Horizontal Shear Research Articles

Flow and Entrainment Mechanisms Around a Freshwater Mussel Aligned With the Incoming Flow

AbstractThe paper uses information from eddy‐resolving simulations to characterize flow and turbulence around freshwater mussels at the organism scale. The focus is on the simplest case of a partially burrowed, isolated mussel aligned with the incoming flow in an open channel. The wake structure and the capacity of the flow to displace the mussel from the bed substrate and to induce local scour around the mussel are investigated as a function of the ratio between the height of the exposed part of the mussel, h, and the total mussel height, d, and as a function of the filtration velocity ratio (VR) between the incoming channel flow velocity, U0, and the mean velocity inside the excurrent siphon, Ue. As opposed to the flow past most surface‐mounted obstacles where the bed shear stresses are reduced in the wake of the body, the capacity of the flow to induce bed erosion behind isolated mussels aligned with the flow is relatively large because of strong downwelling motions inside the horizontal separated shear layers. These flow features are associated with the formation of counterrotating base vortices of unequal coherence that induce upwash behind the mussel. The total circulation of the base vortices increases with increasing h/d and VR. Though both symmetrical and antisymmetrical shedding are observed in the wake, the antisymmetrical mode dominates, and its strength increases with increasing VR. The nondimensional streamwise force acting on the emerged part of the mussel's shell increases with increasing h/d and VR. Finally, the paper discusses the effects of varying h/d and VR on the dynamics and dilution of the jet of filtered water originating in the excurrent siphon, which is important to understand how mussels affect mixing and water quality (e.g., nutrient availability and phytoplankton concentration) in natural streams.

Constraining Ice Shelf Anisotropy Using Shear Wave Splitting Measurements from Active‐Source Borehole Seismics

Observations of ice shelf anisotropy on borehole seismic data are presented. Hot‐water‐drilledboreholes were made by the Aotearoa New Zealand Ross Ice Shelf Programme through a grounding‐line proximal site at Windless Bight and the central Ross Ice Shelf site HWD‐2. The boreholes were used to freeze seismometers into the ice at different depths. Seismic observations of shear wave splitting were made on the borehole seismometers using active sources deployed at the surface. These shear wave splitting data were used to constrain anisotropic ice crystallographic preferred orientations (CPO) within the ice column. Forward models of seismic properties from different CPO geometries are compared to the observations and a best fitting CPO model is found to explain the seismic anisotropy at HWD‐2. This model consists of a vertical girdle of ice c axes that constitute 80% of the CPO in combination with tight horizontal clusters, which contribute 20% of ice c axes. The origin of the modeled CPO is discussed with regard to calculated strain rates at the site and found to be indicative of the current shear kinematics with vertical shear plane and horizontal shear direction. At HWD‐2 the 370 m thick ice shelf is calculated to consist of at least 197 m of anisotropic ice.

Aeroelastic load validation in wake conditions using nacelle-mounted lidar measurements

Abstract. We propose a method for carrying out wind turbine load validation in wake conditions using measurements from forward-looking nacelle lidars. Two lidars, a pulsed- and a continuous-wave system, were installed on the nacelle of a 2.3 MW wind turbine operating in free-, partial-, and full-wake conditions. The turbine is placed within a straight row of turbines with a spacing of 5.2 rotor diameters, and wake disturbances are present for two opposite wind direction sectors. The wake flow fields are described by lidar-estimated wind field characteristics, which are commonly used as inputs for load simulations, without employing wake deficit models. These include mean wind speed, turbulence intensity, vertical and horizontal shear, yaw error, and turbulence-spectra parameters. We assess the uncertainty of lidar-based load predictions against wind turbine on-board sensors in wake conditions and compare it with the uncertainty of lidar-based load predictions against sensor data in free wind. Compared to the free-wind case, the simulations in wake conditions lead to increased relative errors (4 %–11 %). It is demonstrated that the mean wind speed, turbulence intensity, and turbulence length scale have a significant impact on the predictions. Finally, the experiences from this study indicate that characterizing turbulence inside the wake as well as defining a wind deficit model are the most challenging aspects of lidar-based load validation in wake conditions.

