Image and Word in Postmodern Poetry: Friederike Mayröcker’s BROTWOLKE

This article explores the interplay of visual arts and poetic images in postmodern poetry, focusing on the case of Friederike Mayröcker’s poem BROTWOLKE, nach Karla Woisnitza (1996) [BREADCLOUD, after Karla Woisnitza]. The article shows that BROTWOLKE belongs to a group of texts whose titles indicate an ekphrasis or an intermedial quality, but whose specific point of reference is absent. Rather than referencing to a specific painting, the poem thus showcases different aspects of the visual. Offering a close reading of the poem, the article explores Mayröcker’s special technique of image-writing and its dynamic effect on the reader. The article argues that the poem both “shows the word” and “writes the image.” It is shown that Mayröcker’s stream-of-consciousness is a process that refers to the act of writing in the first place and then to an inventory of texts and images that float the text as a stream of sense-data.

Dynamic effect of corporate governance on financing decisions: Evidence from Sri Lanka

This study investigates the role of corporate governance in influencing the debt financing decision of 198 non-financial listed companies in Sri Lanka from 2009 to 2016. Sri Lanka’s corporate governance (CG) code promotes dispersed ownerships, larger board size and balance of power and authority through various means, such as exclusivity between the Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson and the independent Board composition. This study tests the role of CG through four indicators while controlling for other firm-specific variables. Results of the two-step system Generalized Method of Moments on a balance panel data shows that the effect of CG indicators on financing decision depends on the financing terms. In general, the influence of CG indicators is significant on the two debt financing measurements, except for managerial ownership when investments in assets are involved. This influence appears eminent in predicting the debt ratio, although the effect is not necessarily consistent with the hypotheses. The latest revision on CG codes of best practices has also improved firms’ access to debt financing, except for raising long-term debt to acquire assets. Results imply that the Sri Lankan firms adopting the CG best practices would need to rely on other factors to access long-term debt financing or on other external financing sources.

Numerical Investigation on the Dynamic Performance of Steel–Concrete Composite Continuous Rigid Bridges Subjected to Moving Vehicles

Assembly construction is the main feature of industrialized bridges, and π-shaped section steel–concrete composites that are continuously rigid have been widely used in engineering fields in recent years; however, their dynamic responses and corresponding impact coefficients in positive and negative moment regions need to be further studied. First, considering the interface slip model, we established a finite element model for the π-shaped continuous region section of the steel–concrete composite on the Sutai Expressway Tongfu No. 3 viaduct. Second, the bridge deck unevenness parameters were generated by preparing a MATLAB program with random calculations and were added to the bridge deck as the excitation load along with the vehicle load. Such parameters are defined on the basis of considering the vertical degrees of freedom of the four wheels and of one vehicle rigid body. Finally, we analyzed the displacement or stress impact coefficients as the dynamic response index of the bridge by adjusting the vehicle travel speeds, vehicle weights, interface slip stiffness values, and deck unevenness values. The results show that the change in vehicle travel speed and the change in vehicle load weight have some influence on the change in the dynamic effect of the combined beam, but this change is not significant. Moreover, the unevenness and interface slip strength changes have a large effect on the dynamic effect of the combination beam, which can significantly change the impact coefficient of the combination beam bridge. The worse the unevenness of the bridge deck is, the lower the grade of interface slip for the steel–concrete composite bridges and the higher the impact coefficient. We calculated the recommended impact coefficient values of the steel–concrete composite bridge based on the specifications for various countries, and they range from 1.16 to 1.4; such values are similar to the finite element calculation results.

Compressor Upgrade on Existing Platform: A Study on Vibration from Structural Perspective

