Energy dissipation models for RC members and structures

The unloading parameters of hysteretic models for RC members are given in terms of their shear-span-to-depth ratio and the viscous damping used to model other energy dissipation sources. They reflect the energy dissipation in full post-yield load cycles in 534 tests of rectangular or circular members. Pre-yield hysteretic energy dissipation—ignored if the model is elastic till yielding—amounts in the tests to a mean viscous damping around 8.5% and can be considered in nonlinear response-history analysis through a new model which combines constant elastic stiffness in virgin loading with hysteretic energy dissipation both before and after yielding. Models with linear behavior till yielding and hysteretic energy dissipation only after it come closer to the results of the new model if viscous damping is 5%.     

Tree-ring growth variability in the Austrian Alps: the influence of site, altitude, tree species and climate

We present an extensive new network of ring-width chronologies, comprising data from 100 sites within the Austrian Eastern Alps, made up of multiple tree species. Principal components analysis and cluster analysis were used to identify five separate high-frequency tree-growth signals from these data. Tree-growth variability at these sites is explained by site altitude and species differences that moderate the effects of the annually varying climatic forcing on tree growth. Recently developed, two-century long gridded climate data sets for the Greater Alpine Region were used to assess the relationship between climate and tree growth. Tree growth at low altitudes is controlled mainly by spring-summer moisture availability. At high altitudes precipitation is no longer a limiting factor and growth is mostly determined by summer temperature. In the intermediate altitudinal range, we did not find any direct relationships with specific climatic variables. High-altitude chronologies suitable for reconstructing past temperatures and low-altitude chronologies suitable for reconstructing past precipitation were identified.     

Exploring the 7:4 mean motion resonance—II: Scattering evolutionary paths and resonance sticking

In our preliminary study, we have investigated basic properties and dynamical evolution of classical TNOs around the 7:4 mean motion resonance with Neptune (a∼43.7 AU), motivated by observational evidences that apparently present irregular features near this resonance (see [Lykawka and Mukai, 2005a. Exploring the 7:4 mean motion resonance—I. Dynamical evolution of classical trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs). Space Planet. Sci. 53, 1175-1187]; hereafter “Paper I”). In this paper, we aim to explore the dynamical long-term evolution in the scattered disk (but not its early formation) based on the computer simulations performed in Paper I together with extra computations. Specifically, we integrated the orbital motion of test particles (totalizing a bit more than 10,000) placed around the 7:4 mean motion resonance under the effect of the four giant planets for the age of the Solar System. In order to investigate chaotic diffusion, we also conducted a special simulation with on-line computation of proper elements following tracks in phase space over 4-5 Gyr. We found that: (1) A few percent (1-2%) of the test particles survived in the scattered disk with direct influence of other Neptunian mean motion resonances, indicating that resonance sticking is an extremely common phenomenon and that it helps to enhance scattered objects longevity. (2) In the same region, the so-called extended scattered TNOs are able to form via very long resonance trapping under certain conditions. Namely, if the body spends more than about 80% of its dynamical lifetime trapped in mean motion resonance(s) and there is the action of a k+1 or (k+2)/2 mean motion resonance (e.g., external mean motion resonances with Neptune described as (j+k)/j with j=1 and 2, respectively). According to this hypothetical mechanism, 5-15% of current scattered TNOs would possess thus probably constituting a significant part of the extended scattered disk. (3) Moreover, considering hot orbital initial conditions, it is likely that the trans-Neptunian belt (or Edgeworth-Kuiper belt) has been providing members to the scattered disk, so that scattered TNOs observed today would consist of primordial scattered bodies mixed with TNOs that came from unstable regions of the trans-Neptunian belt in the past.Considering the three points together, our results demonstrated that the scattered disk has been evolving continuously since early times until present.     

Chemical and mineralogical evidence of the occurrence of mantle metasomatism by carbonate-rich melts in an oceanic environment (Santiago Island, Cape Verde)

