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At least 397 records · Page 22

Seismicity, shear failure and modes of deformation in deep subduction zones

The joint hypocentral determination method is used to relocate deep seismicity reported in the International Seismological Center catalog for earthquakes deeper than 400 km in the Honshu, Bonin, Mariannas, Java, Banda, and South America subduction zones. Each deep seismic zone is found to display planar features of seismicity parallel to the Harvard centroid-moment tensor nodal planes, which are identified as planes of shear failure. The sense of displacement on these planes is one of resistance to deeper penetration.

Lundgren, Paul R.↗

Styles of zoning in central Andean ignimbrites - Insights into magma chamber processes

Data are presented showing that calc-alkaline high-K ignimbrites from the Altiplano-Puna Volcanic Complex of the Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes, showing a variety of compositional zonations. The characteristics of the juvenile material from the zoned and heterogenous ignimbrites suggest that crystallization of the observed phenocrysts occurred in prezoned magma chambers consisting of two or more layers. It is suggested that the width/height ratio of a magma chamber plays a critical role in the control of the style of zonation that may develop in a closed magma chamber.

De Silva, S. L.↗

Late Proterozoic evolution of the northern part of the Hamisana zone, northeast Sudan - Constraints on Pan-African accretionary tectonics

This paper describes deformation fabrics developed in the northern part of the Hamisana zone in northeast Sudan. New structural data are presented which establish a structural chronology that characterizes distinct events of accretion, folding, and thrust faulting and reactivation of accretion-related faults. The structural data point to an intraplate compressional origin for the Hamisana zone. A review of available isotopic age data is carried out, and it is concluded that Pan-African accretionary processes may have been analogous to Phanerozoic ophiolite and island arc accretion in the western North American Cordillera, where penetrative deformation occurred in response to periodic intraplate shortening events, rather than an ultimate collision of unrelated crustal fragments.

Miller, M. M.↗

Time dependent fracture and cohesive zones

This presentation is concerned with the fracture response of materials which develop cohesive or bridging zones at crack tips. Of special interest are concerns regarding crack stability as a function of the law which governs the interrelation between the displacement(s) or strain across these zones and the corresponding holding tractions. It is found that for some materials unstable crack growth can occur, even before the crack tip has experienced a critical COD or strain across the crack, while for others a critical COD will guarantee the onset of fracture. Also shown are results for a rate dependent nonlinear material model for the region inside of a craze for exploring time dependent crack propagation of rate sensitive materials.

Knauss, W. G.↗

Effect of Fuel-air Ratio Concentration in Combustion Zone on Combustion Performance of a 16-inch Ram-jet Engine

The results of fuel-air ratio and temperature surveys made in the flame stabilizing zone of a 16-inch ram-jet combustor indicated that the distribution of combustible mixture immediately downstream of a flame holder should be mechanically controlled if a preferred mixture composition is to be maintained in that zone. A sloping-baffle combustor configuration gave combustion efficiencies of 90 percent or greater over a range of fuel-air ratios from 0.010 to 0.045.

COMBUSTION - RAM-JET ENGINES↗

The Gaseous Explosive Reaction : the Effect of Pressure on the Rate of Propagation of the Reaction Zone and upon the Rate of Molecular Transformation

This study of gaseous explosive reaction has brought out a number of important fundamental characteristics of the explosive reaction indicating that the basal processes of the transformation are much simpler and corresponds more closely to the general laws and principles of ordinary transformations than is usually supposed. The report calls attention to the point that the rate of molecular transformation within the zone was found in all cases to be proportional to pressure, that the transformation within the zone is the result of binary impacts. This result is of unusual interest in the case of the reaction of heavy hydrocarbon fuels and the reaction mechanism proposed by the recent kinetic theory of chain reactions.

Stevens, F W↗

Adaptive control of interface by temperature and interface profile feedback in transparent multi-zone crystal growth furnace

The objective of this research is to control the dynamics of multizone programmable crystal growth furnaces. Due to the inevitable heat exchange among different heating zones and the transient nature of the process, the dynamics of multizone furnaces is time varying, distributed, and therefore complex in nature. Electrical power to heating zones and the translational speed of the ampoule are employed as inputs to control the dynamics. Structural properties of the crystal is the ultimate aim of this adaptive control system. These properties can be monitored in different ways. Following an order of complexity, these may include: (1) on line measurement of the material optical properties such as the refractive index of crystal; (2) on line x-ray imaging of the interface topology; (3) on line optical quantification of the interface profile such as the determination of concavity or convexity of the interface shape; and (4) on line temperature measurement at points closest to the material such as measurements of the ampoule's outside and inside surface temperatures. The research performed makes use of the temperature and optical measurements, specified in (3) and (4) as the outputs of furnace dynamics. However, if the instrumentation is available, the proposed control methodology can be extended to the measurements listed in (1) and (2).

