Element-Free Galerkin Modelling of Crack Migration in Composite Laminates

The development of a virtual testing environment, as a cost-effective industrial design tool in the design and analysis of composite structures, requires the need to create models efficiently, as well as accelerate the analysis by reducing the number of degrees of freedom, while still satisfying the need for accurately tracking the evolution of a debond, delamination or crack front. The eventual aim is to simulate both damage initiation and propagation in components with realistic geometrical features, where crack propagation paths are not trivial. Meshless approaches, and the Element-Free Galerkin (EFG) method, are particularly suitable for problems involving changes in topology and have been successfully applied to simulate damage in homogeneous materials and concrete. In this work, the method is utilized to model initiation and mixed-mode propagation of cracks in composite laminates, and to simulate experimentally-observed crack migration which is difficult to model using standard finite element analysis. N

Application of the WRF-Chem Model for a High Ozone Episode in SW Poland – Preliminary Results

The Weather Research and Forecasting model, integrated online with chemistry module, is a multi-scale model suitable for both research and operational forecasts of meteorology and air quality. It is used by many institutions for a variety of applications. In this study, the WRF v3.5 with chemistry (WRF-Chem) is applied to the area of Poland, for a period of 3-20 July 2006, when high concentrations of ground level ozone were observed. The meteorological and chemistry simulations were initiated with ERA-Interim reanalysis and TNO MACC II emissions database, respectively. The model physical parameterization includes RRTM shortwave radiation, Kain-Fritsch cumulus scheme, Purdue Lin microphysics and ACM2 PBL, established previously as the optimal configuration. Chemical mechanism used for the study was RADM2 with MADE/SORGAM aerosols. Simulations were performed for three one-way nested domains covering Europe (36 km x 36 km), Central Europe (12 km x 12 km) and Poland (4 km x 4 km). The results from the innermost domain were analyzed and compared to measurements of ozone concentration at three stations in different environments. The results show underestimation of observed values and daily amplitude of ozone concentrations.

Impact of the Meteorology Conditions on the Particulate Matter Dispersion from an Industrial Complex into Urban and Suburban Areas

The aim of this work was to assess the influence of meteorological conditions on the dispersion of particulate matter from an industrial zone into urban and suburban areas. The particulate matter concentration was related to the most important meteorological variables such as wind direction, velocity and frequency. A coal-fired power plant was considered to be the main emission source with two stacks of 225 m height. A middle point between the two stacks was taken as the centre of two concentric circles with 6 and 20 km radius delimiting the sampling area. About 40 sampling collectors were placed within this area. Meteorological data was obtained from a portable meteorological station placed at approximately 1.7 km to SE from the stacks. Additional data was obtained from the electrical company that runs the coal power plant. These data covers the years from 2006 to the present. A detailed statistical analysis was performed to identify the most frequent meteorological conditions concerning mainly wind speed and direction. This analysis revealed that the most frequent wind blows from Northwest and North and the strongest winds blow from Northwest. Particulate matter deposition was obtained in two sampling campaigns carried out in summer and in spring. For the first campaign the monthly average flux deposition was 1.90 g/m2 and for the second campaign this value was 0.79 g/m2. Wind dispersion occurred predominantly from North to South, away from the nearest residential area, located at about 6 km to Northwest from the stacks. Nevertheless, the higher deposition fluxes occurred in the NW/N and NE/E quadrants. This study was conducted considering only the contribution of particulate matter from coal combustion, however, others sources may be present as well, such as road traffic. Additional chemical analyses and microanalysis are needed to identify the source linkage to flux deposition levels.

An investigation into observational characteristics of rainfall and temperature in Central Northeast India—a historical perspective 1889–2008

Mann–Kendall non-parametric test was employed for observational trend detection of monthly, seasonal and annual precipitation of five meteorological subdivisions of Central Northeast India (CNE India) for different 30-year normal periods (NP) viz. 1889–1918 (NP1), 1919–1948 (NP2), 1949–1978 (NP3) and 1979–2008 (NP4). The trends of maximum and minimum temperatures were also investigated. The slopes of the trend lines were determined using the method of least square linear fitting. An application of Morelet wavelet analysis was done with monthly rainfall during June– September, total rainfall during monsoon season and annual rainfall to know the periodicity and to test the significance of periodicity using the power spectrum method. The inferences figure out from the analyses will be helpful to the policy managers, planners and agricultural scientists to work out irrigation and water management options under various possible climatic eventualities for the region. The long-term (1889–2008) mean annual rainfall of CNE India is 1,195.1 mm with a standard deviation of 134.1 mm and coefficient of variation of 11%. There is a significant decreasing trend of 4.6 mm/year for Jharkhand and 3.2 mm/day for CNE India. Since rice crop is the important kharif crop (May– October) in this region, the decreasing trend of rainfall during themonth of July may delay/affect the transplanting/vegetative phase of the crop, and assured irrigation is very much needed to tackle the drought situation. During themonth of December, all the meteorological subdivisions except Jharkhand show a significant decreasing trend of rainfall during recent normal period NP4. The decrease of rainfall during December may hamper sowing of wheat, which is the important rabi crop (November–March) in most parts of this region. Maximum temperature shows significant rising trend of 0.008°C/year (at 0.01 level) during monsoon season and 0.014°C/year (at 0.01 level) during post-monsoon season during the period 1914– 2003. The annual maximum temperature also shows significant increasing trend of 0.008°C/year (at 0.01 level) during the same period. Minimum temperature shows significant rising trend of 0.012°C/year (at 0.01 level) during postmonsoon season and significant falling trend of 0.002°C/year (at 0.05 level) during monsoon season. A significant 4– 8 years peak periodicity band has been noticed during September over Western UP, and 30–34 years periodicity has been observed during July over Bihar subdivision. However, as far as CNE India is concerned, no significant periodicity has been noticed in any of the time series.

