A new approach to visualizing time-varying sensitivity indices for environmental model diagnostics across evaluation time-scales

Assessing the time-varying sensitivity of environmental models has become a common approach to understand both the value of different data periods for estimating specific parameters, and as part of a diagnostic analysis of the model structure itself (i.e. whether dominant processes are emerging in the model at the right times and over the appropriate time periods). It is not straightforward to visualize these results though, given that the window size over which the time-varying sensitivity is best integrated generally varies for different parameters. In this short communication we present a new approach to visualizing such time-varying sensitivity across time scales of integration. As a case study, we estimate first order sensitivity indices with the FAST (Fourier Amplitude Sensitivity Test) method for a typical conceptual rainfall–runoff model. The resulting plots can guide data selection for model calibration, support diagnostic model evaluation and help to define the timing and length of spot gauging campaigns in places where long-term calibration data are not yet available.     

Effects of hot water extraction pretreatment on physicochemical changes of Douglas fir

Hot water extraction (HWE) is an autocatalytic pretreatment that can be effectively integrated into most of the conversion technologies for extracting hemicelluloses from woody biomass. The objective of this study was to understand the influence of pretreatment factors on removal of hemicelluloses from Douglas fir chips. Compositional change in biomass was analyzed with ion chromatography and further confirmed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Highest hemicellulose extraction yield (HEY) was estimated to be 67.44% at the optimum reaction time (79 min) and temperature (180 °C) by using response surface methodology (RSM). Experimental results show that the HEY increased from 19.29 to 70.81% depending on the reaction time (30–120 min) and the temperature (140–180 °C). Effects of the severity factor (SF) on the mass removal and compositional changes were also evaluated. Hygroscopicity and thermal stability of wood were improved after HWE pretreatment. Colorimetric analysis showed that temperature has a greater influence on color of the wood chips during HWE pretreatment than dwell time. HWE pretreatment shows great potential for extracting hemicelluloses and altering physicochemical properties of wood in an integrated biorefinery for diversification of product portfolio.     

Effect of fine crack width and water cement ratio of SHCC on chloride ingress and rebar corrosion

SHCC (Strain Hardening Cement-based Composite) is a material known for its strain-hardening behavior under tensile and bending stress and its characteristic numerous small cracks. SHCC is expected to show superior durability because of the fineness of the cracks. In this study, chloride ingress through cracks into SHCC and progress of rebar corrosion in three mixtures of SHCC with various water-cement ratios were investigated. Through a chloride solution immersion test, it was confirmed that chloride could penetrate through even very fine cracks. The resistivity of cracked SHCC against chloride ingress is mainly governed by the accumulated crack width and the water cement ratio. Chloride pre-mixed SHCC specimens were left in a high-temperature, high-humidity chamber for 11 months to promote rebar corrosion. While the accumulated crack width and the water cement ratio were both influential to an increase in corrosion area, only the water cement ratio had bearing on corrosion loss.     

A thermo-hydro-mechano-chemical formulation for modeling water transport around a ventilated tunnel in an argillaceous rock

Argillaceous rocks are being considered as potential host rocks for deep geological disposal. For the research work in DECOVALEX-2011, 5 participant research teams performed simulations of a laboratory drying test and a ventilation experiment for Mont Terri underground laboratory built in argillaceous rock formation. Our study starts with establishing a coupled thermo-hydro-mechano-chemical (THMC) processes model to simulate water transport in rock around the ventilated tunnel. Especially in this THMC formulation, a three-phase and two-constituent hydraulic model is introduced to simulate the processes which occur during tunnel ventilation, including desaturation/resaturation in the rock, phase change and air/rock interface, and to explore the Opalinus clay parameter set. It can be found that water content evolution is very sensitive to intrinsic permeability, relative permeability and capillary pressure in clay rock. Water loss from surrounding rock is sensitive to the change of permeability in clay which is induced by excavation damaged zone. Chemical solute transport in the rock near ventilation experiment tunnel is simulated based on the coupled THMC formulation. It can be estimated that chemical osmotic flow has little significance on water flow modeling. Comparisons between simulation results from 5 teams and experimental observations show good agreement. It increases the confidence in modeling and indicates that it is a good start for fully THMC understanding of the moisture transportation and mechanical behavior in argillaceous rock.     

对建筑工地活动板房建设的新思考

针对银川市建筑工地活动板房现状,总结了现用工地活动板房存在的耐火等级较低、缺少维护、居住条件差等问题,提出了建筑工地活动板房建设新思路——用钢结构临时性房屋代替现有的活动板房,以提高农民工的居住环境质量.     

An improved form of smoothed particle hydrodynamics method for crack propagation simulation applied in rock mechanics

The simulation of crack propagation processes in rock engineering has been not only a research hot spot among scholars but also a challenge. Based on this background, a new numerical method named improved kernel of smoothed particle hydrodynamics(IKSPH) has been put forward. By improving the kernel function in the traditional smoothed particle hydrodynamics(SPH) method, the brittle fracture characteristics of the base particles are realized. The particle domain searching method(PDSM) has also been put forward to generate the arbitrary complex fissure networks. Three numerical examples are analyzed to validate the efficiency of IKSPH and PDSM, which can correctly reveal the morphology of wing crack and the laws of crack coalescence compared with previous experimental and numerical studies.Finally, a rock slope model with complex joints is numerically simulated and the progressive failure processes are exhibited, which indicates that the IKSPH method can be well applied to rock mechanics engineering. The research results showed that IKSPH method reduces the programming difficulties and avoids the traditional grid distortion, which can provide some references for the application of IKSPH to rock mechanics engineering and the understanding of rock fracture mechanisms.     

ALFIE — Auxiliary logistics for industrial engineers

ALFIE, a computer aid for ergonomic design, is described. The package uses an expert system approach to guide an ergonomic novice towards key concepts and factors during the formulation of a design. It is envisaged that the system will be used in an interactive manner by design engineers, industrial designers, etc., to provide ergonomic input at the earliest possible stage of a design. The system has been designed to give maximum autonomy to the experienced user whilst providing the novice with a high degree of guidance. ALFIE is initially being developed in relation to the ergonomics area but is not confined to this.     

A rule-based control method for a multi-loop production system

A multi-loop integrated-circuit production system is difficult to control due to the complex process flow and the dynamic changing environment. The search for the best control strategy is a multi-objective problem subject to a variety of constraints.This paper describes a rule-based decision support system (RBDSS) for finding the best solution for various needs in order to satisfy the user's multiple goals. This method stores coefficients of equations of regression between the performance measure and a set of the control variables, and searches for the best performances on an interactive basis.The performance of RBDSS is compared with that of a non-AI method (CDSS) in the same experimental case.