Erosion Profile Research Articles

Investigation of bar parameters occurred by cross-shore sediment transport

Cross-shore sediment transport is very important factor in the design of coastal structures, and the beach profile is mainly affected by a number of parameters, such as wave height and period, beach slope, and the material properties of the bed. In this study cross-shore sediment movement was investigated using a physical model and various offshore bar geometric parameters were determined by the resultant erosion profile. The experiments on cross- shore sediment transport carried out in a laboratory wave channel for initial base slopes of 1/8, 1/10 and 1/15. Using the regular waves with different deep-water wave steepness generated by a pedal-type wave generator, the geometrical of sediment transport rate and considerable characteristics of beach profiles under storm conditions and bar parameters affecting on-off shore sediment transport are investigated for the beach materials with the medium diameter of d50=0.25, 0.32, 0.45, 0.62 and 0.80 mm. Non-dimensional equations were obtained by using linear and non-linear regression me- thods through the experimental data and were compared with previously developed equations in the literature. The re- sults have shown that the experimental data fitted well to the proposed equations with respect to the previously deve- loped equations.

Recent effects of tidal and hydro‐meteorological changes on coastal plains near the mouth of the Amazon River

ABSTRACTThe goal of this work was to understand the main hydrodynamic processes acting on tidal flats of the coast of Amapá near the mouth of the Amazon River, and how they change over the short term (~ 20 years). The analysis of morphological and geobotanical units was carried out by applying processing and interpretation methods to optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images, combined with data on water salinity, maximum flood height, sedimentary facies data, rainfall and river discharge. The temporal analysis of morphological and geobotanical units suggests the relative stabilization of savannah, ‘várzea’ and mangrove areas during the drier period and increasing tidal amplitude between 1987 to 1997. The wetter period and decreasing tidal amplitude between 1997 to 2008 led to an increase in the area of ‘várzea’ and lakes over savannah, and the expansion of mangroves mainly over the inundated field and tidal mud/mixed flats. Therefore, the decrease in rainfall index during the drier period is well‐correlated with the reduction of the Calçoene River discharge and jointly with increasing tidal amplitude favored the increase of migration rate of the mud bank and erosion profile along the littoral. It was followed by the increase of the Calçoene River discharge and jointly with decreasing tidal amplitude during the wetter period, favoring the development of mangroves on muddy substrates near the coastline. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Bifurcation, response scenarios and dynamic integrity in a single-mode model of noncontact atomic force microscopy

The nonlinear dynamical behavior of a single-mode model of noncontact AFM is analyzed in terms of attractors robustness and basins integrity. The model considered for the analyses, proposed in (Hornstein and Gottlieb in Nonlinear Dyn. 54:93–122, 2008), consistently includes the nonlinear atomic interaction and is studied under scan excitation (which appears as parametric excitation) and vertical excitation (which is prevalently external). Local bifurcation analyses are carried out to identify the overall stability boundary in the excitation parameter space as the envelope of system local escapes, to be compared with the one obtained via numerical simulations. The dynamical integrity of periodic bounded solutions is studied, and basin erosion is evaluated by means of two different integrity measures. The obtained erosion profiles allow us to dwell on the possible lack of homogeneous safety of the stability boundary in terms of robustness of the attractors, and to identify practical escape thresholds ensuring an a priori design safety target.

CFD simulation and experimental analysis of erosion in a slurry tank test rig

a Abstract. Erosion occurring in equipment dealing with liquid-solid mixtures such as pipeline parts, slurry pumps, liquid-solid stirred reactors and slurry mixers in various industrial applications results in operational failure and economic costs. A slurry erosion tank test rig is designed and was built to investigate the erosion rates of materials and the influencing parameters such as flow velocity and turbulence, flow angle, solid particle concentration, particles size distribution, hardness and target material properties on the material loss and erosion profiles. In the present study, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tool is used to simulate the erosion rate of sample plates in the liquid-solid slurry mixture in a cylindrical tank. The predictions were made in a steady state and also transient manner, applying the flow at the room temperature and using water and sand as liquid and solid phases, respectively. The multiple reference frame method (MRF) is applied to simulate the flow behavior and liquid-solid interactions in the slurry tank test rig. The MRF method is used since it is less demanding than sliding mesh method (SM) and gives satisfactory results. The computational domain is divided into three regions: a rotational or MRF zone containing the mixer, a rotational zone (MRF) containing the erosion plates and a static zone (outer liquid zone). It is observed that changing the MRF zone diameter and height causes a very low impact on the results. The simulated results were obtained for two kinds of hard metals namely stainless steel and ST-50 under some various operating conditions and are found in good agreement with the experimental results.

