A PROPOSED MODIFICATION TO REGULATION OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE1

ABSTRACT: The current Lake Okeechobee regulation schedule is two feet higher than previous schedules that were in operation during the early 1970's. Its implementation was in response to prolonged periods of drought that occurred during the 1960's and early 1970's and the large increases in consumptive uses that were projected, and are presently occurring in south Florida. The additional storage provided by the schedule undoubtedly helped prevent more severe water shortages during the record setting 1980–1982 drought. However, two environmental concerns associated with the present schedule surfaced in recent years with the return to more normal rainfall conditions. First, the present schedule allows frequent high water conditions to exist in the lake that appear to be stressful to the unique littoral zone habitat of the lake. Second, the allowable buildup of storage prior to the dry season, combined with the large required decrease in storage prior to the hurricane (wet) season, contribute to the need for large regulation releases to tidewater. These large discharges have undesirable impacts on ecosystems of the downstream estuaries. This paper presents an alternative schedule that better meets the needs of the estuarine habitats without negatively impacting the other objectives of managing the lake.     

ENHANCEMENT OF RIPARIAN ECOSYSTEMS WITH CHANNEL STRUCTURES1

ABSTRACT: Naturally occurring and man-made structures can be used for enhancing the development of riparian zones. Naturally occurring structures are cienagas, beaver dams, and log steps. Man-made structures include large and small channel structures and bank protection devices. All these structures affect streamflow hydraulics and sedimentation and can create a more favorable environment for riparian zone establishment. However, when they are used improperly, they can be destructive to existing riparian zones. Since stream processes are generally slow, long-time spans may pass before the effects of management action, good or bad, become visible. Also, the effects of large dam installations may appear a long distance downstream from the dam. Therefore, investigations must be of a wide scope. Interactions between riparian site, channel, and streamflow may be so complex that an interdisciplinary approach is required.     

An assessment of urban development into coastal wetlands using historical aerial photography: a case study

Like many other states in the USA, Virginia passed legislation to protect coastal wetlands with limited information on the rate and location of past wetlands conversions. This information, however, can be useful in the design of cost-effective and flexible programs for wetlands management, particularly when such information is used in combination with studies of the socioeconomic value of wetlands. This paper reports on the use of photogrammetric and interpretive methods to determine historical changes in wetlands use for Virginia Beach and Accomack counties, Virginia. Conclusions are drawn as to the use of such information in policy design and program monitoring.     

采场调压数学模型在煤矿火区治理中的应用

采场调压可改变采场内气体流动的状况,抑制采空区自然发火。笔者采用Ｗａｒｄ 非线性运动方程,建立采场调压数学模型,利用有限元法对其进行求解。通过对小恒山煤矿东正巷出口的调压进行计算机模拟,从而掌握火区内部参数的变化趋势,及时预测调压潜力及效果,指导调压措施的进一步实施。     

矿岩接触带巷道顶板沉降变形相似模拟试验研究

为分析矿岩接触带巷道顶板沉降变形对巷道稳定性的影响,以大冶铁矿尖林山矿区接触带巷道为研究对象,基于相似原理,构建了矿岩接触带巷道物理相似模拟试验模型,设计了沿巷道走向与矿岩接触面对称布置的应变位移计监测方案,分析了接触带巷道顶板沉降变形规律。研究结果表明:接触带巷道顶板两侧岩体沉降变形量和变形速率存在差异,接触带巷道大理岩侧顶板沉降量和沉降速率大于铁矿侧;邻近巷道开挖扰动对已开挖巷道顶板变形破坏有较大影响,增大了接触带巷道两侧岩体的沉降变形程度。结合大冶铁矿矿岩接触带巷道顶板沉降量监测数据,从顶板沉降量、沉降速率2个方面对比分析了相似模拟试验和现场监测试验结果,表明矿岩接触带巷道顶板沉降变形规律具有一致性。     

基于ZSI岩溶溶洞对基坑开挖的影响

为了研究大连多岩溶区的复杂地质条件对基坑开挖的影响,运用有限差分软件FLAC3D对不同溶洞位置的基坑进行模拟,得到位移变化规律。同时利用单元安全状态评价指标ZSI(Zone State Index)对不同溶洞位置下基坑周围土体进行评价,针对影响较大区域溶洞提出合理的溶洞处理方案。研究结果表明:溶洞对基坑稳定性影响程度由大到小依次是被动区、过渡区、主动区。针对被动区溶洞采取开挖前注浆处理,通过对大连地区深基坑进行数值模拟确定的不同溶洞位置对基坑影响程度具有一定的指导意义,可为岩溶地区深基坑工程的设计与施工提供参考。     

