Seismic design and experiment of single and coupled corner gusset connections in a full‐scale two‐story buckling‐restrained braced frame

A gusset plate is subjected to forces induced from a buckling‐restrained brace (BRB) and frame action. In this study, a performance‐based design method of the gusset connections incorporating a BRB and frame actions is investigated. The force demands resulting from the BRB axial force are computed from the generalized uniform force method. The force demands induced from the frame action effects primarily result from beam shear. A conservative method, which considers the beam axial force effect and the thereafter reduced beam flexural capacity possibly developed at the gusset tips, is adopted in estimating the maximum beam shear. An improved equivalent strut model is used to represent the gusset plate subjected to the frame action effect. The total force demands of the gusset connection are combined from the BRB force and the frame actions. For design purposes, the stress distributions on the gusset interfaces are linearized. The maximum von Mises stress combining the normal and shear stresses is considered as the demand for the gusset plate design. In order to verify the effectiveness of the proposed design method, experiments on a two‐story full‐scale buckling‐restrained braced frame (BRBF) were performed. The chevron and single diagonal brace configurations were arranged in the second and the first stories, respectively. Two different corner gusset connection configurations including one single corner gusset and one coupled corner gusset connection, where two braces in adjacent stories joined at the same beam‐to‐column joint, were tested. The BRBF specimen was subjected to cyclically increasing lateral displacements with a maximum frame drift of 0.04 rad. The maximum story drifts reached 0.035 and 0.061 rad. in the first and the second stories, respectively. At the end of the tests, no fractures were observed on any of the gusset interfaces. Along the gusset interfaces, the normal and shear stress distributions computed from the proposed design procedures and the FEM analysis correlated well with the experimental results. This paper concludes with the procedure and recommendations for the performance‐based design of gusset connections. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bidirectional substructure pseudo‐dynamic tests and analysis of a full‐scale two‐story buckling‐restrained braced frame

A two‐story buckling‐restrained brace (BRB) frame was tested under bidirectional in‐plane and out‐of‐plane loading to evaluate the BRB stability and gusset plate design. The test comprised pseudo‐dynamic loadings using the 1999 Chi‐Chi earthquake scaled to the 50%, 10%, and 2% probability of exceedance in 50 years and a cyclic regime of increasing amplitudes of up to 3.0% story drift ratio (SDR). The specimen had a unique configuration where the beams were connected to the columns through shear tabs welded to the column flanges and bolted to the beam webs. Stable hysteretic behavior with only minor cracking at the gusset‐to‐column welds was observed under the pseudo‐dynamic tests, with maximum in‐plane and out‐of‐plane SDRs of 2.24% and 1.47% respectively. Stable behavior continued into the cyclic test where fracture of the gusset‐to‐column welds occurred in the first cycle to simultaneous bidirectional SDR of 3.0%. The observed BRB stability is consistent with a methodology developed for BRB frames under simultaneous in‐plane and out‐of‐plane drifts. The specimen behavior was studied using a finite element model. It was shown that gusset plates are subjected to a combination of BRB force and frame action demands, with the latter increasing the gusset‐to‐beam and gusset‐to‐column interface demands by an average of 69% and 83% respectively. Consistent with the test results, failure at the gusset‐to‐column interfaces is computed when frame action demands are included, thus confirming that not considering frame action demands may results in unconservative gusset plate designs. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Three-dimensional saltating processes of multiple sediment particles

The purpose of this study was to investigate the interacting mechanism between the saltating particles near a channel bed. A three-dimensional real-time flow visualization technique was developed to measure the interparticle collision behaviors during the saltating process. Based on the experimental data, the distribution of the collision points was found to be symmetric. This confirms the assumption that the projections of the collision points onto the reasonable plane are uniformly distributed. A three-dimensional saltating model was also developed. This model produced satisfactory results. The model is able to simulate the continuous saltating trajectories of several particles. The simulated dimensionless saltating height, longitudinal and vertical saltation velocity components were found to increase as the dimensionless particle diameter and the dimensionless flow transport capacity parameter increase, while the simulated lateral saltation velocity component varies inversely with the dimensionless flow transport capacity parameter. A regression equation for the bed load transport rate was also obtained.     