Lavas from Santiago Island attest to a complex magmatic history, in which heterogeneous mantle source(s) and the interactions of advecting magmas with thick metasomatised oceanic lithosphere played an important role in the observed isotopic and trace element signatures. Young (<3.3 Ma) primitive lavas from Santiago Island are characterised by pronounced negative K anomalies and trace element systematics indicating that during partial melting D_K>D_Ce. These features suggest equilibration with an oceanic lithospheric mantle containing K-rich hydrous mineral assemblages, consistent with the occurrence of amphibole + phlogopite in associated metasomatised lherzolite xenoliths, where orthopyroxene is partially replaced by newly formed olivine + (CO₂ + spinel + carbonate inclusion-rich) clinopyroxene. Metasomatism induced a decrease in $ a ^{{{\text{melt}}}}_{{{\text{SiO}}_{{\text{2}}} }} $ and Ti/Eu ratios, as well as an increase in fO ₂ , Ca/Sc and Sr/Sm in the Santiago magmas, suggesting a carbonatitic composition for the metasomatic agent. Santiago primitive lavas are highly enriched in incompatible elements and show a moderate range in isotopic compositions (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr?=?0.70318–0.70391, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd?=?0.51261–0.51287, ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf?=?0.28284–0.28297). Elemental and isotopic signatures suggest the involvement of HIMU and EM1-type mantle end-members, in agreement with the overall isotopic characteristics of the southern Cape Verde Islands. The overall geochemical characteristics of lavas from Santiago Island allow us to consider the EM1-like end-member as resulting from the involvement of subcontinental lithospheric mantle in the genesis of magmas on Santiago.     

EUDOSSO: a space project for solar oscillations and long term variability relevant to climatic changes

The basic design and the scientific aims of the EUDOSSO project are described. EUDOSSO is a space instrument conceived for achieving very high accuracy and long term stability in measuring solar diameter time variations. Therefore it is suitable for measuring long periodg-modes, oblateness and long-term diameter variations possibly relevant to climatic changes.     

Piles under axial and torsional loads

An analysis of axially and torsionally loaded piles is presented in which the pile is treated as an elastic bar supported on two series of interacting non-linear axial and torsional springs. The characteristics of these springs depend on the soil properties and the diameter of the pile as well as on the interaction between the axial and torsional response. Predicted pile responses are compared to the results of model tests conducted on piles installed in a soft clay bed and loaded with combined axial and torsional loads. Both experimental results and theoretical predictions show that a torque applied to the pile head affects significantly the settlement and the axial bearing capacity of the pile.     

Note on the intensity of encountered waves

An apparent wave is a part of the sea record observed between two successive upcrossings of the still water level. Integral formulas are given for intensities of encountered waves that overtake a ship sailing in directional sea with constant velocity. The formulas can be evaluated exactly in the case when the directional spectrum is known and the sea is assumed to be Gaussian, i.e. is a sum of noninteracting sinusoidal waves.     

Reconstruction of food conditions for Northeast Atlantic bivalve species based on Dynamic Energy Budgets

Required assimilated energy to support observed growth was reconstructed for four common bivalve species (Mya arenaria, Cerastoderma edule, Mytilus edulis and Macoma balthica) from various Northeast Atlantic coastal areas, along the species distributional range. The approach applied was based on the Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) theory whereby observed growth patterns in the field, in combination with prevailing temperatures, were used to reconstruct the average food intake experienced in the field scaled to the maximum possible. For all species, results suggest food limitation over the range of locations. In general, reconstructed food intake indicated better conditions for C. edule compared to the other species, while M. edulis presented the lowest food conditions in all the areas. Despite the indications for a latitudinal trend in primary production, no clear pattern or relationship between reconstructed food conditions and latitude was observed suggesting that any trend may be overruled by local conditions.     

Dynamo-based scheme for forecasting the magnitude of solar activity cycles

In this paper we present a general framework for forecasting the smoothed maximum level of solar activity in a given cycle, based on a simple understanding of the solar dynamo. This type of forecasting requires knowledge of the Sun's polar magnetic field strength at the preceeding activity minimum. Because direct measurements of this quantity are difficult to obtain, we evaluate the quality of a number of proxy indicators already used by other authors which are physically related to the Sun's polar field. We subject these indicators to a rigorous statistical analysis, and specify in detail the analysis technique for each indicator in order to simplify and systematize reanalysis for future use. We find that several of these proxies are in fact poorly correlated or uncorrelated with solar activity, and thus are of little value for predicting activity maxima.We also present a scheme in which the predictions of the individual proxies are combined via an appropriately weighted mean to produce a compound prediction. We then apply the scheme to the current cycle 22, and estimate a maximum smoothed International sunspot number of 171 ± 26, which can be expressed alternatively as a smoothed 2800 MHz radio flux (F _10.7) of 211 ± 23 × (10^–22 Wm^–2Hz^–1), or as a smoothed sunspot area of 2660 ± 430 millionths of a solar disk. Once the actual maximum for cycle 22 has been established, we will have both additional statistics for all the proxy indicators, and a clearer indication of how accurately the present scheme can predict solar activity levels.