The rotational motion of an earth orbiting gyroscope according to the Einstein theory of general relativity

The classical Poisson equations of rotational motion are used to study the attitude motions of an Earth orbiting, rapidly spinning gyroscope perturbed by the effects of general relativity (Einstein theory). The center of mass of the gyroscope is assumed to move about a rotating oblate Earth in an evolving elliptic orbit which includes all first-order oblateness effects produced by the Earth.A method of averaging is used to obtain a transformation of variables, for the nonresonance case, which significantly simplifies the Poisson differential equations of motion of the gyroscope. Longterm solutions are obtained by an exact analytical integration of the simplified transformed equations. These solutions may be used to predict both the orientation of the gyroscope and the motion of its rotational angular momentum vector as viewed from its center of mass. The results are valid for all eccentricities and all inclinations not near the critical inclination.This paper represents a part of the author's Ph. D. dissertation for the Mathematics Department, Auburn University.     

Issues in sediment toxicity and ecological risk assessment

This paper is based on a facilitated Workshop and Roundtable Discussion of key issues in sediment toxicology and ecological risk assessment (ERA) as applied to sediments that was held at the Conference on Dredged Material Management: Options and Environmental Considerations. The issues addressed included how toxicity is defined and perceived, how it is measured, and how it should be used within the context of ERA to support management decisions. The following conclusions were reached regarding scientific considerations of these issues. Toxicity is a measure of hazard and not a risk per se. Thus, toxicity testing is a means but not the end to understand risks of sediments. Toxicity testing cannot presently be replaced by chemical analyses to define hazard. Toxicity test organisms need to be appropriate to the problem being addressed, and the results put into context relative to both reference and baseline comparisons to understand hazard. Use of toxicity tests in sediment ERAs requires appropriate endpoints and risk hypotheses, considering ecological not just statistical significance, and recognizing that hazard does not equate to risk. Toxicity should be linked to population and community response to support decision-making, assessing possible genotypic adaptations that can influence risk estimates, and addressing uncertainty. Additionally, several key scientific issues were identified to improve future sediment ERAs, including the need to improve basic understanding of ecological mechanisms and processes, recognition of variability in the assessment process, and an improved focus and ability to assess risks to populations and communities.     

Seismic and Petrophysical Relationships from UK Continental Shelf Rocks at Elevated Pressures

There are few published seismic (P- and S-waves) properties for seafloor bedrocks. At low pressures (1 to 10 MPa), velocities and attenuations are determined mainly by open microcracks. At higher pressures, the microcracks close, and the velocities and attenuations depend primarily on the matrix porosity. We have investigated both the relationships between the acoustic, petrophysical, and geological properties of the rocks at 40 MPa pressure and the effect of microcracks on the acoustic properties at 10 MPa pressure. In this paper we discuss the former; the latter will be discussed separately. P- and S-wave velocity and attenuation measurements were carried out on a suite of seabed sedimentary and igneous rocks at effective pressures from 10 to 40 MPa at ultrasonic frequencies. The porosities and permeabilities of the rocks ranged from 0% to 32% and 0 to 110 mDarcy, respectively. Characterization of the rocks revealed that most of the sandstones have a substantial clay content (kaolinite, illite, and chlorite) and fractures. Most of the igneous rocks are chloritized. The seismic properties of the rocks are markedly lower than those of similar continental rocks because of the microporosity formed by the alteration of feldspars, micas, and mafic minerals to clays (e.g., chloritization of pyroxenes) and the corresponding reduction of the elastic moduli. The results of this study suggest that the values of velocities and quality factors used for ocean acoustic propagation models are lower than normally assumed.     

西南山区交通工程弃渣的工程特性评价及其分类

山区交通工程弃渣力学参数的准确测定,一直是弃渣场边坡稳定性评价面临的基础科学问题。在山区交通工程弃渣场运行特点和弃渣固体废弃物特征认知的基础上,探讨弃渣取样和试验代表性问题的物理根源,依托实际工程累计数据尝试提出简单实用的弃渣工程特性评价和分类方法。结果表明:①常规交通工程弃渣的密度、颗粒分析和强度试验,由于弃渣的粒径范围差异大、颗粒空间分布不均、弃渣来源复杂等固体废弃物特征造成取样和试验代表性难题;用多阶段坡角测量和颗粒分析试验代替传统的弃渣边坡试验,解决了试验和取样代表性难题。②利用弃渣粗细比可将弃渣分为细粒弃渣、混合型弃渣和粗粒弃渣。③根据弃渣粗细比、天然休止角和整形坡率,将西南山区交通工程弃渣分为细粒弃渣、混合型弃渣和粗粒弃渣等3类。细粒弃渣,弃渣粗细比小于0.3,天然休止角小于31.5°,整形坡率为1.00∶2.00;混合型弃渣,弃渣粗细比为0.3~1.0,天然休止角为31.5°~39.5°,整形坡率为1.00∶2.00~1.00∶1.50;粗粒弃渣,弃渣粗细比大于1.0,天然休止角大于39.5°,整形坡率为1.00∶1.50。④用多阶段坡角测量、颗粒分析试验和无黏性土边坡稳定性系数计算公式代替传统的弃渣边坡试验和稳定性系数计算方法,方法简单,结果保守,可以作为弃渣边坡稳定性评价和安全控制技术的有益补充。     

