Modelling of a medium-term dynamics in a shallow tidal sea, based on combined physical and neural network methods

The paper presents an approach towards a medium-term (decades) modelling of water levels and currents in a shallow tidal sea by means of combined hydrodynamic and neural network models. The two-dimensional version of the hydrodynamic model Delft3D, forced with realistic water level and wind fields, is used to produce a two-year-database of water levels and currents in the study area. The linear principal component analysis (PCA) of the results is performed to reveal dominating spatial patterns in the analyzed dataset and to significantly reduce the dimensionality of the data. It is shown that only a few principal components (PCs) are necessary to reconstruct the data with high accuracy (over 95% of the original variance). Feed-forward neural networks are set up and trained to effectively simulate the leading PCs based on water level and wind speed and direction time series in a single, arbitrarily chosen point in the study area. Assuming that the spatial modes resulting from the PCA are ‘universally’ applicable to the data from time periods not modelled with Delft3D, the trained neural networks can be used to very effectively and reliably simulate temporal and spatial variability of water levels and currents in the study area. The approach is shown to be able to accurately reproduce statistical distribution of water levels and currents in various locations inside the study area and thus can be viewed as a reliable complementary tool e.g., for computationally expensive hydrodynamic modelling. Finally, a detailed analysis of the leading PCs is performed to estimate the role of tidal forcing and wind (including its seasonal and annual variability) in shaping the water level and current climate in the study area.     

Effect of strain-dependent dynamic properties of backfill and foundation soil on the external stability of geosynthetic reinforced waterfront retaining structure subjected to harmonic motion

A simplified method to determine the minimum length of reinforcement required for the external stability of waterfront reinforced soil structures under seismic conditions is presented. In the present analysis, strain-dependent dynamic properties (shear modulus and damping ratio) are used. The results obtained from the present method are well compared with the results of pseudo-static method of analysis. For the set of input parameters, the estimated minimum length of reinforcement required against sliding failure is nearly 27–29% higher for an input normalized frequency of 1.06 and is nearly 22–25% lower for another input normalized frequency of 1.94 when compared with the results of pseudo-static approach. This can be attributed to the mode change behaviour of the waterfront structure. In addition, the effect of foundation type on the external stability of waterfront reinforced soil structures has also been presented and it is found that the foundation type has a significant effect on the same. For the given set of input parameters, the length of minimum reinforcement required for a slope and vertical wall having a flexible foundation are about 26–28% and 32–38% larger than that of a slope and vertical wall with rigid foundation, respectively.     

蓝藻膦酸酯代谢及其生态意义研究进展

膦酸酯是新近发现的一类生物可利用磷,其广泛存在于水生生态系统,是水体有机磷库的重要组成,构成水体磷氧化还原循环的关键环节。随着研究的深入,越来越多的蓝藻藻株被证实参与膦酸酯的生物利用与合成,有助于阐明其适应低磷环境的机制,促进了对蓝藻磷策略与水体磷循环的全面理解,具有重要的生态学意义。与此同时,蓝藻对膦酸酯的利用性状,使得膦酸酯作为环境污染物与蓝藻磷源的双重作用开始显现,这会对水体浮游生物竞争格局的研究产生深远影响;而蓝藻的甲基膦酸代谢也被认为是水体好氧甲烷发生的来源之一。本文回顾了蓝藻膦酸酯利用与合成的研究历史,对目前蓝藻膦酸酯代谢过程生态风险与生态意义的研究进展进行了梳理,并对这一领域未来发展趋势进行了评述。     

椭圆形柱体地震动水压力的简化分析方法

首先,文章基于辐射波浪理论,在椭圆坐标系下采用分离变量法推导了水中椭圆形柱体地震动水压力的解析解。之后,采用有限元方法建立了地震作用下水与结构相互作用的动力方程,方程中水体对结构的作用为一满阵的附加质量矩阵。满阵的附加质量矩阵难以在商业有限元中实现,因此提出了集中的附加质量矩阵方法,其中结构柔性引起的附加质量为集中附加质量矩阵和修正系数的乘积,该修正系数与无量纲参数宽深比和长短轴比相关。最后,通过曲线拟合,提出了刚性椭圆柱体动水力的均布附加量简化公式,该简化公式是无量纲参数宽深比和长短轴比的函数。     

3D hydrodynamic characterisation of a meso-tidal harbour: The case of Bilbao (northern Spain)

A background knowledge of marine dynamics helps harbour managers to control pollution and to manage dredging and traffic operations. This contribution studies the hydrodynamic conditions within Bilbao Harbour, which is enclosed by the Nervión Estuary (in the Basque Country, Spain). The results obtained from hydrographical surveys are compared with numerical simulations obtained using the Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS). Hydrodynamic modelling was carried out to determine the inner harbour currents for a specific period in which data were available. Then, numerical experiments were designed in order to quantify the importance of different driving mechanisms in the harbour hydrodynamics. The results show that, in addition to the strong tidal influence on water circulation, the wind forcing and freshwater discharge also have a non-negligible influence on the currents. The computational domain is complex due to the presence of harbour infrastructures (i.e. breakwaters and piers). As a result, topographic eddies are therefore observed in the results. The freshwater influence of the Nervión river can also be observed in residual currents. This paper presents an improvement to the application of numerical modelling to a complex geometry domain, contributing to our understanding of the behaviour of the marine systems in meso-tidal harbours. This can be used to deal with harbour engineering and management problems.     

