Explore the vast range of titles available.

The generation of kinetic‐scale flux ropes (KSFRs) is closely related to magnetic reconnection. Both flux ropes and reconnection sites are detected in the magnetosheath and can impact the dynamics upstream of the magnetopause. In this study, using the Magnetospheric Multiscale satellite, 12,623 KSFRs with a scale <20 RCi are statistically studied in the Earth's dayside magnetosheath. It is found that they are mostly generated near the bow shock (BS), and propagate downstream in the magnetosheath. Their quantity significantly increases as the scale decreases, consistent with a flux rope coalescence model. Moreover, the solar wind parameters can control the occurrence rate of KSFRs. They are more easily generated at high Mach number, large proton density, and weak magnetic field strength of the solar wind, similar to the conditions that favor BS reconnection. Our study shows a close connection between KSFR generation and BS reconnection. Plain Language Summary Kinetic‐scale flux ropes (KSFRs) exist widely in near‐earth space and play an important role in mass transport, energy conversion, and dissipation during magnetic field reconnection. The KSFR in the magnetosheath can be generated by reconnection in three regions: the magnetopause, the magnetosheath, and the BS. The spatial distribution of KSFRs can indirectly reflect the reconnection situation in the magnetosheath. We use various methods to select the KSFRs and study their spatial distribution and generation in the magnetosheath. Our results show that BS reconnection plays an important role in generating the KSFR in the magnetosheath. Key Points Kinetic‐scale flux ropes observed in the magnetosheath are primarily generated near the bow shock (BS) and travel to downstream magnetosheath The quantity of flux ropes significantly increases as their scale decreases, which is in accordance with the FR coalescence model The occurrence of flux ropes is influenced by solar wind parameters, and could strongly correlate with BS reconnection

Entanglement in fixed fishing gear affects whales worldwide. In the United States, deaths of North Atlantic right (Eubalaena glacialis) and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) have exceeded management limits for decades. We examined live and dead whales entangled in fishing gear along the U.S. East Coast and the Canadian Maritimes from 1994 to 2010. We recorded whale species, age, and injury severity and determined rope polymer type, breaking strength, and diameter of the fishing gear. For the 132 retrieved ropes from 70 cases, tested breaking strength range was 0.80–39.63 kN (kiloNewtons) and the mean was 11.64 kN (SD 8.29), which is 26% lower than strength at manufacture (range 2.89–53.38 kN, mean = 15.70 kN [9.89]). Median rope diameter was 9.5 mm. Right and humpback whales were found in ropes with significantly stronger breaking strengths at time of manufacture than minke whales (Balaenoptera acuturostrata) (19.30, 17.13, and 10.47 mean kN, respectively). Adult right whales were found in stronger ropes (mean 34.09 kN) than juvenile right whales (mean 15.33 kN) and than all humpback whale age classes (mean 17.37 kN). For right whales, severity of injuries increased since the mid 1980s, possibly due to changes in rope manufacturing in the mid 1990s that resulted in production of stronger ropes at the same diameter. Our results suggest that broad adoption of ropes with breaking strengths of ≤7.56 kN (≤1700 lbsf) could reduce the number of life‐threatening entanglements for large whales by at least 72%, and yet could provide sufficient strength to withstand the routine forces involved in many fishing operations. A reduction of this magnitude would achieve nearly all the mitigation legally required for U.S. stocks of North Atlantic right and humpback whales. Ropes with reduced breaking strength should be developed and tested to determine the feasibility of their use in a variety of fisheries.