Intraseasonal oscillation of total precipitable water over North Indian Ocean and its application in the diagnostic study of coastal rainfall

TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) is reported to be a useful sensor to measure the atmospheric and oceanic parameters even in cloudy conditions. Vertically integrated specific humidity, Total Precipitable Water (TPW) retrieved from the water vapour absorption channel (22GHz.) along with 10m wind speed and rain rate derived from TMI is used to investigate the moisture variation over North Indian Ocean. Intraseasonal Oscillations (ISO) of TPW during the summer monsoon seasons 1998, 1999, and 2000 over North Indian Ocean is explored using wavelet analysis. The dominant waves in TPW during the monsoon periods and the differences in ISO over Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are investigated. The northward propagation of TPW anomaly and its coherence with the coastal rainfall is also studied. For the diagnostic study of heavy rainfall spells over the west coast, the intrusion of TPW over the North Arabian Sea is seen to be a useful tool.

Studies on air pollution meteorology with special reference to Madras city

The main aim of the study is to give a clear picture of various meteorological factors affecting the dispersal of pollutants. One such important developing metropolis, namely Madras, is chosen for the present study. The study throws light into the occurrence of inversions, isothermals and lapse conditions and the vertical and horizontal extent of mixing of pollutants. The thesis also aims to study the wind climatology and atmospheric stability .The study gives a insight to the spatial distribution of sulphudioxide concentration using the Gaussian plume model, which accounts for various industrial sources. The researcher suggests optimum locations for industries and various steps to reduce air pollution.

Studies on Energy Exchange and Upper Ocean Thermat Structure in Arabian Sea and Heat Transport in Northern Indian Ocean

The thesis focused Studies on Energy Exchange and Upper Ocean Thermal Structure in Arabian Sea and Heat Transport in Northern Indian Ocean. The present thesis is an attempt to understand the upper ocean thermal characteristics at selected areas in the western and eastern Arabian Sea in relation to surface energy exchange and dynamics, on a climatological basis. It is also aimed to examine, the relative importance of different processes in the evolution of SST at the western and eastern Arabian Sea. Short-term variations of energy exchange and upper ocean thermal structure are also investigated. Climatological studies of upper ocean thermal structure and surface energy exchange in the western and eastern parts of Arabian Sea bring out the similarities/differences and the causative factors for the observed features. Annual variation of zonally averaged heat advection in north Indian Ocean shows that maximum export of about 100 W/m2 occurs around 15ON during southwest monsoon season. This is due to large negative heat storage caused by intense upwelling in several parts of northern Indian Ocean. By and large, northern Indian Ocean is an area of heat export

Hydrometeorological Studies of Kerala state in relation to the Western Ghats

Study of Kerala State in relation to the western Ghats, using The present thesis envisages a hydrometeorological various statistical techniques and the water balance concepts first developed by Thornthwaite. The first chapter of the thesis gives general introduction where the purpose and scope of the study have been given. Chapter II discusses the importance of hydrometeorological studies in general and of water balance in particular, in planning for the overall development of any region. Chapter III consists of the presentation of various geographical features of Kerala. An introduction to the physiography of the western Ghats and detailed hydroclimatic studies of the Western Ghats region which includes analysis of rainfall and the study of water balance elements form Chapter IV. In Chapter V, a detailed hydrometeorological study of Kerala State is made. Discussion of the results of the study and suggestions for optimum utilization of the available water resources for the overall development of the western Ghats region in general and Kerala in particular are made in Chapter VI.

Fatigue damage in titanium graphite hybrid laminates

by Dennis Arthur Burianek.

Dynamics of hydrothermal plumes in Lake Banyoles

Aquesta tesi permet adquirir una millor comprensió de la dinàmica dels plomalls hidrotèrmics en l'estany de Banyoles i correlacionar la meteorologia amb els processos de fluïdització que s'hi produeixen. S'han trobat els patrons atmosfèrics que generen els esdeveniments de les fluïditzacions així com la seva freqüència. Això és crucial per a determinar la qualitat de l'aigua de l'estany. S'han trobat inhomogeneïtats espacials tant en el plomall crònic que es desenvolupa en la cubeta B1, com en el plomall episòdic de la cubeta B2. S'ha caracteritzat l'estructura del plomall generat a la cubeta B2 i s'ha comparat amb el desenvolupat a la cubeta B1. Finalment, s'han realitzat simulacions numèriques mitjançant un model numèric: MIT General Circulation Model, en el qual s'ha hagut de fer canvis en les condicions de contorn per a situar la font convectiva al fons de la columna d'aigua. Les simulacions s'han comparat amb els resultats experimentals trobats mitjançant campanyes.