Calibration of parameters of mathematical models is still a tough task in several engineering problems. Many of the models adopted for the numerical simulations of real phenomena, in fact, are of empirical derivation. Therefore, they include parameters which have to be calibrated in order to correctly reproduce the physical evidence. Thus, the success of a numerical model application depends on the quality of the performed calibration, which can be of great complexity, especially if the number of parameters is higher than one. Calibration is traditionally performed by engineers and researchers through manual trial-and-error procedures. However, since models themselves are increasingly sophisticated, it seems more proper to look at more advanced calibration procedures. In this work, in particular, an optimization technique for a multi-parameter calibration is applied to a two-phase depth-averaged model, already adopted in previous works to simulate morphodynamic processes, such as, for example, the dike erosion by overtopping.
The two-dimensional particle image velocimetry (PIV) data are inevitably contaminated by noise due to various imperfections in instrumentation or algorithm, based on which the well-established vortex identification methods often yield noise or incomplete vortex structure with a jagged boundary. To make up this deficiency, a novel method was proposed in this paper and the efficiency of the new method was demonstrated by its applications in extracting the twodimensional spanwise vortex structures from 2D PIV data in open-channel flows. The new method takes up a single vortex structure by combining model matching and vorticity filtering, and successfully locates the vortex core and draws a streamlined vortex boundary. The new method shows promise as being more effective than commonly used schemes in open-channel flow applications.
Backward erosion piping is driven by seepage forces acting on the soil grains at the downstream end of the seepage path. A new device for the laboratory testing of backward erosion progression was developed and tested. The device consists of a plexiglass prism at which the seepage path has been predefined. The prism was equipped with an inflow consisting of gravel separated from tested sand by a strainer. The hydraulic gradient along the seepage pipe was observed by a set of piezometers and pressure cells, and the seepage discharge was measured volumetrically. The transported sediment was trapped in a vertical cone located downstream from the device. The progression of the seepage path, the piezometric heads and the trapped material was observed by two synchronous cameras. 15 trial tests have been carried out to date, and from these, the interim results are presented.
The objective of this paper is to simulate flow frequency distribution curves for Amazon catchments with the aim of scaling power generation from small hydroelectric power plants. Thus, a simple nonlinear rainfall-runoff model was developed with sigmoid-variable gain factor due to the moisture status of the catchment, which depends on infiltration, and is considered a factor responsible for the nonlinearity of the rainfall-runoff process. Data for a catchment in the Amazon was used to calibrate and validate the model. The performance criteria adopted were the Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient (R²), the RMS, the Q95% frequency flow percentage error, and the mean percentage errors ranging from Q5% to Q95%.. Calibration and validation showed that the model satisfactorily simulates the flow frequency distribution curves. In order to find the shortest period of rainfall-runoff data, which is required for applying the model, a sensitivity analysis was performed whereby rainfall and runoff data was successively reduced by 1 year until a 1.5-year model application minimum period was found. This corresponds to one hydrological year plus the 6-month long ''memory''. This analysis evaluates field work in the ungauged sites of the region. and Cieľom tohto príspevku je simulácia čiar rozdelenia prietokov pre povodia rieky Amazonka pre potreby hodnotenia premeny energie v malých hydroelektrárňach. Preto bol vyvinutý jednoduchý nelineárny zrážko-odtokový model so sigmoidálne sa meniacim zdrojovým faktorom v závislosti od obsahu vody v povodí, ktorý závisí od infiltrácie a je považovaný za faktor, spôsobujúci nelinearitu zrážkoodtokových procesov. Pre kalibráciu a validizáciu modelu boli použité údaje z povodí rieky Amazonka. Použili sme tieto hodnotiace kritériá: Nashov-Sutcliffov koeficient (R²), RMS, Q95%, chyba určenia odtoku v percentách, a priemerná percentuálna chyba v rozsahu od Q5% do Q95%. Kalibrácia a validizácia ukázala, že model simuluje čiary rozdelenia prietokov uspokojivo. Aby bolo možné nájsť najkratšie obdobie pre nájdenia závislosti zrážky - odtok, ktorá je potrebná pre aplikáciu v modeli, použili sme citlivostnú analýzu tak, že údaje zrážky - odtok boli postupne redukované o jeden rok, až kým nebolo nájdené minimálne obdobie pre aplikáciu vzťahu zrážky - odtok 1,5 roka. Toto obdobie zodpovedá jednému hydrologickému roku, plus 6 mesiacov dlhá ''pamäť''. Touto analýzou boli vyhodnotené výsledky terénnych meraní v oblastiach, kde neboli k dispozícii merania odtoku.
