On the constitutive modeling of partially saturated interfaces

Generalization of soil–structure interface models from dry/saturated states to consider partially saturated states is studied in this paper. For this purpose, basic constitutive equations of a conventional elasto-plastic interface model are firstly presented. Then, consideration is given to the effect of partial saturation on definition of effective stress, location of the critical state line as well as the impact of interface state on plastic hardening modulus and dilatancy. For each concern, proper independent approaches together with associated constitutive equations are discussed to be included in the basic model as complementary ingredients. Among many different possibilities to combine complementary constitutive equations for effective stress, relocation of the critical state line with degree of saturation, and impact of the interface state on plastic hardening modulus and dilatancy, six essential cases are selected. Evaluations show that all six cases can realistically consider the impact of partial degree of saturation on the peak and residual shear strengths as well as the volume change behavior of unsaturated interfaces.     

The relation between grain size and Ar/Ar date for Alpine white mica from the Siviez-Mischabel Nappe, Switzerland

Variations in Alpine white mica ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dates from the cover units of the Siviez-Mischabel Nappe relate to regional variations in the thermal history of the nappe. We focus on three regions within the nappe: the central Siviez-Mischabel (CSM), the southern Siviez-Mischabel (SSM), and the eastern Siviez-Mischabel (ESM). Our approach weaves together observations of quartz and mica textures in thin section, the variation of ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar date with grain size, considerations of the effective diffusion dimension (EDD) of argon in white mica, and a comparison of dates with diffusion model results. In the CSM, pressure solution of quartz and dislocation glide in mica accommodated Alpine deformation. Dates record mica growth during nappe emplacement from 40 to 36 Ma and do not vary with grain size. In the SSM and ESM, both mica and quartz show textures associated with dynamic recrystallization, and dates decrease with grain size. In the SSM, dates also agree with the timing of nappe emplacement, but in the ESM, dates significantly post-date the timing of nappe emplacement. A comparison of dates with diffusion model results supports inferences from rock fabrics that the SSM experienced higher peak temperatures than the CSM, even though dates from both units approximate the timing of mica growth. Dates obtained from the ESM, however, do not compare well with simple models, and the thermal evolution of this region of the nappe, in the neighborhood of the Simplon Fault Zone, is not well understood.     

Silica and the cycle of carbon in the ocean

Silicon is a key element whose major role in the control of the cycle of carbon in the ocean has been recently revealed. This is first illustrated through the resolution of the ‘opal paradox’ in the modern Southern Ocean. Second, the ‘silica hypothesis’ explains why, during the Last Glacial Maximum, the atmospheric concentration of CO₂ was about 40 % below that of the interglacial period. Increased deliveries of wind-borne silica to the surface ocean as well as of riverine inputs favoured the dominance of diatoms over coccolithophorids, resulting in a net emission decrease of CO₂ by coccolithophorids from the ocean surface to the atmosphere. To cite this article: P. Tréguer, C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 3–11     

AN AGCM +SSiB MODEL SIMULATION ON CHANGES IN PALAEOMONSOON CLIMATE AT 21 KA BP IN CHINA*

The numerical simulation experiment of climate at Last Glacial Maximum (LGM.21 ka BP) in China is made by using an atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) coupled with land surface processes (AGCM+SSiB) and earth orbital parameters and boundary forcing conditions at21 ka.The modeled climate features are compared with reconstructed conditions at 21 ka from paleo-lake data and pollen data.The results show that the simulated climate conditions at 21 ka in China are fairly comparable with paleo-climatological data.The climate features at 21 ka in China from the experiment are characterized by a drier in the east and a wetter in the west and in the Tibetan Plateau as well.According to the analysis of distribution of pressure and precipitation,as well as the intensity of atmospheric circulation at 21 ka,monsoon circulation in eastern Asia was significantly weak comparing with the present.In the Tibetan Plateau,the intensity of summer monsoon circulation was strengthened,and winter monsoon was a little stronger than the present.The simulation with given forcing boundary conditions,especially the different vegetation coverage,can reproduce the climate condition at the LGM in China,and therefore provides dynamical mechanisms on the climate changes at 21 ka.     

