Motions at the core surface derived from SV data

Summary. Examples of core motions which generate the observed secular variation field – as given by various models for 1970 and 1980 – from the main field have been computed in the frozen flux approximation, assuming that the spectrum of the motion is of low degree and decreases with wave-number. No mode of degree > 4 in the expansion of the motion can be derived with any degree of confidence. Among the low degree modes, some appear to be stable (they come out with the same magnitude whatever the inversion scheme used). The flow made of these stable modes is then examined. An outstanding feature of the flow is the body westward drift. But it seems necessary, if one looks for such a regular flow, to consider both toroïdal and poloïdal components, which would imply upwelling and down-welling in the upper layers of the core. The toroïdal part of the flow appears to be enhanced by the 1969 impulse, although its geometry is nearly unchanged. On the contrary the geometry of the computed poloïdal part is different in 1980 and in 1970;     

Conjugate Points in the Gravitational n-Body Problem

In an effort to understand the nature of almost periodic orbits in the n-body problem (for all time t) we look first to the more basic question of the oscillatory nature of solutions of this problem (on a half-line, usually taken as R ⁺). Intimately related to this is the notion of a conjugate point(due to A. Wintner) of a solution. Specifically, by rewriting the mass unrestricted general problem of n-bodies in a symmetric form we prove that in the gravitational Newtonian n-body problem with collisionless motions there exists arbitrarily large conjugate points in the case of arbitrary (positive) masses whenever the cube of the reciprocal of at least one of the mutual distances is not integrable at infinity. The implication of this result is that there are possibly many Wintner oscillatorysolutions in these cases (some of which may or may not be almost periodic). As a consequence, we obtain sufficient conditions for all continuable solutions (to infinity) to be either unbounded or to allow for near misses (at infinity). The results also apply to potentials other than Newtonian ones. Our techniques are drawn from results in systems oscillation theory and are applicable to more general situations. Dedicated to the memory of Robert M. (Bob) Kauffman, formerly Professor of the University of Alabama in Birmingham     

视超光速源的统计分析

本文收集了视超光速源样本的有关观测数据，在同步加速自康普顿散射机制下导出了各源的多普勒因子，再利用视超光速源的相对论射束模型计算样本源的有关物理量，如射电光度和亮温度，并与它们的观测值作直接的比较，得到较好的相关结果。这些结果支持了活动星系核中具有相对论射束运动的假设。同时我们比较了样本源的射电、光学、Ｘ射线的发现它们之间有一定的相关性，说明在不同波段上的辐射机制可能存在某种联系。     

Global estimates of wind energy input to subinertial motions in the Ekman-Stokes layer

By incorporating the wave-induced Coriolis-Stokes forcing into the classical Ekman model, the wind energy input to the Ekman-Stokes layer is investigated, with an emphasis on the surface wave effects when the direction of Stokes drift deviates from that of wind stress. Theoretical analysis of the kinetic energy balance of the Ekman-Stokes layer shows that the total wind energy input consists of the direct wind energy input and the wave-induced energy input. Details of the direct wind and wave-induced energy input are discussed. Based on the ECMWF ERA-40 Re-Analysis wind stress and surface wave data, the global total wind energy input to subinertial motions in the Ekman-Stokes layer is estimated at 2.19 TW, including 0.26 TW (12%) wave-induced energy input and 1.93 TW (88%) direct wind energy input. The effect of sea-ice coverage on the energy input to the Ekman-Stokes layer is also considered. It is shown that the global total energy input could be overestimated by 0.08 TW (about 4%) without taking the sea-ice coverage into account.     