污染地下水零价铁原位反应带修复技术:理论·应用·展望

ZVI-IRZ(零价铁原位反应带)是一种新兴的地下水原位修复技术,具有工程造价低、施工简单、环境扰动小、修复效果好等优势, 而ZVI(零价铁)自身理化性质、场地的水文地球化学特征以及场地的污染状况等是影响修复效果的主要因素. 当前的研究内容主要包括IRZ(原位反应带)中ZVI的反应活性、稳定性、迁移性、生物毒性以及注入方式等方面. 在修复工程中存在的问题主要体现在:①ZVIs(细粒径零价铁)在含水介质中的迁移性较差,并且多采用Fe2+、pH等间接指标考察含水层中ZVIs的分布情况;②ZVIs表面钝化而诱发介质反应活性下降;③ZVIs的潜在生物环境效应尚不明确. 因此,需要加强对ZVIs表面改性手段、作用机制、老化特性、使用寿命、解钝化及钝化抑制技术等方面的理论与应用研究,还应关注ZVIs在环境中的归趋、转化机制和暴露路径,建立生态系统尺度上的评估体系; 同时,在实际应用中,需要在系统评估污染场地水文地质条件的基础上,加强对注入含水层中ZVIs及其反应产物的原位监测技术研发和监测体系完善.      

高等级公路采动变形破坏数值模拟研究

以南屯矿区及其上方的邹济公路为背景,采用FLAC~(3D)软件,对采动影响下的高等级公路破坏机理和破坏过程进行了研究。研究表明:高等级公路采动变形经历先"上凸"后"下凹"过程,且破坏程度随着公路级别的降低而增加。应尽量使公路位于采空区正上方,且延伸方向和工作面推进的方向一致;若公路位于采空区一侧时,路面向采空区一侧整体滑移和倾斜;若公路延伸方向与工作面推进方向垂直,应注意采空区公路两端的上凸变形;应避免公路与采空区斜交。在相同地质采矿条件下,随着深厚比的增加,路面破坏程度减小,且在一定范围内,路面最大下沉值与深厚比存在非线性关系。研究成果为邹济公路下开采方案和公路维修治理提供必要的理论和技术支持。     

Biofidelity assessment of the 6-year-old ATDs in lateral impact

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess and compare the current lateral impact biofidelity of the shoulder, thorax, abdomen, and pelvis of the Q6, Q6s, and Hybrid III (HIII) 6-year-old anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) through lateral impact testing.

Methods: A series of lateral impact pendulum tests, vertical drop tests, and Wayne State University (WSU) sled tests was performed, based on the procedures detailed in ISO/TR 9790 (1999) and scaling to the 6-year-old using Irwin et al. (2002 Irwin AL, Mertz HJ, Elhagediab AM, Moss S. Guidelines for assessing the biofidelity of side impact dummies of various sizes and ages. Stapp Car Crash J. 2002;46:297–319.[PubMed] , [Google Scholar]). The HIII used in this study was tested with the Ford-designed abdomen described in Rouhana (2006 Rouhana SW. Abdominal impact injury research—a review. J Biomech. 2006;39(Suppl 1):S157–S158. [Google Scholar]) and Elhagediab et al. (2006 Elhagediab AM, Hardy WN, Rouhana SW. Advancements in the rate-sensitive abdomen for the Hybrid III family of dummies. J Biomech. 2006;39(Suppl 1):S158.[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). The data collected from the 3 different ATDs were filtered using SAE J211 (SAE International 2003 SAE International. Surface Vehicle Recommended Practice. Instrumentation for Impact Test—Part 1—Electronic Instrumentation. Warrendale, PA: SAE International; 2003. SAE Standard J211-1. [Google Scholar]), aligned using the methodology described by Donnelly and Moorhouse (2012 Donnelly BR, Moorhouse K. Optimized phasing of PMHS response curves for biofidelity targets. Paper presented at: IRCOBI Conference; 2012. [Google Scholar]), and compared for each body region tested (shoulder, thorax, abdomen, and pelvis). The biofidelity performance in lateral impact for the 3 ATDs was assessed against the scaled biofidelity targets published in Irwin et al. (2002 Irwin AL, Mertz HJ, Elhagediab AM, Moss S. Guidelines for assessing the biofidelity of side impact dummies of various sizes and ages. Stapp Car Crash J. 2002;46:297–319.[PubMed] , [Google Scholar]), the abdominal biofidelity target suggested in van Ratingen et al. (1997 van Ratingen M, Twisk D, Schrooten M, Beusenberg M. Biomechanically based design and performance targets for a 3-year-old child crash dummy for frontal and side impact. Paper presented at: 41st Stapp Car Crash Conference; 1997. [Google Scholar]), and the biofidelity targets published in Rhule et al. (2013 Rhule H, Donnelly B, Moorhouse K, Kang YS. A methodology for generating objective targets for quantitatively assessing the biofidelity of crash test dummies. Paper presented at: 23rd Enhanced Safety of Vehicles Conference; 2013. [Google Scholar]). Regional and overall biofidelity rankings for each of the 3 ATDs were performed using both the ISO 9790 biofidelity rating system (ISO/TR 9790 1999) and the NHTSA's external biofidelity ranking system (BRS; Rhule et al. 2013 Rhule H, Donnelly B, Moorhouse K, Kang YS. A methodology for generating objective targets for quantitatively assessing the biofidelity of crash test dummies. Paper presented at: 23rd Enhanced Safety of Vehicles Conference; 2013. [Google Scholar]).