区域气候模式与陆面模式的耦合及其对东亚气候模拟的影响

将大气—植被相互作用模式AVIM（Atmosphere-Vegetation Interaction Model）与区域环境系统集成模式 RIEMS2.0（Regional Integrated Environment Modeling System Version 2.0）耦合,利用耦合后的AVIM-RIEMS2.0模式在东亚区域选定典型年份进行积分试验,通过模拟结果与观测资料对比分析,从整体上评估耦合模式对东亚区域的模拟能力。结果表明:模式能够较好地模拟850 hPa风场、500 hPa位势高度、气温、降水以及地表热通量空间分布型和季节变化。双向耦合具有动态植被过程的AVIM模式后,RIEMS2.0模拟能力有一定程度的提高。850 hPa风场在冬季的中国东北、华北地区以及夏季的中国东部地区,模拟偏差都减小;500 hPa高度场模拟在中国北方地区改进明显,而在中国南方地区的夏季并没表现出明显的改进趋势。耦合模式改进了RIEMS2.0模式冬季气温模拟偏低而夏季偏高的现象。从区域平均看,耦合模式改善了降水模拟偏多的现象,并使得潜热通量的模拟效果有明显的改进,对感热通量模拟在大部分地区也有改进。总的来看,AVIM-RIEMS2.0耦合模式对中国北方地区模拟改进较为明显,而对中国南方地区,特别是华南地区没有明显的改进。     

Transient electromagnetic field in magneto-viscous medium

When using Transient Geo-Electromagnetics (TEM) unusually slow decaying transients are sometimes observed in the absence of well-conductive objects. Many researchers explain this phenomenon by presence of material with magneto-viscous or superparamagnetic (SPM) properties. The analysis of electromagnetic (EM) field equations in conductive SPM medium is suggested in the present paper. It is shown that in a simplest case of small size single-domain magnetic particles with relative higher potential barrier energy, the SPM-medium is characterized by a very slow decaying exponential transient magnetic field, the level of which is much more as compared to that of due to non-magnetic medium of the same conductivity. This situation is traced up to the late transient time like 0.1 s and more. SPM and Induction fields are in the near zone additive. They depend in a different way on the superparamagnetic and electric properties of the SPM-medium. They also depend in different ways on the transient time and on the size of the transmitter–receiver configuration. These characteristics make it possible to recognize the presence of SPM-effect and to separate these fields.     

Modeling of 500-year tsunamis for probabilistic design of coastal infrastructure in the Pacific Northwest

This paper describes the development of tsunami scenarios from the National Seismic Hazard Maps for design of coastal infrastructure in the Pacific Northwest. The logic tree of Cascadia earthquakes provides four 500-year rupture configurations at moment magnitude 8.8, 9.0, and 9.2 for development of probabilistic design criteria. A planar fault model describes the rupture configurations and determines the earth surface deformation for tsunami modeling. A case study of four bridge sites at Siletz Bay, Oregon illustrates the challenges in modeling of tsunamis on the Pacific Northwest coast. A nonlinear shallow-water model with a shock-capturing scheme describes tsunami propagation across the northeastern Pacific as well as barrier beach overtopping, bore formation, and detailed flow conditions at Siletz Bay. The results show strong correlation with geological evidence from the six paleotsunamis during the last 2800 years. The proposed approach allows determination of tsunami loads that are consistent with the seismic loads currently in use for design of buildings and structures.     

利用叠前密度反演预测岩性的应用研究

珠江口盆地番禺某地区使用常规的叠后波阻抗较难识别储层岩性。使用叠前密度反演方法,即利用不同炮检距道集数据以及纵波、横渡、密度等测井资料进行反演,同时反演出纵波阻抗、横波阻抗、密度等。利用该技术对该地区进行储层预测,结果表明密度可以有效的区分该区的储层,并能清楚反映出尖灭等地质现象;目的层SB21．0沿层属性展示出有利储层的分布区域,预测区得到了钻井证实,证明该技术是有效的。