to obtain a digital model of the soil using the experimental setup described above. The main results of a natural soil subjected to drying are presented and discussed, including evolution of cracks aperture; evolution of cracks depth, surface contour levels (at different times); and evolution of volume change. It is shown that the proposed methodology provides very useful information for studying the behavior of soils subjected to desiccation.     

Ruprecht 55: an OB association at the edge of our Galaxy

We present new spectroscopy in the optical range and 21-cm H  i data covering the Ruprecht 55 (Ru 55) field in the Puppis window where several authors have proposed the existence of one (or two) clusters.
We have determined new MK spectral types for about 50 stars in the region, finding 43 OB-type stars among them. LS 985 was found to be an O9 V + O9.5 III binary and it is the earliest type of star in our observed sample.
We have identified a stellar OB association (Ru 55), which is most likely related to a depletion detected in our H  i data, as: (i) they are located at the same distance (6 kpc), within observational errors; (ii) both have similar radial velocities (∼67 km s⁻¹); (iii) current OB stars could have provided the energy needed to blow the cavity; (iv) the dynamical time-scale for the hole buildup matches the age estimated for the earliest OB stars; and (v) LS 985 might be responsible for ionizing the H  i cavity inner walls close to it.