2.5D direct‐current resistivity forward modelling and inversion by finite‐element–infinite‐element coupled method

To reduce the numerical errors arising from the improper enforcement of the artificial boundary conditions on the distant surface that encloses the underground part of the subsurface, we present a finite‐element–infinite‐element coupled method to significantly reduce the computation time and memory cost in the 2.5D direct‐current resistivity inversion. We first present the boundary value problem of the secondary potential. Then, a new type of infinite element is analysed and applied to replace the conventionally used mixed boundary condition on the distant boundary. In the internal domain, a standard finite‐element method is used to derive the final system of linear equations. With a novel shape function for infinite elements at the subsurface boundary, the final system matrix is sparse, symmetric, and independent of source electrodes. Through lower upper decomposition, the multi‐pole potentials can be swiftly obtained by simple back‐substitutions. We embed the newly developed forward solution to the inversion procedure. To compute the sensitivity matrix, we adopt the efficient adjoint equation approach to further reduce the computation cost. Finally, several synthetic examples are tested to show the efficiency of inversion.     

Interannual variability in glacier contribution to runoff from a high‐elevation Andean catchment: understanding the role of debris cover in glacier hydrology

We present a field‐data rich modelling analysis to reconstruct the climatic forcing, glacier response, and runoff generation from a high‐elevation catchment in central Chile over the period 2000–2015 to provide insights into the differing contributions of debris‐covered and debris‐free glaciers under current and future changing climatic conditions. Model simulations with the physically based glacio‐hydrological model TOPKAPI‐ETH reveal a period of neutral or slightly positive mass balance between 2000 and 2010, followed by a transition to increasingly large annual mass losses, associated with a recent mega drought. Mass losses commence earlier, and are more severe, for a heavily debris‐covered glacier, most likely due to its strong dependence on snow avalanche accumulation, which has declined in recent years. Catchment runoff shows a marked decreasing trend over the study period, but with high interannual variability directly linked to winter snow accumulation, and high contribution from ice melt in dry periods and drought conditions. The study demonstrates the importance of incorporating local‐scale processes such as snow avalanche accumulation and spatially variable debris thickness, in understanding the responses of different glacier types to climate change. We highlight the increased dependency of runoff from high Andean catchments on the diminishing resource of glacier ice during dry years.     

Hyporheic exchange flow around constructed in‐channel structures and implications for restoration design

In‐channel rock vane structures are widely used in stream restoration as a way to reduce stream channel erosion and create pool or riffle features. When these structures change hydraulic gradients they may affect ecological stream functions, such as hyporheic exchange flow (HEF) patterns. A study of constructed in‐channel structure controls on HEF was conducted in the third‐order Batavia Kill, New York using stream and hyporheic temperature amplitude analysis and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) hydraulic simulations. Temperature monitors were installed in the water column and channel bed at six locations around each of seven in‐channel restoration structures (three cross‐vanes and four J‐hooks) at baseflow in 2007. Elevation surveys of the structures were then used to simulate HEF using CFD. The results indicate a pattern of pronounced upwelling in the run section just below the structure, upwelling transitioning to downwelling within the pool, and pronounced downwelling in the glide out of the pool. This pattern is consistent with natural riffle pool sequences. The direction of HEF inferred from the temperature amplitude analysis agreed with the direction of flow simulated with CFD at 80% of the locations, and the few disagreements were expected due to model limitations. CFD simulation demonstrated that increasing stream flows result in changes in HEF spatial patterns and magnitude at each structure. This work illustrates how CFD simulations can guide design of in‐channel restoration structures for HEF function. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Study of the interaction between dry granular flows and rigid barriers with an SPH model

This study uses an incompressible smoothed‐particle hydrodynamics model to investigate the interaction between dry granular material flows and rigid barriers. The primary aim is to summarise some practical guidelines for the design of debris‐resisting barriers. The granular materials are modelled as a rigid‐perfectly plastic material where the plastic flow corresponds to the critical state. The coupled continuity equation and momentum equation are solved by a semi‐implicit algorithm. Compared with flows in controlled flume experiments, the model adequately reproduces both the kinetic of the flows and the impact force under various conditions. Then the numerical simulations are used to study the detailed interaction process. It is illustrated quantitatively that the interaction force consists of two parts, ie, the earth pressure force caused by the weight of the soil and a dynamic force caused by the internal deformation (flowing mass on top of a dead zone). For the estimation of impact load, this study suggests that an increased earth pressure coefficient depending on the Froude number should be incorporated into the hydrostatic model.     

Modelling of groundwater flow in heterogeneous porous media by finite element method

The HySuf‐FEM code (Hydrodynamic of Subsurface Flow by Finite Element Method) is proposed in this article in order to estimate the spatial variability of the transmissivity values of the Berrechid aquifer (Morocco). The calibration of the model is based on the hydraulic head, hydraulic conductivity and recharge. Three numerical tests are used to validate the model and verify its convergence. The first test case consists in using the steady analytical solution of the Poisson equation. In the second, the model has been compared with the hydrogeological system which is characterized by an unconfined monolayer (isotropic layer) and computed by using PMWIN‐MODFLOW software. The third test case is based on the comparison between the results of HySuf‐FEM and the multiple cell balance method in the aquifer system with natural boundaries case. Good agreement between the Hydrodynamic of Subsurface Flow, the numerical tests and the spatial distribution of the thickening of the hydrogeological system is deduced from the analysis and the interpretations of hydrogeological wells. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Numerical Simulation Study of Temperature and Pressure Effects on the Breakthrough Pressure of CO2 in Unsaturated Low-permeability Rock Core

