scholarly journals Observations and numerical simulations of the braking effect of forests on large-scale avalanches

2018 ◽  
Vol 59 (77) ◽  
pp. 50-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukari Takeuchi ◽  
Koichi Nishimura ◽  
Abani Patra

ABSTRACTAlthough the disaster reduction effects of forest braking have long been known empirically, they have not been known in detail down to recent. In this study, we ascertained forest braking effect by numerical simulations using the avalanche dynamics program, TITAN2D, to model large-scale avalanches. One of these avalanches occurred in the Makunosawa valley, Myoko, and damaged a cedar forest; the others occurred on Mt. Iwate and damaged a subalpine forest. All avalanches damaged many trees and terminated within the forests. In our simulations, the resistance of the forests to avalanches is simulated using a larger bed friction angle. Fitting the observations from the Makunosawa avalanche by trial and error, a bed friction angle of 13–14° in the non-forested area and of 25° in the forested area is obtained. We conducted simulations of the Mt. Iwate avalanches using the same method as for the Makunosawa valley avalanche, and obtained good agreement between observations and simulations. Simulations reveal that without the forest, the avalanche would have traveled at least 200 m farther than the forest's actual end in the Makunosawa valley, and at least 200 m and possibly up to 600 m farther on Mt. Iwate. This study therefore clearly shows that forests provide a braking effect for avalanches.

Liver Cancer ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 734-743
Author(s):  
Kazuya Kariyama ◽  
Kazuhiro Nouso ◽  
Atsushi Hiraoka ◽  
Akiko Wakuta ◽  
Ayano Oonishi ◽  
...  

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The ALBI score is acknowledged as the gold standard for the assessment of liver function in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Unlike the Child-Pugh score, the ALBI score uses only objective parameters, albumin (Alb) and total bilirubin (T.Bil), enabling a better evaluation. However, the complex calculation of the ALBI score limits its applicability. Therefore, we developed a simplified ALBI score, based on data from a large-scale HCC database.We used the data of 5,249 naïve HCC cases registered in eight collaborating hospitals. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We developed a new score, the EZ (Easy)-ALBI score, based on regression coefficients of Alb and T.Bil for survival risk in a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model. We also developed the EZ-ALBI grade and EZ-ALBI-T grade as alternative options for the ALBI grade and ALBI-T grade and evaluated their stratifying ability. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The equation used to calculate the EZ-ALBI score was simple {[T.Bil (mg/dL)] – [9 × Alb (g/dL)]}; this value highly correlated with the ALBI score (correlation coefficient, 0.981; <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.0001). The correlation was preserved across different Barcelona clinic liver cancer grade scores (regression coefficient, 0.93–0.98) and across different hospitals (regression coefficient, 0.98–0.99), indicating good generalizability. Although a good agreement was observed between ALBI and EZ-ALBI, discrepancies were observed in patients with poor liver function (T.Bil, ≥3 mg/dL; regression coefficient, 0.877). The stratifying ability of EZ-ALBI grade and EZ-ALBI-T grade were good and their Akaike’s information criterion values (35,897 and 34,812, respectively) were comparable with those of ALBI grade and ALBI-T grade (35,914 and 34,816, respectively). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The EZ-ALBI score, EZ-ALBI grade, and EZ-ALBI-T grade are useful, simple scores, which might replace the conventional ALBI score in the future.


Author(s):  
D M Sirkett ◽  
B J Hicks ◽  
C Berry ◽  
G Mullineux ◽  
A J Medland

The folding carton is a widely used packaging solution. Recent European Union packaging legislation has forced carton manufacturers to use lighter-weight grades of carton board. This typically results in a reduction in board stiffness, which can lead to decreased process efficacy or even prevent successful processing. In order to overcome this, end-users lower production rates and fine-tune packaging machine settings for each pack and material. This trial-and-error approach is necessary because the rules relating machine set-up to pack design and material properties are not generally well known. The present study addresses this fundamental issue through the creation of a finite-element computer simulation of carton processing. Mechanical testing was performed to ascertain the key mechanical properties of the carton walls and creases. The carton model was validated against the experimental results and was then subjected to the machine-material interactions that take place during complex packaging operations. The overall approach was validated and the simulation showed good agreement with the physical system. The results of the simulation can be used to determine guidelines relating machine set-up criteria to carton properties. This will improve responsiveness to change and will ultimately allow end-users to process thinner lighter-weight materials more effectively.


