Impact of the sampling duration on the uncertainty of averaged velocity measurements with acoustic instruments

Average velocity in streams is a key variable for the analysis and modelling of hydrological and hydraulic processes underpinning water resources science and practice. The present study evaluates the impact of the sampling duration on the quality of average velocity measurements acquired with contemporary instruments such as Acoustic Doppler Velocimeters (ADV) an Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP). The evaluation combines considerations on turbulent flows and principles and configurations of acoustic instruments with practical experience in conducting customized analysis for uncertainty analysis purposes. The study sheds new insights on the spatial and temporal variability of the uncertainty in the measurement of average velocities due to variable sampling durations acting in isolation from other sources of uncertainties. Sampling durations of 90 and 150 s are found sufficient for ADV and ADCP, respectively, to obtain reliable average velocities in a flow affected only by natural turbulence and instrument noise. Larger sampling durations are needed for measurements in most of the natural streams exposed to additional sources of data variability.     

图像目标形状匹配与视频过滤技术研究

通过研究图像目标形状特征的提取、匹配，运用随机过程，投影理论，提出用于识别目标形状统计特性的波动度特征，建立目标形状匹配函数，给出实际图像目标的匹配实现算法，实际系统测试表明该算法能准确、快速完成实际图像目标形状的匹配、过滤，为图像跟踪、识别及视频过滤等应用领域提供了新的可借鉴方法。     

Numerical modelling of the impact crater depth-diameter dependence in an acoustically fluidized target

2D numerical modelling of impact cratering has been utilized to quantify an important depth-diameter relationship for different crater morphologies, simple and complex. It is generally accepted that the final crater shape is the result of a gravity-driven collapse of the transient crater, which is formed immediately after the impact. Numerical models allow a quantification of the formation of simple craters, which are bowl-shaped depressions with a lens of rock debris inside, and complex craters, which are characterized by a structural uplift. The computation of the cratering process starts with the first contact of the impactor and the planetary surface and ends with the morphology of the final crater. Using different rheological models for the sub-crater rocks, we quantify the influence on crater mechanics. To explain the formation of complex craters in accordance to the threshold diameter between simple and complex craters, we utilize the Acoustic Fluidization model. We carried out a series of simulations over a broad parameter range with the goal to fit the observed depth/diameter relationships as well as the observed threshold diameters on the Moon, Earth and Venus.     

基于统一强度理论的地基临界荷载公式

基于统一强度理论,按照临界荷载公式的推导方法,得到地基临界荷载的统一解公式。Mohr-Coulomb强度理论计算的结果为其特例。把计算结果与《建筑地基基础设计规范》中的结果进行了对比分析,认为当不同程度地考虑中间主应力σ2的影响时,可以有效地发挥地基的强度潜能。并通过实例计算了统一强度理论参数b取不同值时地基承载力特征值,并进行了对比分析。     

Comments on ‘A comparative study of ANN and neuro-fuzzy for the prediction of dynamic constant of rockmass’

Singh et al (2005) examined the potential of the ANN and neuro-fuzzy systems application for the prediction of dynamic constant of rockmass. However, the model proposed by them has some drawbacks according to fuzzy logic principles. This discussion will focus on the main fuzzy logic principles which authors and potential readers should take into consideration.     

Discussion on “Experimental study on fracture toughness and tensile strength of a clay” [Engineering Geology 94 (2007) 64–75]

The paper [Wang, J.-J., Zhu, J.-G., Chiu, C.F., Zhang, H., 2007. Experimental study on fracture toughness and tensile strength of a clay. Engineering Geology 94, 64–75.] focuses on two important fracture parameters of soils: tensile strength and fracture toughness. These parameters control the behaviour of soils in a wide range of situations, from the design of a simple footing to much complicated fracture behaviour of clay liners or covers. The authors have done extensive laboratory work to determine these two parameters and their laborious and complicated experimental program needs praise. However, some of the points raised in their conclusions, based on the analysis and comparison with the data from the literature, need to be discussed.     

Shear strength characterization of municipal solid waste at the Suzhou landfill, China

The current practice of slope stability analysis for a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill usually overlooks the dependence of waste properties on the fill age or embedment depth. Changes in shear strength of MSW as a function of fill age were investigated by performing field and laboratory studies on the Suzhou landfill in China. The field study included sampling from five boreholes advanced to the bottom of the landfill, cone penetration tests and monitoring of pore fluid pressures. Twenty-six borehole samples representative of different fill ages (0 to 13 years) were used to perform drained triaxial compression tests. The field and laboratory study showed that the waste body in the landfill can be sub-divided into several strata corresponding to different ranges of fill age. Each of the waste strata has individual composition and shear strength characteristics. The triaxial test results showed that the MSW samples exhibited a strain-hardening and contractive behavior. As the fill age of the waste increased from 1.7 years to 11 years, the cohesion mobilized at a strain level of 10% was found to decrease from 23.3 kPa to 0 kPa, and the mobilized friction angle at the same strain level increasing from 9.9° to 26°. For a confinement stress level greater than 50 kPa, the shear strength of the recently-placed MSW seemed to be lower than that of the older MSW. This behavior was consistent with the cone penetration test results. The field measurement of pore pressures revealed a perched leachate mound above an intermediate cover of soils and a substantial leachate mound near the bottom of the landfill. The measurements of shear strength properties and pore pressures were utilized to assess the slope stability of the Suzhou landfill.     

Weibull statistical analysis of granite bending strength

Summary  This paper describes and discusses the adequacy of Weibull statistical analysis to analyse the bending strength of granite. The experimental results show that strength variability is related with a specific origin of failure. This conclusion is based on analysing the influence of the surface condition (extrinsic defects) on the bending strength results treated by the Weibull statistics. The conclusions drawn from this study have been validated by analysing the results of the critical flaw dimension estimated by applying the linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) formulae. Results obtained from fractographic examination also have been used to describe the location of the origin of the fracture and understand the distribution of defects; i.e., there is a unimodal distribution of defects (intrinsic defects), despite the fact that some outlier values are normally observed in the fractured surfaces. Correspndence: P. M. Amaral, Department of Materials Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Technical University of Lisbon, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal     

土壤聚合物对几种重金属离子固化效果的研究

土壤聚合物是一种新型的无机聚合物,其分子链由Si、O、Al等以共价键或离子键连接而成,形成网络结构,对重金属有较强的固定作用.本文试图利用土壤聚合物固化铜、锌、铅三种重金属离子,实现资源化利用.实验以固化体抗压强度和浸出毒性作为性能表征量,结果表明:土壤聚合物对不同重金属的固化有各自的极限浓度,Cu2 、Zn2 、Pb2 的理想固化量分别为0.9%、1%、2%;若固化过程中添加一定量的高炉矿渣,则可以提高固化体的抗压强度.本文通过土壤聚合物固化体SEM分析,从固化体微观结构的形态来阐述土壤聚合物宏观上的优越表现.