Gas breakthrough pressure is a key parameter to evaluate the sealing capacity of caprock, and it also plays important roles in safety and capacity of CO2 geological storage. Based on the published experimental results, we present numerical simulations on CO2 breakthrough pressure in unsaturated low-permeability rock under 9 multiple P-T conditions (which can keep CO2 in gaseous, liquid and supercritical states) and thus, a numerical method which can be used to accurately predict CO2 breakthrough pressure on rock-core scale is proposed. The simulation results show that CO2 breakthrough pressure and breakthrough time are exponential correlated with P-T conditions. Meanwhile, pressure has stronger effects on experimental results than that of temperature. Moreover, we performed sensitivity studies on the pore distribution index λ (0.6, 0.7, 0.8, and 0.9) in van Genuchten-Muale model. Results show that with the increase of λ, CO2 breakthrough pressure and breakthrough time both show decreasing trends. In other words, the larger the value of λ is, the better the permeability of the caprock is, and the worse the CO2 sealing capacity is. The numerical method established in this study can provide an important reference for the prediction of gas breakthrough pressure on rock-core scale and for related numerical studies.     

Carbon stock of oil palm plantations and tropical forests in Malaysia: A review

In Malaysia, the main land change process is the establishment of oil palm plantations on logged‐over forests and areas used for shifting cultivation, which is the traditional farming system. While standing carbon stocks of old‐growth forest have been the focus of many studies, this is less the case for Malaysian fallow systems and oil palm plantations. Here, we collate and analyse Malaysian datasets on total carbon stocks for both above‐ and below‐ground biomass. We review the current knowledge on standing carbon stocks of 1) different forest ecosystems, 2) areas subject to shifting cultivation (fallow forests) and 3) oil palm plantations. The forest ecosystems are classified by successional stage and edaphic conditions and represent samples along a forest succession continuum spanning pioneer species in shifting cultivation fallows to climax vegetation in old‐growth forests. Total carbon stocks in tropical forests range from 4 to 384 Mg C/ha, significantly wider than the range of total carbon stocks of oil palm plantations, 2 to 60 Mg C/ha. Conversion of old‐growth forest areas to oil palm plantations leads to substantial reduction in carbon storage, while conversion of forest fallows to oil palm plantations may sustain or even increase the standing carbon stock.     

Analysis of uncertainties in the hydrological response of a model‐based climate change impact assessment in a subcatchment of the Spree River,Germany

Climate change impact assessments form the basis for the development of suitable climate change adaptation strategies. For this purpose, ensembles consisting of stepwise coupled models are generally used [emission scenario → global circulation model → downscaling approach (DA) → bias correction → impact model (hydrological model)], in which every item is affected by considerable uncertainty. The aim of the current study is (1) to analyse the uncertainty related to the choice of the DA as well as the hydrological model and its parameterization and (2) to evaluate the vulnerability of the studied catchment, a subcatchment of the highly anthropogenically impacted Spree River catchment, to hydrological change. Four different DAs are used to drive four different model configurations of two conceptually different hydrological models (Water Balance Simulation Model developed at ETH Zürich and HBV‐light). In total, 452 simulations are carried out. The results show that all simulations compute an increase in air temperature and potential evapotranspiration. For precipitation, runoff and actual evapotranspiration, opposing trends are computed depending on the DA used to drive the hydrological models. Overall, the largest source of uncertainty can be attributed to the choice of the DA, especially regarding whether it is statistical or dynamical. The choice of the hydrological model and its parameterization is of less importance when long‐term mean annual changes are compared. The large bandwidth at the end of the modelling chain may exacerbate the formulation of suitable climate change adaption strategies on the regional scale. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A distributed parameter model of a frame pin‐supported wall structure

Many reinforced‐concrete frames collapse via a soft‐story mechanism during severe earthquakes. Such collapses are mainly attributed to concentrated deformation in a soft story. Deformation control is thus important in preventing collapse. The frame pin‐supported wall structure is a type of rocking structure that releases constraints at the bottom of the wall. Previous research has obtained good results for the deformation control of this type of structure. However, the interior forces and strength demands of the pin‐supported wall have not been systematically explored. In this paper, a distributed parameter model is developed to investigate the strength demand of the wall in a frame pin‐supported wall structure. In the model, the pin‐supported wall is simplified as a bending beam and the frame is simplified as a shear beam. The two beams are joined by distributed shear connectors, so that the shear force can be transferred at any location on the interface. The model can be solved using differential equations based on equilibrium and compatibility. The accuracy of the model is verified using SAP2000 (Computers and Structures Inc., Berkeley, CA, USA). Displacement distribution of the structure and distributions of the moment and shear force within the pin‐supported wall are obtained for two typical external force profiles. It is found that the pin‐supported wall can effectively reduce the drift concentration factor. Distributions of the displacement, moment, and shear force are closely correlated with the relative stiffness of the wall and frame. Finally, recommendations on the stiffness and strength of a pin‐supported wall are made. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

考虑土-结构相互作用双层柱面网壳在多点输入下的地震反应分析

目前对于网壳结构的地震反应研究大部分仍然采用一致输入,特别是没有考虑土-结构相互作用对网壳结构的影响。本文通过对大型有限元分析软件MSC.Nastran的二次开发,用等效线性化方法考虑土体的非线性,对土体采用三维实体单元建模,并对土体在基岩面上采用地震动的多点输入,计算分析了大跨度双层柱面网壳的动力反应,并且与一致地震动输入下网壳结构的地震反应进行了对比,考察了两者之间的差异,深入分析了考虑土-结构相互作用下,双层柱面网壳结构在多点输入和一致输入下的地震反应规律,并得出了一些重要结论。