Synthetic fibre mooring lines are used as an alternative to traditional steel wire ropes due to their higher strength to weight ratio. Benefits are also found in relative ease of handling, and therefore the marine industry has largely accepted this type of mooring line. By rules and regulations, the design of mooring lines should be based on a coupled dynamic analysis of a particular mooring system and moored vessel. This approach incorporates damping and inertial forces (i.e., hydrodynamic reactions) acting directly on the mooring lines due to their motion through the seawater. On the basis of the outer diameter of the synthetic fibre rope, the Morison equation gives estimations of the mooring line hydrodynamic reactions. In comparison to the traditional steel wire ropes, the synthetic mooring lines usually have relatively larger elongations and consequently larger reductions of the outer diameter. Furthermore, the lower diameter certainly leads to reduced values of damping and added mass (of mooring lines) that should be considered in the coupled model. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a new numerical model that includes diameter changes and axial deformations when estimating the hydrodynamic reactions. The development of the model is carried out with a nonlinear finite element method for mooring lines with the assumption of large three-dimensional motions. The obtained results show the effectiveness of the newly developed model as a more accurate approach in calculation of hydrodynamic reactions.

Olympics How-To | Mo McCane - Jump rope

Maintenance of the exteriors of buildings with convex façades, such as skyscrapers, is in high demand in urban centers. However, manual maintenance is inherently dangerous due to the possibility of accidental falls. Therefore, research has been conducted on cleaning robots as a replacement for human workers, e.g., the dual ascension robot (DAR), which is an underactuated rope-driven robot, and the rope-riding mobile anchor (RMA), which is a rope-riding robot. These robots are equipped with a convex-façade-cleaning system. The DAR and RMA are connected to each other by a rope that enables vibration transmission between them. It also increases the instability of the residual vibration that occurs during the operation of the DAR. This study focused on reducing the residual vibrations of a DAR to improve the stability of the overall system. Because it is a rope-on-rope (ROR) system, we assumed it to be a simplified serial spring–damper system and analyzed its kinematics and dynamics. An input-shaping technique was applied to control the residual vibrations in the DAR. We also applied a disturbance observer to mitigate factors contributing to the system uncertainty, such as rope deformation, slip, and external forces. We experimentally validated the system and assessed the effectiveness of the control method, which consisted of the input shaper and disturbance observer. Consequently, the residual vibrations were reduced.

An ongoing magnetic reconnection event was detected in the Mercury's high latitude magnetopause during a northward interplanetary magnetic field. The reconnection X‐line region was revealed in the Mercury's magnetopause based on the encountered flux ropes ejected away from this region both planetward and tailward. A series of magnetic flux ropes, known as flux transfer event shower were observed tailward of this X‐line region. These flux ropes were probably expanding and deflected as they were ejected away tailward from the X‐line region. Large‐amplitude variations in all three components of the magnetic field and a few small‐scale flux ropes were observed inside the X‐line region, which could be the seed of the flux rope shower at the magnetopause. The observations suggest that magnetic reconnection is highly dynamic and persistent in Mercury's magnetosphere. Plain Language Summary Magnetic reconnection has been regarded as the most important process for dynamics of the Mercury's magnetosphere and for the interaction between the solar wind and the Mercury's magnetosphere also. Although magnetic flux ropes and flux transfer events (FTEs) resulting from magnetic reconnection have been extensively observed in the Mercury's magnetosphere, the key region of magnetic reconnection, namely the X‐line region, has never been reported so far by the spacecraft. Here, we present the first evidence of the reconnection X‐line region in the Mercury's magnetosphere. A few small‐scale magnetic flux ropes are observed inside the reconnection X‐line region, which could be the seed of the observed magnetic FTE shower. Furthermore, the evolution of these flux ropes is addressed also based on the spacecraft observations. Key Points A reconnection X‐line region is first observed in the Mercury's magnetopause during the northward interplanetary magnetic field The small‐scale magnetic flux ropes in the X‐line region could be the seed of the flux transfer event shower The flux ropes probably expand and is deflected after they are ejected away from the X‐line region

