EXPERIMENT STUDY ON SEDIMENT INCIPIENCE IN BACKWARD-FACING STEP FLOW

Flow over a backward-facing step was studied to investigate the effect of large-scale vortex structures on sediment incipience. The transient flow velocity field at the downstream of the backward-facing step was obtained using the technique of Particle Tracking Velocimetry （PTV）. The optical amplification technique was employed to measure the instantaneous flow velocities near the bed and the instantaneous bed shear stress was given. The experimental observations revealed a new insight into the oscillation of the large-scale structure and the three-dimensional characteristics of the flow. In particular, very high turbulence intensity, instantaneous horizontal velocity near the bed and the bed shear stress near the reattachment point were observed. The sediment incipient probability obtained from the sequent images of sediment particles near the bed indicates that the critical instantaneous shear stress of the sediment incipience is independent of flow conditions.

The Absence of “Perfect Induction”in the Science

The present paper is finalized to show that the Science, even if considered in its two different Phenomenological Approaches at present known, is unable to assert that: “Thinks are like that”. This is because both the two Scientific Approaches previously mentioned have not the property of “the perfect induction”. Consequently, although they can even reach an experimental confirmation of the theoretical results, and thus a “valid description” of the various phenomena of the surrounding world, such a description has not an “absolute value”. In fact, it always and only has an “operative validity”, that is, it exclusively and solely refers to an “experimental point of view”. This means that such an “operative validity” cannot represent the basis for a logical process characterized by a “perfect induction”. In addition, the Traditional Scientific Approach is also characterized by “Insoluble” Problems, “Intractable Problems”, Problems with “drifts”, which could generally be termed as “side effects”. On the other hand, the same com-possible Scientific Approach based on the Emerging Quality of Self-Organizing Systems, also presents its “Emerging Exits”. Consequently, none of the two mentioned scientific Approaches has the “gift” of “the perfect induction”. However, there are significant differences between the two. Differences that may “suggest” the most appropriate choice among them for an “operative point of view”. This conclusion will be com-proved by considering, with particular reference, both the “side effects”, which are related to the Traditional Approach and, on the other hand, the “Emerging Exits”, which specifically pertain to the new Scientific Approach based on the Emerging Quality of Self-Organizing Systems.

Influence of heat treatments on incipient melting structures of DD5 nickel-based single crystal superalloy

The evolution of microstructure and formation mechanism of incipient melting microstructure of DD5 single crystal superalloy during solution heat treatment were studied by scanning electron microscopy(SEM),electron probe microanalysis(EPMA),and energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS).The solidus and liquidus of single crystal alloy were obtained by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC).Results show that the mosaic-like eutectic and fan-like eutectic are dissolved at first,and the coarseγ'phase is dissolved later during the solution heat treatment of 1,390°C/2 h+1,310°C/4 h+1,320°C/10 h+air cooling(AC).The composition segregations of Al,Ta,W and Re are 0.99,0.96,1.04 and 1.16,respectively,which close to 1.The incipient melting is caused by the low local temperature of the alloy,and the micropore region with a lower melting point is the preferred position for incipient melting.

Modelling erosion of a single rock block using a coupled CFD-DEM approach

Rock block removal is the prevalent physical mechanism for rock erosion and could affect the stability of dam foundations and spillways.Despite this,understanding of block removal is still inadequate because of the complex interactions among block characteristics,hydraulic forces,and erosive processes acting on the block.Herein,based on a previously conducted physical experiment of erosion of a single rock block,the removal processes of two different protruding blocks are represented by a coupled computational fluid dynamics-discrete element model(CFD-DEM)approach under varied flow conditions.Additionally,the blocks could be rotated with respect to the flow direction to consider the effect of the discontinuity orientation on the block removal process.Simulation results visualize the entire block removal process.The simulations reproduce the effects of the discontinuity orientation on the critical flow velocity inducing block incipient motion and the trajectory of the block motion observed in the physical experiments.The numerical results present a similar tendency of the critical velocities at different discontinuity orientations but have slightly lower values.The trajectory of the block in the simulations fits well with the experimental measurements.The relationship between the dimensionless critical shear stress and discontinuity orientation observed from the simulations shows that the effect of block protrusion becomes more dominant on the block incipient motion with the increase of relative protrusion height.To our knowledge,this present study is the first attempt to use the coupled finite volume method(FVM)-DEM approach for modelling the interaction behavior between the block and the flowing water so that the block removal process can be reproduced and analyzed.

