25,002 research outputs found
Generalized Miura Transformations, Two-Boson KP Hierarchies and their Reduction to KDV Hierarchies
Bracket preserving gauge equivalence is established between several two-boson
generated KP type of hierarchies. These KP hierarchies reduce under symplectic
reduction (via Dirac constraints) to KdV, mKdV and Schwarzian KdV hierarchies.
Under this reduction the gauge equivalence is taking form of the conventional
Miura maps between the above KdV type of hierarchies.Comment: 12 pgs., LaTeX, IFT-P/011/93, UICHEP-TH/93-
Modifying gravity with the Aether: an alternative to Dark Matter
There is evidence that Newton and Einstein's theories of gravity cannot
explain the dynamics of a universe made up solely of baryons and radiation. To
be able to understand the properties of galaxies, clusters of galaxies and the
universe on the whole it has become commonplace to invoke the presence of dark
matter. An alternative approach is to modify the gravitational field equations
to accommodate observations. We propose a new class of gravitational theories
in which we add a new degree of freedom, the Aether, in the form of a vector
field that is coupled covariantly, but non-minimally, with the space-time
metric. We explore the Newtonian and non-Newtonian limits, discuss the
conditions for these theories to be consistent and explore their effect on
cosmology.Comment: Updated version: Notation improved - TG
Seismic vulnerability assessment of the old city centre of Seixal, Portugal
The seismic vulnerability assessment of old traditional masonry building stocks, in a seismic risk mitigation perspective, is truly essential not only for buildings with recognized historical and patrimonial value, but also, in relation to regular buildings. In this sense, this paper approaches the issue of the seismic vulnerability assessment of masonry buildings through the application of a simplified methodology to building stock of the old city centre of Seixal, Portugal. This methodology is based on a vulnerability index, suitable in the evaluation of damage and in the creation of large scale loss scenarios (economical and human). Over 500 buildings were evaluated in accordance with the referred methodology and the results obtained were then integrated into a Geographical Information System tool. The integration of this kind of vulnerability and loss results into a GIS tool allows that city councils or regional authorities make their decisions based on a global view of the site under analysis, which led to more accurate and faster decisions either in terms of risk mitigation strategies or rehabilitation plans. This tool can also assumes great importance in the construction of safety and rescue plans
Vulnerability assessment of urban building stock: a hierarchic approach
In the last decades the evaluation of the seismic risk are of rising concern, considered essential in the activity and
definition of strategy planning and urban management. The evaluation of the seismic vulnerability of the existent building stock
in the perspective of the seismic risk mitigation should not be placed only in relation to the isolated buildings of relevant
historical and cultural importance, but also, in relation to the agglomerate of buildings in urban centres. The chronological
construction process frequently results in characteristic heterogeneity of masonry and wall connection quality. In addition,
buildings do not constitute independent units given that they share the mid-walls with adjacent buildings and the façade walls are
aligned. This way, as post-seismic observations proved, buildings do not have an independent structural behaviour, but they
interact amongst themselves, mainly for horizontal actions and so the structural performance should be studied at the level of the
aggregate and not only for each isolated building. In most cases, for masonry structures there is no need for sophisticated
dynamic analyses for seismic resistance verification or vulnerability assessment. This is even more relevant when an assessment
at the level of a city centre is pursued. In this work, the results of evaluation of the vulnerability will be presented in accordance
to three proposed methodologies based on a vulnerability index that consequently allows the evaluation of damage and creation
of loss scenarios (economical and human) not only at the level of the building and its façade walls but also at the level of the
aggregates. It will be discussed and evaluated the application of the referred methodologies and its integration in an SIG
platform
Seismic vulnerability of churches in Faial and Pico islands, Azores
Earthquakes represent one of the main cause of serious damage and loss of historic and architectural heritage. Interventions to preserve these building should start with a careful knowledge and assessment of their seismic vulnerability, in order to support any needed retrofitting and strengthening measures.
This paper proposes a procedure to register and diagnose of the level of damage on churches after the occurrence of an earthquake, and also to assess the seismic vulnerability of this type of construction. This procedure was applied to sixteen churches in the Azores islands which were hit by the July 9th 1998 earthquake.
Belfries of church towers are elements with a particular seismic vulnerability. For this reason, and based on the Italian methodology proposed by the Linee Guida (2006), it is applied to belfries of two churches from Pico (Azores), a simplified mechanical model for assessment of seismic vulnerability of this type of structures
Magnetized Accretion-Ejection Structures: 2.5D MHD simulations of continuous Ideal Jet launching from resistive accretion disks
We present numerical magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of a magnetized
accretion disk launching trans-Alfvenic jets. These simulations, performed in a
2.5 dimensional time-dependent polytropic resistive MHD framework, model a
resistive accretion disk threaded by an initial vertical magnetic field. The
resistivity is only important inside the disk, and is prescribed as eta =
alpha_m V_AH exp(-2Z^2/H^2), where V_A stands for Alfven speed, H is the disk
scale height and the coefficient alpha_m is smaller than unity. By performing
the simulations over several tens of dynamical disk timescales, we show that
the launching of a collimated outflow occurs self-consistently and the ejection
of matter is continuous and quasi-stationary. These are the first ever
simulations of resistive accretion disks launching non-transient ideal MHD
jets. Roughly 15% of accreted mass is persistently ejected. This outflow is
safely characterized as a jet since the flow becomes super-fastmagnetosonic,
well-collimated and reaches a quasi-stationary state. We present a complete
illustration and explanation of the `accretion-ejection' mechanism that leads
to jet formation from a magnetized accretion disk. In particular, the magnetic
torque inside the disk brakes the matter azimuthally and allows for accretion,
while it is responsible for an effective magneto-centrifugal acceleration in
the jet. As such, the magnetic field channels the disk angular momentum and
powers the jet acceleration and collimation. The jet originates from the inner
disk region where equipartition between thermal and magnetic forces is
achieved. A hollow, super-fastmagnetosonic shell of dense material is the
natural outcome of the inwards advection of a primordial field.Comment: ApJ (in press), 32 pages, Higher quality version available at
http://www-laog.obs.ujf-grenoble.fr/~fcass
Fichas de inspecção e registo: gestão integrada de informação sobre o edificado antigo do Seixal
A inspecção constitui a primeira tarefa na avaliação da condição de um edifício, compreendendo desde logo a identificação e o registo das suas anomalias de carácter estrutural e não estrutural. No caso particular dos edifícios antigos, e devido ao desconhecimento generalizado das técnicas e materiais de construção tradicionais, estas acções de inspecção revelam-se frequentemente inadequadas, comprometendo desta forma a formulação de um diagnóstico assertivo e a eficiência de eventuais acções de reabilitação ou reforço.
As fichas de inspecção e registo assumiram-se desde sempre como uma das primeiras opções no conjunto das ferramentas de avaliação e diagnóstico das construções existentes, tanto na inferência das suas condições de habitabilidade, como no apoio a acções de avaliação imobiliária e patrimonial a diferentes escalas.
Neste artigo apresentam-se os resultados do desenvolvimento e aplicação de um conjunto de seis fichas de inspecção e diagnóstico, organizadas por elementos/componentes do edifício, a cerca de 500 edifícios antigos do Núcleo Urbano Antigo do Seixal, em Portugal. Os resultados são posteriormente tratados estatisticamente e utilizados na criação de uma base de dados incorporada numa ferramenta de gestão integrada num Sistema de Informação Geográfica (SIG) aplicável na gestão do edificado à escala urbana
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