Strength enhancement in particulate solids under high loading rates

The so-called ‘strain-rate effect’ in any material has been investigated here from a structural dynamics point of view. Starting with lumped-mass models (SDOF and 2-DOF) and assuming a rate-independent failure criterion, it is shown here how a high loading rate produces an effect of strength enhancement in any massive elastic material and how failure takes place in a stronger component of a system as the loading rate increases. Extrapolating the concept of an equivalent elastic modulus as introduced in lumped-mass models and extending the analysis to a semi-infinite elastic continuum, an algorithm has been schematized to evaluate an overall equivalent elastic modulus of a concrete body under the influence of high loading rate treating the concrete as a two-component solid mixture consisting of cement paste matrix and aggregates.     

Mineral formation in an acid pit lake from a high-sulfidation ore deposit: Kirki, NE Greece

Open pit mining of base-metals from the high-sulfidation epithermal type deposit of Kirki (Thrace, NE Greece) resulted in the formation of an acid pit lake by infilling of the open cast by rain and draining waters after mine closure. The high toxic metals content of the ore, the limited buffering capacity of host rocks and the direct exposure of the ore zone to weathering result in an intense release of metals into the pit lake. The acidic and oxidative pit lake waters show high concentrations of trace metals. A mineral precipitate, covering the floor of the pit lake, comprises secondary anglesite, several species of the jarosite-group, rozenite, melanterite, wroewolfeite, gypsum, bukovskyite, beaverite, scorodite and minor goethite. The mineral precipitate presents a significant heavy metal content indicating effective removal of metals from the acid waters. Compared to other pit lakes in high-sulfidation type deposits it has a higher metal load, consistent with the mineralogy and grade of ore in pit walls.     

Temporal and Spatial Variabilities of Chemical and Physical Parameters on the Heron Island Coral Reef Platform

Globally, coral reefs are threatened by ocean warming and acidification. The degree to which acidification will impact reefs is dependent on the local hydrodynamics, benthic community composition, and biogeochemical processes, all of which vary on different temporal and spatial scales. Characterizing the natural spatiotemporal variability of seawater carbonate chemistry across different reefs is critical for elucidating future impacts on coral reefs. To date, most studies have focused on select habitats, whereas fewer studies have focused on reef scale variability. Here, we investigate the temporal and spatial seawater physicochemical variability across the entire Heron Island coral reef platform, Great Barrier Reef, Australia, for a limited duration of six days. Autonomous sensor measurements at three sites across the platform were complemented by reef-wide boat surveys and discrete sampling of seawater carbonate chemistry during the morning and evening. Variability in both temporal and spatial physicochemical properties were predominantly driven by solar irradiance (and its effect on biological activity) and the semidiurnal tidal cycles but were influenced by the local geomorphology resulting in isolation of the platform during low tide and rapid flooding during rising tides. As a result, seawater from previous tidal cycles was sometimes trapped in different parts of the reef leading to unexpected biogeochemical trends in space and time. This study illustrates the differences and limitations of data obtained from high-frequency measurements in a few locations compared to low-frequency measurements at high spatial resolution and coverage, showing the need for a combined approach to develop predictive capability of seawater physicochemical properties on coral reefs.

     

Using the SDIlight Approach in Teaching a Geoinformatics Master

ITC, the Faculty of Geo–Information Science and Earth Observation of the University of Twente, is an institute that aims at capacity building and institutional development, specifically in developing countries. In our Geoinformatics curriculum, we emphasise two principles. The first addresses the systematics of purposeful spatial data production and uptake into computerised systems; the second addresses the methodical construction of these computerised systems, applying principles of model – driven architecture, formal specification and transformational design of SDI nodes. The term Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) usually denotes large, complex systems, but its principles can also be applied in simple and cost–effective ways. This approach we have called SDI^light and it is of particular interest to our students that come from developing countries. We work with and build a software stack consisting of free and open source components. To achieve interoperability, we emphasise the use of open standards from the Open Geospatial Consortium and others. In this paper, we explain how our students apply the SDI^light approach in the GeoinformaticsMaster degree course. An important part of that course is a Case Study Application Building & Programming, in which students apply their knowledge in a ‘real–world’ project, with a focus on geo–information engineering skills. We conclude with a section that evaluates the effectiveness of using the SDI^light concept in teaching our Geoinformatics Master, and on the more general applicability of the methodology.     

垃圾土室内动力试验研究

利用循环三轴试验对城市垃圾土的动力特性进行了研究。试验中对试样分别施加两种不同荷载,一种为循环压缩,另一种为循环压缩和伸长荷载,分别模拟交通荷载和地震荷载情况,循环荷载频率为1Hz。对城市垃圾土的动模量和振动残余应变试验结果进行了分析,并给出了计算公式。     

Relativistic Rotational Darkening of Lightlike Radiation and Von Zeipel's Theorem for Radially Emitting Spheroids

It is shown that an outgoing null radiation field in the outer space of a Kerr-Newman black hole is darkened by the rotation of the black hole. This rotational darkening is calculated for a spheroid emitting null radiation normally to its surface, yielding the von Zeipel-like effectthat the equatorial region is darkened more strongly than the polar regions.This effect is not confined to the case of black holes but is also observable for relativistically rotating fluid spheroids such as atmospheres of pulsars or neutron stars. Moreover, application to Hawking radiation suggests that the black hole cannot be viewed as a classical black body but that the Hawking radiationis a global geometric effect. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Comparison of HIPWAC and Mars Express SPICAM observations of ozone on Mars 2006-2008 and variation from 1993 IRHS observations

