Size and shape evolution of pores in a viscoplastic matrix under compression

The frequent use of soils and earth materials for hydraulic capping and for geo‐environmental waste containment motivated our interest in detailed modelling of changes in size and shape of macro‐pores to establish links between soil mechanical behaviour and concurrent changes in hydraulic and transport properties. The objective of this study was to use finite element analysis (FEA) to test and extend previous analytical solutions proposed by the authors describing deformation of a single macro‐pore embedded in linear viscoplastic soil material subjected to anisotropic remote stress. The FEA enables to consider more complex pore geometries and provides a detailed picture of matrix yield behaviour to explain shortcomings of approximate analytical solutions. Finite element and analytical calculations agreed very well for linear viscous as well as for viscoplastic materials, only limited for the case of isotropic remote stress due to the simplifications of the analytical model related to patterns and onset of matrix‐yielding behaviour. FEA calculations were compared with experimental data obtained from a compaction experiment in which pore deformation within a uniform modelling clay sample was monitored using CAT scanning. FEA predictions based on independently measured material properties and initial pore geometry provided an excellent match with experimentally determined evolution of pore size and shape hence lending credence to the potential use of FEA for more complex pore geometries and eventually connect macro‐pore deformation with hydraulic properties. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High-resolution H i and radio continuum observations of the SNR G290.1−0.8

We have observed the supernova remnant (SNR) G290.1−0.8 in the 21-cm H  i line and the 20-cm radio continuum using the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). The H  i data were combined with data from the Southern Galactic Plane Survey to recover the shortest spatial frequencies. In contrast, H  i absorption was analysed by filtering extended H  i emission, with spatial frequencies shorter than 1.1 kλ. The low-resolution ATCA radio continuum image of the remnant shows considerable internal structure, resembling a network of filaments across its 13-arcmin diameter. A high-resolution ATCA radio continuum image was also constructed to study the small-scale structure in the SNR. It shows that there are no structures smaller than ∼17 arcsec, except perhaps for a bright knot to the south, which is probably an unrelated object. The H  i absorption study shows that the gas distribution and kinematics in front of SNR G290.1−0.8 are complex. We estimate that the SNR probably lies in the Carina arm, at a distance 7 (±1) kpc. In addition, we have studied nearby sources in the observed field using archival multiwavelength data to determine their characteristics.     

The shape of the rotation curves of edge-on galaxies

We consider the effects of projection, internal absorption, and gas-or stellar-velocity dispersion on the measured rotation curves of galaxies with edge-on disks. Axisymmetric disk models clearly show that the rotational velocity in the inner galaxy is highly underestimated. As a result, an extended portion that imitates nearly rigid rotation appears. At galactocentric distances where the absorption is low (i.e., it does not exceed 0.3–0.5^m kpc^?1), the line profiles can have two peaks, and a rotation curve with minimum distortions can be obtained by estimating the position of the peak that corresponds to a higher rotational velocity. However, the high-velocity peak disappears in high-absorption regions and the actual shape of the rotation curve cannot be reproduced from line-of-sight velocity estimates. In general, the optical rotation curves for edge-on galaxies are of little use in reconstructing the mass distribution in the inner regions, particularly for galaxies with a steep velocity gradient in the central region. In this case, estimating the rotation velocities for outer (transparent) disk regions yields correct results.     

High-resolution calculations of merging neutron stars – II. Neutrino emission

The remnant resulting from the merger of two neutron stars produces neutrinos in copious amounts. In this paper we present the neutrino emission results obtained via Newtonian, high-resolution simulations of the coalescence event. These simulations use three-dimensional smoothed particle hydrodynamics together with a nuclear, temperature-dependent equation of state and a multiflavour neutrino leakage scheme. We present the details of our scheme, discuss the neutrino emission results from a neutron star coalescence and compare them with the core-collapse supernova case where neutrino emission has been studied for several decades. The average neutrino energies are similar to those in the supernova case, but contrary to the latter, the luminosities are dominated by electron-type antineutrinos that are produced in the hot, neutron-rich, thick disc of the merger remnant. The cooler parts of this disc contain substantial fractions of heavy nuclei, which, however, do not influence the overall neutrino emission results significantly. Our total neutrino luminosities from the merger event are considerably lower than those found in previous investigations. This imposes constraints on the ability of neutron star mergers to produce a gamma-ray burst via neutrino annihilation. The neutrinos are emitted preferentially along the initial binary rotation axis, an event seen 'pole-on' would appear much brighter in neutrinos than a similar event seen 'edge-on'.     

Bar dissolution in non-spherical halos

Dynamical evolution of N-body bars embedded in spherical and prolate dark matter halos is investigated. In particular, the configuration such that galactic disks are placed in the plane perpendicular to the equatorial plane of the prolate halos is considered. Such a configuration is frequently found in cosmological simulations. N-body disks embedded in a fixed external halo potential were simulated, so that the barred structure was formed via dynamical instability in initially cool disks. In the subsequent evolution, bars in prolate halos dissolved gradually with time, while the bar pattern in spherical halos remained almost unchanged until the end of simulations. The e-folding time of bars suggest that they could be destroyed in a time smaller than a Hubble time. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The efficiency of the spiral-in of a black hole to the Galactic Centre

We study the efficiency at which a black hole or dense star cluster spirals in to the Galactic Centre. This process takes place on a dynamical friction time-scale, which depends on the value of the Coulomb logarithm (ln Λ). We determine the accurate value of this parameter using the direct N -body method, a tree algorithm and a particle-mesh technique with up to two million plus one particles. The three different techniques are in excellent agreement. Our measurement for the Coulomb logarithm appears to be independent of the number of particles. We conclude that  ln Λ= 6.6 ± 0.6  for a massive point particle in the inner few parsec of the Galactic bulge. For an extended object, such as a dense star cluster, ln Λ is smaller, with a value of the logarithm argument Λ inversely proportional to the object size.