Lock-in thermography as a tool for fatigue damage monitoring of composite structures

International audienceFatigue dimensioning of composite structures has become a great challenge in the aeronautic industry. The estimation of the fatigue limit requires time-consuming experimental campaigns: millions of mechanical cycles are applied to one studied sample until failure, for several load levels. The alternative discussed in the present paper is to monitor the self-heating of carbon/epoxy composites under a significantly reduced number of load cycles, in order to define fatigue damage indicators. The chosen approach is to use lock-in thermography, which makes it possible to analyse the first harmonics of the heating signal, not matter how noisy it might be

Fast fatigue limit estimation of woven composite materials by self-heating analysis

Abstract The fatigue limit of materials is usually difficult to estimate, and requires an expensive experimental campaign to test every sample under a large number of cycles in order to determine the asymptote of the S-N curve. An experimental study is here reported with the purpose to show an efficient and fast way to estimate the fatigue limit of a woven composite using only one sample. The studied material is subjected to stepped fatigue cycles, for increasing values of stress, with a fixed frequency and a constant stress ratio. The surface temperature variation and its heating rate are analyzed. Nomenclatur

Nitrogen transfers off Walvis Bay: a 3-D coupled physical/biogeochemical modeling approach in the Namibian upwelling system

Eastern boundary upwelling systems (EBUS) are regions of high primary production often associated with oxygen minimum zones (OMZs). They represent key regions for the oceanic nitrogen (N) cycle. By exporting organic matter (OM) and nutrients produced in the coastal region to the open ocean, EBUS can play an important role in sustaining primary production in subtropical gyres. However, losses of fixed inorganic N through denitrification and anammox processes take place in oxygen depleted environments such as EBUS, and can potentially mitigate the role of these regions as a source of N to the open ocean. EBUS can also represent a considerable source of nitrous oxide (N2O) to the atmosphere, affecting the atmospheric budget of N2O. In this paper a 3-D coupled physical/biogeochemical model (ROMS/BioEBUS) is used to investigate the N budget in the Namibian upwelling system. The main processes linked to EBUS and associated OMZs are taken into account. The study focuses on the northern part of the Benguela upwelling system (BUS), especially the Walvis Bay area (between 22° S and 24° S) where the OMZ is well developed. Fluxes of N off the Walvis Bay area are estimated in order to understand and quantify (1) the total N offshore export from the upwelling area, representing a possible N source that sustains primary production in the South Atlantic subtropical gyre; (2) export production and subsequent losses of fixed N via denitrification and anammox under suboxic conditions (O2 < 25 mmol O2 m−3); and (3) the N2O emission to the atmosphere in the upwelling area. In the mixed layer, the total N offshore export is estimated as 8.5 ± 3.9 × 1010 mol N yr−1 at 10° E off the Walvis Bay area, with a mesoscale contribution of 20%. Extrapolated to the whole BUS, the coastal N source for the subtropical gyre corresponds to 0.1 ± 0.04 mol N m−2 yr−1. This N flux represents a major source of N for the gyre compared with other N sources, and contributes 28% of the new primary production estimated for the South Atlantic subtropical gyre. Export production (16.9 ± 1.3 × 1010 mol N yr−1) helps to maintain an OMZ off Namibia in which coupled nitrification, denitrification and anammox processes lead to losses of fixed N and N2O production. However, neither N losses (0.04 ± 0.025 × 1010 mol N yr−1) nor N2O emissions (0.03 ± 0.002 × 1010 mol N yr−1) significantly impact the main N exports of the Walvis Bay area. The studied area does not significantly contribute to N2O emissions (0.5 to 2.7%) compared to the global coastal upwelling emissions. Locally produced N2O is mostly advected southward by the poleward undercurrent

Giant Hydrogen Sulfide Plume in the Oxygen Minimum Zone off Peru Supports Chemolithoautotrophy

In Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems nutrient-rich waters are transported to the ocean surface, fuelling high photoautotrophic primary production. Subsequent heterotrophic decomposition of the produced biomass increases the oxygen-depletion at intermediate water depths, which can result in the formation of oxygen minimum zones (OMZ). OMZs can sporadically accumulate hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which is toxic to most multicellular organisms and has been implicated in massive fish kills. During a cruise to the OMZ off Peru in January 2009 we found a sulfidic plume in continental shelf waters, covering an area >5500 km2, which contained ~2.2×104 tons of H2S. This was the first time that H2S was measured in the Peruvian OMZ and with ~440 km3 the largest plume ever reported for oceanic waters. We assessed the phylogenetic and functional diversity of the inhabiting microbial community by high-throughput sequencing of DNA and RNA, while its metabolic activity was determined with rate measurements of carbon fixation and nitrogen transformation processes. The waters were dominated by several distinct γ-, δ- and ε-proteobacterial taxa associated with either sulfur oxidation or sulfate reduction. Our results suggest that these chemolithoautotrophic bacteria utilized several oxidants (oxygen, nitrate, nitrite, nitric oxide and nitrous oxide) to detoxify the sulfidic waters well below the oxic surface. The chemolithoautotrophic activity at our sampling site led to high rates of dark carbon fixation. Assuming that these chemolithoautotrophic rates were maintained throughout the sulfidic waters, they could be representing as much as ~30% of the photoautotrophic carbon fixation. Postulated changes such as eutrophication and global warming, which lead to an expansion and intensification of OMZs, might also increase the frequency of sulfidic waters. We suggest that the chemolithoautotrophically fixed carbon may be involved in a negative feedback loop that could fuel further sulfate reduction and potentially stabilize the sulfidic OMZ water

