Wind-induced mesoscale circulation off the Ebro delta, NW Mediterranean: a numerical study

It is well known that the general circulation on the Catalan continental slope is dominated by a quasi-permanent southwestward geostrophic jet associated to the so-called Catalan front [Millot, C., 1987. Circulation in the western Mediterranean sea. Oceanol Acta 10, 143–149; Font, J., Salat, J., Tintoré, J., 1988. Permanent features of the circulation in the Catalan Sea. Oceanol. Acta 9, 51–57]. On the continental shelf, however, the flow is modified by the action of friction which enhances also other nonlinear interactions. Several authors have hypothesized that the shelf circulation is anticyclonic north of the Ebro delta [Salat, J., Manriquez, M., Cruzado, A., 1978. Hidrografia del golfo de Sant Jordi. Campaña Delta (Abril 1970). Investigación Pesquera 42 (2), 255–272; Ballester, A., Castellví, J., 1980. Estudio hidrográfico y biológico de las plataformas continentales españolas: I. Efecto de los efluentes de una planta de energía nuclear en el Golfo de San Jorge (Febrero 1975–Octubre 1976). Informes Técnicos del Instituto de Investigaciones Pesqueras 76, 70 pp.]. A quasi-3D finite element code based on the shallow-water equations has been used to explore the effect of several mechanisms which might be responsible for such a local circulation pattern, and in particular of wind. The obtained numerical results suggest that the basic anticyclonic structure of the mean flow is controlled by the bathymetry and that the clockwise-rotating mean flow pattern is not a permanent circulation feature. It is seen that the characteristic local wind stress fields—computed through interpolation of the records of a local network of meteo stations—may ‘enhance' or ‘delete' the anticyclonic gyre depending on the sign of their relative vorticity. According to the analysis of a 2-yr record of local wind data, the net contribution of wind events with a duration longer than 24 h is to reinforce the anticyclonic circulation (over 70% of these wind fields supply negative relative vorticity to the study area).     

Load-leveling suspension system with a magnetorheological damper

In this paper, a load-leveling suspension system with a magnetorheological (MR) damper is investigated. In this suspension system, the MR damper is connected to a spring to form a load-leveling suspension system. The system effective stiffness and damping can be adjusted by controlling the MR damper. The characteristics of a load-leveling suspension system are studied first. When the linear damper is replaced with an MR damper, the averaging method is adopted to obtain the steady-state response of the nonlinear system. A comparison demonstrates that the results of the averaging method are in good agreement with those obtained by numerical simulations. The analytical results are then verified experimentally. The load-leveling suspension system studied here is able to adjust both suspension stiffness and damping and, hence, it may provide more effective vibration control in a wider frequency range, when the damper is controlled.     

闪急沸腾喷雾研究的现状与展望

阐述了闪急沸腾喷雾的基本原理,通过比较分析闪急沸腾喷雾与传统喷雾的差异,指出闪急沸腾喷雾是一种极具潜力的燃油喷射方式;论述了近年来国内外对过热燃油和溶气燃油闪急沸腾喷雾研究的进展与现状,介绍了过热液体闪急沸腾喷雾的数学模型及其发展,并从理论上分析了影响闪急沸腾喷雾的因素;展望了闪急沸腾喷雾的应用前景以及进一步研究的发展方向。     

Why are work travel plans effective? Comparing conclusions from narrative and meta-analytical research synthesis

Reliable research synthesis is of high significance for a transport policy which tries to base its decisions on available empirical evidence. There is growing doubt whether the frequently used narrative approach provides a scientifically defensible way of synthesising a body of quantitative research results. The present paper demonstrates meta-analysis as a more objective and powerful alternative for this task. For this purpose evaluation data synthesised in two earlier narrative reviews on the effectiveness of work travel plans [Cairns et al. Making travel plans work: research report (former), Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR), London, 2002; Smarter choices—changing the way we travel. (Final report of the research project: The influence of soft factor interventions on travel demand. Research report for the Department for Transport.) London. Retrieved 1 December 2005, from , 2004] are meta-analytically re-analysed and compared with the conclusions drawn from the narrative synthesis of these data. Our meta-analyis provides only limited support for the conclusion that addressing parking is the hallmark of successful work travel plans. Our meta-analysis indicates that site and organisational factors as well as characteristics of the monitoring process are significant predictors of effective work travel plans, whereas Cairns et al. view little evidence for the impact of these factors.     