Results: All 3 6-year-old ATD's pelvises were rated as least biofidelic of the 4 body regions tested, based on both the ISO and BRS biofidelity rating systems, followed by the shoulder and abdomen, respectively. The thorax of all 3 ATDs was rated as the most biofidelic body region using the aforementioned biofidelity rating systems. The HIII 6-year-old ATD was rated last in overall biofidelity of the 3 tested ATDs, based on both rating systems. The Q6s ATD was rated as having the best overall biofidelity using both rating systems.

Conclusions: All 3 ATDs are more biofidelic in the thorax and abdomen than the shoulder and pelvis, with the pelvis being the least biofidelic of all 4 tested body regions. None of the 3 tested 6-year-old ATDs had an overall ranking of 2.0 or less, based on the BRS ranking. Therefore, it is expected that none of the 3 ATDs would mechanically respond like a postmortem human subject (PMHS) in a lateral impact crash test based on this ranking system. With respect to the ISO biofidelity rating, the HIII dummy would be considered unsuitable and the Q-series dummies would be considered marginal for assessing side impact occupant protection.     

Effects of ignition energy on fire and explosion characteristics of dilute hybrid fuel in ventilation air methane

Deflagration explosions of coal dust clouds and flammable gases are a major safety concern in coal mining industry. Accidental fire and explosion caused by coal dust cloud can impose substantial losses and damages to people and properties in underground coal mines. Hybrid mixtures of methane and coal dust have the potential to reduce the minimum activation energy of a combustion reaction. In this study the Minimum Explosion Concentration (MEC), Over Pressure Rise (OPR), deflagration index for gas and dust hybrid mixtures (K_st) and explosive region of hybrid fuel mixtures present in Ventilation Air Methane (VAM) were investigated. Experiments were carried out according to the ASTM E1226-12 guideline utilising a 20 L spherical shape apparatus specifically designed for this purpose.Resultsobtained from this study have shown that the presence of methane significantly affects explosion characteristics of coal dust clouds. Dilute concentrations of methane, 0.75–1.25%, resulted in coal dust clouds OPR increasing from 0.3 bar to 2.2 bar and boosting the K_st value from 10 bar m s⁻¹ to 25 bar m s⁻¹. The explosion characteristics were also affected by the ignitors’ energy; for instance, for a coal dust cloud concentration of 50 g m⁻³ the OPR recorded was 0.09 bar when a 1 kJ chemical ignitor was used, while, 0.75 bar (OPR) was recorded when a 10 kJ chemical ignitor was used.For the first time, new explosion regions were identified for diluted methane-coal dust cloud mixtures when using 1, 5 and 10 kJ ignitors. Finally, the Le-Chatelier mixing rule was modified to predict the lower explosion limit of methane-coal dust cloud hybrid mixtures considering the energy of the ignitors.