Batur, Celal↗

A thermodynamic analysis of propagating subcritical cracks with cohesive zones

The results of the so-called energetic approach to fracture with particular attention to the issue of energy dissipation due to crack propagation are applied to the case of a crack with cohesive zone. The thermodynamic admissibility of subcritical crack growth (SCG) is discussed together with some hypotheses that lead to the derivation of SCG laws. A two-phase cohesive zone model for discontinuous crack growth is presented and its thermodynamics analyzed, followed by an example of its possible application.

Allen, David H.↗

Seasonality of coastal zone scanner phytoplankton pigment in the offshore oceans

The NASA Global Ocean Data Set of plant pigment concentrations in the upper euphotic zone is evaluated for diserning geographical and temporal patterns of seasonality in the open sea. Monthly medians of pigment concentrations for all available years are generated for fields of approximately 77,000 sq km. For the climatological year, highest and lowest medians, month of occurence of the highest median, ratio of highest to lowest medians, and absolute range between the highest and lowest medians are mapped ocean-wide between 62.5 deg N and 62.5 deg S. Seasonal cycles are depicted for 48 sites. In much of the offshore ocean, seasonality of pigment is inferred to be driven almost equally by the interaction of the abiotic environment with phytoplankton physiology and the loss of cells from grazing. Special emphasis among natural domains or provinces is given to the Subantarctic water ring, with no seasonality in its low chlorophyll concentrations in spite of strong environmental forcing, and the narrow Transition Zones, a few degrees of latitude on the equatorial sides of the Subtropical Convergences of the southern hemisphere and their homologs in the northern hemisphere, which have late winter blooms caused by nutrient injection into the upper layers.

Banse, K.↗

Color banding on Georges Bank as viewed by coastal zone color scanner

Observations of Georges Bank by coastal zone color scanner (CZCS) show bandlike patterns that appear to be related to the large sand dunes and ridges which dominate the bottom topography there. Ship measurements of temperature and chlorophyll on Georges Bank in July 1979 also reflect the influence of the underwater dune fields. The cause of the banding in the CZCS data is unknown but is speculated to be the creation of alternating zones of divergence and convergence by tidal currents as the water flows over the underwater dune-trough configuration. The banding observed by CZCS appears to be seasonal, following the sequence of primary production in the Gulf of Maine, and is believed to be important to biological processes as a site of new production and/or as an effective transport mechanism. Any future models that attempt to interrelate tidal mixing and primary production must consider bottom topography and secondary flows.

Yentsch, C. S.↗

Theoretical properties of Omega-loops in the convective zone of the Sun. 1: Emerging bipolar magnetic regions

It is proposed that the observed 500 G intensity of the magnetic fields emerging through the surface of the Sun can be understood from the Bernoulli effect in the upwelling Omega-loops of magnetic field. It is also proposed that the inferred 10(exp 5) G azimuthal flux bundles below the base of the convective zone can be understood as a consequence of the large-scale buoyancy associated with the upwelling fluid in and around the rising Omega-loop. The process fits in naturally with the Babcock-Leighton form of the solar alpha-omega-dynamo. The emerging Omega-loop implies the coherence of the upwelling all the way from the bottom of the convective zone, enhancing the convective heat transport to account for the observed variation of the solar irradiance by about two parts in 10(exp 3).

Parker, E. N.↗

On the rotation rate in the solar convection zone

Recently Gough et al. (1993) have argued that the rotation rate in parts of the solar convection zone may be constant on cylinders as predicted by models of the convection zone, contrary to the inferences generally made from helioseismology. Here we consider models similar to those suggested by Gough et al. and show that they are either inconsistent with observations made by Fourier Tachometer or require unphysical rotation rates in other parts of the Sun. These observations use a more detailed model of the effects of the solar rotation on the observed frequencies than that used in reducing previous observations. We also show the results of an inversion of the Fourier Tachometer observations and compare it with an inversion of data similar to that used previously. The result of this inversion generally confirms the conclusions from previous inversions.