STUDY OF CLIFF SHORELINE EROSION

In this paper the cliff shoreline erosion on the coastline between Punta Montijo and the Chipiona Port (Cadiz, Spain) is studied. The reasons which cause this erosive phenomenon and the future erosive tendency of these cliffs are estimated, obtaining magnitudes of recession and the rate at which it will occur. Analysis of the current situation has been carried out by determining its plan shape, the study of the theoretical erosion profile of the cliffs and the verification of their failure. The future evolution of the cliffs shoreline has been analysed through the simulation of its recession and the study of the profile response to storm wave action. Finally, is presented a model to estimate the recession of the cliff shoreline.

Two-dimensional electric current effects on a magnetized plasma in contact with a surface

Significant electric fields both parallel and perpendicular to a magnetic field have been observed and modeled self-consistently in an ITER divertor relevant plasma–wall experiment. Due to magnetization, electric current is found to penetrate the plasma beam outside of the cascaded arc plasma source with a length scale proportional to , where He and Hi are the electron and ion Hall parameters, respectively. Plasma rotation measurements and chemical erosion profiles at a carbon target demonstrate that for a sufficiently well-magnetized plasma, a current through the target causes plasma–wall sheath potentials to significantly increase in a region of net ion collection while for the conditions studied, regions of net electron collection remain unaffected. The plasma–wall sheath profile at the target has been characterized experimentally as a function of negative target potential.

AN ANALYSIS OF CROSS-SHORE PROFILE EVOLUTION OF A SAND AND A COMPOSITE SAND-GRAVEL BEACHES

In this paper, cross-shore morphodynamic evolution of a sand and sand-gravel composite beach, are compared and contrasted used historic surveys of beach profiles. The differential behavior of cross-shore morphodynamics at a range of time scales covering event-scale dynamics up to intra-annual scale variability are investigated and discussed. The application of equilibrium concept to both beach types is explored through Dean’s equilibrium profile and Vellinga’s beach erosion profile. Variability of cross-shore profile dynamics are quantified and discussed through bulk statistical analysis. Multi-scale morphodynamic trends are determined using Empirical Orthogonal Eigenfunction (EOF) analysis. The above analysis enables to recognise failure mechanism of each beach type during a storm.

Numerical Prediction of Iron Flow and Bottom Erosion in the Blast Furnace Hearth

AbstractThe blast furnace (BF) campaign life, which is limited by the hearth erosion, will be decisive for the process to maintain its dominance in ore‐based iron production, so timely prediction of the hearth erosion and proper measures to protect the hearth are important issues. The erosion at the hearth bottom has not received much attention, even though the region is believed to be the most vulnerable part of the hearth. A computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model has been developed to deepen the understanding of iron flow and refractory erosion at the bottom of the hearth. Key boundary and internal conditions, such as slag–iron interface and dead man state, are provided by a BF drainage model which reproduces the tapping process. Simulations with the CFD model illustrate how different factors affect the flow pattern, hearth erosion profile, and bottom breakage ratio. It is shown that the dead man state plays an important role for the flow behavior and erosion conditions in the hearth. The model is demonstrated to predict two erosion types that are commonly encountered in practice.