Ozone is a tracer of photochemistry in the atmosphere of Mars and an observable used to test predictions of photochemical models. We present a comparison of retrieved ozone abundances on Mars using ground-based infrared heterodyne measurements by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Heterodyne Instrument for Planetary Wind And Composition (HIPWAC) and space-based Mars Express Spectroscopy for the Investigation of the Characteristics of the Atmosphere of Mars (SPICAM) ultraviolet measurements. Ozone retrievals from simultaneous measurements in February 2008 were very consistent (0.8 μm-atm), as were measurements made close in time (ranging from <1 to >8 μm-atm) during this period and during opportunities in October 2006 and February 2007. The consistency of retrievals from the two different observational techniques supports combining the measurements for testing photochemistry-coupled general circulation models and for investigating variability over the long-term between spacecraft missions. Quantitative comparison with ground-based measurements by NASA/GSFC’s Infrared Heterodyne Spectrometer (IRHS) in 1993 reveals 2-4 times more ozone at low latitudes than in 2008 at the same season, and such variability was not evident over the shorter period of the Mars Express mission. This variability may be due to cloud activity.     

Time Analysis of the CO+ COMA OF COMET P/HALLEY BY IMAGE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES

Photographic and photoelectric observations of comet P/Halley's ion gas coma from CO⁺ at 4250 ? were part of the Bochum Halley Monitoring Program, conducted from 1986 February 17, to April 17 at the European Southern Observatory on La Silla (Chile). In this spectral range it is possible to watch the continuous formation, motion and expansion of plasma structures. To observe the morphology of these structures 32CO⁺ photos (glass plates) from P/Halley's comet have been analysed. They have a field of view of 28°.6× 28°.6 and were obtained from 1986 March 29, to April 17 with exposure times between 20 and120 minutes. All photos were digitized with a PDS 2020 GM (Photometric Data System) microdensitometer at the Astronomisches Institut derWestf?lischen Wilhelms-Universit?t in Münster (one pixel= 25 μm × 25 μm ≈ 46′.88×46′.88). After digitization the data were reduced to relative intensities, and the part with proper calibrations were also converted to absolute intensities, expressed in terms of column densities using the image data systems MIDAS (Munich Image Data Analysis System; ESO – Image Processing Group, 1988) and IHAP (Image Handling And Processing; Middleburg, 1983). With the help of the Stellingwerf-Theta-Minimum-Method (Stellingwerf, 1978) a period of (2.22 ± 0.09) days results from analysis of structures in the plasma-coma by subtracting subsequent images. This method is also compared with the Fourier method. There may be a second cycle with a period of about 3.6 days. The idea behind subtracting subsequent images is that rotation effects are only 10% phenomena on gas distribution. Difference images are than used to suppress the static component of the gas cloud. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Numerical study of the deformation of saturated soil in the vicinity of a vibrating pile

The paper presents a dynamic finite-element analysis of the deformation of saturated cohesionless soil in the vicinity of the toe of a vibrating cylindrical pile. The soil behaviour is described by a hypoplastic constitutive model with intergranular strain assuming locally undrained conditions for the pore fluid. Emphasis is placed on the detailed analysis of stresses and displacements in the soil. It is shown that, starting from a homogeneous stress state, the first several cycles of vibration lead to the formation of a permanent liquefaction zone with vanishing effective stresses at a certain distance from the pile. The displacement field reveals an accumulation of residual displacements in the soil in the form of rotation. The influence of the initial stress state, the pore fluid compressibility, the pile displacement amplitude and the soil density on the formation of a liquefaction zone, on the stress amplitude in the soil and on the intensity of the permanent rotation is investigated.     

Influence of Hematite Coating on the Activation of the Swelling Potential of Smectite-Bearing Rocks

The fraction of swelling-type clay minerals (smectites) is a first measure to estimate the swelling potential of natural rocks. This swelling potential is only activated if water can be incorporated in the sheet silicates. The samples studied in this work are volcanic rocks from the Southern Andes. According to the petrographic and mineralogical studies, the rocks are characterized as vulcanite with high content of smectite. Undisturbed samples showed minor swelling behaviour in conventional swelling tests, although X-ray diffraction and differential thermal analysis revealed swelling clay contents of more than 70 % in some samples. Powder swelling tests were performed on ground and recompacted rock samples. The results of these tests show a better agreement with those expected according to the mineralogical composition of the samples. The reason for the non-activation of the swelling potential in undisturbed samples was suspected to be the influence of the iron-oxide/hydroxide content, which was on average around 11 %. Scanning electron microscope images showed that the edge terminations of the clay particles are coated with hematite. The hydrophobic properties of hematite impede the access of water between the interlayers of the clay minerals and, in addition, hematite cementation prevents the expansion. In a further series of swelling tests water was replaced by a reducing solution (0.1 molar hydroxylammonium chloride) which removes the Fe-oxide coating. It can be shown that thus the swelling potential of the clay minerals in such undisturbed rocks can be activated.