Energy acquisition of a small solar UAV using dynamic soaring

ABSTRACTDynamic soaring improves the endurance of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) by obtaining energy from the horizontal wind shear gradient. The use of dynamic soaring in small solar UAVs can mitigate the trade-off between energy capacity and battery weight to achieve continuous all-day flight. The goal of this study is to determine the optimal energy acquisition methods for small solar UAVs using dynamic soaring and to decrease the battery weight to achieve all-day flight. A dynamic soaring UAV model that considers the influence of the wind shear gradient and a solar power energy model are established. The conditions to obtain a closed-loop energy system during daytime and nighttime flights are discussed, and the minimum mass of the energy system required for these conditions is determined. Simulations of single-cycle circular flights and a 72-h continuous flight of a small solar UAV are performed. The analyses and simulation results show that: (1) the combination of dynamic soaring and solar technology significantly reduces the energy consumption and reduces the required battery weight, (2) the flight speed and flight attitude angles have significant effects on the optimal total energy acquisition and (3) wind fields with a large horizontal gradient and strong solar illumination provide energy and load advantages.

Flow heterogeneities in supercooled liquids and glasses under shear.

Using extensive nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate a glass-forming binary Lennard-Jones mixture under shear. Both supercooled liquids and glasses are considered. Our focus is on the characterization of inhomogeneous flow patterns such as shear bands that appear as a transient response to the external shear. For the supercooled liquids, we analyze the crossover from Newtonian to non-Newtonian behavior with increasing shear rate γ[over ̇]. Above a critical shear rate γ[over ̇]_{c} where a non-Newtonian response sets in, the transient dynamics are associated with the occurrence of short-lived vertical shear bands, i.e., bands of high mobility that form perpendicular to the flow direction. In the glass states, long-lived horizontal shear bands, i.e., bands of high mobility parallel to the flow direction, are observed in addition to vertical ones. The systems with shear bands are characterized in terms of mobility maps, stress-strain relations, mean-squared displacements, and (local) potential energies. The initial formation of a horizontal shear band provides an efficient stress release, corresponds to a local minimum of the potential energy, and is followed by a slow broadening of the band towards the homogeneously flowing fluid in the steady state. Whether a horizontal or a vertical shear band forms cannot be predicted from the initial undeformed sample. Furthermore, we show that with increasing system size, the probability for the occurrence of horizontal shear bands increases.

Persistent Hydrodynamic Cues Elicit Orientation-Specific Behavioral Sensitivities and Kinematic Responses in Dispersed Crab Larvae

The estuarine mud crab Panopeus herbstii navigates a complex, but structured, hydrodynamic environment throughout its life history. The effects of hydrodynamic cues associated with turbulent flows on larval behavior are relatively well understood in the context of selective tidal stream transport (STST) phenomena during the dispersed (pelagic) larval stages preceding benthic settlement. In contrast, the potential relevance of hydrodynamic cues associated with spatiotemporally persistent flow features, which are typical of estuarine regions of enhanced productivity such as fronts and clines, remains much less certain. To investigate the behavioral relevance of persistent hydrodynamic cues, larval assays were conducted in a flume system that uses a laminar slot jet to produce steady fluid shear layers. Further, to ascertain whether or not the spatial orientation of the shear layers relative to gravity significantly affected larval behavior, assays were conducted in upwelling, downwelling, and horizontal shear flows, corresponding to the direction of the bulk flow produced by the jet. The flow was quantified using particle image velocimetry (PIV) and tuned to produce ecologically-relevant hydrodynamic conditions for larval assays. Changes in larval swimming kinematics show a distinct response to shear flows in all orientations relative to no-flow conditions, and the macro effect of these changes is to enhance depth-keeping and induce area-restricted search behaviors. Furthermore, the specifics of larval behavioral responses depend on the directional orientation of the shear flow, and the statistical properties of the strength of the hydrodynamic cue (vorticity) eliciting these responses are also shown to be shear flow orientation-specific. Orientation-specific hydrodynamic sensitivity and behavioral response strategies in the presence of persistent hydrodynamic cues may enable larvae to effectively forage and sample to locate and exploit nearby resource patches, while also inducing dispersal trajectories towards favorable benthic settlement habitats through depth regulation and effective STST. In this regard, hydrodynamic cues associated with spatiotemporally persistent flow features are likely fundamental drivers of decapod crab larvae behavior and may act as another mechanism of larval patchiness by directly impacting finescale population distributions and resultant dispersal trajectories.