Hydroelastic responses and drift forces of a very-long floating structure equipped with a pin-connected oscillating-water-column breakwater system

The hydroelastic responses of a very-long floating structure (VLFS) in waves connected to a floating oscillating-water-column (OWC) breakwater system by a pin are analyzed by making use of the modal expansion method in two dimensions. The Bernoulli–Euler beam equation for the VLFS is coupled with the equations of motions of the breakwater taking account of the geometric and dynamic boundary conditions at the pin. The Legendre polynomials are employed as admissible functions representing the assumed modes of the VLFS with pinned-free-boundary conditions. It has been shown numerically that the deflections, bending moments and shear forces of the VLFS in waves can be reduced significantly by a pin-connected OWC breakwater. The time-mean horizontal drift forces of the VLFS equipped with the breakwater calculated by the near-field method are also presented.     

Ship berthing and mooring monitoring system by pneumatic-type fenders

Ship berthing and mooring monitoring system by using pneumatic-type fenders has been proposed. This system consists of present berth monitoring system including a mooring line load monitoring system, and a fender load monitoring system. The fender loads such as fender deflection and reaction force are calculated by measuring inner air pressure of the pneumatic fenders, which have unique characteristics in performance. Furthermore both loads for the mooring lines and the fenders can be used to estimate moored ship motions simultaneously. Total ship monitoring system at jetty can be achieved and contributes safe ship berthing and mooring.     

Strip theories applied to the vertical motions of high speed crafts

The motions of a high speed craft are highly influenced by speed and dynamic forces that begin to be important for high Froude numbers. Classical ship motions theories and some seakeeping programs do not include the effect of these dynamic forces that mainly affect to the damping of vertical motions, and have to be corrected to model high speed crafts. In any other way, the use of these theories or programs would be unrealistic. In this paper, some theories that can be used to predict the seakeeping behaviour of high speed crafts, considering dynamic forces, are studied and validated against seakeeping tests of some fast monohulls models. Tests and results focus on vertical motions in head seas, which are the most severe for these fast crafts. Experimental results of vertical motions are compared with numerical calculations and conclusions about the range of application of the presented theories are obtained.     

Manoeuvring behaviour of ships in extreme astern seas

In an attempt to contribute to efforts for a robust and effective numerical tool addressing ship motion in astern seas, this paper presents the development of a coupled non-linear 6-DOF model with frequency dependent coefficients, incorporating memory effects and random waves. A new axes system that allows straightforward combination between seakeeping and manoeuvring, whilst accounting for extreme motions, is proposed. Validation of the numerical model with the results of benchmark tests commissioned by ITTC's Specialist Group on Stability demonstrated qualitative, yet not fully satisfactory agreement between numerical and experimental results in line with other predictive tools. The numerical results indicate that the inclusion of frequency coefficients definitely affects the accuracy of the predictions. In order to enhance further the numerical model and obtain useful information on motion coupling, extensive captive and free running model tests were carried out. Good agreement with the experimental results was achieved. These studies provide convincing evidence of the capability of the developed numerical model to predict the dangerous conditions that a ship could encounter in extreme astern seas. As a result, it could offer new insights towards establishing relationships linking ship behaviour to design, environmental and operational parameters.     

The Galactic Aberration and Its Impact on Astronomical Reference Frames

The Galactic aberration effect, also known as the secular aberration drift, is a consequence of the centripetal acceleration of the Solar System Barycenter in the circular orbit around the Galactic center. It causes distance-independent apparent proper motions (the amplitude is about 5 ${\mu \mathit{as}·\mathit{yr}}^{-1}$) for extragalactic sources which were regarded as motionless before 21th century. As the very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) has been greatly developed, and the ESA (European Space Agency) space mission Gaia has provided ultra high-precision astrometric data, the Galactic aberration effect has becoming important. It causes slow spin of the reference frame due to the non-uniform distribution of extragalactic sources. Therefore systematic corrections have to be applied to the Earth rotation parameters. For the precession rate, the correction is about 1 ${\mu \mathit{as}·\mathit{yr}}^{-1}$. For the very high accurate VLBI and Gaia reference frames, the Galactic aberration effect will introduce small distortion which is a crucial systematic effect for the link of the two reference frames.