A Scenario of the Late-Pleistocene-Holocene Changes in the Distributional Range of Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superba)

Abstract. Oceanographic evidence along with the data on Euphausia superba distribution indicate that the reproductive range of this species is related to the southernmost core of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), the Weddell Gyre, the Ross Gyre, and the systems of mesoscale eddies in the Bellingshausen Sea, in the Prydz Bay area. and the D'Urville Sea. During the Last Glaciation Maximum, at ca. 18 ka BP, both the Weddell and the Ross Gyres as well as near-coastal circulations probably lost their importance in the maintenance of Antarctic krill populations due to cooling of the water column and development of multi-year sea ice. Within the ACC at that time, some smaller-scale circulations related to islands and seamounts could have played a major role in controlling krill distribution. If, nevertheless. refugia for self-maintained krill populations remained in the near-coastal zone, particularly in the eastern Indian sector, geographical isolation might have caused divergence between the two species of the gregarine Cephaloidophora commonly infesting krill at present.     

The influence of seasonality on estimating return values of significant wave height

A time-dependent generalized extreme value (GEV) model for monthly significant wave heights maxima is developed. The model is applied to several 3-hour time series from the Spanish buoy network. Monthly maxima show a clear non-stationary behavior within a year, suggesting that the location, scale and shape parameters of the GEV distribution can be parameterized using harmonic functions. To avoid a possible over-parameterization, an automatic selection model, based on the Akaike Information Criterion, is carried out. Results show that the non-stationary behavior of monthly maxima significant wave height is adequately modeled, drastically increasing the significance of the parameters involved and reducing the uncertainty in the return level estimation. The model provides new information to analyze the seasonal behavior of wave height extremes affecting different natural coastal processes.     

A Parameterisation of the Effective Roughness Length over Inhomogeneous, Flat Terrain

A parameterisation ofthe effective roughness length is presented for an arbitrary givenroughness distribution z₀(x,y) over flat terrainat neutral stratification.Beyond pure averaging, it takes into account the spatial structure of the distribution, especially the influence of length scales, and inflow direction.To allow for interactions between different rough areas, Boussinesq-approximated equations with a turbulence closure of first order are considered and solved using perturbation theory.As a result, the logarithm of the effective roughness length isrepresented as a sum over the product of the Fourier transformation of log z₀ and a so-called dynamic function, which describesthe response of the flow field to a single wavelength of z₀.Although the numerical expenditure is larger than for simple averaging formulae,this method could be used by large-scale models to calculateeffective roughness lengths in every close-to-surface grid cell.     

MEMS固体化学微推进阵列的微冲量测试技术

为了评价MEMS(Micro Electro Mechanical Systems)固体化学微推进阵列的推进性能,对其单元微冲量的精确测试显得尤为重要。在传统冲击摆的基础上,考虑微推进器推力和燃气射流冲击力之间的比例关系,设计了一套适用于MEMS固体化学微推进阵列单元微冲量的间接测试装置,并成功用于6×6规格(单元集成度为36个/cm²)微推进阵列的实际测试中。结果表明:典型实验数据下的待测微冲量为2.5442×10-4Ns,相对误差小于5%;实测8个单元的微冲量平均值为2.5574×10-4 N·s,相对偏差较小,具有很好的重复性。      

海洋白浪覆盖率模式的研究

在波面位移为均匀正态分布的假定下,导出以海浪谱矩为参量的波面斜率分布函数,依此函数,利用极限波面斜率为波浪破碎判据导出依赖于海浪谱四阶矩的白浪覆盖率的表示式,又通过Ｋｒｙｌｏｖ谱和ＳＭＢ海浪预报方法的经验公式,将海浪谱四阶矩代之以风要素,从而首次建立了一个依赖于风速和风区两者的半理论,半经验的海洋白浪覆盖率模式,此模式给出了结果与Ｍｏｎａｈａｎ汇集的海洋白浪覆盖测量数据符合颇佳。     

Hull form reliability-based robust design optimization combining polynomial chaos expansion and maximum entropy method

In the ship design optimization process, the neglect of the unavoidable uncertainty of parameters in the actual navigation and experimental observations, may lead to a bad result with some hidden dangers in practical applications. Considering the influence of the uncertainty, a new and effective hull form reliability-based robust design optimization (RBRDO) framework, including the hull form modification module and RBRDO module, has been developed and tested in the present work. Radial basis function method is utilized as the parametric hull surface modification technique to generate a series of smooth hull forms while combining polynomial chaos expansions (PCE) method with maximum entropy method (MEM) to conduct the uncertainty analysis for the prediction of the mean and the standard deviation of the objective and the failure probability of constraints. To verify the validity of the method, hull form design optimization of the bow of KCS model is implemented under the influence of the uncertainty. Numerical results indicate that the proposed RBRDO framework is effective compared with traditional Monte Carlo method. Meanwhile, compared with traditional DO case, RBRDO case has higher adaptability to the environmental uncertainty with the lower failure probability, which ensure the robustness and reliability of the optimal hull form.