Computational microstructure modeling to estimate progressive moisture damage behavior of asphaltic paving mixtures

This paper presents a computational microstructure model to estimate the progressive moisture damage of multiphase asphaltic paving mixtures. Moisture damage because of water transport is incorporated with mechanical loading through a finite element method. To simulate nonlinear damage evolution in the mixtures, the model includes Fickian moisture diffusion, a cohesive zone model to simulate the gradual fracture process, and a degradation characteristic function to represent the reduction of material properties because of moisture infiltration. With the model developed, various parametric analyses are conducted to investigate how each model parameter affects the material‐specific moisture damage mechanism and damage resistance potential of the mixtures. Analysis results clearly demonstrate the significance of physical and mechanical properties of mixture components and geometric characteristics of microstructure for the better design of asphaltic paving mixtures and roadway structures. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Importance of no‐rain measurements on the comparison of radar and rain gauge rain rate

This study evaluated four possible cases of comparing radar and rain gauge rain rate for the detection of mean‐field bias. These four cases, or detection designs, consider in this study are: (1) design 1‐uses all the data sets available, including zero radar rain rate and zero rain gauge rain rate, (2) design 2—uses the data sets of positive radar rain rate and zero or positive rain gauge rain rate, (3) design 3—uses the data sets of zero or positive radar rain rate and positive rain gauge rain rate and (4) design 4—uses the data sets of positive radar rain rate and positive rain gauge rain rate. A theoretical review of these four detection designs showed that only the design 1 causes no design bias, but designs 2, 3 and 4 can cause positive, negative and negative design biases, respectively. This theoretical result was also verified by applying these four designs to the rain rate field generated by a multi‐dimensional rain rate model, as well as to that of the Mt Gwanak radar in Korea. The results from both applications showed that especially the design 4, which is generally used for the detection of mean‐field bias of radar rain rate, causes a serious design bias; therefore, is inappropriate as a design for detecting the mean‐field bias of radar rain rate. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

3He, 20,21,22Ne, 14C, 10Be, 26Al,and 36Cl in magnetic fractions of cosmic dust from Greenland and Antarctica

Abstract— We report on studies of the concentrations of cosmogenic nuclides in the magnetic fraction of cosmic dust particles recovered from the South Pole Water Well (SPWW) and from Greenland. Our results confirm that cosmic dust material from these locations contains measurable amounts of cosmogenic nuclides. The Antarctic particles (and possibly those from Greenland as well) also contain minor amounts of solar Ne. Concentrations of cosmogenic nuclides are consistent with irradiation of this material as small objects in space, with exposure ages similar to the expected Poynting‐Robertson (P‐R) lifetimes of 50–200 kyr for particles 25–100 μm in size.     

A small-scale energy release observed on the limb

The D3 emission lines observed on the emerging flux loops and mound prominences above the limb were locally found to consist of two components, i.e., the main and the broadened components. A number of Doppler shifted emission lines, separated distinctly from the main body of the emission lines were also detected, which we call the separated components. On the sequential spectrograms, the lifetimes of these broadened and separated components were obtained and their histograms were made.We present the results of fitting the observed emission lines with the sum of two gaussian profiles in two simple cases under two different assumptions. In each assumption, it is found that the line-of-sight velocities of the broadened components with lifetimes shorter than 10 min monotonously increase with time and we attribute this behaviour to a single ejection of mass from the parent structures. In the broadened components with lifetimes longer than 10 min, the acceleration turns on and off alternately, each with a duration of several minutes. We attribute this behaviour to multiple ejections of mass.Finally, it is shown that the corona over the active region is supplied with enough mass for the formation of a coronal condensation if the ejected mass diffuses out high into the corona and some heating mechanisms for the mass switch on.Contributions from the Kwasan and Hida Observatories, University of Kyoto, No. 269.     

Does upward seepage of river water and storm water runoff determine water quality of urban drainage systems in lowland areas? A case study for the Rhine–Meuse delta

The water quality of urban drainage ditches in lowlands in the Rhine‐Meuse delta was analysed with principal component analysis (PCA) during a dry period and a rain storm, and related to the seepage of polluted river water and effective impervious area (EIA). This was done in order to test the hypothesis that seepage of river water and storm water runoff from impervious areas strongly determine the water quality of urban drainage systems along large lowland rivers. Our analysis revealed that upward seepage of groundwater originating from rivers Rhine and Meuse was positively correlated with nitrate, potassium, sodium and chloride and negatively correlated with alkalinity, calcium, magnesium and iron. EIA was correlated with very few environmental variables (i.e. phosphate, pH and iron in the dry period and iron during the rain storm). Nickel and zinc concentrations generally exceeded the maximum allowable concentrations (MAC), while lead and phosphorus concentrations were just above the nutrient standards and MAC in a few locations during the rain storm. To optimize water quality in urban water systems, attention should be paid to all sources of pollution and not only to EIA. The impact of local groundwater seepage originating from large rivers in lowlands on the chemistry of urban water systems is often underestimated and should be taken into account when assessing water quality and improving water quality status. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ex situ echo sounder target strengths of ice krill Euphausia crystallorophias

Ice krill is the keystone species in the neritic ecosystem in the Southern Ocean,where it replaces the more oceanic Antarctic krill. It is essential to understand the variation of target strength(TS in d B re 1 m 2) with the different body size to accurately estimate ice krill stocks. However,there is comparatively little knowledge of the acoustic backscatter of ice krill. The TS of individual,formalin-preserved,tethered ice krill was measured in a freshwater test tank at 38,120,and 200 k Hz with a calibrated split-beam echo sounder system. Mean TS was obtained from 21 individual ice krill with a broad range of body lengths(L :13–36 mm). The length( L,mm) to wet weight( W; mg) relationship for ice krill was W =0.001 218×103 × L 3.53( R 2= 0.96). The mean TS-to-length relationship were TS3 8 k Hz =-177.4+57log 10( L),( R 2 = 0.86); TS 120 k Hz =-129.9+31.56 log 10( L),( R 2 =0.87); and TS 200 k Hz =-117.6+24.66log1 0( L),( R 2 =0.84). Empirical estimates of the relationship between the TS and body length of ice krill were established at 38,120,and 200 k Hz and compared with predictions obtained from both the linear regression model of Greene et al.(1991) and the Stochastic Distorted Wave Born Approximation(SDWBA) model. This result might be applied to improve acoustic detection and density estimation of ice krill in the Southern Ocean. Further comparative studies are needed with in situ target strength including various body lengths of ice krill.