2010 ◽  
Vol 138 (4) ◽  
pp. 1368-1382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey S. Gall ◽  
William M. Frank ◽  
Matthew C. Wheeler

Abstract This two-part series of papers examines the role of equatorial Rossby (ER) waves in tropical cyclone (TC) genesis. To do this, a unique initialization procedure is utilized to insert n = 1 ER waves into a numerical model that is able to faithfully produce TCs. In this first paper, experiments are carried out under the idealized condition of an initially quiescent background environment. Experiments are performed with varying initial wave amplitudes and with and without diabatic effects. This is done to both investigate how the properties of the simulated ER waves compare to the properties of observed ER waves and explore the role of the initial perturbation strength of the ER wave on genesis. In the dry, frictionless ER wave simulation the phase speed is slightly slower than the phase speed predicted from linear theory. Large-scale ascent develops in the region of low-level poleward flow, which is in good agreement with the theoretical structure of an n = 1 ER wave. The structures and phase speeds of the simulated full-physics ER waves are in good agreement with recent observational studies of ER waves that utilize wavenumber–frequency filtering techniques. Convection occurs primarily in the eastern half of the cyclonic gyre, as do the most favorable conditions for TC genesis. This region features sufficient midlevel moisture, anomalously strong low-level cyclonic vorticity, enhanced convection, and minimal vertical shear. Tropical cyclogenesis occurs only in the largest initial-amplitude ER wave simulation. The formation of the initial tropical disturbance that ultimately develops into a tropical cyclone is shown to be sensitive to the nonlinear horizontal momentum advection terms. When the largest initial-amplitude simulation is rerun with the nonlinear horizontal momentum advection terms turned off, tropical cyclogenesis does not occur, but the convectively coupled ER wave retains the properties of the ER wave observed in the smaller initial-amplitude simulations. It is shown that this isolated wave-only genesis process only occurs for strong ER waves in which the nonlinear advection is large. Part II will look at the more realistic case of ER wave–related genesis in which a sufficiently intense ER wave interacts with favorable large-scale flow features.


Author(s):  
M. V. Pham ◽  
F. Plourde ◽  
S. K. Doan

Heat transfer enhancement is a subject of major concern in numerous fields of industry and research. Having received undivided attention over the years, it is still studied worldwide. Given the exponential growth of computing power, large-scale numerical simulations are growing steadily more realistic, and it is now possible to obtain accurate time-dependent solutions with far fewer preliminary assumptions about the problems. As a result, an increasingly wide range of physics is now open for exploration. More specifically, it is time to take full advantage of large eddy simulation technique so as to describe heat transfer in staggered parallel-plate flows. In fact, from simple theory through experimental results, it has been demonstrated that surface interruption enhances heat transfer. Staggered parallel-plate geometries are of great potential interest, and yet many numerical works dedicated to them have been tarnished by excessively simple assumptions. That is to say, numerical simulations have generally hypothesized lengthwise periodicity, even though flows are not periodic; moreover, the LES technique has not been employed with sufficient frequency. Actually, our primary objective is to analyze turbulent influence with regard to heat transfers in staggered parallel-plate fin geometries. In order to do so, we have developed a LES code, and numerical results are compared with regard to several grid mesh resolutions. We have focused mainly upon identification of turbulent structures and their role in heat transfer enhancement. Another key point involves the distinct roles of boundary restart and the vortex shedding mechanism on heat transfer and friction factor.


2010 ◽  
Vol 662 ◽  
pp. 409-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. SILANO ◽  
K. R. SREENIVASAN ◽  
R. VERZICCO