Magnetic flux ropes are ubiquitous in various space environments, including the solar corona, interplanetary solar wind, and planetary magnetospheres. When these flux ropes intertwine, magnetic reconnection may occur at the interface, forming disentangled new ropes. Some of these newly formed ropes contain reversed helicity along their axes, diverging from the traditional flux rope model. We introduce new observations and interpretations of these newly formed flux ropes from existing Hall Magnetohydrodynamics model results. We first examine the time‐varying local magnetic field direction at the impact interface to assess the likelihood of reconnection. Then we investigate the electric current system to describe the evolution of these structures, which potentially accelerate particles and heat the plasma. This study offers novel insights into the dynamics of space plasmas and suggests a potential solar wind heating source, calling for further synthetic observations. Plain Language Summary This research examines a special type of systematically twisted magnetic fields, known as flux ropes, in the sun's atmosphere, the solar wind, and near planets. Built on earlier model results, this examination brings a new understanding of how these special flux ropes emerge from collisions between flux ropes. These results use a commonly used simulation tool for large‐scale plasmas to study the new ropes formed after two flux ropes are pushed toward each other long enough. In some cases, each of the new ropes may have opposite twists between their two ends. We then examine how the magnetic field changes across the interface during the evolution. Changes in electric currents found in these situations further explain the formation and evolution of the new rope pairs. This examination helps to better understand the behavior of space plasma's heating of the solar wind and its control of space weather. Key Points We examine the interaction of magnetic flux ropes that consist of opposite helicity along their axes using numerical simulations We present the evolution of their current system, from which we anticipate a significant amount of energy release These structures could be present on the solar surface, in the solar wind, and in magnetospheres

Aiming at the problem that the existing rope falling device can only detect the impact force and cannot synchronously detect the impact displacement, this paper introduces a large-range high-precision displacement sensor and constructs a rope impact force-displacement detection device. Taking the nylon kernmantle rope for high-altitude fall protection commonly used in aerial work and rock climbing as the research object, the impact response behavior of the rope when drop mass is dropped once and repeatedly is systematically studied, and the impact force and impact displacement are discussed. Further, the evolution of the elastic modulus of the rope is discussed and this could provide theoretical support for the design of the impact-resistant rope structure and the rope impact protection.

Engineered cementitious composites (ECC) reinforced with high-strength stainless steel wire ropes (HSSSWR) is a new composite that has attracted much attention. Comprehensive understanding of the local bond stress-slip relationship of HSSSWR in ECC is a significant aspect to popularize the application of this new composite. In this research, the local bond stress-slip relationship between HSSSWR and ECC was investigated experimentally and theoretically, considering the influences of bond lengths, nominal diameters of HSSSWR and compressive strength of ECC. In order to accurately predict the bond stress and slip at different positions along the embedded length, a local bond stress-slip model was proposed for HSSSWR-ECC interface, and the model parameters were determined based on the pull-out test results and microsegment analysis of HSSSWR in ECC by using a nested iteration procedure. Furthermore, the three-dimension (3D) nonlinear finite element (FE) modeling method by using the proposed model was used to predict the bond-slip performance of HSSSWR in ECC. Finally, the global load-slip relationships calculated by using the iterative procedure and the 3D FE modeling method were compared with test results, which validated the acceptability of the developed local bond stress-slip model and the FE modeling method.

This research investigates the behavior of square concrete columns externally wrapped by low-cost and easily available fiber rope reinforced polymer (FRRP) composites. This study mainly aims to explore the axial stress-strain relationships of FRRP-confined square columns. Another objective is to assess suitable predictive models for the ultimate strength and strain of FRRP-confined square columns. A total of 60 square concrete columns were cast, strengthened, and tested under compression. The parameters were the corner radii of square columns (0, 13, and 26 mm) and different materials of FRRP composites (polyester, hemp, and cotton FRRP composites). The strength and deformability of FRRP-confined specimens were observed to be higher than the unconfined specimens. It was observed that strength gains of FRRP-confined concrete columns and corner radii were directly proportional. The accuracy of ultimate strength and strain models developed for synthetic FRRP-confined square columns was assessed using the test results of this study, showing the need for the development of improved predictive models for FRRP-confined square columns. Newly developed unified models were found to be accurate in predicting the ultimate strength and strain of FRRP-confined columns.