Due to an increase in gas lift demand on an existing field in Sarawak, an existing Gas Lift Compressor (GLC) on the processing platform requires to be upgraded to meet incremental oil production requirement. These sets of compressors consist of 2x100% reciprocating compressors that were designed for 1.5 MMscfd each, with discharge pressure of 55.1 barg (800psig). The gas from these compressors is used mainly for gas lift at the processing platform as well as gas lift, instrument gas and utility gas at adjacent wellhead platforms. From the Conceptual Study, the existing compressors are not able to be retrofit for upgrade and is to be replaced with 2 × 100 % new gas engine driven compressor that capable of delivery 3.0 MMscfd of compressed gas each. During the engineering stage of GLC package, Skid Dynamic Analysis has been carried out to evaluate the GLC skid structural design due to the operating dynamic load cases. The study recommended that the skid to be welded to the platform where the compressor is located to prevent the risk of high vibration. With the recommendation from Contractor's study, project team proceeded to carry out Structural Dynamic Analysis to assess the dynamic effect of the GLC skids to the platform deck. The Finite Element Analysis (FEA) results revealed that there are several modal modes mainly at the drilling deck and extension deck non-compliance to PTS guideline. Structural Dynamic Modification (SDM) and optimization was performed to dynamically stiffens the structures to shift the modal modes away from the operating range to fulfil PTS criteria. However, the SDM results was still unable to comply thus the need of Anti-Vibration Mounts (AVMs) is considered. Prior to application of AVMs, Structural Forced Response Analysis needs to be carried out to evaluate the risk of the system and confirm the requirement of the AVMs. Without the forced response analysis, the effect of AVMs, locations and numbers of AVMs cannot be addressed during the design study. This paper will discuss the issues concerning vibration from reciprocating compressors upgrade on an existing platform, changes in the existing operating and design philosophy, challenges in addressing compressor installation and utilization of AVM from the perspective of Project Team. The paper will also provide key lessons learn and recommendation for future considerations in Compressor upgrades on existing facilities from a Structural Engineering point of view. The project is currently at its detail design finalization and installation is expected to be completed by November 2021.

Minimum Structure for Well Appraisal in Marginal Fields at 35m Water Depth without Jacket & Mudline Suspension System

ABSTRACT This paper proposes a minimum structure for drilling two appraisal wells. Conductors will be driven into seabed by a crane vessel or drilling-rig crane through a pre-installed lightweight guide-frame placed on seabed. After driving the conductors to required depth, the frame is raised and joined to the conductors at appropriate elevation by bolted and grouted connections. Six tie members connected between the frame and seabed by specially-designed small mat foundations will ensure stability of the structure against environmental loads. A small deck will be installed on the top of conductors to provide space for essential equipment required for prolonged well testing after departure of drilling rig. The platform will be accessed by small boats through a boat landing and ladder. In case of positive drilling outcome, a riser and flexible pipeline will be added to connect with the nearest subsea tie-in point. A detailed structural design of the minimum facility is performed to withstand omnidirectional environmental loads due to 10.0m high wave along with associated wind and current loads. Susceptibility of the structure against dynamic effect of wave loads is also investigated. Demonstration of structural adequacy against wave-induced fatigue loads and reserve strength against extreme environmental loads show the robustness of the minimum structure to perform against design environmental loads.

Evaluating the large-scale hydrological cycle response within the Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project Phase 2 (PlioMIP2) ensemble

The mid-Pliocene (∼3 Ma) is one of the most recent warm periods with high CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere and resulting high temperatures, and it is often cited as an analog for near-term future climate change. Here, we apply a moisture budget analysis to investigate the response of the large-scale hydrological cycle at low latitudes within a 13-model ensemble from the Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project Phase 2 (PlioMIP2). The results show that increased atmospheric moisture content within the mid-Pliocene ensemble (due to the thermodynamic effect) results in wetter conditions over the deep tropics, i.e., the Pacific intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and the Maritime Continent, and drier conditions over the subtropics. Note that the dynamic effect plays a more important role than the thermodynamic effect in regional precipitation minus evaporation (PmE) changes (i.e., northward ITCZ shift and wetter northern Indian Ocean). The thermodynamic effect is offset to some extent by a dynamic effect involving a northward shift of the Hadley circulation that dries the deep tropics and moistens the subtropics in the Northern Hemisphere (i.e., the subtropical Pacific). From the perspective of Earth's energy budget, the enhanced southward cross-equatorial atmospheric transport (0.22 PW), induced by the hemispheric asymmetries of the atmospheric energy, favors an approximately 1∘ northward shift of the ITCZ. The shift of the ITCZ reorganizes atmospheric circulation, favoring a northward shift of the Hadley circulation. In addition, the Walker circulation consistently shifts westward within PlioMIP2 models, leading to wetter conditions over the northern Indian Ocean. The PlioMIP2 ensemble highlights that an imbalance of interhemispheric atmospheric energy during the mid-Pliocene could have led to changes in the dynamic effect, offsetting the thermodynamic effect and, hence, altering mid-Pliocene hydroclimate.