Probability of Sediment Incipient Motion Under Complex Flows

Presented in this paper is a mathematical model to calculate the probability of the sediment incipient motion, in which the effects of the fluctuating pressure and the seepage are considered. The instantaneous bed shear velocity and the pressure gradient on the bed downstream of the backward-facing step flow are obtained according to the PIV measurements. It is found that the instantaneous pressure gradient on the bed obeys normal distribution. The probability of the sediment incipient motion on the bed downstream of the backward-facing step flow is given by the mathematical model. The predicted results agree well with the experiment in the region downstream of the reattachment point while a large discrepancy between the theory and experiment is seen in the region near the reattachment point. The possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.

Rheological Properties and Incipient Motion of Cohesive Sediment in the Haine Estuary of China

The Haihe cohesive sediment, which is typical in China, is studied systematically for its basic physical and incipient motion properties. Following the requirements of dredging works in the Haihe Estuary, cohesive sediment samples were taken from three locations. Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the rheological properties of these samples and to examine the incipient motion of the cohesive sediment. It is found that the cohesive sediment has an obvious yield stress tau(b), which increases with the mud density in a manner of an exponential function, and so does the viscosity parameter eta. The cohesive sediment behaves like a Bingham fluid when its density is below 1.38 similar to 1.40 g/cm(3), and when denser than these values, it may become a power-law fluid. The incipient motion experiment also revealed that the incipient velocity of the cohesive sediment increases with die density in an exponential manner. Therefore, the incipient motion is primarily related to the density, which is different from the case for non-cohesive sediment in which the incipient motion is con-elated with the diameter of sand particles instead. The incipient motion occurs in two different ways depending on the concentration of mud in the bottom. For sufficiently fine particles and a concentration lower than 1.20 g/cm(3), the cohesive sediment appears as fluidized mud, and the incipient motion is in the form of instability of an internal wave. For a higher concentration, the cohesive sediment appears as general quasi-solid-mud, and the incipient motion can be described by a series of extended Shields curves each with a different porosity for newly deposited alluvial mud.

Incipient Motion of Sediment Under Currents

Summarized in the paper are the author's studies on incipient motion of sediment in recent 40 years. In addition to the forces of gravity, drag and lift, the cohesive force and the additional static pressure are important for fine particles. The relations between three stages of incipient motion are defined by use of instantaneous velocity. Formulas for initial velocity and critical shear stress are given and overall verified by the author's and others' experimental data.

Incipient motion of sediment in presence of submerged flexible vegetation

The presence of submerged vegetation on river beds can change the water flow structure and alter the state of sediment motion. In this study, the incipient motion of sediment in the presence of submerged flexible vegetation in open channels was investigated in a laboratory experiment. The vegetation was simulated with flexible rubber cylinders arranged in parallel arrays. The effect of the vegetation density, water depth, and sediment grain size on the incipient motion was investigated. The experimental results indicate that the incipient motion velocity of sediment increases as the vegetation density decreases and the water depth and sediment grain size increase. With flexible plants, the incipient motion velocity of sediment is lower than it is without vegetation, and is larger than it is with rigid vegetation. A general incipient motion velocity equation was derived, which can be applied to both flexible and rigid vegetation conditions.

Incipient mechanical fault detection based on multifractal and MTS methods

An incipient mechanical fault detection method, combining multifractal theory and Mahalanobis-Taguchi system （MTS）, which is based on statistical technology, is proposed in this paper. Multifractal features of vibration signals obtained from machine state monitoring are extracted by multifractal spectrum analysis and generalized fractal dimensions. Considering the situation of mass samples of normal mechanical running state and few fault states, the feature parameters corresponding to different mechanical running states are further optimized by a statistical method, based on which incipient faults are subsequently identified and diagnosed accurately. Experimental results proved that the method combining multifractal theory and MTS can be used for incipient fault state recognition effectively during the mechanical running process, and the accuracy of fault state identification is improved.