台湾海底隧道之接头与管段变化研析及对策

台湾唯一之海底隧道系采沉埋方式施工,该隧道不仅处于具高度盐份腐蚀之不利环境,且位于软弱地盘上.于营运二十余年后,轻微异状已有显现,如管段接头锈蚀、管体渗漏及管体裂损等异状.上述异状可能为接头构件变形、管体变位/变形及结构劣化等影响隧道安全之前兆,甚至降低其耐震能力;因该隧道肩负港区及区域经济发展之运输重任,如何藉由整体性体检进行安全评估及研订适当之维护补强对策,为计划执行重点;故本文将说明隧道接头、结构体等隧道重要构件之检测调查(如地球物理、钢筋腐蚀、裂缝深度、氯离子试验、防蚀电位、接头防水等项目)、数值分析及自动化监测(接缝计、单元沉陷仪、结构倾斜仪、电位计等)等综合评估结果及维护补强对策,以提供工程界日后参考.     

Numerical modelling of fish eggs dispersion at the Patos Lagoon estuary — Brazil

The Patos Lagoon estuary is the most important nursery ground for commercially relevant species of fish and crustaceans in the South of Brazil, maintaining fisheries that sustain 3500 fisher families throughout the Rio Grande do Sul State coastline. Around 80% of the interior estuarine area is very shallow (< 2 m), and recruitment of fish eggs and larvae to the inner parts of the Patos Lagoon estuary is directly related to the circulation pattern in the area, which is controlled by local and non-local wind effects and freshwater discharge. The objective of this study is to investigate the processes controlling the transport of estuarine dependent fish eggs between the Atlantic Ocean and the Patos Lagoon estuary.An integrated numerical system based on a bi-dimensional hydrodynamic model and a Lagrangean transport model of passive particles is applied to a selection of scenarios representing the passage of weather fronts over the area. At this stage, fish eggs are represented as buoyant passive particles. Modelling results are compared against field data for the period under investigation (September/October 1999) and historical records. Short term results are analysed in terms of the meteorological conditions (wind direction, intensity and duration) controlling the transport of eggs to the inner parts of the estuary and the extension of their excursion. This experiment is the first attempt to couple biological and physical information to study fish eggs transport, and to enhance the current knowledge about recruitment of important fisheries resources in southern Brazil.     

An algorithm for solving asymmetric equilibrium problems with a continuous cost-flow function

The paper gives two user objective functions for the asymmetric assignment problem, and an algorithm of descent type. The algorithm produces a sequence of flows which converges to the set of equilibria if the cost-flow function is continuous.     

Evaluation of truck configurations based on structural performance of bridges

Contained herein are the results of research which quantifies the effects that various existing and projected truck configurations have as live loadings upon bridges which currently exist on the National Bridge Inventory (NBI). The truck configurations were determined from those actual or proposed vehicles which exhibit the highest GVW and which either are causing or are perceived to cause the highest levels of overstress on bridge superstructure elements. In order to simulate most accurately the actual field conditions, a criterion was defined which contained three major requirements: 1) The bridges utilized within the study shall be defined as being a statistically significant sample and be actual bridges taken from the NBI; 2) The analysis method shall be consistent with those actually used by engineers in designing and rating bridges, and; 3) The criteria utilized in evaluating the various bridge structures under the defined loadings shall be consistent with current practices. The results obtained indicates the acceptability of various truck configurations by GVW, size, and axle deployments, by system for the different criteria now in use.     

Phenetic relationships among some free-living siphonostomatoid copepods from southwest Ireland, and the description of Glannapontius maculatus gen. et sp. nov.

Glannapontius maculatus gen. et sp. nov. is described from southwest Ireland. It is a typical example of a free-living siphonostomatoid copepod, and exhibits some intermediate features between the Asterocheridae and Artotrogidae. It is here placed in the Artotrogidae, based on an assessment of 120 morphological dichotomous characters measured on 11 species, and grouped using Average Linkage Cluster Analysis.