Numerical investigation of the hydrodynamic interaction between two underwater bodies in relative motion

The hydrodynamic interaction between an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) manoeuvring in close proximity to a larger underwater vehicle can cause rapid changes in the motion of the AUV. This interaction can lead to mission failure and possible vehicle collision. Being self-piloted and comparatively small, an AUV is more susceptible to these interaction effects than the larger body. In an aim to predict the manoeuvring performance of an AUV under the effects of the interaction, the Australian Maritime College (AMC) has conducted a series of computer simulations and captive model experiments. A numerical model was developed to simulate pure sway motion of an AUV at different lateral and longitudinal positions relative to a larger underwater vehicle using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFDs). The variables investigated include the surge force, sway force and the yaw moment coefficients acting on the AUV due to interaction effects, which were in turn validated against experimental results. A simplified method is presented to obtain the hydrodynamic coefficients of an AUV when operating close to a larger underwater body by transforming the single body hydrodynamic coefficients of the AUV using the steady-state interaction forces. This method is considerably less time consuming than traditional methods. Furthermore, the inverse of this method (i.e. to obtain the steady state interaction force) is also presented to obtain the steady-state interaction force at multiple lateral separations efficiently. Both the CFD model and the simplified methods have been validated against the experimental data and are capable of providing adequate interaction predictions. Such methods are critical for accurate prediction of vehicle performance under varying conditions present in real life.     

云滴数浓度对超级单体龙卷影响的数值模拟研究

为了探讨云滴数浓度对于龙卷发生、发展的影响,利用ARPS（Advanced Regional Prediction System）模式,通过调整云滴数浓度（分别取高3000 cm-3、中1000 cm-3和低100 cm-3）的变化,对2003年7月8日安徽省无为县超级单体龙卷进行理想模拟试验。研究表明:三组试验都模拟出超级单体风暴的特征结构如钩状回波和V型入流缺口;云滴数浓度高的试验中上升气流更强、风暴较先发展且持续时间长,近地面涡度也较其他两组试验更大;从三组试验中找到4个龙卷涡旋,其中云滴数浓度高的试验中有两个,涡旋总持续时间接近30 min,最大近地面风速为46.93 m s-1,最大涡度值为0.42 s-1;高云滴数浓度情况下地面冷池弱,更有利于龙卷产生,并对龙卷的发生、发展有促进作用。     

全新世中期中国气候和东亚季风:PMIP4模式结果

利用国际古气候模拟比较计划(PMIP)最新第四阶段(PMIP4)中14个气候模式的试验数据,集中研究了距今约6 000年的全新世中期中国气候和东亚季风。与早期PMIP第三阶段(PMIP3)多模式结果类似,全新世中期中国年、冬季和春季地表气温较工业革命前期偏冷,而夏季和秋季偏暖,其中年和冬季模拟偏冷与大部分地质记录显示的偏暖不符;所有14个PMIP4模式集合的中国区域平均年和季节温度变化绝对值为0.08~1.69 ℃,较PMIP3多模式平均结果额外偏小0.01~0.45 ℃,这部分源于大气二氧化碳浓度的减少。在用于分析的11个PMIP4模式平均结果中,全新世中期中国年平均降水、蒸发和有效降水(即降水量减蒸发量)相对于工业革命前期分别增加2%、减少1%和增加7%,所有3个物理量在季节上均表现为冬春季减少,夏秋季增加。对比PMIP4模式和PMIP3多模式平均结果,上述3个物理量的中国区域平均值和区域变化差异均在夏、秋季大于年和冬、春季;相比于PMIP3模式,PMIP4模式模拟的年有效降水变化与地质记录更为接近。全新世中期东亚冬、夏季风在14个PMIP4模式中均模拟加强,所有模式平均较工业革命前期分别增强11%和32%;在区域尺度上,与早期PMIP3模式相比,当前PMIP4模式模拟的季风环流增强幅度在东亚北部更强,南部偏弱。     

Submarine debris flow impact on pipelines — Part II: Numerical analysis

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) numerical analysis was employed to analyze the situations tested experimentally, as described in Part I. The methodology and results of the CFD analyses are discussed and compared with the observations made from the experiments. The numerical model performed satisfactorily with regard to obtaining the impact forces exerted on the model pipe as well as simulating the hydroplaning phenomenon and estimating slurry flow heights. The experimental results were combined with the results of the CFD analyses to develop a practical method to compute the drag force caused by a submarine debris flow impact on a pipeline. The CFD analyses provided some insight to the separated region characterization, but the attempt to analyze the vortex shedding phenomenon as observed in the experiments was unsuccessful. Additional studies are required for better understanding of both the separated region characteristics and vortex shedding.     

Sécheresse et modification de la relation pluie–débit: cas du bassin versant de l’Oued Sebdou (Algérie Occidentale)

L’objectif de ce travail est d’étudier les variations temporelles hydrométéorologiques et d’identifier les tendances dans la relation pluie–débit du bassin versant de l’Oued Sebdou, un sous bassin de la Tafna, situé dans le Nord-Ouest algérien. A partir des données pluviométriques (1941–2012) et hydrométriques (1972–2012), des tests statistiques ont permis d’identifier les ruptures et évaluer les déficits hydrométéorologiques. Les résultats ont révélé une modification du régime des précipitations se traduisant nettement par une tendance à la baisse survenue au milieu des années 1970, soit une réduction de 25%. En outre, la réduction des écoulements durant une période de 40 ans dépasse 58% avec une rupture décelée au début des années 1980. L’identification des tendances dans la relation pluie–débit a été menée par l’application de l’approche des simulations croisées à partir du modèle GR2M sur plusieurs sous-périodes de cinq ans. Une non-stationnarité de la relation pluie–débit a été mise en évidence durant la période 1985–2004, ce qui indique une tendance à la baisse des lames d’eau mensuelles écoulées sur le bassin versant de l’Oued Sebdou.     