Phase equilibrium modeling of incipient charnockite formation in NCKFMASHTO and MnNCKFMASHTO systems:A case study from Rajapalaiyam,Madurai Block,southern India

Incipient charnockites represent granulite formation on a mesoscopic scale and have received considerable attention in understanding fluid processes in the deep crust. Here we report new petrological data from an incipient charuockite locality at Rajapalaiyam in the Madurai Block, southern India, and discuss the petrogenesis based on mineral phase equilibrium modeling and pseudosection analysis. Rajapalaiyam is a key locality in southern India from where diagnostic mineral assemblages for ultrahigh-temperature （UHT） metamorphism have been reported. Proximal to the UHT rocks are patches and lenses of charnockite （Kfs＋Qtz ＋Pl＋ Bt ＋ Opx＋ Grt ＋Ilm） occurring within Opx-free Grt-Bt gneiss （Kfs ＋Pl ＋ Qtz ＋ Bt ＋ Grt ＋ Ilm ＋ Mt） which we report in this study. The application of mineral equilibrium modeling on the charnockitic assemblage in NCKFMASHTO system yields a p-T range of 820 ℃ and -9 kbar. Modeling of the charnockite assemblage in the MnNCKFMASHTO system indicates a slight shift of the equilibrium condition toward lower p and T （- 760 ℃ and - 7.5 kbar）, which is consistent with the results obtained fiom geothermobarometry （710--760 ℃, 6.7-7.5 kbar）, but significantly lower than the peak temperatures （〉1000 ℃） recorded from the UHT rocks in this locality, suggesting that charnockitization is a post-peak event. The modeling of 7 versus molar H2O content in the rock （M（H2O）） demonstrates that the Opx-bearing assemblage in charnockite and Opx- free assemblage in Grt-Bt gneiss are both stable at M（H2O） = 0.3 mol%--0.6 mol%, and there is no significant difference in water activity between the two domains. Our finding is in contrast to the previous petrogenetic model of incipient charnockite formation which envisages lowering of water activity and stabilization of orthopyroxene through breakdown of biotite by dehydration caused by the infiltration of CO2-rich fluid. T-XFe3＋ （= Fe2O3/（FeO ＋ Fe2O3） in mole） pseudosections suggest that the oxidation condition of the rocks played a major role on the stability of orthopyroxene; Opx is stable at XFe3＋〈0.03 in charnockite, while Opx-free assemblage in Grt-Bt gneiss is stabilized at XFe3＋ 〉0.12. Such low oxygen fugacity conditions of XFe3＋ 〈0.03 in the charnockite compared to Ort-Bt gneiss might be related to the infiltration of a reduced fluid （e.g., H2O ＋ CH4） during the retrograde stage.

Semi-solid rheocasting of grain refined aluminum alloy 7075

Near-net shape rheocasting with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Rheo casting system(CSIR-RCS) and a high pressure die casting machine was successfully performed on Al-5Ti-1B grain refined aluminum alloy 7075.Grain refinement levels used were 0.03% Ti,0.13% Ti and 0.29% Ti(mass fraction).Tensile tests reveal that the ultimate tensile strengths,at all levels of grain refinement,are at least 97% of the specified minimum.Elongation at fracture increases with the increase of level of grain refinement although a maximum elongation is only 76% of the required minimum elongation in the case of 0.29% Ti.Incipient melting,during solution treatment,of the low melting point multinary eutectic causes porosity in the material and accounts for poor elongation results.0.03% Ti has a coarse eutectic structure forming larger pores while 0.29% Ti has a fine structure forming fine pores in the multinary eutectic.The 0.2% offset yield strengths of all the grain refinement levels are at least equal to or above the specified minimum and a decrease is observed with the increase of grain refinement level.There is a clear reduction in grain size from 0.03% Ti to 0.29% Ti in the as-cast condition.An underlying grain structure develops in the T6 condition material which has an inverse size to the as-cast structure;coarse grained as-cast material results in fine grained T6 condition material after solution heat treatment.The decrease in the offset yield strength as grain refinement increases correlates very strongly with the T6 grain sizes according to a Hall-Petch type relationship.