Mutual Interaction between Surface Waves and Langmuir Circulations Observed in Wave-Resolving Numerical Simulations

AbstractWave-resolving simulations of monochromatic surface waves and Langmuir circulations (LCs) under an idealized condition are performed to investigate the dynamics of wave–current mutual interaction. When the Froude number (the ratio of the friction velocity of wind stress imposed at the surface and wave phase speed) is large, waves become refracted by the downwind jet associated with LCs and become amplitude modulated in the crosswind direction. In such cases, the simulations using the Craik–Leibovich (CL) equation with a prescribed horizontally uniform Stokes drift profile are found to underestimate the intensity of LCs. Vorticity budget analysis reveals that horizontal shear of Stokes drift induced by the wave modulation tilts the wind-driven vorticity to the downwind direction, intensifying the LCs that caused the waves to be modulated. Such an effect is not reproduced in the CL equation unless the Stokes drift of the waves modulated by LCs is prescribed. This intensification mechanism is similar to the CL1 mechanism in that the horizontal shear of the Stokes drift plays a key role, but it is more likely to occur because the shear in this interaction is automatically generated by the LCs whereas the shear in the CL1 mechanism is retained only when a particular phase relation between two crossing waves is kept locked for many periods.

Development of oil deposits in tectonic conditions

The paper presents the detailed analysis of structural and tectonic structure of the foundation surface and Jurassic deposits of Western Siberia, which allows identifying complex, small-sized geological objects promising for the detection of small oil deposits, clarifying the location of exploration wells, searching for deposits in subvertical destruction zones in deposits of the middle and lower Jurassic, foundation rocks in territories with already discovered overlying oil deposits. The zones of excessive fissuring, connected, among other things, with the zones of horizontal shear, which made it possible to change the expected contours of existing deposits and to reveal perspective excessive fissuring zones.

A novel bi-directional shear mode magneto-rheological elastomer vibration isolator

In this article, a novel bi-directional shear mode magneto-rheological elastomer–based vibration isolator has been designed, fabricated, and characterized to improve the dynamic response and identification of this class of “intellectual” mechanical devices. A heuristic embodiment has been realized in order to design such an isolator wherein both the vertical and horizontal directions can be operated only in the shear mode not only individually but also simultaneously. Two fixtures have been designed for performing the characterization of the magneto-mechanical behavior of the proposed magneto-rheological elastomer isolator in the vertical and horizontal shear modes under wide ranges of strain amplitude (4%–32%), excitation frequency (1–8 Hz), and magnetic flux density (0–220 mT). Experimental results revealed maximum relative magneto-rheological effects of 35% and 27 % in the vertical and horizontal shear modes, respectively. Furthermore, basic mathematical models of single-degree-of-freedom systems, employing the magneto-rheological elastomer–based isolator in the vertical and horizontal shear modes, have been established. The proposed magneto-rheological elastomer isolator in the vertical mode exhibited natural frequency shift of 6.1% by a small increment in the magnetic flux density which approves the potential of the proposed bi-directional shear mode magneto-rheological elastomer–based vibration isolator for vibration control applications, such as seat suspension systems.

Wake management based life enhancement of battery energy storage system for hybrid wind farms

One way of setting up hybrid wind farms is through augmentation of turbines with battery energy storage systems (BESS). Due to variation in wind speed in such wind farms, the cost of BESS increases and reduction in battery life takes place. This paper proposes a wake management technique to reduce the operational cost of a hybrid wind farm equipped with BESS. The battery charging and discharging powers are ascertained considering error in the wind speed prediction. This investigation considers three different conditions for a wind farm, namely, (i) without wake (ii) without wake management and (iii) with wake management. An ageing model is utilized for the lead-acid battery while accounting for temperature and depth of discharge changes to assess the battery operational cost and lifecycle count. Simulation analysis for a two-turbine layout with the upstream turbine yawed from 0∘to 5∘, presents a 44.37% savings in operational cost and 79.74% increase in battery life evaluated for a dataset obtained from Challicum hills in Australia. Additionally, the battery operational cost is minimized at a yaw angle of 15°. Uncertainty analysis is done to study the effect of prediction technique on the lifecycle count. The proposed methodology is extended to a 5-turbine layout where along with lifecycle count and operational cost, the horizontal shear on the turbine blades is also analyzed.