Computational hydrodynamic analysis of the propeller–rudder and the AZIPOD systems

A computational method has been developed to predict the hydrodynamic performance of the propeller–rudder systems (PRS) and azimuthing podded drive (AZIPOD) systems. The method employs a vortex-based lifting theory for the propeller and the potential surface panel method for the steering system. Three propeller models along with three steering systems (rudder and strut, flap and pod (SFP)) are implemented in the present calculations for the cases of uniform and non-uniform conditions. Computed velocity components show good agreement with the experimental measurements behind a propeller with or without the rudder. Calculated thrust, torque and lift also agree well with the experimental results. Computations are also performed for an AZIPOD system in order to obtain the pressure distributions on the SFP, and the hydrodynamic performance (thrust, torque and lift coefficients). The present method is useful for examining the performance of the PRS and AZIPOD systems in the hope of estimating the propulsion and the maneuverability characteristics of the marine vehicles more accurately.     

Three-dimensional modeling of tidal circulation and mixing over the Java Sea

A combination of a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model and in-situ measurements provides the structures of barotropic tides, tidal circulation and their relationship with turbulent mixing in the Java Sea, which allow us to understand the impact of the tides on material distribution. The model retains high horizontal and vertical resolutions and is forced by the boundary conditions taken from a global model. The measurements are composed of the sea level at coastal stations and currents at moorings embedded in Seawatch buoys, in addition to hydrographic data. The simulated tidal elevations are in good agreement with the data for the K₁ and M₂ constituents. The K₁ tide clearly shows the lowest mode resonance in the Java Sea with intensification around the nodal point in the central region. The M₂ tide is secondary and propagates westward from the eastern open boundary, along with a counterclockwise amphidromic point in the western part. The K₁ tide produces a major component of tidal energy, which flows westward and dissipates through the node region near the Karimata Strait. Meanwhile, the M₂ tide dissipates in the entire Java Sea. However, the residual currents are mainly induced by the M₂ tide, which flows westward following the M₂ tidal wave propagation. The tidal mixing is mainly caused by K₁ tide which peaks at the central region and is consistent with the uniform temperature and salinity along the vertical dimension. This mixing is expected to play an important role in the vertical exchange of nutrients and control of biological productivity.     

地下水化学异常信息迁移的水动力学模型实验研究

地下水化学组份的震前异常特征之一是异常形态多样,异常幅度不等,形态与幅度方面表现出复杂性。为揭示这种复杂性的实质,进行了水动力模型实验研究。研究结果表明,脉冲状水化学异常信息在含水层系统中的迁移规律是复杂的,随着迁移距离的增大信息幅度的衰减是明显的,甚至异常形态也有变异。异常信息的这种变化牲学与含水受层受力状态的不同有关。     

流体包裹体研究对成矿流体动力学模式的制约

热液矿床的形成既包括地球化学过程也包括流体动力学过程,后者主要研究成矿流体的驱动力、流动方向、速度及持续时间。流体及金属的来源,金属在热液中的溶解度及溶解机制,以及矿石的沉淀机制等可以通过多种地球化学手段来研究,而流体动力学过程的确定相对比较困难。流体包裹体分析不仅可以为成矿地球化学过程,而且可为流体动力学过程提供制约,因为流体包裹体研究所得到的流体P-V-T-X性质与流体流动、热传导及质量迁移等控制方程直接相关。本文阐述流体包裹体与流体动力学研究的理论关系,流体包裹体研究对已有成矿流体动力学模式的贡献,以及未来的研究方向。从流体包裹体研究得出的流体压力状态为岩浆热液及造山型成矿系统的超压驱动模式提供了关键的证据。流体包裹体均一温度及其分布为沉积盆地成矿流体动力学模式提供了重要的制约。流体包裹体研究在揭示流体混合及流体相分离等重要成矿过程方面提到了至关重要的作用,但它们在研究流体混合及多相流体流动的物理过程方面的潜力有待进一步开发。精心设计的流体包裹体研究有可能应用于古流体流动数值模型的调试。     

Hydrodynamic evolutions at the Yangtze Estuary from 1998 to 2009

Over the past decade, the Yangtze Estuary has witnessed an unprecedented scale of human interventions and modifications through extensively varied resource utilizations. During the processes, mankind has obtained various resources and benefits via the “golden waterway”, such as navigation channel, harbor, shipping industry, shoreline, reclaimed land, freshwater and fishery resource. At the same time, the estuary and coast have also experienced a series of gradual changes in characteristics, such as sedimentation, erosion, sand hungry, water pollution, intertidal area loss, self-purification capacity decrease, and biological reduction. With the help of measurement data and numerical modeling, this study analyzed the response and feedback mechanisms between hydrodynamic evolutions and morphological processes in the Yangtze Estuary from 1998 to 2009. The results of this study indicate the following. (i) The water level along the main outlet of the Yangtze Estuary increased from 1998 to 2009. This increase was induced by the variation of the whole river regime (including natural geomorphodynamic process and local topography feedbacks from extreme metrological events and human activities). (ii) The decrease of the flow partition ratio at the 3rd bifurcation is directly induced by the Deepwater Navigational Channel (DNC) project and the corresponding morphological changes in the North Passage. (iii) The estuarine environmental gradients (salinity and suspended sediment concentration) were compressed, and the fresh-salt gradient became steeper. This has the indirect effect of backfilling in the waterway, i.e., strengthening the stratification effect near the ETM area and enhancing the tendency of up-estuary sediment transport. The results of this study give insights into explaining other phenomena such as deposition in the middle reach of the DNC, bathymetry evolutions, variations in vertical velocity and sediment concentration profiles, waterway backfilling and delta reclamation.