Numerical simulation on vacuum solution heat treatment and gas quenching process of a low rhenium-containing Ni-based single crystal turbine blade

Numerical heat-transfer and turbulent flow model for an industrial high-pressure gas quenching vacuum furnace was established to simulate the heating, holding and gas fan quenching of a low rhenium-bearing Ni-based single crystal turbine blade. The mesh of simplified furnace model was built using finite volume method and the boundary conditions were set up according to the practical process. Simulation results show that the turbine blade geometry and the mutual shielding among blades have significant influence on the uniformity of the temperature distribution. The temperature distribution at sharp corner, thin wall and corner part is higher than that at thick wall part of blade during heating, and the isotherms show a toroidal line to the center of thick wall. The temperature of sheltered units is lower than that of the remaining part of blade. When there is no shelteration among multiple blades, the temperature distribution for all blades is almost identical. The fluid velocity field, temperature field and cooling curves of the single and multiple turbine blades during gas fan quenching were also simulated. Modeling results indicate that the loading tray, free outlet and the location of turbine blades have important influences on the flow field. The high-speed gas flows out from the nozzle is divided by loading tray, and the free outlet enhanced the two vortex flow at the end of the furnace door. The closer the blade is to the exhaust outlet and the nozzle, the greater the flow velocity is and the more adequate the flow is. The blade geometry has an effect on the cooling for single blade and multiple blades during gas fan quenching, and the effects in double layers differs from that in single layer. For single blade, the cooing rate at thin-walled part is lower than that at thick-walled part, the cooling rate at sharp corner is greater than that at tenon and blade platform, and the temperature at regions close to the internal position is decreased more slowly than that close to the surface. For multiple blades in single layer, the temperature at sharp corner or thin wall in the blade that close to the nozzles is much lower, and the temperature distribution of blades is almost parallel. The cooling rate inside the air current channel is lower than that of at the position near blade platform and tenon, and the effect of blade location to the nozzles on the temperature field inside the blade is lower than that on the blade surface. For multiple blades in double layers, the flow velocity is low, and the flow is not uniform for blades in the second-layer due to the shielding of blades in the first-layer. the cooling rate of blades in the second-layer is lower than that in the first-layer. The cooling rate of blade close to the nozzles in the first-layer is the higher than that of blade away from the nozzles in the second-layer, and the temperature distribution on blades in the same layer is almost parallel. The cooling rate in thin wall position of blade away from the nozzles is larger than that in tenon of the blade closer to the nozzles in the same layer. The cooling rate for blades in the secondlayer is much lower both in thin wall and tenon for blades away from the nozzles.

MULTIAXIAL BEHAVIOR OF NANOPOROUS SINGLE CRYSTAL COPPER:A MOLECULAR DYNAMICS STUDY

The stress-strain behavior and copper are studied by the molecular dynamics incipient yield surface of nanoporous single crystal （MD） method. The problem is modeled by a periodic unit cell subject to multi-axial loading. The loading induced defect evolution is explored. The incipient yield surfaces are found to be tension-compression asymmetric. For a given void volume fraction, apparent size effects in the yield surface are predicted： the smaller behaves stronger. The evolution pattern of defects （i.e., dislocation and stacking faults） is insensitive to the model size and void volume fraction. However, it is loading path dependent. Squared prismatic dislocation loops dominate the incipient yielding under hydrostatic tension while stacking-faults are the primary defects for hydrostatic compression and uniaxial tension/compression.

Incipient charnockites from southern India:The role of brines

Southern India and Sri-Lanka are the places where “incipient charnockites”,i.e.the local transformation of amphibolite-facies gneisses into orthopyroxene-bearing,igneous looking charnockites,have been discovered in the early sixties.The fact that some incipient charnockites occur along a network of brittle fractures,together with CO2 remnants preserved in mineral inclusions,had called for the role of fluids during charnockite alteration.The present work presents new observations on fluid inclusions and microtextures of incipient charnockites from type localities in southern India.In addition to CO2-rich fluid inclusions in quartz and feldspar,all of the occurrences have disrupted remnants of concentrated aqueous alkali chloride solutions.CO2 inclusions are more abundant in paragneiss (Kerala) than in orthogneiss (Karnataka/Tamil Nadu).The finding of disrupted brine inclusions in the Kabbal charnockite is a key link between closely associated massive charnockites and Closepet Granite,both of which also share the brine remnants.All of the occurrences studied here have feldspar or feldspar-quartz microvein networks along grain boundaries of recrystallized quartz,feldspar and orthopyroxene.These metasomatic veins again indicate the action of alkali-exchanging fluids (i.e.,saline solutions).Feldspar microveins,which have been found in most “massive” charnockites,along with the CO2-rich fluid inclusions,suggest a commonality of incipient charnockite and massive charnockite,both types differing in intensity of interaction with metasomatizing pore fluids.