We summarize the results of an extensive campaign of direct numerical simulations of Rayleigh–Bénard convection at moderate and high Prandtl numbers (10−1 ≤ Pr ≤ 104) and moderate Rayleigh numbers (105 ≤ Ra ≤ 109). The computational domain is a cylindrical cell of aspect ratio Γ = 1/2, with the no-slip condition imposed on all boundaries. By scaling the numerical results, we find that the free-fall velocity should be multiplied by $1/\sqrt{{\it Pr}}$ in order to obtain a more appropriate representation of the large-scale velocity at high Pr. We investigate the Nusselt and the Reynolds number dependences on Ra and Pr, comparing the outcome with previous numerical and experimental results. Depending on Pr, we obtain different power laws of the Nusselt number with respect to Ra, ranging from Ra2/7 for Pr = 1 up to Ra0.31 for Pr = 103. The Nusselt number is independent of Pr. The Reynolds number scales as ${\it Re}\,{\sim}\,\sqrt{{\it Ra}}/{\it Pr}$, neglecting logarithmic corrections. We analyse the global and local features of viscous and thermal boundary layers and their scaling behaviours with respect to Ra and Pr, and with respect to the Reynolds and Péclet numbers. We find that the flow approaches a saturation state when Reynolds number decreases below the critical value, Res ≃ 40. The thermal-boundary-layer thickness increases slightly (instead of decreasing) when the Péclet number increases, because of the moderating influence of the viscous boundary layer. The simulated ranges of Ra and Pr contain steady, periodic and turbulent solutions. A rough estimate of the transition from the steady to the unsteady state is obtained by monitoring the time evolution of the system until it reaches stationary solutions. We find multiple solutions as long-term phenomena at Ra = 108 and Pr = 103, which, however, do not result in significantly different Nusselt numbers. One of these multiple solutions, even if stable over a long time interval, shows a break in the mid-plane symmetry of the temperature profile. We analyse the flow structures through the transitional phases by direct visualizations of the temperature and velocity fields. A wide variety of large-scale circulation and plume structures has been found. The single-roll circulation is characteristic only of the steady and periodic solutions. For other regimes at lower Pr, the mean flow generally consists of two opposite toroidal structures; at higher Pr, the flow is organized in the form of multi-jet structures, extending mostly in the vertical direction. At high Pr, plumes mainly detach from sheet-like structures. The signatures of different large-scale structures are generally well reflected in the data trends with respect to Ra, less in those with respect to Pr.


Author(s):  
Yuhang Zhang ◽  
Jiejie Li ◽  
Hongjian Zhou ◽  
Yiqun Hu ◽  
Suhang Ding ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 204141962110377
Author(s):  
Yaniv Vayig ◽  
Zvi Rosenberg

A large number of 3D numerical simulations were performed in order to follow the trajectory changes of rigid CRH3 ogive-nosed projectiles, impacting semi-infinite metallic targets at various obliquities. These trajectory changes are shown to be related to the threshold ricochet angles of the projectile/target pairs. These threshold angles are the impact obliquities where the projectiles end up moving in a path parallel to the target’s face. They were found to depend on a non-dimensional entity which is equal to the ratio between the target’s resistance to penetration and the dynamic pressure exerted by the projectile upon impact. Good agreement was obtained by comparing simulation results for these trajectory changes with experimental data from several published works. In addition, numerically-based relations were derived for the penetration depths of these ogive-nosed projectiles at oblique impacts, which are shown to agree with the simulation results.


1994 ◽  
Vol 84 (6) ◽  
pp. 1831-1841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroaki Yamanaka ◽  
Masayuki Takemura ◽  
Hiroshi Ishida ◽  
Masanori Niwa

Abstract Applicability of long-period microtremors in inferring subsurface structure is examined using measurements of microtremors in the northwestern part of the Kanto Plain in Japan. Short-term continuous measurements of long-period microtremors at both sediment and basement sites were taken. A spectral peak at a period of 4 to 5 sec is stable with time, while peaks at periods less than 2 sec are time variant, suggesting a variation of microtremor sources. However, it was found that the spectral ratio between vertical and horizontal microtremors (ellipticity) at each site is stable with time. Good agreement was found between ellipticities of microtremors at the sediment site and those computed for Rayleigh waves in which the structure of the sediments beneath the site was taken into account. We also found that the ellipticities of Rayleigh waves in earthquake ground motions were consistent with those of the microtremors. These comparisons provide strong evidence that long-period microtremors in the area studied consist mainly of Rayleigh waves. The ellipticity of microtremors was investigated by observing microtremors at temporary observation sites in the Kanto Plain where the sediment thickness varied from 0 to 1 km. The subsurface structures were deduced by trial-and-error fitting of observed ellipticities with theoretical ellipticities that were calculated assuming Rayleigh waves. These results show that ellipticity of long-period microtremors is effective for deducing structure from microtremor data at a single site.


2017 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.M. Fatih Karahan ◽  
Mehmet Pakdemirli

AbstractStrongly nonlinear cubic-quintic Duffing oscillatoris considered. Approximate solutions are derived using the multiple scales Lindstedt Poincare method (MSLP), a relatively new method developed for strongly nonlinear oscillators. The free undamped oscillator is considered first. Approximate analytical solutions of the MSLP are contrasted with the classical multiple scales (MS) method and numerical simulations. It is found that contrary to the classical MS method, the MSLP can provide acceptable solutions for the case of strong nonlinearities. Next, the forced and damped case is treated. Frequency response curves of both the MS and MSLP methods are obtained and contrasted with the numerical solutions. The MSLP method and numerical simulations are in good agreement while there are discrepancies between the MS and numerical solutions.


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