Mitigation of seismic waves: Metabarriers and metafoundations bench tested

The article analyses two potential metamaterial designs, the metafoundation and the metabarrier, capable to attenuate seismic waves impact on buildings or structural components in a frequency band between 3.5 and 8 Hz. The metafoundation serves the dual purpose of reducing the seismic response and supporting the superstructure. Conversely the metabarrier surrounds and shields the structure from incoming waves. The two solutions are based on a cell layout of local resonators whose dynamic properties are tuned using finite element simulations combined with Bloch periodicity boundary conditions. To enlarge the attenuation band, a graded design where the resonant frequency of each cell varies spatially is employed. If appropriately enlarged or reduced, the metamaterial designs could attenuate lower frequency seismic waves or groundborne vibrations respectively. A sensitivity analysis over various design parameters including size, number of resonators, soil type and source directivity, carried out by computing full 3D numerical simulations in time domain for horizontal shear waves is proposed. Overall, the metamaterial solutions discussed here can reduce the spectral amplification of the superstructure by approx. 15–70% depending on several parameters such as the metastructure size and the properties of the soil. Pitfalls and advantages of each configuration are discussed in detail. The role of damping, crucial to avoid multiple resonant coupling, and the analogies between graded metamaterials and tuned mass dampers is also investigated.

Propagation of gravity waves and its effects on pseudomomentum flux in a sudden stratospheric warming event

Abstract. Effects of realistic propagation of gravity waves (GWs) on distribution of GW pseudomomentum fluxes are explored using a global ray-tracing model for the 2009 sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) event. Four-dimensional (4D; x–z and t) and two-dimensional (2D; z and t) results are compared for various parameterized pseudomomentum fluxes. In ray-tracing equations, refraction due to horizontal wind shear and curvature effects are found important and comparable to one another in magnitude. In the 4D, westward pseudomomentum fluxes are enhanced in the upper troposphere and northern stratosphere due to refraction and curvature effects around fluctuating jet flows. In the northern polar upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere, eastward pseudomomentum fluxes are increased in the 4D. GWs are found to propagate more to the upper atmosphere in the 4D, since horizontal propagation and change in wave numbers due to refraction and curvature effects can make it more possible that GWs elude critical level filtering and saturation in the lower atmosphere. GW focusing effects occur around jet cores, and ray-tube effects appear where the polar stratospheric jets vary substantially in space and time. Enhancement of the structure of zonal wave number 2 in pseudomomentum fluxes in the middle stratosphere begins from the early stage of the SSW evolution. An increase in pseudomomentum fluxes in the upper atmosphere is present even after the onset in the 4D. Significantly enhanced pseudomomentum fluxes, when the polar vortex is disturbed, are related to GWs with small intrinsic group velocity (wave capture), and they would change nonlocally nearby large-scale vortex structures without substantially changing local mean flows.

Nonlinear analysis of laterally loaded rigid piles at the crest of clay slopes

This paper proposes a method for nonlinear analysis of a rigid pile under lateral load at the crest of clay slope. It is assumed that the ultimate soil resistance in front of the pile and behind the pile vary nonlinearly with depth. The modulus of horizontal subgrade reaction in front of the pile and behind the pile vary nonlinearly with the pile displacement at ground surface. The horizontal shear resistance at the pile base is considered and a bilinear relationship between the shear resistance and the displacement is used. Three distribution patterns of the soil resistance along a pile are also considered. Based on the force and moment equilibrium, the system equations are derived for a laterally loaded rigid pile in sloping ground with different soil resistance distribution patterns. The proposed method is validated by comparing its results with those from field tests, finite element analyses and a theoretical method. Finally, the method is used to analyze the effect of slope angle, pile-soil adhesion factor, height above ground surface of point of load application, pile diameter and embedded length on the lateral response of rigid piles.