Shear velocity criterion for incipient motion of sediment

The prediction of incipient motion has had great importance to the theory of sediment transport. The most commonly used methods are based on the concept of critical shear stress and employ an approach similar, or identical, to the Shields diagram. An alternative method that uses the movability number, defined as the ratio of the shear velocity to the particle＇s settling velocity, was employed in this study. A large amount of experimental data were used to develop an empirical incipient motion criterion based on the movability number. It is shown that this approach can provide a simple and accurate method of computing the threshold condition for sediment motion.

Influence of Hot Isostatic Pressing Temperature on the Microstructure and Properties of AlSi7Cu2Mg Alloys

The roles of hot isostatic pressing (HIP) temperatures (490 ℃/100 MPa/2 h,510 ℃/100 MPa/2 h,530 ℃/100 MPa/2 h) in the microstructure and properties of AlSi7Cu2Mg alloy step castings with three types wall thicknesses were studied.The experimental results show that HIP at 490 ℃ could effectively eliminate the internal closed porosity of the castings with a wall thickness of ≤40 mm,but for heavy castings (70 mm),even HIP at 530 ℃,a few loose defects remained inside the castings.Two types of incipient eutectics containing Al5Mg8Si6Cu2 and Al2Cu were observed in the samples that HIP at 530 ℃,which was responsible for the decrease of the tensile strength of the castings within the medium wall thickness (40 mm) compared with that HIP at 490 ℃.HIP could greatly reduce the difference of the tensile strength values of castings with wall thicknesses 17 mm and 70 mm from 117.93 MPa (without HIP) to 25.7 MPa (with HIP at 530 ℃).

Dielectric Characteristics in BiFeO3-Modified SrTiO3 Incipient Ferroelectric Ceramics

We investigate the dielectric and ferroelectric properties of Sr1-xBixTi1-xFex03 solid solutions （x =0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2） together with their structures. Through the analysis of Rietveld refinement of powder x-ray diffraction, a cubic structure in space group Pm3m is determined for all the compositions. An obvious dielectric relaxation peak differing from SrTiO3 is observed in the present ceramics. The peak temperature Tm increases with increasing x, and it approaches room temperature at x =0.2. The Vogel Fulcher law and Curie Weiss law fittings further confirm the relaxor ferroelectricity in the present ceramics.

Thickness, Distribution and Quality Assessment of Gopalganj-Madaripur Peat Deposits: A Case Study of Potential Economic Opportunities in Mid-Eastern Low-Lying Bangladesh

The present research work illustrates the extent, distribution and a generalized quality assessment of southern low-lying peat deposits in Madaripur and part of Gopalganj district that covers approximately 17,000 hectare areas. Based on the survey of 800 boreholes, drilled in this region at different times by several government and non-government organizations for the purposes of peat exploration and hydrogeological investigation, reveals that the study area is composed of a considerable amount of peat deposits in various localities among which the deposits at Baghia-Chanda beel in Madaripur and Gopalganj districts are the most remarkable. The average peat thickness (in-situ condition), studied during field investigation, is 6.5 feet for the upper peat deposits, overlying with an average of 3.5 feet of alluvium cover, followed by the lower peat layer of about 3 feet thick that begins at an average depth of 8 feet and separated by a thin bluish grey silty clay sediments from the upper one. The lower part of the study area, locally known as beels, is the most prospective region for peat, whereas the western part is less potential either having no peat intersection or minimal peat thickness. The overburden covers, on the other hand are inversely correlated with the peat thicknesses, i.e., thick overburden tend to correlate with thin peat deposits and the thickest peat intersections have no or minimal overburden. Due to the variation in bulk density and peat depth, this Holocene peat has an average of 59.10% carbon stock. Nitrogen levels, more than 3%, indicate that the peat developed from the decomposition of reeds, sedges, bushes and trunks of trees (higher in nitrogen) rather than either moss or grass (lower in nitrogen). Higher sulphur content (about 2.7%) reflected the influence of brackish environments where the formation of FeS2 took place in the roots of existing vegetation. The calorific values, about 1308.8 k-cal/kg (after 20% moisture reduction), suggest that the Gopalganj-Madaripur peat is a low grade fuel that can be used as an alternative energy source in the domestic and limited industrial purposes , to relatively expensive natural gas and coal.