A statistical approach to delta layer depth profiling

We present a simple statistical model describing the removal and relocation of material during a sputter depth profiling experiment. All input parameters are determined from low‐fluence molecular dynamics simulations, making the model de facto parameter free. The model can be used to extrapolate data from the molecular dynamics simulations to projectile fluences relevant to sputter depth profiling experiments. As a result, the erosion of the surface is calculated in terms of fluence‐dependent filling factors of different sample layers. Using input data determined for the 20‐keV C60 cluster bombardment of silicon, it is found that a steady‐state erosion profile is reached after removal of approximately 20 monolayer equivalents of material. Plotting the contribution of particles from a specific layer to the instantaneous sputtered flux, one can directly determine the delta layer response function predicted from such a model. It is shown that this function can be parameterized by the semiempirical Dowsett response function, and the resulting fitting parameters are compared with published depth profile data. The model is then used to study the role of different processes influencing the observed depth resolution. We find that the statistical nature of the sputtering process suffices to explain many features of experimentally measured delta layer depth profiles. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Erosion Profile by a Global Model for Granular Flow

In this paper we study an integro-differential equation that models the erosion of a mountain profile caused by small avalanches. The equation is in conservative form, with a non-local flux involving an integral of the mountain slope. Under suitable assumptions on the erosion rate, the mountain profile develops several types of singularities, which we call kinks, shocks and hyper-kinks. We study the formation of these singularities and derive admissibility conditions. Furthermore, entropy weak solutions to the Cauchy problem are constructed globally in time, taking limits of piecewise affine approximate solutions. Entropy and entropy flux functions are introduced, and a Lax entropy condition is established for the weak solutions.

An analysis of the cross-shore beach morphodynamics of a sandy and a composite gravel beach

In this paper, beach profile surveys acquired over more than a decade at a sandy beach (Narrabeen Beach, New South Wales, Australia) and a composite sand–gravel beach (Milford-on-Sea, Christchurch Bay, UK) are analysed to compare and contrast cross-shore morphodynamics of the two beach types. The different behavioural characteristics of the two beach types at decadal, inter-annual and intra-annual time scales are investigated. Comparisons of beach profiles with Dean's equilibrium profile and Vellinga's erosion profile show that the Dean's profile satisfactorily represents the time mean profiles of both beach types. Statistical and Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analyses confirm the generally accepted model that the inter-tidal zone is the most morphodynamically active region on a sandy beach whereas the swash zone is the most dynamic region on a mixed sand–gravel beach. The results also imply that during storms composite sand–gravel beaches may become unstable due to cutback of the upper beach while sandy beaches are more likely to be unstable as a result of beach lowering due to sediment transport from the inter-tidal zone to the sub-tidal zone during storms. EOF results also show that Milford-on-Sea beach is in a state of steady recession while the Narrabeen Beach shows a cyclic erosion–accretion variability. A multivariate technique (Canonical Correlation Analysis, CCA) shows that on the composite beach a strong correlation exists between incident wave steepness and profile response, which could be attributed to the unsaturated surf zone, whereas on the sandy beach any correlation is much less evident.

Bifurcations, basin erosion and dynamic integrity in a single-mode model of noncontact atomic force microscopy

The nonlinear dynamical behavior of a single-mode model of noncontact AFM is analyzed in terms of attractors robustness and basin integrity. The model considered for the analyses, proposed by Hornstein and Gottlieb (7), consistently includes the nonlinear atomic interaction and the scan control, which appears as parametric excitation. Local bifurcation analyses are carried out to define the overall stability boundary in the excitation parameter space as the envelope of system local escapes, to be compared with the one obtained via numerical simulations. The dynamical integrity of the periodic bounded solutions is studied, and basin erosion is evaluated by means of IF and GIM integrity measures. The obtained erosion profiles allow us to dwell on the possible lack of homogeneous safeness of the stability boundary in terms of attractors robustness and to identify practical escape thresholds ensuring an a priori design safety target.

Monitoring Erosion Profile and Analyzing Reliability for Submerged Arc Furnace

Based on the principle of heat transfer, a monitoring software package about identifying erosion profile of submerged arc furnace with “freeze” lining is developed by VC++. Reliability of traditional lining without monitoring system and “freeze” lining with monitoring software are evaluated by Fuzzy FMECA Method. There is a conclusion can be draw that the hazard rating of submerged arc furnace with traditional lining is 2.9094.This value of “freeze” lining is 2.1087.The result indicates that adopting the “freeze” lining with monitoring software can drop the potential safety hazard effectively and reduce casualties.