Controversial aspects of the conventional and widely used concept of the integral vortex strength are briefly discussed. The strength of a vortex is usually calculated as the circulation along the vortex boundary, or equivalently due to Green’s theorem, as the surface integral of vorticity over the planar vortex cross section. However, the local effect of an arbitrary ''superimposed shear'' is fully absorbed by vorticity what makes the circulation a shear-biased vortex characteristic. The present paper shows that different vortexstrength models can be derived on the basis of different local vortex intensities proposed in the literature. The outcome of these models naturally differs, even for an ideally axisymmetric vortex. Three different vortex-strength models are compared and discussed by examining the unsteady Taylor vortex. and V práci jsou stručně diskutovány sporné stránky konvenčního a široce užívaného pojetí integrální síly víru. Síla víru je obvykle počítána jako cirkulace podél hranice víru nebo ekvivalentně podle Greenovy věty jako plošný integrál vířivosti přes příčný rovinný řez vírem. Lokální efekt libovolného ''superponovaného smyku'' je však plně absorbován vířivostí, což činí z cirkulace smykově zkreslenou vírovou charakteristiku. Tento článek ukazuje, že lze odvodit různé modely síly víru na základě různých lokálních intenzit víru navržených v odborné literatuře. Výsledky těchto modelů se přirozeně liší, dokonce i pro ideálně osově symetrický vír. Na podkladě zkoumání nestacionárního Taylorova víru jsou porovnány a diskutovány tři různé modely síly víru.
A distinction is introduced between itemized and non-itemized plural predication. It is argued that a full-fledged system of plural logic is not necessary in order to account for the validity of inferences concerning itemized collective predication. Instead, it is shown how this type of inferences can be adequately dealt with in a first-order logic system, after small modifications on the standard treatment. The proposed system, unlike plural logic, has the advantage of preserving completeness. And as a result, inferences such as ''Dick and Tony emptied the bottle, hence Tony and Dick emptied the bottle'' are shown to be first-order., Rozlišování se zavádí mezi rozčleněným množstvím a nerozdělením množných predikcí. Tvrdí se, že plnohodnotný systém pluralitní logiky není nutný pro to, aby bylo možné zohlednit platnost závěrů týkajících se skupinového predikce. Místo toho je ukázáno, jak lze tento typ závěrů adekvátně řešit v logickém systému prvního řádu, po malých úpravách standardního zpracování. Navrhovaný systém, na rozdíl od množné logiky, má výhodu zachování úplnosti. Výsledkem je, že závěry jako ,,Dick a Tony vyprázdnili láhev, proto Tony a Dick vyprázdnili láhev''., and Gustavo Fernandéz Díez
One of the most important problems faced in hydrology is the estimation of flood magnitudes and frequencies in ungauged basins. Hydrological regionalisation is used to transfer information from gauged watersheds to ungauged watersheds. However, to obtain reliable results, the watersheds involved must have a similar hydrological behaviour. In this study, two different clustering approaches are used and compared to identify the hydrologically homogeneous regions. Fuzzy C-Means algorithm (FCM), which is widely used for regionalisation studies, needs the calculation of cluster validity indices in order to determine the optimal number of clusters. Fuzzy Minimals algorithm (FM), which presents an advantage compared with others fuzzy clustering algorithms, does not need to know a priori the number of clusters, so cluster validity indices are not used. Regional homogeneity test based on L-moments approach is used to check homogeneity of regions identified by both cluster analysis approaches. The validation of the FM algorithm in deriving homogeneous regions for flood frequency analysis is illustrated through its application to data from the watersheds in Alto Genil (South Spain). According to the results, FM algorithm is recommended for identifying the hydrologically homogeneous regions for regional frequency analysis.
Fishway design not only takes into account the swimming abilities of target fishes, but also considers the hydrodynamic characteristics within the fishway. In this study, the flow fields of one vertical-slot fishway (i.e. VSF), five T-shape fishways (i.e. TSF-1~TSF-5) and two H-shape fishways (i.e. HSF-1 and HSF-2) are numerically simulated by solving the three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations and the K-Omega-SST turbulence model. The numerical results clearly indicate that the hydrodynamic properties of HSF-2 are overall superior to the remaining seven cases, in terms of the time-averaged flow pattern, the time-averaged velocity magnitude, the depth-mean timeaveraged velocity magnitude along the vertical-slot section, the volume percentages of the time-averaged velocity magnitude less than some critical values, and the distribution of the time-averaged turbulent kinetic energy. Therefore, HSF-2 is more friendly for fishes with relatively smaller sizes and weaker swimming capacities to transfer upstream. The novel HSF-2 is firstly proposed in this paper, and it is naturally designed during the process of improving the flow regime. Furthermore, the generalizability of the superiority of HSF-2 over VSF and the original T-shape fishway (i.e. TSF-1) has been exhibited with the aid of the numerical results of four operating conditions (i.e. Q = 400 L/s, 600 L/s, 800 L/s and 1000 L/s).
In passing remarks, some commentators have noted that for Nagel, physicalism is true. It has even been argued that Nagel seeks to find the best path to follow to achieve future physicalism. I advance these observations by adding that for Nagel, we should discuss the consciousness problem not in terms of physical and mental issues but in terms of our desire to include consciousness in an objective/scientific account, and we can achieve this only by revising our self-conception, i.e., folk psychology, to develop a more detached view of experience. Through the project of objective phenomenology, Nagel aims to achieve some sort of objective, detached, and scientific explanation of the subjective nature of experience. This project seeks to make the truth of physicalism intelligible and consciousness more amenable to scientific study, potentially raising an even broader concept than the one physicalism originally proposes.
Steady two-dimensional natural convection taking place in a rectangular cavity, partially filled with an isotropic porous material, has been investigated numerically using an ADI method. It is assumed that one of the vertical walls of the cavity has a ramped temperature distribution. The vorticity-stream function formulation has been used to solve the set of nonlinear partial differential equations governing the flows in the clear region and the adjoining porous region. The effects of Darcy number and Rayleigh number have been discussed in detail.