Finite element analysis of the seismic response of ancient columns

This paper presents a numerical study of the response to earthquake actions of eight ancient Greek multidrum columns, which were chosen as representative of a broad spectrum of the ancient columns preserved to date. The study was conducted using the FE software Abaqus, in three steps. At first, the software efficiency to predict the rocking response of dry-stone structures was verified. Afterwards, various numerical models of one typical ancient multidrum column were seismically excited. Records of four real earthquakes differing in frequency content were used for the excitation of the models. Each column model was different from the others at least in one geometric or modeling parameter. Although the examined parameters affected the numerical results, their variation did not alter significantly the overall behavior of the column. In the last step of the study, numerical models of eight columns were seismically excited using four seismic records. In these analyses, among the simulation approaches tested in the second step, the simpler one was adopted. On the basis of the numerical results, conclusions were drawn regarding the seismic resistance of the columns and its correlation with the dynamic characteristics of the columns (size, slenderness, and frequency parameter) and with the basic intensity measures and frequency content indicator of the seismic motions (PHA, PHV, PHD, and T_g). Thus, criteria of seismic collapse for the multidrum columns are proposed, which can be used for the approximate assessment of the seismic vulnerability of free-standing ancient columns, provided that the columns are in good preservation state.     

Differences in gravity‐dominated unsaturated flow during autumn rains and snowmelt

Five tracer experiments have been performed in a coarse‐textured soil near the new main airport at Gardermoen, Norway. In two lysimeter walls, 30 and 40 measuring points form the basis for spatial moment calculations. Although experiments were performed under different meteorological conditions (autumn and snowmelt) and at two different sites, the ratios of centres of vertical mass over cumulative infiltration were of the same order of magnitude, indicating a gravity‐dominated flow. Two‐dimensional transport simulations with SUTRA (Voss, 1984), with a priori estimated input parameters and random fields of soil hydraulic properties revealed a relatively good agreement with the experimental results. Three possible sources of heterogeneity affecting the vertical displacement of solute during snowmelt were identified: variability of soil physical properties, soil surface elevations and variability of ground frost during the melting period. To obtain accurate predictions, soil heterogeneity was the most important factor to characterize for the coarse‐textured soil under consideration. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multiple intra-urban land use simulations and driving factors analysis: a case study in Huicheng,China

Simulations of intra-urban land use changes have gradually attracted more attention as these approaches are extremely helpful in regard to decision making and policy formulation. While prior studies mostly focused on methods of developing intra-urban level simulations, very little research has been conducted explain the factors driving intra-urban land use change. Urban planners are highly concerned with how inner-city structures are formed and how they function. Here, to simulate multiple intra-urban land use changes and to identify the contribution of different driving factors, we developed a random forests (RF) algorithm-based cellular automata (CA) simulation model. In this study, the model applied diverse categories of spatial variables, including traffic location factors, environmental factors, public services, and population density, as the driving factors to enhance our understanding of the dynamics of internal urban land use. The CA model was tested using data from the Huicheng district of Huizhou city in the Guangdong province of China. The Model was validated using actual historical land use data from 2000 to 2010. By applying the validated model, multiple intra-urban land use maps were simulated for 2015. Simultaneously, spatial variable importance measures (VIMs) were calculated by using the out-of-bag (OOB) error estimation approach of the RF algorithm. Based on the calculation results, we assessed and analysed the significance of each intra-urban land use driver for this region. This study provides urban planners and relevant scholars with detailed and targeted information that can aid in the formulation of specific planning strategies for different intra-urban land uses and support the future evolution of this area.     

全海深ARV动力学建模及简化研究

以全海深自主遥控水下机器人(AutonomousRemotely-operated Vehicle, ARV)为研究对象,针对全海深ARV的稳定航行和作业控制需求,借助潜艇标准运动方程建立直航动力学模型,还提出使用多元函数泰勒展开的方法建立独立的垂直运动动力学模型。其次,以节约计算机资源为目的,采用拟合优度分析、显著性检验和全局敏感性分析的方法剔除动力学模型中不重要的水动力系数项,得到简化的动力学模型。将初始和简化动力学方程的拟合结果与计算流体力学仿真(Computational Fluid Dynamics, CFD)计算结果进行对比分析,对比结果表明,全海深ARV直航和垂直运动动力学模型和简化动力学模型均是可靠的。     

Simulating urban growth boundaries using a patch-based cellular automaton with economic and ecological constraints

Urban growth boundaries (UGBs) have been applied in many rapid urbanizing areas to alleviate the problems of urban sprawl. Although empirical research has stressed the importance of ecological protection in UGB delineation, existing UGB models lack a component for the assessment of ecologically sensitive areas. To address this problem, we develop an innovative method that is capable of simulating UGB alternatives with economic and ecological constraints. Our method employs a patch-based cellular automaton (i.e. SA-Patch-CA) for simulating future urban growth, constrained by the ecological protection areas produced by an agent-based land allocation optimization model (AgentLA). The delineation of UGBs is also based on the estimated future urban land demand derived from support vector regression (SVR). The proposed method is applied in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), China. Three scenarios are designed to represent different objectives of future industrial transitions. The results indicate that increasing the shares of low energy consumption industries and tertiary industries can effectively reduce urban land demand. By overlapping the simulations, we found that the areal agreement of the simulated UGBs among the three scenarios accounts for approximately 88% of the total area. These areas can then be considered as the primary locations for establishing the UGBs.