Review: the charnockite problem, a twenty first century perspective

Beginning of the twentieth century was marked by coinage of a new rock name, Charnockite, first described as a hypersthene-bearing granite from Southern India. Since then charnockites have been described from most of the conti-nents and mostly restricted to high-grade belts. Later half of the last century saw a lively debate over an igneous versus metamorphic origin. However, two factors acted as deterrents for the resolution of the debate. First, charnockites and associated rocks occur in a variety of different structural setting and display diverse field rela-tions, attesting to possible different mode of origin. Second and possibly more important is the lack of consensus on the nomenclature of charnockites and associated rocks and this is commonly linked with the metamorphic versus magmatic perspective. Scanning the literature of this period makes one believe that both metamorphic and magmatic hypotheses are valid, but applicable to different field setting only. Before critically evaluating individual cases, it is imperative that a uniform approach in nomenclature should be agreed upon. It is proposed that name charnockite be adopted for any quartzofeldspathic rock with orthopyroxene, irrespective of its mode of occurrence, struc-tural setting and mode of origin. The associated more mafic varieties, be better described as mafic granulite, rather than basic charnockite. For the patchy charnockites of east Gondwana (including parts of Peninsular India, Sri Lanka and Antarctica), metamorphic transformation from amphibolite facies gneiss, by two different mechanisms: CO2 ingress from deep level, and drop in fluid pressure, has been proposed. However, all such patchy occurrence is not amenable to explanation by metamorphic trans- formation. In some instances, migmatisation of older charnockitic rocks is evident. Also pro- gressive charnockitisation relating patchy char-nockite to banded variety could be argued against on two counts: grain-size relation and time-relation. Larger bodies or bands have been explained as magmatic, but in many instances, from geochemical consideration alone. The compositional variation, commonly encoun-tered in many high-grade belts, if not described in terms of field relation, may lead to wrong no-tions of magmatic differentiation of mantle-de- rived melts. Crustal melting of dry granulite fa-cies source rocks has been proposed from geochemical and isotopic data of charnockitic intrusions. This model proposes high-tempera-ture melting of previously dehydrated and dry granulite source rocks. However, tectonic per-turbation subsequent to granulite facies meta-morphism that might have been responsible for such high temperatures, is not well constrained in this model. Finally, with advent of high- pressure dehydration-melting experiments in the nineties, dehydration-melting of mafic to intermediate composition, syn-kinematic with granulite facies metamorphism has been pro-posed.

Increasing of Resistance and Resilience of an Urban System against Calamities in the Light of the Maximum Ordinality Principle

The present paper aims at showing how it is possible to requalify the structures of an urban system, in order to increase its resistance and its correlative resilience, against natural calamities (earthquakes, hurricanes, etc.), by adopting as reference criterion the Maximum Ordinality Principle (MOP). In this sense, the paper opens a radically new perspective in this field. In fact, the village assumed as a case study was modelled as a Self-Organizing System. This is because, although the village is usually considered as being solely made of buildings, streets, places and so on, in reality it has been conceived, planned and realized by human beings during several centuries. In addition, the people who actually leave in such an urban center, systematically deal with its maintenance, in order to possibly increase its functionality. This justifies the assumption of the village as being a Self-Organizing System and, consequently, it has been analyzed in the light of the MOP, which represents a valid reference principle for analyzing both “non-living”, “living” and “conscious” self-organizing systems.