Schou, Jepser↗

Theoretical properties of Omega-loops in the convective zone of the Sun. 3: Extended updrafts

It was pointed out in an earlier paper that the continuing emergence of Omega-loops at localized sites on the surface of the Sun indicates a continuing updraft at those sites. The updraft evidently extends all the way from the base of the convective zone to somewhat near (approximately 10(exp 9)cm) the surface. We pointed out that such updrafts enhance the convective heat transport to the surface, accounting for a major part of the increased solar brightness or irradiance during times of solar activity. The problem is to work out, as much as possible, the dynamical nature of the extended updrafts, initiated as the wakes of successive rising Omega-loops and driven therafter by the convective forces. The question is, does the updraft take on a long-lived columnar form of its own, or does it never devlop beyond a sequence of rising wakes, resembling beads on a string? The dynamics of a columnar updraft is complicated by both the large Reynolds number and the strong stratication of the atmosphere, and by a total lack of direct observational information. Extended slender updrafts are not a spontaneous occurrence in numerical simulations of thermal convection in a stratified atmosphere, although slender concentrated downdrafts commonly occur. This paper examines several aspects of a columnar updrft in a convective atmosphere under various idealized circumstances to investigate to what extent that state can be maintained against the diminishing vorticity and expansion in the updraft. It appears that the successive passage of Omega-loops from the bottom to the top of the convective zone is an essential feature of the continuing existence of the updraft.

Parker, E. N.↗

Laser-Heated Floating Zone Production of Single-Crystal Fibers

This report describes how a laser-heated floating zone apparatus can be used to investigate single-crystal fibers of various compositions. A feedrod with a stoichiometric composition of high-purity powders was connected to a pedestal and fed into a laser scan where it combined with a single-crystal fiber seed. A molten zone was formed at this junction. As the feedrod was continuously fed into the laser scan, a single-crystal fiber of a prescribed orientation was withdrawn from the melt. The resultant fibers, whose diameters ranged from 100 to 250 gm, could then be evaluated on the basis of their growth behavior, physical properties, mechanical properties, and fiber perfection.

Ritzert, Frank↗

Helioseismic Constraints on the Gradient of Angular Velocity at the Base of the Solar Convection Zone

The layer of transition from the nearly rigid rotation of the radiative interior to the latitudinal differential rotation of the convection zone plays a significant role in the internal dynamics of the Sun. Using rotational splitting coefficients of the p-mode frequencies, obtained during 1986-1990 at the Big Bear Solar Observatory, we have found that the thickness of the transitional layer is 0.09 +/- 0.04 solar radii (63 +/- 28 Mm), and that most of the transition occurs beneath the adiabatically stratified part of the convection zone, as suggested by the dynamo theories of the 22 yr solar activity cycle.

Kosovichev, A. G.↗

On the Rotation Rate in the Solar Convection Zone

Recently is has been argued that the rotation rate in parts of the solar convection zone may be constant on cylinders as predicted by models of the convection zone, contrary to the inferences generally made from helioseismology. Here we consider models similar to those suggested by Gough et al. and show that they are either inconsistent with observations made by the Fourier Tachometer or require unphysical rotation rates in other parts of the Sun. These observations use a more detailed model of the effects of the solar rotation on the observed frequencies than that used in reducing previous observations. We also show the result of an inversion of the Fourier Tachometer observations and compare it with an inversion of data similar to that used previously. The result of this inversion generally confirms the conclusions from previous inversions.

Schou, Jesper↗

Ion Beam Heating in the Auroral Zone

Recent satellite observations at high altitudes (greater than 5000 km) in the auroral zone have shown the existence of hybrid or bimodal ion beam distributions that are evidence of both parallel and perpendicular ion acceleration. Acceleration parallel to the magnetic field is most likely due to quasi-static electric fields (double layers) which can create outflowing ion beams; since ions of different mass will have different drift speeds due to this acceleration, a plasma configuration unstable to the ion-ion two-stream acoustic mode develops. When the net drift velocity (U) between the two ion species is greater than the sound speed (C(sub 0)), the ion-ion instability has maximum growth at oblique wave propagation. To study the nonlinear effects of the ion-ion instability in terms of plasma heating, a numerical simulation parametric study has been performed. It was found that the parallel acceleration that forms the ion beams occurs on a time scale faster than ion- ion wave growth at low drifts; thus ion-ion wave growth is expected to occur primarily for higher drift speeds (U greater than C(sub 0)) which results in strong oblique heating of the ions (both hydrogen and oxygen) forming elevated ion conics (sometimes called 'bowl' distributions). Also, strong parallel electron heating in the direction of the ion beams can occur, and electrons near the top of the acceleration region may attain a net upward drift along with the elevated ion conics. Variation of the oxygen density greatly affects the ion heating due to the ion-ion instability; as the oxygen density decreases, oxygen heating increases, in agreement with observations (Collin et al., 1987). Ion-ion electrostatic wave properties and the plasma heating that results over a wide range of auroral zone parameters are included.

Schriver, David↗