Behavior of Deformation and Strength of Concrete Under Biaxial Stresses

The study of the behavior of concrete under biaxial stresses is essential to the design of offshore concrete platforms. Using the multiaxial test apparatus developed by the authors, the deformation and strength of concrete under biaxial stresses are studied experimentally. Based on the test data, an endochronic damage constitutive model and a failure criterion are proposed. According to the above model, an incremental nonlinear iterative programme is developed, and a plate sample in plane stress state is analyzed.     

Biomarker responses in Macoma nasuta (Bivalvia) exposed to sediments from northern San Francisco Bay

Our study investigates biomarker responses and survival of Macoma nasuta exposed to sediments collected from six locations in northern San Francisco Bay. Biomarkers analyzed were stress proteins (hsp70) in gill, mantle and digestive gland, lysosomal membrane damage and histopathologic lesions. Sediments and clam tissues were analyzed for a comprehensive suite of heavy metals and trace organic pollutants. Sediment grain size and organic carbon content were determined. Clams accumulated metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pesticides (aldrin and p,p^′-DDT and its metabolites p,p^′-DDD and p,p^′-DDE). Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis revealed that mortality, hsp70 in gill and histopathologic lesion scores in gonads, and lysosomal membrane damage were significantly correlated with tissue concentrations of DDT and/or its metabolites. Tissue concentrations of metals, in particular nickel, chromium, and copper, were associated with macrophage aggregates in digestive gland and germ cell necrosis. Cadmium was linked to mortality and lysosomal membrane damage.     

Damage Localization of Offshore Platforms Under Ambient Excitation

In this paper Nondestructive Damage Detection (NDD) for offshore platforms is investigated under operational conditions. As is known, there is no easy way to measure ambient excitation, so damage detection methods based on ambient excitation have become very vital for the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of offshore platforms. The modal parameters (natural frequencies, damping ratios and mode shapes) are identified from structural response data with the Natural Excitation Technique (NExT) in conjunction with the Eigensystem Realization Algorithm (ERA) . A new method of damage detection is presented, which utilizes the invariance property of element modal strain energy. This method is to assign element modal strain energy to two parts, and defines two damage detection indicators. One is compression modal strain energy change ratio (CMSECR); the other is flexural modal strain energy change ratio (FMSECR). The present modal strain energy is obtained by incomplete modal shape and structural stiffness matr     

Effect of Band Width on Fatigue Life under Random Stress Response

A fatigue life estimation method for offshore structures under random stress response is studied in this paper. The method of broad band cumulative frequency number is used to determine the effect of band width of stress frequency spectra on fatigue. A formula of correction factor for fatigue under broad band stress spectra is suggested and compared with that given by P. H. Wirsching.     

A First Generation Stochastic Bioeconomic Analysis of Algal Bloom Control in a Coastal Lagoon (Sacca di Goro, Po River Delta)

Abstract. In this work we have developed a very simple stochastic mathematical model of Ulva spp. growth to quantitatively evaluate the economic costs of algal harvesting and the related benefits in terms of avoided'economic loss'of clam production due to an effective prevention of algal blooms and the consequent anoxic crises. Algal growth was simulated by means of a discrete time difference equation of Ulva biomass where the finite growth rate depends only upon water temperature. In order to explicitly include environmental variability, a seasonal autoregressive model calibrated on available data was used to simulate water temperature. Different harvesting scenarios were analysed in terms of the number of harvesting vessels employed and the threshold biomass of Ulva at which vessels start to operate. Costs of algal harvesting and disposal, as well as monetary damages resulting from the collapse of clam production as a consequence of algal blooms, were assessed by interviewing the managers of the Clam Fishermen's Union of Goro. A Monte Carlo approach was used to estimate the mean and total statistical distribution of costs and benefits of different harvesting strategies. Our analysis shows that the most cost-effective management policy is attained with 4–6 vessels operating at low algal density able to harvest as much Ulva as possible with intensive and short interventions at the beginning of the seasonal growth.     

Genotoxic impacts in Klaip da Marine port and B ting oil terminal areas (Baltic Sea)

Genotoxic effects were evaluated in the somatic and gonadal cells of bivalve and gastropod molluscs inhabiting different sites of Klaip da port area in Lithuania. The occurrence of aneuploidy and polyploidy of cells, meiotic injures, centromere dissociation and fragmented polyploid nuclei as cytogenetic indicators of environmental stressors was assessed in snails Lymnaea ovata . The highest level of environmental genotoxicity (in 43.2 and 46.2% of studied cells) was observed in the tissues of snails inhabiting Malk Bay in 1995 and 1996. Dredging and thus removal of contaminated sediments from Malk Bay resulted in significant decrease (up to 27.2% in 1999) of cytogenetic injures in molluscs studied over the period from 1997 to 1999. However, the frequency of cytogenetic disturbances in molluscs from Vilhelmo Channel was increasing (1.8 times) from 1995 to 1999. Therefore, the ecological safety of the biggest drinking water supply for Klaip da population became questionable. Assessment of cytogenetic damage in Mytilus edulis (MN test) and the crustacean, Balanus improvisus, (aneugenic effects) inhabiting the Baltic Sea at B ting oil terminal has shown the highest genotoxicity level in the zone of sewage effluents from Palanga town and Ma eikiai oil refinery plant. Extensive cytogenetic injuries in gonadal cells indicated the potential long-term hazards of pollutants to ecological health and integrity of aquatic species.     

镉致鲫(Carassius auratus)外周血单个核细胞DNA损伤与增殖抑制

采用体内注射染镉的方法进行镉诱导鲫外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)DNA损伤与增殖抑制相关性的研究。将鲫(400g／尾)驯养4周后进行随机分组，每组5尾，以Cdh浓度1．25、2．50和3．75mg／kg腹腔注射染鲫，以生理盐水腹腔注射鲫为对照，染镉后0、3、5、7、10和14天取无菌抗凝鲫血，经淋巴细胞分离液离心分离获取PBMC，用单细胞凝胶电泳法检测PBMC的DNA损伤，用^3H-胸腺嘧啶脱氧核苷掺入法检测PBMC的增殖。结果表明，3天时各染镉组DNA迁移度增加，5天时继续加大并于7天时达到峰值，10天和14天时呈现逐渐减小的趋势。1．25mg／kg组与对照组在不同时间放射性活度(咖m)的差异均无显著性；0天和3天时各染镉组与对照组咖m的差异均无显著性；5天时2．50和3．75mg／kg组dpm明显下降，7天和10天时dpm与5天时基本相同，14天时dpm呈上升趋势。镉诱导DNA损伤与其抑制PBMC增殖相比，作用时间短且浓度低，初步推测镉诱导的DNA损伤是镉抑制PBMC增殖的重要机制之一。     

Strength modelling in stiffened FRP structures with viscoelastic inserts for ocean structures

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the static structural response of a new type of composite stiffener containing a viscoelastic insert. The introduction of this material has proven benefits in terms of noise and vibration attenuation across the joint. House, 1997 describes the use of this material in sonar dome/hull connections — equipment sensitive to noise and vibration. Structural stiffeners incorporating this material would have positive implications for not only marine and ocean structures but for structural applications in general. The effects of introducing this new material on the structural response of the joint are numerically examined by using a progressive damage model. Application of this method allows the initiation and progression of failure and ultimate failure load to be predicted. Experimental results show good qualitative and quantitative agreement with the predictive damage model.