Tides in the Tongan Region of the Pacific Ocean

Tidal levels and currents in the Tongan region of the Pacific were simulated using a two-dimensional frequency-domain finite element model. The eight major diurnal and semidiurnal tidal constituents were modeled successfully, using open boundary conditions taken from a global tidal model based on the Topex/Poseidon satellite altimeter. Comparison of model results with observations from the single tide gauge site in the area were later used to adjust the boundary conditions. The validity of omitting horizontal eddy viscosity from the finite element model was checked by running an equivalent finite difference model. The results show that although the submarine Tongan ridge does not appear to trap tidal energy, there are residual tidal currents and possible recirculations which are capable of influencing biological productivity around Tonga. The model results are reduced to a simple method for predicting tidal heights in outlying areas, based only on the tidal calendar for the capital, Nuku'alofa.     

Numerical Modeling of Sediment Mass Sliding and Tsunami Generation: The Case of February 7, 1963, in Corinth Gulf,Greece

Numerical modeling of a landslide process at the continental slope by taking into account slope parameters is performed for the tsunami event of February 7, 1963, reported in the Corinth Gulf, central Greece. A layered sediment structure was considered, and an initial external dynamic action at the landslide process was introduced. The results obtained were quite consistent with the observational runup data as well as with the results arrived at by conventional rigid-body and viscous-fluid models. However, this approach permits to describe in detail the formation of several wave groups and particular tsunami characteristics that are strongly dependent on the landslide model.     

Reliability analysis of soil nail internal limit states using default FHWA load and resistance models

Abstract

Reliability analyses of nail pullout, nail-in-tension, and system reliability of internal limit states are presented for both permanent and temporary soil nails that are designed using default Federal Highway Administration nail load and resistance models within traditional deterministic allowable stress design (ASD) framework. The model uncertainty, correlations between soil strength parameters, between model factor, and nominal load term, and between the two internal limit states, and influence of model factor fittings are all addressed in the analyses. This study provides a general idea of the reliability that is implicitly embedded in current ASD-based soil nail internal limit state designs.     

影响南海混合层盐度季节变化的因素分析

通过对1950-2012年的南海混合层盐度数据进行分析,发现影响南海北部和南部盐度季节变化的最主要因素存在很大的差异.在南海北部,影响混合层盐度季节变化的最主要因素是蒸发降水,其次是水平平流.随着逐步南移,蒸发降水对盐度季节变化的影响递减,水平平流的影响逐渐增大;而在南海南部,水平平流的作用超过蒸发降水成为影响盐度的季节变化的最主要因素.在整个南海区域,冬季海水垂直混合变强,混合层变厚,下层高盐海水进入混合层,使混合层海水盐度变高,从而对冬季海水盐度的上升趋势产生促进作用;夏季南海北部混合层底存在上升流,南海东南部由于Ekman输运导致混合层变厚,都会将混合层以下高盐海水带入混合层,使混合层海水盐度变高,从而对夏季海水盐度下降趋势产生阻碍作用,但垂直混合对盐度季节变化的影响不大,远小于蒸发降水和水平平流.     

Molecular iodine (I2) emission from two Laminaria species (Phaeophyceae) and impact of irradiance and temperature on I2 emission into air and iodide release into seawater from Laminaria digitata

Kelps of the genus Laminaria accumulate iodine at high concentrations, but the iodine retaining capacity can be affected by emersion and physiological stress. In this study, I₂ emission into the atmosphere from Laminaria digitata and Laminaria hyperborea was compared under controlled low irradiances and temperatures. The two species exhibited different I₂ emission rates as blades of L. digitata emitted I₂ at rates five times higher than those from newly-grown blades (current growth season) of L. hyperborea. I₂ emission was not detectable from old blades (previous growth season) of L. hyperborea. Additionally, effects of irradiance and temperature on both I₂ emission into air and net I⁻ release into seawater where assessed for L. digitata while monitoring photo-physiological parameters as stress indicators. Irradiances between 30 and 120 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹ had only marginal effects on both I₂ emission and I⁻ release rates, but physiological stress, indicated by photoinhibition, was observed. The results suggest that the irradiances applied here were not stressful enough to impact on the iodine release. By contrast, at elevated temperatures (20 °C), photoinhibition was accompanied by an increase in I₂ emission rates, but net I⁻ release rates remained similar at 10–20 °C. High I₂ emission rates into air and I⁻ release into seawater observed from L. digitata underpin the fundamental function of this kelp as mediator of coastal iodine fluxes.     

