Discrete‐like crack simulation by smeared crack‐based FEM for reinforced concrete

A numerical process that simulates crack propagation in reinforced concrete through post‐crack stress redistribution is presented. This process is developed within the context of the smeared crack approach. Continuity and orientation of the reinforcing bar components are automatically recognized in the pre‐processing stage. The process explicitly outputs crack widths by computing the bond slips along reinforcement, without imposing any additional nodes between the reinforcement and concrete. The process is incorporated with a finite element algorithm, and the validation is investigated through sample 3D static analyses of nine concrete specimens subjected to monotonic shear and flexure loads. These specimens contain relatively well‐distributed steel bars and fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets of reinforcement ratio from 0.11 to 0.57%. The analyses predict the crack patterns and crack widths well, although some disagreements are found between the test and the analysis results. The proposed process outputs discrete, continuous in crack directions, and element boundary‐free crack patterns. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Light utilization efficiency of phytoplankton in the Western Subarctic Gyre of the North Pacific during summer

We investigated the water-column light utilization efficiency (Ψ) of phytoplankton photosynthesis in the Western Subarctic Gyre (WSG) of the North Pacific during summer 2008. The Ψ values (0.64–1.86 g C [g Chl a]^?1 [mol photon]^?1 m²) obtained were observed to increase significantly with decreasing daily photosynthetic available radiation (PAR) and were generally higher than those of previous studies, not only from the subarctic Pacific but also from the world’s oceans. To examine the effect of iron availability on Ψ in the WSG, Ψ values were estimated from the data of two in situ iron fertilization experiments: the Subarctic Pacific Iron Experiment for Ecosystem Dynamics Study I (SEEDS-I) and II (SEEDS-II). We found that iron availability did not affect Ψ values. Overall, this study revealed that Ψ values changed remarkably in the WSG during the summer, and that higher values were found at the stations where moderate PAR levels (ca. 10–30 mol photons m^?2 day^?1) were observed and where autotrophic flagellates predominated in the phytoplankton assemblages.