Numerical Study on Effects of the Embedded Monopile Foundation on Local Wave-Induced Porous Seabed Response

Effects of the embedded monopile foundation on the local distributions of pore water pressure, soil stresses, and liquefaction are investigated in this study using a three-dimensional integrated numerical model. The model is based on a Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes wave module and a fully dynamic poroelastic seabed module and has been validated with the analytical solution and experimental data. Results show that, compared to the situation without an embedded foundation, the embedded monopile foundation increases and decreases the maximum pore water pressure in the seabed around and below the foundation, respectively. The embedded monopile foundation also significantly modifies the distributions of the maximum effective soil stress around the foundation and causes a local concentration of soil stress below the two lower corners of foundation. A parametric study reveals that the effects of embedded monopile foundation on pore water pressure increase as the degrees of saturation and soil permeability decrease. The embedded monopile foundation tends to decrease the liquefaction depth around the structure, and this effect is relatively more obvious for greater degrees of saturation, greater soil permeabilities, and smaller wave heights

5d SCFTs from Isolated Complete Intersection Singularities

In this paper, we explore the zoo of 5d superconformal field theories (SCFTs) constructed from M-theory on Isolated Complete Intersection Singularities (ICIS). We systematically investigate the crepant resolution of such singularities, and obtain a classification of rank $\leqslant 10$ models with a smooth crepant resolution and smooth exceptional divisors, as well as a number of infinite sequences with the same smoothness properties. For these models, we study their Coulomb branch properties and compute the flavor symmetry algebra from the resolved CY3 and/or the magnetic quiver. We check the validity of the conjectures relating the properties of the 5d SCFT and the 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFT from IIB superstring on the same singularity. When the 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFT has a Lagrangian quiver gauge theory description, one can obtain the magnetic quiver of the 5d theory by gauging flavor symmetry, which encodes the 5d Higgs branch information. Regarding the smoothness of the crepant resolution and integrality of 4d Coulomb branch spectrum, we find examples with a smooth resolved CY3 and smooth exceptional divisors, but fractional 4d Coulomb branch spectrum. Moreover, we compute the discrete (higher)-symmetries of the 5d/4d SCFTs from the link topology for a few examples.Comment: v2, 87 page

Predictive algorithm for run-in value of warp knitting based on weave matrix

To predict the run-in values of single-needle-bar warp-knitted fabrics, three-dimensional weave matrixes have been established by considering main parameters of shogging movement, take-up density and total bar number. Length of a stitch has been deduced from the parameters in weave matrixes, and a new predictive algorithm model is developed. Moreover, to validate the accuracy of the proposed predictive algorithm, 30 samples with different parameters are knitted on HKS4-EL warp-knitting machine, and the predicted run-in values and measured run-in values of the samples are compared. It can be deduced from the comparison that the predictive algorithm model can provide high prediction accuracy with a relative error of < 4.26%

Improving tidal turbine array performance through the optimisation of layout and yaw angles

Tidal stream currents change in magnitude and direction during flood and ebb tides. Setting the most appropriate yaw angles for a tidal turbine is not only important to account for the performance of a single turbine, but can also be significant for the interactions between the turbines within an array. In this paper, a partial differentiation equation (PDE) constrained optimisation approach is established based on the Thetis coastal ocean modelling framework. The PDE constraint takes the form here of the two-dimensional, depth-averaged shallow water equations which are used to simulate tidal elevations and currents in the presence of tidal stream turbine arrays. The Sequential Least Squares Programming (SLSQP) algorithm is applied with a gradient obtained via the adjoint method in order to perform array design optimisation. An idealised rectangular channel test case is studied to demonstrate this optimisation framework. Located in the centre of the computational domain, arrays comprised of 12 turbines are tested in aligned and staggered layouts. The setups are initially optimised based on their yaw angles alone. In turn, turbine coordinates and yaw angles are also optimized simultaneously. Results indicate that for an aligned turbine array case under steady state conditions, the energy output can be increased by approximately 80\% when considering yaw angle optimisation alone. For the staggered turbine array, the increase is approximately 30\%. The yaw optimised staggered array is able to outperform the yaw optimised aligned array by approximately 8\%. If both layout and the yaw angles of the turbines are considered within the optimisation then the increase is more significant compared with optimising yaw angle alone