Oxygen radical formation in anoxic transgression and anoxia-reoxygenation: Foe or phantom? Experiments with a hypoxia tolerant bivalve

Intertidal blue mussels, Mytilus edulis, experience hypoxia reoxygenation during tidal emersion and resubmersion cycles, and this is often suggested to represent a major stress for the animals, especially for their respiratory tissues, the gills. We exposed mussels to experimental short and prolonged anoxia and subsequent reoxygenation and analyzed the respiratory response in excised gill tissue and the effects of treatment on reactive oxygen species (mainly ROS: superoxide anion, O₂^·− and hydrogen peroxide, H₂O₂), formation using live imaging techniques and confocal microscopy. Our aim was to understand if this “natural stress” would indeed produce oxidative damage and whether antioxidant defenses are induced under anoxia, to prevent oxidative damage during reoxygenation. Exposure to declining pO₂ in the respiration chamber caused an increase of gill metabolic rate between 21 and 10 kPa, a pO₂ range in which whole animal respiration is reported to be oxyregulating. Exposure of the animals to severe anoxia caused an onset of anaerobiosis (succinate accumulation) and shifted high and low critical p_c values (p_c1: onset of oxyregulation in gills, p_c2: switch from oxyregulation to oxyconformity) to higher pO₂. Concentrations of both ROS decreased strongly during anoxic exposure of the mussels and increased upon reoxygenation. This ROS burst induced lipid peroxidation in the mantle, but neither were protein carbonyl levels increased (oxidative damage in the protein fraction), nor did the tissue glutathione concentration change in the gills. Further, analysis of apoptosis markers indicated no induction of cell death in the gills. To our knowledge, this is the first paper that directly measures ROS formation during anoxia reoxygenation in mussels. We conclude that hypoxia tolerant intertidal mussels do not suffer major oxidative stress in gill and mantle tissues under these experimental conditions.     

差应变法地应力测量——以汶川地震断裂带科学钻探WFSD-1钻孔为例

岩心差应变分析法是汶川地震断层科学钻探(WFSD)项目地应力测量的主要手段之一, 该技术通过高压容器对取之于钻孔不同深度的实验样品施加围压, 观察先前由于失去地层应力而膨胀产生的裂纹重新闭合, 并通过裂纹闭合过程差应变曲线分析, 确定主应力大小和方向。WFSD-1孔12个岩心样品的DSA测试结果表明:断层上下盘的应力状态有明显差异, 区域地应力不仅随深度增加, 还与地质结构和岩石的物理性质等因素有关。      

竖向荷载下群桩-土-承台相互作用数值分析

在大桩径、小桩距的群桩条件下,不仅有来自桩侧、桩端和承台传递的多重应力叠加,还有群桩对桩间土的夹持作用影响,桩-土-承台之间作用更加复杂。用有限差分软件模拟固定桩距、桩径,变化竖向荷载下桩-土-承台的相互作用。从各层土的侧摩阻力、不同位置桩的桩顶荷载、荷载-沉降关系、桩间土体位移等方面的计算结果分析桩-土-承台之间的相互影响。结果表明,荷载超出117.8 MN（略大于Pu/2,Pu为群桩极限承载力）后,群桩对上部桩间土的夹持作用开始减小,桩侧上部侧摩阻力增大;桩侧下部侧摩阻力在多重应力叠加作用下呈减小趋势,不同位置的桩侧摩阻力影响范围有差异;用群桩沉降达到5%倍桩径时的荷载作为群桩的竖向极限承载力是可取的;当沉降与桩径的比值超出1%后,承台分担荷载的比例逐渐增大,群桩分担荷载的比例减小。     

基于非达西渗流的软土一维非线性固结半解析解

在土中渗流遵循非达西渗流定律的前提下,考虑软土在固结过程中的非线性固结特性,根据饱和土体一维固结的连续条件,推导出基于非达西渗流的软土一维非线性固结控制方程。利用半解析方法对其进行求解,并与差分计算结果进行对比,验证半解析方法的可靠性。最后,着重分析非达西渗流与达西定律之间非线性固结性状的差别,以及不同自重应力分布方式对固结速率的影响。结果表明,考虑非达西渗流下的非线性固结速率比达西定律下要慢,且指数和临界水力坡降越大,非线性固结速率越慢。而且,作用的外荷载越小、地基土层越厚,非达西渗流下非线性固结速率的减慢愈明显。自重应力均匀分布下的非线性固结速率要比自重应力线性分布下慢,但随着荷载的增大、土层的变薄,两者之间的差别会越来越小。     

非饱和土力学中几个基本问题的探讨

近些年非饱和土力学的研究非常活跃,但对一些基本问题的认识并不一致,有时甚至概念混淆。针对非饱和土力学的几个基本问题：非饱和土状态变量的选择、非饱和土有效应力变量的选择、吸力概念的界定和轴平移技术的局限性、非饱和土的结构的表征方法等问题进行了分析和探讨。其中非饱和土状态变量和有效应力的选择对于非饱和土力学的理论和相应本构模型的建立具有重要影响,因此,首先深入讨论了这一问题,概括论述了非饱和土有效应力的演变并深入探讨了目前各种形式有效应力的优缺点。其次,指出由于受负压孔隙水气化（液-气相变化）的影响,在实际场地中大于某一界限值的基质吸力是不存在的;目前被广泛使用的轴平移试验技术却掩盖了这一情况,而基于此所建立的非饱和土强度和变形理论的适用性需要进一步的研究和论证。再次,指出非饱和土的结构除了包括组构和颗粒之间作用力的综合效应外,还建议增加孔隙水和孔隙气的分布以及各相之间的相互作用和物理-化学作用。最后对一些容易混淆的概念进行了梳理。其目的是希望国内同行在今后的研究中对这些问题加以关注,并建立正确的认识,促进非饱和土力学沿着正确的方向发展。