Analytical and numerical analysis of tides and salinities in estuaries; part I: tidal wave propagation in convergent estuaries

Analytical solutions of the momentum and energy equations for tidal flow are studied. Analytical solutions are well known for prismatic channels but are less well known for converging channels. As most estuaries have a planform with converging channels, the attention in this paper is fully focused on converging tidal channels. It will be shown that the tidal range along converging channels can be described by relatively simple expressions solving the energy and momentum equations (new approaches). The semi-analytical solution of the energy equation includes quadratic (nonlinear) bottom friction. The analytical solution of the continuity and momentum equations is only possible for linearized bottom friction. The linearized analytical solution is presented for sinusoidal tidal waves with and without reflection in strongly convergent (funnel type) channels. Using these approaches, simple and powerful tools (spreadsheet models) for tidal analysis of amplified and damped tidal wave propagation in converging estuaries have been developed. The analytical solutions are compared with the results of numerical solutions and with measured data of the Western Scheldt Estuary in the Netherlands, the Hooghly Estuary in India and the Delaware Estuary in the USA. The analytical solutions show surprisingly good agreement with measured tidal ranges in these large-scale tidal systems. Convergence is found to be dominant in long and deep-converging channels resulting in an amplified tidal range, whereas bottom friction is generally dominant in shallow converging channels resulting in a damped tidal range. Reflection in closed-end channels is important in the most landward 1/3 length of the total channel length. In strongly convergent channels with a single forward propagating tidal wave, there is a phase lead of the horizontal and vertical tide close to 90^o, mimicking a standing wave system (apparent standing wave).     

Design charts for elastic pile shortening in the equivalent top–down load–settlement curve from a bidirectional load test

With a rigid pile assumption, the equivalent top–down load–settlement curve constructed from the results of a bidirectional or bottom–up pile load test does not fully consider the total elastic shortening when all the load components from skin-friction and end-bearing are applied downward at the pile head. In effect, the equivalent curve constructed by the original method suggested from the Osterberg test showed a much stiffer curve compared to the top–down curve. Design charts are provided in this paper from the results of a parametric study on bored piles in order to approximately evaluate the λ-factor that is used to estimate the top–down pile shortening from the bottom–up shortening due to the skin-friction component of the load. It has been shown that the λ-factor varies with the distribution of the undrained shear strength profile, pile slenderness ratio, and mobilization of the skin-friction resistance. In addition, the pile shortening due to the end-bearing load component is added to the top settlements by treating the pile as an elastic column. A modified method for the construction of the equivalent top–down load–settlement curve is presented that considers the elastic pile shortening and validated with the measured top–down load–settlement curve from pile load tests.     

Development without Intervention: A Successful Self‐Reliance Initiative of Rural Development and Urban Growth in The Sudan

We investigate the complex relationship between small‐scale farming, urban‐rural remittances and rural development. We highlight a successful, innovative self‐reliance approach in which traditional farmers changed their mode of production, improved their income, and enhanced rural development, including urbanization, in Shubbola village of western Sudan. The major initial driver was investment from remittances by family members who had migrated to urban centers, thus overcoming the problem of access to credit/capital. Consequently, the increased use of tractor technology helped farmers overcome agricultural labor shortages, and increase their farm size and productivity. Increased income from remittances and farming broadened economic and social improvements, including lifestyle and the built environment. In the process, Shubbola has grown into a viable and vibrant town, providing its residents with diverse socioeconomic services and modern infrastructure. This case illustrates the potential of development from within with minimal direct input from the government, nongovernmental organizations, and international donors.     

