Comparison of a Material Point Method and a Galerkin meshfree method for the simulation of cohesive-frictional materials

The simulation of large deformation problems, involving complex history-dependent constitutive laws, is of paramount importance in several engineering fields. Particular attention has to be paid to the choice of a suitable numerical technique such that reliable results can be obtained. In this paper, a Material Point Method (MPM) and a Galerkin Meshfree Method (GMM) are presented and verified against classical benchmarks in solid mechanics. The aim is to demonstrate the good behavior of the methods in the simulation of cohesive-frictional materials, both in static and dynamic regimes and in problems dealing with large deformations. The vast majority of MPM techniques in the literature are based on some sort of explicit time integration. The techniques proposed in the current work, on the contrary, are based on implicit approaches, which can also be easily adapted to the simulation of static cases. The two methods are presented so as to highlight the similarities to rather than the differences fromPeer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Utah Master Naturalist, Mountain Adventures Manual

The Utah Master Naturalist Mountain Adventures Manual provides a comprehensive view of mountain ecosystems in Utah, from the geology and climate that influence mountain ecosystems, to the plant and animal communities and their unique adaptations for survival. The Manual explores the human perspective from historic peoples to current management

Finite element modeling of free surface flow in variable porosity media

The aim of the present work is to present an overview of some numerical procedures for the simulation of free surface flows within a porous structure. A particular algorithm developed by the authors for solving this type of problems is presented. A modified form of the classical Navier–Stokes equations is proposed, with the principal aim of simulating in a unified way the seepage flow inside rockfill-like porous material and the free surface flow in the clear fluid region. The problem is solved using a semi-explicit stabilized fractional step algorithm where velocity is calculated using a 4th order Runge–Kutta scheme. The numerical formulation is developed in an Eulerian framework using a level set technique to track the evolution of the free surface. An edge-based data structure is employed to allow an easy OpenMP parallelization of the resulting finite element code. The numerical model is validated against laboratory experiments on small scale rockfill dams and is compared with other existing methods for solving similar problems.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author’s final draft

Measuring Extension Program Impacts: 4. Evaluating Long-Term Impacts

This fact sheet describes efforts needed to evaluate the long-term impacts of Extension programs, and includes descriptions of repeated surveys, follow-up surveys, interviews and case studies, and viable data collection

Assessment and Evaluation of the Utah Master Naturalist Program: Implications for Targeting Audiences

The Utah Master Naturalist Program trains citizens who provide education, outreach, and service to promote citizen stewardship of natural resources within their communities. In 2007-2008, the Watersheds module of the program was evaluated for program success, and participant knowledge was assessed. Assessment and evaluation results indicated that amateur naturalists learned more during the course of the program and also consistently evaluated the program more positively than professional naturalists. These results were used to adjust the target audience in order to maximize learning, program success, and marketing effectiveness

Utah Master Naturalist Watershed Investigations Manual

The Utah Master Naturalist Watershed Investigations Manual provides a comprehensive view of watershed ecosystems in Utah, from high mountain streams to Great Salt Lake, and the plant and animal communities and their unique adaptations for survival. The Manual explores how people interact with watersheds, including water demands in a desert, water quality issues, and current management

Measuring Extension Program Impacts: 2. Assessing Participant Knowledge Gain

This fact sheet describes how to assess participant knowledge gain from Extension programs and includes participant demographics, pre- and post-testing, participant demonstration, retrospective pre-post assessment, and viable data collection

Utah Master Naturalist Desert Explorations Manual

The Utah Master Naturalist Desert Explorations Manual provides a comprehensive view of desert ecosystems in Utah, from the geology and climate that create deserts, to the plant and animal communities and their unique adaptations for survival. The Manual explores the human perspective from historic peoples to current management

Measuring Extension Program Impacts: 1. Setting Goals and Objectives

This fact sheet descries the first step in measuring impacts of Extension programs, goals and objectives and includes defining measurable objectives and developing activities