A Nonlinear Multiscale Theory of Atmospheric Blocking: Dynamical and Thermodynamic Effects of Meridional Potential Vorticity Gradient

AbstractIn this paper, an extended nonlinear multiscale interaction model is proposed to examine nonlinear behavior of eddy-driven blocking as a Rossby wave packet in a three-dimensional background flow by dividing the background meridional potential vorticity gradient (PVy) into dynamical PVy related to the horizontal (mainly meridional) shear of background westerly wind (BWW) and thermodynamic PVy associated with the meridional temperature gradient (MTG). It is found that eddy-driven baroclinic blocking with large amplitude in the midtroposphere tends to have a longer lifetime (~20 days) in a baroclinic atmosphere with stratification than eddy-driven barotropic blocking without vertical variation (less than 15 days). It is shown that barotropic blocking shows a northwest–southeast orientation and has long lifetime, large retrogression, and slow decay only for weaker barotropic BWW and in higher latitudes. In a baroclinic atmosphere with stratification, baroclinic blocking shows long lifetime, strong eastward movement, slow decay, weak strength, and less local persistence for large barotropic BWW and under , but becomes less slow decay, weak retrogression, and large local persistence for small barotropic BWW and . Such a blocking with a north–south antisymmetric dipole, large amplitude, and long local persistence, characterized by a persistent large meander of westerly jet streams, is easily seen when baroclinic BWW and are small in the lower to midtroposphere. Comparatively, the magnitude of plays a larger role in the blocking change than that of , whereas the vertical variation of MTG is more important for the blocking change than the MTG itself for some cases.

Experimental study on the effect of alternating ageing and sea corrosion on laminated natural rubber bearing’s tension-shear property

The laminated natural rubber bearings (NRBs) used in offshore or sea-crossing bridges, are subjected to marine environments over an extended period and therefore vulnerable to the effect of alternating ageing and sea corrosion caused by weather conditions such as temperature, rain, sun, sea winds, waves etc. In addition, there are no systematic theories about the tension capability for NRBs now. Therefore, in this paper, the alternating of ageing and sea corrosion test on 12 NRBs was conducted for 60 days to investigate the deterioration trend of its tension shear property with different horizontal shear strains. Test results show that initial tension stiffness, yield stiffness and yield tension stress with different horizontal shear strains, all decrease with the alternating ageing and sea corrosion test time. Further, tension failure stress and strain with 50% and 100% horizontal shear strain, also decreases with the alternating ageing and sea corrosion test time. After testing for 60 days, both the tension failure stress and tension failure strain with 100% horizontal shear strain have the biggest drop. Additionally, only broken rubber is left after NRB failure before and after testing for 60 days.

Post–east African Orogen dilation and magmatism: development of a conjugate-style of dolerite dike swarm in the northwestern Arabian shield

The Al Madinah area bimodal dike swarms underwent detailed field mapping, measurements of dikes’ attitudes, structural analyses, remote sensing data interpretation, and petrology study. The oldest rock unit is a greenish intermediate dioritic unit that varies in its petrologic composition between microdiorite and andesite porphyry which is intruded by alkali granite. The dioritic and alkali granite units have been cut by intermediate to mafic dikes, ranging in texture and composition from micromonzodiorite and micromonzonite to microgabbro, microdolerite, and basalt or basaltic andesite, as revealed by thin-section work. A stereographic projection and rose diagrams of the mafic dikes formed a regional conjugate dike system, following probably a typical andersonian style, consisting of three major sets, namely, the WNW set which trends between N295 and N330, E-W set between N265 and N270, and finally the ENE (N065) set. The WNW set has its own local system, but it is considered as a set in the overall regional conjugate dike system. The WNW and E-W sets are the conjugate pair of the WNW Najd fault system maximum horizontal shearing, where the ENE set reflects the minimum regional horizontal shearing stress of the Najd system. The interpretation of this dike system is a WNW-ESE sinistral faulting and NE-SW dilation that formed Wadi Al-Hamd Ediacaran continental basin, bounded by two Najd faults and Thurwah-Bir Um suture. The study area underwent final thrust faulting that tilted the dikes towards the east. For the consequent magmatisms during the Neoproterozoic period, followed by Cenozoic volcanism, the Al Madinah area is considered a large igneous province.