Influence of crystal orientation on pattern formation of focused-ion-beam milled Cu surfaces

The erosion profiles of Cu surfaces after focused ion beam sputtering have been investigated as a function of crystal orientation and ion beam incidence. We find that all patterns are aligned with crystallographic axes and have wavelengths of about $0.5$ \ensuremath{\mu}m. The patterns depend strongly on the crystal orientation, typically with similar patterns for neighboring orientations, but may also be influenced by the ion beam direction. For orientations close to ${100}$, we find however that surfaces stay smooth for all incidence angles. The results are discussed in the context of current continuum models and indicate that modifications to the models are required to account for the effect of crystal orientation.

Influence of Modal Coupling on the Nonlinear Dynamics of Augusti’s Model

The nonlinear behavior and stability under static and dynamic loads of an inverted spatial pendulum with rotational springs in two perpendicular planes, called Augusti’s model, is analyzed in this paper. This 2DOF lumped-parameter system is an archetypal model of modal interaction in stability theory representing a large class of structural problems. When the system displays coincident buckling loads, several post-buckling paths emerge from the bifurcation point (critical load) along the fundamental path. This leads to a complex potential energy surface. Herein, we aim to investigate the influence of nonlinear modal interactions on the dynamic behavior of Augusti’s model. Coupled/uncoupled dynamic responses, bifurcations, escape from the pre-buckling potential well, stability, and space-time-varying displacements; attractor-manifold-basin phase portraits are numerically evaluated with the aim of enlightening the system complex response. The investigation of basins evolution due to variation of system parameters leads to the determination of erosion profiles and integrity measures which enlighten the loss of safety of the structure due to penetration of eroding fractal tongues into the safe basin.

Degradable polyelectrolyte multilayers that promote the release of siRNA.

We report an approach to the design of degradable polyelectrolyte-based films for the controlled release of siRNA from surfaces. Our approach is based on stepwise, layer-by-layer assembly of multilayered polyelectrolyte films (or "polyelectrolyte multilayers", PEMs) using siRNA and a hydrolytically degradable poly(β-amino ester) (polymer 1). Fabrication of films using siRNA sequences for green fluorescent protein (GFP) or firefly luciferase resulted in linear growth of ultrathin films (∼50 nm thick) that promoted the surface-mediated release of siRNA upon incubation in physiologically relevant media. Physicochemical characterization of these siRNA-containing films revealed large differences in film growth profiles, physical erosion profiles, and siRNA release profiles as compared to PEMs fabricated using polymer 1 and larger plasmid DNA constructs. For example, whereas films fabricated using plasmid DNA erode gradually and release DNA over a period of ∼48 h, films fabricated using siRNA released ∼65% of incorporated siRNA within the first hour of incubation, prior to the onset of any observed film erosion. This initial burst of release was followed by a second, slower phase of release (accompanied by gradual film erosion) over the next 23 h. These differences in release profiles and other behaviors likely result, at least in part, from large differences in the sizes of siRNA and plasmid DNA. Finally, we demonstrate that the siRNA in these films is released in a form that remains intact, functional, and able to silence targeted protein expression upon administration to mammalian cells in vitro. The results of this investigation provide a platform for the design of thin films and coatings that could be used to localize the release of siRNA from surfaces in a variety of fundamental and applied contexts (e.g., for development of new research tools or approaches to delivery from film-coated implants and other devices).

An evaluation of the mechanisms of drug release from glyceride bases.

A series of dispersions containing theophylline in Gelucires 43/01, 54/02, 50/02, 50/13 and 55/18 was prepared and the physical structures studied using differential scanning calorimetry. The dissolution, erosion and swelling profiles of the drug dispersions were assessed. Gelucire 43/01 and 54/02 systems were found to release the drug by a simple diffusion mechanism, with no evidence for erosion or swelling being noted. Gelucire 55/18, however, showed a more complex mechanism involving both diffusion and erosion. On increasing the drug load within the matrices, the predominance of the erosion mechanism increased. Drug release from Gelucire 50/13 matrices took place principally by erosion, although the process was dominated by swelling and subsequent disintegration of the matrix, rather than simple dissolution of the base as was found for Gelucire 55/18. Gelucire 50/02 matrices also exhibited swelling, although drug release occurred predominantly via diffusion. The study, therefore, demonstrates that Gelucires may release incorporated drugs by a number of mechanisms depending on the chemical composition of the base.

