Semi‐distributed flood runoff model at the subcontinental scale for southwestern Iran

Rainfall–runoff modelling, as a surface hydrological process, on large‐scale data‐poor basins is currently a major topic of investigation that requires the model parameters be identified by using basin physical characteristics rather than calibration. This paper describes the application of the TOPMODEL framework accompanied by a kinematic wave model to the Karun River sub‐basins in southwestern Iran with just one conceptual parameter for calibration. ISLSCP1, HYDRO1K and Reynolds data sets are presented in a geographical information system and used as data sources for meteorological information, hydrological features and soil characteristics of the study area respectively. The results show that although the model developed can adequately predict flood runoff in the catchment with only one calibrated parameter, it is suggested that the effect of surface reservoirs be considered in the proposed model. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

回归模型误差补偿半参数法中正则矩阵任意时的参数估计

用试验观测数据建立的回归拟合模型不可避免地存在模型误差,将模型误差视为非参数分量列入回归模型的半参数模型是一种重要的回归模型.本文利用补偿最小二乘原理,导出了顾及预测点的半参数回归模型参数及模型误差的估计量,并对估计量进行精度评定,给出了估计量及精度评定的相应公式.在理论分析的基础上,得出了只要正则矩阵R的选取使法方程...     

Patterns of grain‐size dependent sediment transport in low‐ordered,ephemeral channels

Sediment data were analyzed to determine grain‐size dependant factors affecting sediment transport in a low‐ordered, ephemeral watershed. Sediment and flow samples were collected during 22 flow events at the outlet of a 4·53 ha sub‐watershed within the Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed in south‐eastern Arizona. Measured concentrations ranged from 4191 to 115 045 mg l^?1 and included grain sizes up to 8·0 mm in diameter. Two grain‐size dependent transport patterns were observed, that of the finer grain‐size fraction (approximately < 0·25 mm) and that of a coarser grain‐size fraction (approximately ≥ 0·25 mm). The concentration of the fine fraction decreased with flow duration, peaking near the beginning of a flow event and declining thereafter. The concentration of the fine fraction showed slight trends with season and recovery period. The concentration of the coarse fraction displayed a slight negative trend with instantaneous discharge and was not correlated with event duration. These patterns typically produced a condition where the majority of the fine fraction of the sediment yield was evacuated out of the watershed before the hydrograph peak while the majority of the coarser sediment was evacuated during the falling limb of the hydrograph. Each grain‐size dependent transport pattern was likely influenced by the source of the associated sediment. At the flow event time scale, the fines were primarily wash load, supplied from the hillslopes and the coarser grains were entrained from the channel bed. Because transport patterns differ based on grain size, attempts to define the total sediment concentration and sediment yield by the behavior of a single grain‐size fraction may lead to erroneous results, especially when a large range of sediment grain sizes are present. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A method for semi‐automated objective quantification of linear bedforms from multi‐scale digital elevation models

The increasing availability of large, detailed digital representations of the Earth's surface demands the application of objective and quantitative analyses. Given recent advances in the understanding of the mechanisms of formation of linear bedform features from a range of environments, objective measurement of their wavelength, orientation, crest and trough positions, height and asymmetry is highly desirable. These parameters are also of use when determining observation‐based parameters for use in many applications such as numerical modelling, surface classification and sediment transport pathway analysis. Here, we (i) adapt and extend extant techniques to provide a suite of semi‐automatic tools which calculate crest orientation, wavelength, height, asymmetry direction and asymmetry ratios of bedforms, and then (ii) undertake sensitivity tests on synthetic data, increasingly complex seabeds and a very large‐scale (39 000 km²) aeolian dune system. The automated results are compared with traditional, manually derived, measurements at each stage. This new approach successfully analyses different types of topographic data (from aeolian and marine environments) from a range of sources, with tens of millions of data points being processed in a semi‐automated and objective manner within minutes rather than hours or days. The results from these analyses show there is significant variability in all measurable parameters in what might otherwise be considered uniform bedform fields. For example, the dunes of the Rub' al Khali on the Arabian peninsula are shown to exhibit deviations in dimensions from global trends. Morphological and dune asymmetry analysis of the Rub' al Khali suggests parts of the sand sea may be adjusting to a changed wind regime from that during their formation 100 to 10 ka BP. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modeling of a large‐scale magneto‐rheological damper for seismic hazard mitigation. Part II: Semi‐active mode

A magneto‐rheological (MR) damper is a semi‐active device where the damper force capacity is controlled by varying the input current into the damper. In this paper, the dynamics of MR dampers associated with variable current input is studied. Electromagnetic theory is used to model the dynamics of an MR damper including the eddy current effect and the nonlinear hysteretic behavior of damper material magnetization. A nonlinear differential equation that relates the input current to the damper with a constant equivalent current is proposed. The nonlinear differential equation is combined with the Maxwell Nonlinear Slider (MNS) model to create the variable current MNS model to predict the damper force under variable input current and random damper displacement loading. The model is evaluated by comparing the predicted response of a large‐scale MR damper to the measured damper response from experiments. The experiments include a real‐time hybrid simulation of a 3‐story building structure with a large‐scale MR damper subjected to the design earthquake. The exceptional agreement observed between the predicted and experimental results illustrate the robustness and the accuracy of the variable current MNS model. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigating hydrologic responses to spatio‐temporal characteristics of storms using a Dynamic Moving Storm generator

