Impact of floodplain and Stage 0 stream restoration on flood attenuation and floodplain exchange during small frequent storms

River flooding impacts human life and infrastructure, yet provides habitat and ecosystem services. Traditional flood control (e.g., levees, dams) reduces habitat and ecosystem services, and exacerbates flooding elsewhere. Floodplain restoration (i.e., bankfull floodplain reconnection and Stage 0) can also provide flood management, but has not been sufficiently evaluated for small frequent storms. We used 1D unsteady Hydrologic Engineering Center's River Analysis System to simulate small storms in a 5 km-long, second-order generic stream from the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and varied % channel restored (starting at the upstream end), restoration location, restoration bank height (distinguishes bankfull from Stage 0 restoration), and floodplain width/Manning's n. Stream restoration decreased (attenuated) peak flow up to 37% and increased floodplain exchange by up to 46%. Floodplain width and % channel restored had the largest impact on flood attenuation. The incremental effects of new restoration projects on flood attenuation were greatest when little prior restoration had occurred. By contrast, incremental effects on floodplain exchange were greatest in the presence of substantial prior restoration, setting up a tradeoff. A similar tradeoff was revealed between attenuation and exchange for project location, but not bank height or floodplain width. In particular, attenuation and exchange were always greater for Stage 0 than for bankfull floodplain restoration. Stage 0 thus may counteract human impacts such as urbanization.     

The Thermal Discharges From Nuclear Power Plants in Taiwan

The increasing use of sea water for industrial cooling presents a real threat to the ecological environment in the ocean. in Taiwan where many electric power plants along the coast take sea water for cooling, people are concerned seriously about nuclear power plants. There are three nuclear power plants in Taiwan. Each plant has two units for generating power. the first two are located along the northern coast of Taiwan. the third is located in Kenting National Park along the coast of southernmost Taiwan. the plants take sea water for cooling, and discharge their heated effluents to the ocean surface from the coast. the thermal effluents have variable effects on the ecological environment near the plants. Fishermen living near the power plants complain that the heated water affects the inshore fishery catch. in addition, the thermal water from the second plant is easily accumulated near the coastal zone to influence the nearby swimming area in the summer-time. the thermal water from the third plant bleaches or kills some corals in shallow water near the outlet, and this conflicts with the interests of Kenting National Park.     

Influence of environmental factors on arsenic accumulation and biotransformation using the aquatic plant species Hydrilla verticillata

Hydrilla verticillata(waterthyme) has been successfully used for phytoremediation in arsenic(As) contaminated water.To evaluate the effects of environmental factors on phytoremediation,this study conducted a series of orthogonal design experiments to determine optimal conditions,including phosphorus(P),nitrogen(N),and arsenate(As(Ⅴ))concentrations and initial pH levels,for As accumulation and biotransformation using this aquatic plant species,while also analyzing As species transformation in culture media after 96-hr exposure.Analysis of variance and the signal-to-noise ratio were used to identify both the effects of these environmental factors and their optimal conditions for this purpose.Results indicated that both N and P significantly impacted accumulation,and N was essential in As species transformation.High N and intermediate P levels were critical to As accumulation and biotransformation by H.verticillata,while high N and low P levels were beneficial to As species transformation in culture media.The highest total arsenic accumulation was(197.2±17.4) μg/g dry weight when As(V) was at level 3(375μg/L),N at level 2(4 mg/L),P at level 1(0.02 mg/L),and pH at level 2(7).Although H.verticillata is highly efficient in removing As(Ⅴ) from aquatic environments,its use could be potentially harmful to both humans and the natural environment due to its release of highly toxic arsenite.For cost-effective and ecofriendly phytoremediation of As-contaminated water,both N and P are helpful in regulating As accumulation and transformation in plants.     

Effects of SO2 and H2O on low-temperature NO conversion over F-V2O5-WO3/TiO2 catalysts

F-V_2 O_5-WO3/Ti02 catalysts were prepared by the impregnation method.As the content of F ions increased from 0.00 to 0.35 wt.%,the NO conversion of F-V_2 O_5-WO_3/TiO_2 catalysts initially increased and then decreased.The 0.2 F-V_2 O_5-WO_3/TiO_2 catalyst(0.2 wt.% F ion)exhibited the best denitration(De-NOx) performance,with more than 95% NO conversion in the temperature range 160-360℃,and 99.0% N2 selectivity between 110 and 280℃.The addition of an appropriate amount of F ions eroded the surface morphology of the catalyst and reduced its grain size,thus enhancing the NO conversion at low temperature as well as the sulfur and water resistance of the V_2 O_5-WO3/Ti02 catalyst.After selective catalytic reduction(SCR) reaction in a gas flow containing SO_2 and H_2 O,the number of NH3 adsorption sites,active component content,specific surface area and pore volume decreased to different degrees.Ammonium sulfate species deposited on the catalyst surface,which blocked part of the active sites and reduced the NO conversion performance of the catalyst.On-line thermal regeneration could not completely recover the catalyst activity,although it prolonged the cumulative life of the catalyst.In addition,a mechanism for the effects of S02 and H_2 O on catalyst NO conversion was proposed.     

