Dynamic finite strip analysis of surface foundations

The finite strip method is used to study the dynamic response of surface strip foundations. This method is simple to use and versatile. The two-dimensional problem is effectively reduced to an equivalent one-dimensional problem. The choice of trigonometric series for the displacement functions results in the uncoupling of the terms of the series and a significant reduction in the semi-bandwidth of the complex set of equations, making the method well suited to small computers. Non-homogeneous soil profiles are treated as a matter of course. The finite strip solutions are shown to be in general agreement with other theoretical methods of analysis.     

Visualisation and evaluation of flood uncertainties based on ensemble modelling

This study evaluates how users incorporate visualisation of flood uncertainty information in decision-making. An experiment was conducted where participants were given the task to decide building locations, taking into account homeowners’ preferences as well as dilemmas imposed by flood risks at the site. Two general types of visualisations for presenting uncertainties from ensemble modelling were evaluated: (1) uncertainty maps, which used aggregated ensemble results; and (2) performance bars showing all individual simulation outputs from the ensemble. Both were supplemented with either two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) contextual information, to give an overview of the area.

The results showed that the type of uncertainty visualisation was highly influential on users’ decisions, whereas the representation of the contextual information (2D or 3D) was not. Visualisation with performance bars was more intuitive and effective for the task performed than the uncertainty map. It clearly affected users’ decisions in avoiding certain-to-be-flooded areas. Patterns to which the distances were decided from the homeowners’ preferred positions and the uncertainties were similar, when the 2D and 3D map models were used side by side with the uncertainty map. On the other hand, contextual information affected the time to solve the task. With the 3D map, it took the participants longer time to decide the locations, compared with the other combinations using the 2D model.

Designing the visualisation so as to provide more detailed information made respondents avoid dangerous decisions. This has also led to less variation in their overall responses.     

The race is not to the swift

Megan K Pickett and Andrew J Lim examine the role of spirals in protoplanetary disks and the formation of gas giant planets, and find that slower may be better than faster, if planets are to endure.     

Continuous streamline trajectories on complex grids

Computational Geosciences - Streamlines have been used for reservoir modeling and flow visualization in the petroleum industry and in computational fluid dynamics. When applied to the calculation...     

Development of silicon purification by strong radiation catalysis method

Using a new type of solar furnace and a specially designed induction furnace,cost effective and highly efficient purification of metallurgical silicon into solar grade silicon can be achieved. It is realized by a new method for extracting boron from silicon with the aid of photo-chemical effect. In this article, we discussed the postulated principle of strong radiation catalysis and the recent development in practice. Starting from ordinary metallurgical silicon, we achieved a purification result of 0.12 ppmw to 0.3 ppmw of boron impurity in silicon by only single pass of a low cost and simple process, the major obstacle to make `cheap' solar grade silicon feedstock in industry is thus removed.     

Antecedent mid-tropospheric frontogenesis caused by the interaction between a tropical cyclone and midlatitude trough: a case study of Typhoon Rusa (2002)

This study examines antecedent mid-tropospheric frontogenesis (AMF) resulting from the interaction between Typhoon Rusa (2002) and a midlatitude trough over the Korean Peninsula. In this event, the AMF contributed to the first peak in the time series of rainfall in Gangneung (37.75°N, 128.90°E), occurring about 12 h before the time of the extratropical transition (ET) process of the tropical cyclone (TC). Using observations and high-resolution model outputs, we showed that the AMF contributed to the antecedent rainfall in Gangneung during the first rainfall period when Gangneung was located outside of Rusa's sphere of direct influence. A Weather Research Forecasting (WRF) model experiment was conducted to diagnose the frontogenetical features and associated precipitation processes in detail. The experiment revealed that the AMF was mainly forced by the horizontal deformation forcing (HDF). The direction of the HDF was oriented from southwest to northeast in the middle part of the peninsula. The HDF increased positively due to the confluence of the southeasterlies from the TC and the northwesterlies emanating from the midlatitude trough. The experiment also suggested that the mid-tropospheric moisture originated from the subtropical ocean and deposited into the frontal region by the southerlies on the eastern periphery of the TC, which enhanced the convergence of moisture flux in the frontal region during the first rainfall period. The thermally direct circulation associated with the AMF lead to the mid-tropospheric saturation, which enhanced the precipitation of the first rainfall event together with the orographically forced convection at the low level above Gangneung.     

中韩河流沉积物微量元素地球化学研究

长江和黄河以及韩国的Keum和Yeongsan江，具有不同的微量元素地球化学特征。韩国河流沉积物中微量元素含量多介于长江和黄河之间，以Li、Rb和Th较高为特征，粒级效应明显。长江富铁族和铜族元素，黄河则Sr最高，其他元素均低于其他3条河流；韩国河流中Sr主要赋存于长石中，而长江和黄河中则主要赋存于碳酸盐矿物中。根据沉积物中元素的赋存相态及含量，我们认为Ti、Cr/Th、Ti/Nb和Zr/Nb等可以作为判剐西太平洋边缘海，尤其是黄海中长江、黄河与韩国河流物质贡献的可靠地球化学参数，但在运用中必须注意粒级效应影响。