Sustained release optimized formulation of anastrozole-loaded chitosan microspheres: in vitro and in vivo evaluation

The purpose of this study was to develop sustained release formulation of anastrozole-loaded chitosan microspheres for treatment of breast cancer. Chitosan microspheres cross-linked with two different cross-linking agents viz, tripolyphosphate (TPP) and glutaraldehyde (GA) were prepared using single emulsion (w/o) method. A reverse phase HPLC method was developed and used for quantification of drug in microspheres and rat plasma. Influence of cross-linking agents on the properties of chitosan microspheres was extensively investigated. Formulations were characterized for encapsulation efficiency (EE), compatibility of drug with excipients, particle size, surface morphology, swelling capacity, erosion and drug release profile in phosphate buffer pH 7.4. EE varied from 30.4 ± 1.2 to 69.2 ± 3.2% and mean particle size distribution ranged from 72.5 ± 0.5 to 157.9 ± 1.5 μm. SEM analysis revealed smooth and spherical nature of microspheres. TPP microspheres exhibited higher swelling capacity, percentage erosion and drug release compared to GA microspheres. Release of anastrozole (ANS) was rapid up to 4 h followed by slow release status. FTIR analysis revealed no chemical interaction between drug and polymer. DSC analysis indicated ANS trapped in the microspheres existed in amorphous form in polymer matrix. The highest correlation coefficients (R (2)) were obtained for Higuchi model, suggesting a diffusion controlled mechanism. There was significant difference in the pharmacokinetic parameters (AUC(0-∞), Kel and t(1/2)) when ANS was formulated in the form of microspheres compared to pure drug. This may be attributed to slow release rate of ANS from chitosan microspheres and was detectable in rat plasma up to 48 h which correlates well with the in vitro release data.

Revisiting mobile bed tests for beach profile dynamics

The levels of uncertainty for morphodynamic analysis in the present state of art require field measurements and, whenever possible, large scale mobile bed tests to reproduce what happens in Nature under controlled conditions. Following this idea, the paper will revise the procedure to design reduced scale mobile bed tests, including the criteria for scaling and those for selecting an experimental facility. This will be followed by the description of a set of carefully designed erosion and accretion beach profile tests, carried out at 2 different scales (prototype, large and small scales) and in three different wave flumes in such a way that the results should be fully compatible. From here we shall discuss the fundamental issues about test repeatability, error bounds and the feasibility to extrapolate to other scales. The paper will present next the measurements carried out within the swash zone in one of the flumes. This zone, relatively less studied until recently in the state-of-art, is now the focus of considerable research attention. Its reduced dimensions and the fact that it is alternatively wet and dry will serve to review the advanced observational systems used in the hydraulic tests, and which have allowed recording swash/surf zone processes with an unprecedented level of resolution and accuracy. The paper will end with some discussion about the present and future role of mobile bed tests.

Correlation between in vitro and in vivo erosion behaviour of erodible tablets using gamma scintigraphy

In vitro and in vivo erosion behaviour of erodible tablets consisting of glyceryl behenate and low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose manufactured using three different methods: direct compression (DC), melt granulation (MG) and direct solidification (DS) was investigated. In vitro erosion behaviour was studied using gravimetric and scintigraphic methods. For scintigraphic investigations, the radiolabel was adsorbed onto activated charcoal and incorporated into tablets at a concentration that did not affect the erosion profile. A clinical study was carried out in six healthy volunteers using gamma scintigraphy. Tablet erosion was affected by the preparation method and was found to decrease in the order of preparation method, DC > MG > DS tablets. The mean in vivo onset time for all tablets (DC: 6.7 ± 3.8 min, MG: 18.3 ± 8.1 min, DS: 67 ± 18.9 min) did not differ significantly from in vitro onset time (DC: 5.3 ± 1 min, MG: 16.8 ± 3.9 min, DS: 61.8 ± 4.7 min). The mean in vivo completion times were found to be 36.6 ± 9.7 (DC tablets), 70 ± 18.3 min (MG tablets) and 192.5 ± 39.9 min (DS tablets). Among the three different erodible tablets, MG tablets showed the highest correlation between in vitro and in vivo mean erosion profile and suggested a potential platform to deliver controlled release of water-insoluble compounds.