Performance of Thermally Modified Spruce Timber in Outdoor Above-Ground Conditions: Checking, Dynamic Stiffness and Static Bending Properties

Previous studies have shown that thermally modified wood (TMW) performs well in outdoor, above-ground conditions in terms of resistance to wood-decaying fungi. Yet, little is known about the development of defects such as checks and the corresponding mechanical properties of TMW in this condition. This experiment focused on the effect of 30 months outdoor above-ground exposure (weathering) on the degree of checking, dynamic stiffness and static bending properties of thermally modified timber (TMT) of Norway spruce. Two board pairs per log were cut from 190 logs; one board of each pair was thermally modified and the other used as control. Then, 90 board pairs were exposed to the weather in south Sweden. Surface checking and axial stiffness were monitored at six-month intervals by using digital photography and non-destructive tests (time-of-flight and resonance method) to monitor changes in the material upon weathering. Finally, all boards were tested destructively in a 4-point static bending test following EN 408 standard. Results showed that weathering had no significance influence on static bending properties of TMT even though the degree of checking was considerably higher in TMT than unmodified timber after weathering. In particular, checks along growth rings were deeper, longer and more common in TMT after weathering, especially on the pith side of boards. The maximum depth of these checks did not depend on board orientation (i.e., which side was exposed) and exceeded limits given in strength grading standards for 7% of the modified boards included. Axial dynamic stiffness determined at 6-month intervals was less influenced by fluctuations in moisture content for TMT compared to unmodified timber, but did not confirm the increase in the degree of checking of TMT. The presence of checks from weathering did influence failure modes in TMT; horizontal shear failure became more frequent and some boards failed in compression.

Experimental and numerical characterization of the interface between concrete masonry block and mortar

Abstract Masonry is a construction system that has been used since the beginning of civilization and is still used throughout the world. The finite element method is a recent development that allows complex problems, including structural masonry problems, to be solved. A vast amount of literature exists on finite element modeling, using software such as ABAQUS, to represent experimental masonry models. Based on this established pattern, an experimental and analytical research program was designed and implemented. Thus, a set of tests was conducted to determine the compressive and tensile strengths of the masonry components, i.e., block, mortar, and grout. Bond wrench tests, diagonal tension tests, and horizontal joint shear tests were conducted to characterize the interface between the blocks and the mortar. A finite element model was then developed to represent the physical models and the general conclusion is that the finite element model was able to represent reasonably well the physical models.

Experimental research of service actions influence on elastomeric bearings elastic properties

The article includes results of shear test of rubber-metal seismic insulators (elastomers) for different service actions. Research shows influence of low temperatures, material aging and cyclic loads on horizontal stiffness and shear modulus of elastomers. Tests were carried out according to existing Russian and foreign regulatory documents. An insignificant decrease in elastic properties of elastomers is seen after aging and cyclic loading. Influence of low temperatures increases stiffness of elastomers by 23%.

Pn uppermost mantle tomography of Central Tibet: Implication for mechanisms of N-S rifts and conjugate faults

The north-south convergence between the Indian and Eurasian continents since Cenozoic has produced the Tibetan plateau, and east-west extension structures have also developed since late Cenozoic. Whether these extensional structures are limited to the crust or extend to the deep lithosphere remains controversial. The uppermost mantle serves as a link between the crust and deep lithosphere, the velocity structure of which provides an important constraint on exploring the mechanism of extensional structures. Based on Pn traveltime data recorded by the SANDWICH network in central Tibet, we use the interstation traveltime difference method to obtain the uppermost mantle velocity structure. Our results show significant velocity differences for the uppermost mantle beneath the conjugated strike-slip faults and rifts, which indicates their different formation mechanisms. The high Pn velocity beneath the conjugated strike-slip faults support an eastward horizontal shear at the base of the upper crust rather than the lower crust has contributed to the development of the conjugated strike-slip faults. The low Pn velocity beneath the rifts in Lhasa may provide evidence for the rifts cutting through the entire crust and reflect the connection between the formation of the rifts and deep tectonic activities. The most prominent features in our results are the low Pn velocity zones beneath the Tangra Yum Co Rift (TYR), the Pumqu-Xianza Rift (PXR) and the zone between the two rifts, and we explain the low Pn velocity as the top of the mantle wedge upon the subducting Indian lithospheric slab.