石英灯辐射加热条件下低密度碳/酚醛复合材料高温响应及分析

目的研究低密度碳/酚醛复合材料在不同地面加热实验测试响应的差异性,指导材料在实际应用环境下的高温响应分析。方法对低密度碳/酚醛复合材料开展了热流为400 kW/m~2的单侧石英灯辐射加热实验,利用热电偶测温系统测量试件在加热过程中不同位置的温度时间历程,并对试件的烧蚀形貌和微观结构进行观测。同时与热流为464k W/m~2的氧乙炔加热陶瓷板辐射加热实验结果进行对比分析,并且采用有限元方法对材料的传热传质多场耦合计算进行分析。结果对于石英灯辐射加热,在测量点升温到接近200℃时,温度响应拐点都依次出现。由于加热的辐射热源不同,在不同的辐射波段下,多孔材料吸收和发射的热量不同,短时间内氧乙炔加热陶瓷板辐射加热使材料内部升温速率比石英灯辐射加热实验的要快,但长时间加热时现象刚好相反。结论进行传热传质多场耦合计算材料高温响应时,合理确定材料宏观性能随温度的变化至关重要。     

纤维增强气凝胶复合材料高温结构转变及热稳定性研究

目的研究高温受热条件下纳米复合隔热材料的结构转变特征及热稳定性。方法采用扫描电镜、X射线衍射仪、红外光谱仪及热重仪等检测方法。结果纤维增强气凝胶材料从室温到650℃存在连续的质量损失,从室温到放热前,质量损失为1.66%;365℃开始出现放热,温度升至398℃时达到峰值,整个放热过程对应质量损失约为1.3%;从435℃放热结束开始到650℃的质量损失为1.46%。经过400℃热处理后,试样比表面积从268m~2/g增加到437m~2/g;当试样热处理温度达到600℃时,试样的比表面积明显随之降低至198m~2/g。结论 SiO_2气凝胶复合材料以无定形结构为主,存在少量的二氧化钛晶体。在400℃左右,SiO_2气凝胶结构中硅甲基Si—CH_3发生氧化,产生明显的放热峰,之后硅羟基Si—OH之间发生缩聚反应,使600℃热处理后气凝胶中Si—O—Si网络骨架强度有所提高。未处理的纤维增强气凝胶材料试样上气凝胶纳米颗粒构成的块体较为良好地包裹在玻璃纤维表面,而经过600℃的高温热处理1 h后,块体气凝胶脱离了光滑的纤维表面,气凝胶纳米粒子发生收缩,致使材料比表面积下降。     

包装箱用碳纤维增强复合材料贮存寿命研究

目的研究碳纤维增强复合材料贮存条件下的性能变化趋势和寿命评估。方法对碳纤维增强复合材料开展四个不同温度条件下的热氧老化试验,按试验周期定期取样开展冲击性能测试,对试验数据采用寿命预估方法进行处理,对材料性能进行预估。结果通过数据计算分别得到我国热带海洋、干热沙漠等典型气候条件下的碳纤维增强复合材料贮存寿命分别为17.21~35.89年。结论碳纤维增强复合材料具有较好的贮存性能,在较为严酷的热带海洋气候和给定的失效判据条件下,寿命预计为17.21年。试验和数据处理方法可以较好地预计材料的性能变化趋势和开展寿命评估。     

一种模拟动力学边界条件的环境振动试验方法研究

目的提高环境振动试验的可靠性。方法以某典型钛合金蜂窝夹芯壁板试验件为例,提出一种模拟试验件动力学边界条件的试验方法,在试验件周围引入弹性连接件,再通过刚性转接工装与振动台台面连接,以试验件在试验安装状态下的共振频率及振型节线位置为优化目标,以弹性连接件的外形尺寸及厚度为优化变量,对弹性连接件进行优化设计,从而模拟试验件真实的动力学边界条件。结果弹性连接件的优化设计使得试验件在试验安装状态下前两阶共振频率与试验要求相差小于8%,而且振型节线位置与试验要求基本重合,达到了模拟试验件真实动力学边界条件的设计目标。结论对于壁板类试验件,在传统刚性夹具的基础上引入弹性连接件的试验方法,可以较好地模拟试验件真实动力学边界条件,提高环境振动试验的可靠性,并且这种方法对试验费用及试验周期影响较小,具有良好的工程应用前景。     

基于有限元分析的橡胶减振器优化设计

目的加快橡胶减振器的设计过程。方法分析橡胶材料及Mooney-Rivllin橡胶本构模型特点,介绍橡胶减振器应用特点及隔振设计的相关理论,采用Mooney-Rivllin模型模拟橡胶材料的力学特性,通过引进有限元优化技术,在设计初期保证减振器的刚度特性。结果在某设备减振设计中,采用单轴拉压曲线获取了橡胶材料的Mooney-Rivllin模型参数,以减振器的部分结构尺寸为设计参数,减振器的三向刚度为设计目标,获取了三轴向频率近似相等的隔振系统(轴向频率40 Hz、径向频率40.9 Hz)。通过试验测试,减振系统频率与试验值差别较小,其中轴向差别为2%,径向差别为1%。结论通过引进有限元优化技术,采用合理的橡胶本构模型,可以满足工程精度要求,加速了橡胶减振器的设计过程。     

Working backwards to move forwards: Graph-based connectivity metrics for reserve network selection

In this paper we apply graph theory in a reserve selection exercise to explore the tradeoffs between maintaining connectivity and minimizing the total area of a protected area network. Rather than focus on a single organism, we used a multi-species approach and looked at the tradeoff curves for organisms with varying dispersal abilities. We first generated the tradeoff curves using a graph-based metric to determine the importance of individual patches for maintaining connectivity. We then performed an analogous set of analyses using patch size as a surrogate measure of importance.