The change of land use/cover and characteristics of landscape pattern in arid areas oasis: An application in Jinghe,Xinjiang

This paper uses 3S technology in macroscopic. Combining the integrated technology of ecological quantity analytical method with GIS technology through ArcGIS and Fragstats, the authors study the images of 1972, 1990, 2001, and 2005 and obtained land use data in Jinghe County. Then, the change of land use/cover and landscape pattern had been analyzed in the Jinghe County of Xinjiang. The conclusions were as follows: (1) The trend of LUCC is that the area of oasis expands slowly in nearly 33 years between 1972 to 2005 in Jinghe County. (2) The water area is mainly influenced by Ebinur Lake, so the area expands a little in this period. (3) The area of salinization-land expands at first and reduces later. The area of sand land decreases and the other land class increases, while the probability of transfer is always high. (4) Landscape change is also obvious throughout the decades. Overall, landscape density increases, the largest path index decreases at first and expends later, the weight area index decreases, and the shape of landscape becomes regulated. The nearest distances, the degrees of reunite, and outspread decreases. It shows that the connection of the main path in 1972 is better than 2005, wherein the patch becomes more complex. From the changes of Shannon’s Diversity Index and Shannon’s Evenness Index, we know that the diversity of landscape and the Interspersion Juxtaposition Index increase. The degree of diversity landscape and fragmentation increase also shows that the land uses become more complex. All in all, it is essential to intensify the spatial relationships among landscape elements and to maintain the continuity of landscape ecological process and pattern in the course of area expansion.     

Simplified DMT-based methods for evaluating liquefaction resistance of soils

This paper presents simplified dilatometer test (DMT)-based methods for evaluation of liquefaction resistance of soils, which is expressed in terms of cyclic resistance ratio (CRR). Two DMT parameters, horizontal stress index (K_D) and dilatometer modulus (E_D), are used as an index for assessing liquefaction resistance of soils. Specifically, CRR–K_D and CRR–E_D boundary curves are established based on the existing boundary curves that have already been developed based on standard penetration test (SPT) and cone penetration test (CPT). One key element in the development of CRR–K_D and CRR–E_D boundary curves is the correlations between K_D (or E_D) and the blow count (N) in the SPT or cone tip resistance (q_c) from the CPT. In this study, these correlations are established through regression analysis of the test results of SPT, CPT, and DMT conducted side-by-side at each of five sites selected. The validity of the developed CRR–K_D and CRR–E_D curves for evaluating liquefaction resistance is examined with published liquefaction case histories. The results of the study show that the developed DMT-based models are quite promising as a tool for evaluating liquefaction resistance of soils.     

Some effects of rotation rate on planetary — scale wave flows

Summary A series of experiments was performed in a rotating annulus of fluid to study effects of rotation rate on planetary-scale baroclinic wave flows. The experiments reveal that change in rotation rate of fluid container causes variation in Rossby number and Taylor number in flows and leads to change in flow patterns and in phase and amplitude of quasi-stationary Waves. For instance, with increasing rotation rate, amplitude of quasi-stationary waves increases and phase shifts upstream. On the contrary, with decreasing rotation rate, amplitude of quasi-stationary waves decreases and phase shifts downstream. In the case of the earth's atmosphere, although magnitude of variation in earth's rotation rate is very small, yet it causes a very big change in zonal velocity component of wind in the atmosphere and of currents in the ocean, and therefore causes a remarkable change in Rossby number and Taylor number determining regimes in planetary-scale geophysical flows. The observation reveals that intensity and geographic location of subtropic anticyclones in both of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres change consistently with variation in earth's rotation rate. The results of fluid experiments are consistent, qualitatively, with observed phenomena in the atmospheric circulation.With 12 Figures     

