Simulation of vortex-induced vibrations of a cylinder using ANSYS CFX

In this paper, vortex-induced vibrations of a cylinder are simulated by use of ANSYS CFX simulation code. The cylinder is treated as a rigid body and transverse displacements are obtained by use of a one degree of freedom spring damper system. 2-D as well as 3-D analysis is performed using air as the fluid. Reynolds number is varied from 40 to 16000 approx., covering the laminar and turbulent regimes of flow. The experimental results of （Khalak and Williamson, 1997） and other researchers are used for validation purposes. The results obtained are comparable.     

Building population mapping with aerial imagery and GIS data

Geospatial distribution of population at a scale of individual buildings is needed for analysis of people's interaction with their local socio-economic and physical environments. High resolution aerial images are capable of capturing urban complexities and considered as a potential source for mapping urban features at this fine scale. This paper studies population mapping for individual buildings by using aerial imagery and other geographic data. Building footprints and heights are first determined from aerial images, digital terrain and surface models. City zoning maps allow the classification of the buildings as residential and non-residential. The use of additional ancillary geographic data further filters residential utility buildings out of the residential area and identifies houses and apartments. In the final step, census block population, which is publicly available from the U.S. Census, is disaggregated and mapped to individual residential buildings. This paper proposes a modified building population mapping model that takes into account the effects of different types of residential buildings. Detailed steps are described that lead to the identification of residential buildings from imagery and other GIS data layers. Estimated building populations are evaluated per census block with reference to the known census records. This paper presents and evaluates the results of building population mapping in areas of West Lafayette, Lafayette, and Wea Township, all in the state of Indiana, USA.     

Tectonic process analysis in Zagros Mountain with the aid of drainage networks and topography maps dated 1950–2001 in GIS

In this study, a digital elevation model was used for hydrological study/watershed management, topography, geology, tectonic geomorphology, and morphometric analysis. Geographical information system provides a specialized set of tools for the analysis of topography, watersheds, and drainage networks that enables to interpret the tectonic activities of an area. The drainage system maps of Zagros Mountains in southwest Iran have been produced using multi-temporal datasets between 1950 and 2001 to establish the changes between geomorphic signatures and geomorphic aspect during time and to correlate them with recent neo-tectonics. This paper discusses the role of drainage for interpreting the scenario of the tectonic processes as one of important signatures. The study shows variation in drainage network derived from topography maps. Thus, changes in drainage pattern, stream length, stream gradient, and the number of segment drainage order from 1950 to 2001 indicate that Zagros Mountain has been subjected to recent neo-tectonic processes and emphasized to be a newly active zone.     

Underwater glider modelling and analysis for net buoyancy, depth and pitch angle control

Underwater glider is an autonomous underwater vehicle that glides by controlling their buoyancy and attitude using internal actuators. By changing the vehicle's buoyancy intermittently, vertical motion can be achieved. Characteristics of glider motion include upward and downward movement in a saw tooth pattern, turning and gliding in a vertical spiral motion and gliding without using thrusters or propellers. This paper presents the modelling and identification on net buoyancy, depth and pitching angle of an underwater glider system. A ballast tank subsystem is considered appropriate for the identification process since it is the main parameter for the motion control. By selecting the ballast rate as the input, three aspects of the dynamics of a glider can be observed: buoyancy, depth of the glider and pitching angle. The MATLAB System Identification Toolbox^TM is used to obtain a mathematical model of the glider ballast-buoyancy, ballast-depth and ballast-pitching angle conditioning system. The best three parametric estimation models are chosen, and the results of the comparison between simulated and estimated outputs are presented. The information obtained from the modelling and identification approaches are used for USM's Underwater Glider Prototype controller design. The information observed during this procedure are utilised for optimisation, stability, reliability and robustness analysis of the underwater glider.     

Fractal measures of drainage network to investigate surface deformation from remote sensing data: A paradigm from Hindukush (NE-Afghanistan)

This approach represents the relative susceptibility of the topography of the earth to active deformation by means of geometrical distinctiveness of the river networks. This investigation employs the fractal analysis of drainage system extracted from ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM-30m resolution). The objective is to mark active structures and to pinpoint the areas robustly influenced by neotectonics. This approach was examined in the Hindukush, NE-Afghanistan. This region is frequently affected by deadly earthquakes and the modern fault activities and deformation are driven by the collision between the northward-moving Indian subcontinent and Eurasia. This attempt is based on the fact that drainage system is strained to linearize due to neotectonic deformation. Hence, the low fractal dimensions of the Kabul, Panjsher, Laghman, Andarab, Alingar and Kocha Rivers are credited to active tectonics. A comprehensive textural examination is conducted to probe the linearization, heterogeneity and connectivity of the drainage patterns. The aspects for these natural textures are computed by using the fractal dimension (FD), lacunarity (LA) and succolarity (SA) approach. All these methods are naturally interrelated, i.e. objects with similar FD can be further differentiated with LA and/or SA analysis. The maps of FD, LA and SA values are generated by using a sliding window of 50 arc seconds by 50 arc seconds (50" × 50"). Afterwards, the maps are interpreted in terms of regional susceptibility to neotectonics. This method is useful to pinpoint numerous zones where the drainage system is highly controlled by Hindukush active structures. In the North-Northeast of the Kabul block, we recognized active tectonic blocks. The region comprising, Kabul, Panjsher, Andrab, Alingar and Badakhshan is more susceptible to damaging events. This investigation concludes that the fractal analysis of the river networks is a bonus tool to localize areas vulnerable to deadly incidents influencing the Earth’s topography and consequently intimidate human lives.     

An interacting scenario for dark energy in a Bianchi type-I universe

We study the interaction between dark energy(DE) and dark matter in the scope of anisotropic Bianchi type-I space-time. First we derive the general form of the DE equation of state(EoS) parameter in both non-interacting and interacting cases and then we examine its future by applying a hyperbolic scale factor. It is shown that in the non-interacting case, depending on the value of the anisotropy parameter K,the DE EoS parameter varies from phantom to quintessence whereas in the interacting case the EoS parameter varies in the quintessence region. However, in both cases, the DE EoS parameter ωdeultimately(i.e. at z =-1) tends to the cosmological constant(ωde=-1). Moreover, we fix the cosmological bound on the anisotropy parameter K by using recent observational data about the Hubble parameter.     

Palaeomagnetism of the basalts of Wadi Abu Tereifiya, Mandisha and dioritic dykes of Wadi Abu Shihat, Egypt

Summary. One hundred and fifty oriented samples were collected from 12 sites from the Tertiary basalts of Wadi Abu Tereifiya (30.0°N, 32.1° E). After alternating field demagnetization the mean direction of the natural remanent magnetization is, D = 187.9°, I = -20.8° with α₉₅= 5.8°. This yields a palaeopole at 69.4°N, 188.3° E.
Also, 30 oriented samples were collected from two sites from Mandisha in Bahariya Oasis (28.4°N, 28.9° E). After cleaning, the mean direction of the NRM is D = 191.0°, I = 5.2° with α₉₅= 9.9°. This yields a palaeopole position at 58.2°N, 186.7° E.
Besides, the NRM of 70 oriented samples collected from seven dioritic dykes from Wadi Abu Shihat (26.3°N, 33.2° E) was found to have a mean direction, D = 142.0°, I = -0.3°, which leads to a palaeopole position at, 44.9°N, 273.0° E. This agrees with other Mesozoic pole positions from Africa.