A synthetic storm generator—Dynamic Moving Storm (DMS)—is developed in this study to represent spatio‐temporal variabilities of rainfall and storm movement in synthetic storms. Using an urban watershed as the testbed, the authors investigate the hydrologic responses to the DMS parameters and their interactions. In order to reveal the complex nature of rainfall–run‐off processes, previously simplified assumptions are relaxed in this study regarding (a) temporal variability of rainfall intensity and (b) time‐invariant flow velocity in channel routing. The results of this study demonstrate the significant contribution of storm moving velocity to the variation of peak discharge based on a global sensitivity analysis. Furthermore, a pairwise sensitivity analysis is conducted to elucidate not only the patterns in individual contributions from parameters to hydrologic responses but also their interactions with storm moving velocity. The intricacies of peak discharges resulting from sensitivity analyses are then dissected into independent hydrologic metrics, that is, run‐off volume and standard deviation of run‐off timings, for deeper insights. It is confirmed that peak discharge is increased when storms travel downstream along the main channel at the speed that corresponds to a temporal superposition of run‐off. Spatial concentration of catchment rainfall is found to be a critical linkage through which characteristics of moving storms affect peak discharges. In addition, altering peak timing of rainfall intensity in conjunction with storm movement results in varied storm core locations in the channel network, which further changes the flow attenuation effects from channel routing. For future directions, the DMS generator will be embedded in a stochastic modelling framework and applied in rainfall/flow frequency analysis.     

Runoff initiation in a preserved semiarid Caatinga small watershed,Northeastern Brazil

This study analyses some hydrological driving forces and their interrelation with surface‐flow initiation in a semiarid Caatinga basin (12 km²), Northeastern Brazil. During the analysis period (2005 – 2014), 118 events with precipitation higher than 10 mm were monitored, providing 45 events with runoff, 25 with negligible runoff and 49 without runoff. To verify the dominant processes, 179 on‐site measurements of saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) were conducted. The results showed that annual runoff coefficient lay below 0.5% and discharge at the outlet has only occurred four days per annum on average, providing an insight to the surface‐water scarcity of the Caatinga biome. The most relevant variables to explain runoff initiation were total precipitation and maximum 60‐min rainfall intensity (I₆₀). Runoff always occurred when rainfall surpassed 31 mm, but it never occurred for rainfall below 14 mm or for I₆₀ below 12 mm h^?1. The fact that the duration of the critical intensity is similar to the basin concentration time (65 min) and that the infiltration threshold value approaches the river‐bank saturated hydraulic conductivity support the assumption that Hortonian runoff prevails. However, none of the analysed variables (total or precedent precipitation, soil moisture content, rainfall intensities or rainfall duration) has been able to explain the runoff initiation in all monitored events: the best criteria, e.g. failed to explain 27% of the events. It is possible that surface‐flow initiation in the Caatinga biome is strongly influenced by the root‐system dynamics, which changes macro‐porosity status and, therefore, initial abstraction. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spectral analysis for a semi‐active–passive net‐zero base‐shear design concept

Passive high force‐to‐volume (HF2V) dampers offer significant displacement reduction and energy dissipation, but cannot customise overall response. Semi‐active resettable devices offer adaptive, custom hysteresis loops that reduce displacement and base shear, but have limited dissipation. This paper presents a new, combined concept to maximise displacement reduction without increasing base shear – a net‐zero base‐shear concept. HF2V devices, up to a maximum of 10% structural weight, are combined with fixed stiffness resettable devices. Spectral analyses are run for the three SAC ground motion suites that iteratively size the HF2V device at each structural period to achieve maximum displacement reductions without increasing median base shear. HF2V velocity dependence and the need to scale HF2V capacity to spectral velocity are examined in terms of their impact on the results of these analyses. The net‐zero approach reduces base shear by up to 50% and displacements by 30–70% over all ground motions, exceeding reductions obtained by either device separately by 30–50% (relative). The net‐zero condition is not reached within the device limits defined, except at relatively long periods (>3.5 s) because of a virtuous circle of reduced displacement from the resettable and HF2V devices outweighing the increased base shear from the HF2V devices alone. These results are independent of HF2V device scaling, design and velocity dependence. The overall net‐zero concept offers a significant advantage in a combination that cannot be achieved by passive or semi‐active solutions alone. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison of prey of the black Procellaria petrels of New Zealand

Stomach contents of 68 black petrels, Procellaria parkinsoni, 12 Westland black petrels, P. westlandica, and 3 white‐chinned petrels, P. aequinoctialis, were compared. The main prey were Cephalopoda and fish, and these indicated predominantly nocturnal feeding with selection for bioluminescent forms. There is marked latitudinal variation in the Cephalopoda available to these petrels.     

Damping reduction factors and code‐based design equation for structures using semi‐active viscous dampers

This study uses a semi‐active viscous damper with three different control laws to reshape the structural hysteresis loop and mitigate structural response, referred to as 1–4, 1–3 and 2–4 devices, respectively. The 1–4 control law provides damping in all four quadrants of the force‐displacement graph (it behaves like a standard viscous damper), the 1–3 control law provides resisting forces only in the first and third quadrants, and the 2–4 control law provides damping in the second and fourth quadrants. This paper first outlines the linear single degree of freedom structural performance when the three types of semi‐active viscous dampers are applied. The results show that simultaneous reduction in both displacement and base‐shear demand is only available with the semi‐active 2–4 device. To enable guidelines for adding a 2–4 device into the design procedure, damping reduction factors (RF_ξs) are developed, as they play an important role and provide a means of linking devices to design procedures. Three methods are presented to obtain RF_ξ and equivalent viscous damping of a structure with a 2–4 semi‐active viscous damper. In the first method, the relationship between RF_ξ and the damping of a semi‐active structure can be obtained by calculating the area under the force‐deformation diagram. The second and third method modified the Eurocode8 formula of RF_ξ and smoothed results from analysis, respectively. Finally, a simple method is proposed to incorporate the design or retrofit of structures with simple, robust and reliable 2–4 semi‐active viscous dampers using standard design approaches. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.