Nitrous oxide as a function of oxygen and archaeal gene abundance in the North Pacific

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) (NE/E01559X/1)

9. Las diversas facetas de El Niño y sus efectos en la costa del Perú

El fenómeno El Niño es el modo dominante de la variabilidad interanual en el Océano Pacífico, resultando de un proceso de interacción entre el océano y la atmósfera en el Pacífico Tropical, Las últimas Investigaciones demuestran que existen varias facetas de este fenómeno que varían según las modalidades de interacción entre el océano y la atmosfera así como sus ubicaciones. Existen por lo menos dos tipos de El Niño, con expresiones diferentes sobre la Temperatura Superficial del Mar en el Pacifico Tropical y en la costa de Perú: uno que se desarrolla en el Pacifico Central (tiende a estar asociado a condiciones oceánicas más frías que favorecen el estado árido de la costa peruana y condiciones oceánicas hypóxicas), y otro que se desarrolla en el Pacifico Este (que transforma la costa peruana en una “típica” zona tropical, caracterizada por aguas costeras calientes y oxigenadas, y una lluvia intensa). Hoy en día, los esfuerzos de investigación para entender los mecanismos involucrados en los diferentes tipos de El Niño han sido reforzados, dado que, en las últimas décadas, se ha incrementado la frecuencia de ocurrencia de estos eventos en el Pacifico Central, sugiriéndose que podría ser una consecuencia del cambio climático. El perfeccionamiento de los modelos regionales acoplados tanto océano - atmosfera como océano - biogeoquímlco, tiene como objetivo mejorar la comprensión de la vulnerabilidad de la biosfera peruana al cambio climático y proponer un paradigma que represente la bimodalidad de la variabilidad interanual en el Pacifico Tropical.El Niño est le mode dominant de la variabilité interannuelle dans l’océan Pacifique, résultant d’un processus d’interaction entre l’océan et l’atmosphére dans le Pacifique tropical. Les recherches récentes montrent qu’il existe plusieurs facettes de ce phénomène qui varient selon les modalités d’interaction entre l’océan et l’atmosphére et leurs emplacements. Il y a au moins deux types de El Niño, avec des expressions différentes sur la Température de surface dans le Pacifique tropical et le long de la cote du Pérou: un qui se déroule dans le Pacifique central (associé á des conditions océaniques froides qui favorisent l’état aride de la cote péruvienne et des conditions océaniques d’hypoxie), et un autre qui a lieu dans le Pacifique oriental (qui transforme la cote péruvienne en une zone tropicale «typique», caractérisé par des eaux cótiéres chaudes et oxygénées, et de fortes pluies). Aujourd’hui, les efforts de recherche pour comprendre les mécanismes impliqués dans les différents types de El Niño ont été renforcés, en raison de l’accroissement de la fréquence d’occurrence de ces événements dans le Pacifique central au cours des dernières décennies a accru, suggérant qu’ll pourrait s’agir d’une conséquence du changement dimatique. L’optimisation des modeles régionaux couplés océan - atmosphére et océan - blogéochimiques, vise à améliorer la compréhension de la vulnérabilité de la biosphére péruvienne au changement dimatique et de proposer un paradigme qui représente la bimodalité de la variabilité Interannuelle dans le Pacifique tropical.The El Niño phenomenon is the dominant mode of inter-annual variability in the Pacific Ocean, which results from the ¡nteraction between the ocean and atmosphere in the tropical Pacific. Recent research shows that there are several facets of this phenomenon, which vary according to the modalities of ¡nteraction between the ocean and atmosphere, as well as their locations. There are at least two types of El Niño with different expresslons on the sea surface temperature in the tropical Pacific and on the coast of Peru: one that takes place in the Central Pacific (which tends to be associated with colder oceanic conditions who favoring the aridity of the Peruvian coast and the ocean conditions hypoxic), and another that takes place in the Eastern Pacific (which transforms the Peruvian coast in a “typical” tropical zone, with warm and oxygenated Coastal waters, and heavy rain). Nowadays, research efforts to understand the mechanisms involved in the different types of El Niño have been strengthened, since in recent decades has increased the frequency of these events in the Central Pacific, suggesting that ¡t might be a result of climate change. The ¡mprovement of both regional models coupled ocean - atmosphere and ocean - biogeochemical aims to Improve the understanding of the vulnerability of the Peruvian biosphere to climate change, and propose a paradigm that represents the bimodality of the Inter-annual variability in the tropical Pacific