Physical modelling of tidal stream turbine wake structures under yaw conditions

Tidal stream turbines may operate under yawed conditions due to variability in ocean current directions. Insight into the wake structure of yawed turbines can be essential to ensure efficient tidal stream energy extraction, especially for turbine arrays where wake interactions emerge. We studied experimentally the effects of turbines operating under varying yaw conditions. Two scenarios, including a single turbine and a set of two turbines in alignment, were configured and compared. The turbine thrust force results confirmed that an increasing yaw angle results in a decrease in the turbine streamwise force and an increase in the turbine spanwise force. The velocity distribution from the single turbine scenario showed that the wake deflection and velocity deficit recovery rate increased at a rate proportional to the yaw angle. The two-turbine scenario results indicated that the deployment of an upstream non-yawed turbine significantly limited the downstream wake steering (i.e., the wake area behind the downstream turbine). Interestingly, a yawed downstream turbine was seen to influence the steering of both the upstream and the downstream wakes. These systematically derived data could be regarded as useful references for the numerical modelling and optimisation of large arrays

The structural and photosynthetic characteristics of the exposed peduncle of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): an important photosynthate source for grain-filling

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In wheat (<it>Triticum aestivum </it>L), the flag leaf has been thought of as the main source of assimilates for grain growth, whereas the peduncle has commonly been thought of as a transporting organ. The photosynthetic characteristics of the exposed peduncle have therefore been neglected. In this study, we investigated the anatomical traits of the exposed peduncle during wheat grain ontogenesis, and we compared the exposed peduncle to the flag leaf with respect to chloroplast ultrastructure, photosystem II (PSII) quantum yield, and phospho<it>enol</it>pyruvate carboxylase (PEPCase; EC 4.1.1.31) activity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Transmission electron microscope observations showed well-developed chloroplasts with numerous granum stacks at grain-filling stages 1, 2 and 3 in both the flag leaf and the exposed peduncle. In the exposed peduncle, the membranes constituting the thylakoids were very distinct and plentiful, but in the flag leaf, there was a sharp breakdown at stage 4 and complete disintegration of the thylakoid membranes at stage 5. PSII quantum yield assays revealed that the photosynthetic efficiency remained constant at stages 1, 2 and 3 and then declined in both organs. However, the decline occurred more dramatically in the flag leaf than in the exposed peduncle. An enzyme assay showed that at stages 1 and 2 the PEPCase activity was lower in the exposed peduncle than in the flag leaf; but at stages 3, 4 and 5 the value was higher in the exposed peduncle, with a particularly significant difference observed at stage 5. Subjecting the exposed part of the peduncle to darkness following anthesis reduced the rate of grain growth.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest that the exposed peduncle is a photosynthetically active organ that produces photosynthates and thereby makes a crucial contribution to grain growth, particularly during the late stages of grain-filling.</p

Review on Dynamic Van der Waals Theory in two-phase flow

In this paper we review the Dynamic Van der Waals theory, which is a recent developed method to study phase separation and transition process in multiphase flow. Gradient contributions are included in the entropy and energy functions, and it’s particularly useful and non-trivial if we consider problems with temperature change. Using this theory, we can simulate that, a droplet in an equilibrium liquid will be attracted to the heated wall(s) which was initially wetted, which is the main cause of the famous hydrodynamic phenomena-Leidonfrost Phenomena. After more than ten years development, this theory has been widely used to study the fluid flow in vaporing and boiling process, e.g., droplet motion. Furthermore, this theory has been combined with phase field model, which could be extended to solid-liquid phase transition. There has also been researches about constructing LBM scheme to extend to the Dynamic Van der Waals theory, using Chapman-Enskog analyze. In all, due to its rigorous thermodynamic derivation, this theory has now become the fundamental theoretical basis in the heated multiphase flow.Cited as: Zhang, T., Kou, J., Sun, S. Review on Dynamic Van der Waals Theory in two-phase flow. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2017, 1(2): 124-134, doi: 10.26804/ager.2017.02.0