Source identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of a creek around a flow station

Sources of the sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the United States Environmental Protection Agency priority pollutants list were determined in sediments of Kolo Creek using diagnostic ratios of parent PAHs[phenanthrene/phenanthrene + anthracene; fluoranthene/fluoranthene + pyrene; benz(a) anthracene/benz(a) anthracene + chrysene and indeno(1,2,3-d)pyrene/indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene + benzo(ghi)pyrelene]. The study was conducted over four seasons (dry, late dry, rainy and late rainy seasons). Applying cross plots of the diagnostic ratios revealed that PAHs in Kolo Creek sediment have pyrogenic origins except in the rainy season that had petrogenic origins. Comparison of diagnostic ratio values obtained from this study with literature values enabled the further classification into types of pyrogenic and/or petrogenic sources. While the pyrogenic sources of PAHs were mainly as a result of Grass/Wood combustion, the petrogenic PAHs were as result of drained diesel and lubricating oil. The predicted sources corresponded with the prevailing human activities in the vicinity, especially samples collected near a petrol station and an abattoir. This study further affirms the simplicity and accuracy of the use of diagnostic ratios for PAHs source prediction.     

Molecular Cloud Formation in Disk Galaxies: The Case of M33

We present results from the BIMA survey of ¹²CO(1→0)emission from M33. The survey resolves this emission into individualobjects making this study the first unbiased, complete census of giantmolecular clouds (GMCs) in a spiral galaxy. The GMCs are clearlyassociated with dense atomic gas, suggesting formation from the HI. Moreover, high resolution observations of these clouds show thatthey appear the same as Milky Way GMCs when viewed through the sameobservational filters. The GMCs show significantly less angularmomentum than predicted by simple formation theories, suggesting theimportance of magnetohydrodynamic effects in their formation.     

Simultaneous linear and circular polarization observations of blazars 3C 66A,OJ 287 and Markarian 421

We present the first ever simultaneous optical linear and circular polarization observations of blazars. These polarizations have been measured simultaneously inUBVRI-bands in three blazars; 3C 66A, OJ 287 and Markarian 421. Measured linear polarization in 3C 66A was the largest ever observed, at PR = 33.1 ± 0.5 per cent. In 3C 66A we detected small circular polarization in the other bands, exceptU. In OJ 287 we detected variable circular polarization in theU-band.     

Vertical dynamic response of pile in a radially heterogeneous soil layer

An analysis of a pile vertical response considering soil inhomogeneity in the radial direction under dynamic loads is presented. The solution technique is based on a three‐dimensional axisymmetric model, which includes the consideration of the vertical displacement of the soil. The soil domain is subdivided into a number of annular vertical zones, and the continuity of the displacements and stresses are imposed at both the interface of pile–soil and the interfaces of adjacent soil zones to establish the dynamic equilibrium equations of the pile–soil interaction. Then, the equations of each soil zone and of the pile are solved one by one to obtain the analytical and semi‐analytical dynamic responses at the top of the pile in the frequency domain and time domain. Parametric studies have been performed to examine the influence of soil parameters' variations in the radial direction caused by the construction effect on the dynamic responses of pile. The results of the studies have been summarized and presented in figures to illustrate the influences of the soil parameters as they change radially. The effect of the radius of the disturbed soil zone caused by construction is also studied in this paper. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analytical study of mine closure behaviour in a poro‐visco‐elastic medium

This paper is interested in the hydro‐mechanical behaviour of an underground cavity abandoned at the end of its service life. It is an extension of a previous study that accounted for a poro‐elastic behaviour of the rock mass (Int. J. Comput. Geomech. 2007; DOI: 10.1016/j.compgeo.2007.11.003 ). Deterioration of the lining support with time leads to the transfer of the loading from the exterior massif to the interior backfill. The in situ material has a poro‐visco‐elastic constitutive behaviour while the backfill is poro‐elastic, both saturated with water. This loading transfer is accompanied by an inward cavity convergence, thereby compressing the backfill, and induces an outward water flow. This leads to a complex space–time evolution of pore pressures, displacements and stresses, which is not always intuitive. In its general setting, a semi‐explicit solution to this problem is developed, using Laplace transform, the inversion being performed numerically. Analytical inversion leading to a quasi‐explicit solution in the time domain is possible by identifying the characteristic creep and relaxation times of volumetric strains with those of the deviatoric strains, on the basis of a parametric study. A few numerical examples are given to illustrate the hydro‐mechanical behaviour of the cavity and highlight the influence of key parameters (e.g. stiffness of backfill, lining deterioration rate, etc.). Further studies accounting for more general material behaviours for the backfill and external ground are ongoing. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.