Utility of Atherosclerosis Imaging in the Evaluation of High-Density Lipoprotein–Raising Therapies

Decreased level of high density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is a rigorous predictor for future cardiovascular events. Much effort is being made to develop HDL-C–raising pharmacotherapies in the attempt to avert the pandemic of atherosclerotic disease. Important properties by which HDL-C–raising compounds are effective involve improvement of cholesterol uptake from macrophages in plaque for transport back to the liver, improvement of endothelial function, and anti-inflammatory effects. Vascular imaging can aid in the determination which HDL-C–raising compounds are effective. Ultrasound and MRI have proved suitable for assessment of structural changes of the vessel wall. Ultrasound can also be used or assessment of endothelial function. 18F-fluordeoxyglucose positron emission tomography has opened up the possibility to assess vessel wall inflammation. In this article we discuss these various imaging techniques and how they can assess efficacy as well as provide pathophysiologic information on the mechanism of action of novel HDL-C–raising drugs

Global variability in seawater Mg:Ca and Sr:Ca ratios in the modern ocean

Seawater Mg:Ca and Sr:Ca ratios are biogeochemical parameters reflecting the Earth–ocean–atmosphere dynamic exchange of elements. The ratios’ dependence on the environment and organisms' biology facilitates their application in marine sciences. Here, we present a measured single-laboratory dataset, combined with previous data, to test the assumption of limited seawater Mg:Ca and Sr:Ca variability across marine environments globally. High variability was found in open-ocean upwelling and polar regions, shelves/neritic and river-influenced areas, where seawater Mg:Ca and Sr:Ca ratios range from ∼4.40 to 6.40 mmol:mol and ∼6.95 to 9.80 mmol:mol, respectively. Open-ocean seawater Mg:Ca is semiconservative (∼4.90 to 5.30 mol:mol), while Sr:Ca is more variable and nonconservative (∼7.70 to 8.80 mmol:mol); both ratios are nonconservative in coastal seas. Further, the Ca, Mg, and Sr elemental fluxes are connected to large total alkalinity deviations from International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Oceans (IAPSO) standard values. Because there is significant modern seawater Mg:Ca and Sr:Ca ratios variability across marine environments we cannot absolutely assume that fossil archives using taxa-specific proxies reflect true global seawater chemistry but rather taxa- and process-specific ecosystem variations, reflecting regional conditions. This variability could reconcile secular seawater Mg:Ca and Sr:Ca ratio reconstructions using different taxa and techniques by assuming an error of 1 to 1.50 mol:mol, and 1 to 1.90 mmol:mol, respectively. The modern ratios’ variability is similar to the reconstructed rise over 20 Ma (Neogene Period), nurturing the question of seminonconservative behavior of Ca, Mg, and Sr over modern Earth geological history with an overlooked environmental effect

Coastal Upwelling Supplies Oxygen-Depleted Water to the Columbia River Estuary

Low dissolved oxygen (DO) is a common feature of many estuarine and shallow-water environments, and is often attributed to anthropogenic nutrient enrichment from terrestrial-fluvial pathways. However, recent events in the U.S. Pacific Northwest have highlighted that wind-forced upwelling can cause naturally occurring low DO water to move onto the continental shelf, leading to mortalities of benthic fish and invertebrates. Coastal estuaries in the Pacific Northwest are strongly linked to ocean forcings, and here we report observations on the spatial and temporal patterns of oxygen concentration in the Columbia River estuary. Hydrographic measurements were made from transect (spatial survey) or anchor station (temporal survey) deployments over a variety of wind stresses and tidal states during the upwelling seasons of 2006 through 2008. During this period, biologically stressful levels of dissolved oxygen were observed to enter the Columbia River estuary from oceanic sources, with minimum values close to the hypoxic threshold of 2.0 mg L−1. Riverine water was consistently normoxic. Upwelling wind stress controlled the timing and magnitude of low DO events, while tidal-modulated estuarine circulation patterns influenced the spatial extent and duration of exposure to low DO water. Strong upwelling during neap tides produced the largest impact on the estuary. The observed oxygen concentrations likely had deleterious behavioral and physiological consequences for migrating juvenile salmon and benthic crabs. Based on a wind-forced supply mechanism, low DO events are probably common to the Columbia River and other regional estuaries and if conditions on the shelf deteriorate further, as observations and models predict, Pacific Northwest estuarine habitats could experience a decrease in environmental quality

Copernicus Marine Service Ocean State Report

This is the final version. Available from Taylor & Francis via the DOI in this record