Equivalent dry model air and summer monsoon over Eastern Asia

The saturated moist air with temperature T, pressure P and specific humidity q may be considered as an equivalent dry model air with temperature T* and pressure P under the condition of constant enthalpy. The features of the equivalent dry model air are described and the diagnostic analyses for the summer monsoon over Eastern Asia are examined. Results show that there are obvious baroclinicity features of equivalent temperature, i. e., wet baroclinicity, with a strong gradient belt of equivalent temperature for a time scale mean about 30 days in summer monsoon region and it is in accord with the confluence belt of the warmer air and colder air expressed by equivalent temperature; the mean updraft was observed at its warmer part of that region and downdraft at its colder part; the vertical shear of horizontal wind vector between 150 hPa and 850 hPa is related to the mass field expressed by mean equivalent temperature in that layer.These seem to indicate that the wet baroclinicity in summer monsoon region     

Analysis of Wave Directional Spreading by Bayesian Parameter Estimation

A spatial array of wave gauges installed on an observatoion platform has been designed and arranged to measure the lo-cal features of winter monsoon directional waves off Taishi coast of Taiwan. A new method, named the Bayesian Parameter Estimation Method(BPEM) , is developed and adopted to determine the main direction and the directional spreading parame-ter of directional spectra. The BPEM could be considered as a regression analysis to find the maximum joint probability of parameters, which best approximates the observed data from the Bayesian viewpoint. The result of the analysis of field wave data demonstrates the highly dependency of the characteristics of normalized directional spreading on the wave age. The Mit-suyasu type empirical formula of directional spectrum is therefore modified to be representative of monsoon wave field. More-over, it is suggested that Smax could be expressed as a function of wave steepness. The values of Smax decrease with increas-ing steepness. Finally, a local directi     

In situ measurements of sound velocities and densities across the orthopyroxene → high-pressure clinopyroxene transition in MgSiO3 at high pressure

Using acoustic measurement interfaced with a large volume multi-anvil apparatus in conjunction with in situ X-radiation techniques, we are able to measure the density and elastic wave velocities (V_P and V_S) for both ortho- and high-pressure clino-MgSiO₃ polymorphs in the same experimental run. The elastic bulk and shear moduli of the unquenchable high-pressure clinoenstatite phase were measured within its stability field for the first time. The measured density contrast associated with the phase transition OEN → HP-CEN is 2.6-2.9% in the pressure of 7-9 GPa, and the corresponding velocity jumps are 3-4% for P waves and 5-6% for S waves. The elastic moduli of the HP-CEN phase are K_S=156.7(8) GPa, G = 98.5(4) GPa and their pressure derivatives are K_S′=5.5(3) and G′ = 1.5(1) at a pressure of 6.5 GPa, room temperature. In addition, we observed anomalous elastic behavior in orthoenstatite at pressure above 9 GPa at room temperature. Both elastic wave velocities exhibited softening between 9 and 13-14 GPa, which we suggest is associated with a transition to a metastable phase intermediate between OEN and HP-CEN.     

Nitrogen abundances and isotopic compositions in stony meteorites

Nitrogen contents range from a few parts per million in ordinary chondrites and achondrites to several hundred parts per million in enstatite chondrites and carbonaceous chondrites. Four major isotopic groups are recognized: (1) C1 and C2 carbonaceous chondrites have δ¹⁵N of+30to+50%.; (2) enstatite chondrites have δ¹⁵N of?30to?40‰; (3) C3 chondrites have low δ¹⁵N with large internal variations; (4) ordinary chondrites have δ¹⁵N of?10to+20‰. The major variations are primary, representing isotopic abundances established at the time of condensation and accretion. Secondary processes, such as spallation reactions, solar wind implantation and metamorphic loss may cause small but observable isotopic variations in particular cases. The large isotopic difference between enstatite chondrites and carbonaceous chondrites cannot be accounted for by equilibrium condensation from a homogeneous nebular gas, and requires either unusually large kinetic effects, or a temporal or spatial variation of isotopic composition of the nebula. Nitrogen isotopic heterogeneity in the nebula due to nuclear processes has not been firmly established, but may be required to account for the large variations found within the Allende and Leoville meteorites. The unique carbonaceous chondrite, Renazzo, has δ¹⁵N of+170%., which is well beyond the range of all other data, and also requires a special source. It is not yet possible, from the meteoritic data, to establish the mode of accretion of nitrogen onto the primitive Earth.