Key parameters governing the dynamic response of long-period structures

The present study describes the important factors (period, duration, and intensity) involved in evaluating input ground motion and structural response for the design of long-period structures such as high-rise buildings and base-isolated buildings. First, the fundamental dynamic properties of high-rise buildings are explained based on the results of newly introduced vibration observations programs. Next, the distribution of the predominant period and duration of seismic ground motion within the Nobi Plain, one of the largest sedimentary plains in Japan, is discussed with respect to the possibility of resonance of long-period structures. Finally, we introduce a recently developed long-stroke shaking table that is intended to convince structural engineers and building owners to take adequate countermeasures against large floor response in high-rise buildings because of resonance. Presented at the International Workshop on Long-Period Ground Motion Simulation and Velocity Structures Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, November 14–15, 2006.     

2011年日本9级大地震的同震和震后滑移

多数大地震都是沿大洋板块向大陆板块俯冲的海沟发生.现在已经清楚矩震级Mw达到9级的巨大地震只发生在几个地区,包括智利、阿拉斯加、堪察加半岛和苏门答腊.日本海沟是太平洋板块向鄂霍次克海板块俯冲的地区,并没有历史记载表明这里曾发生过矩震级9级的大地震,唯一可能的例外是公元869年贞观(Jogan)大地震[1],其震级到现在...     

Evolution of induced fabric in a strain space multiple mechanism model for granular materials

The strain space multiple mechanism model idealizes the behavior of granular materials based on a multitude of virtual simple shear mechanisms oriented in arbitrary directions. Within this modeling framework, the virtual simple shear stress is defined as a quantity that depends on the contact distribution function as well as the normal and tangential components of inter‐particle contact forces, which evolve independently during the loading process. In other terms, the virtual simple shear stress is an intermediate quantity in the upscaling process from the microscopic level (characterized by the contact distribution and inter‐particle contact forces). The stress space fabric (i.e. the orientation distribution of the virtual simple shear stress) produces macroscopic stress through the tensorial average. Thus, the stress space fabric characterizes the fundamental and higher modes of anisotropy induced in granular materials. Comparing an induced fabric associated with the biaxial shear of plane granular assemblies obtained via a simulation using Discrete Element Method to the strain space multiple mechanism model suggests that the strain space multiple mechanism model has the capability to capture the essential features in the evolution of an induced fabric in granular materials. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cyclic behaviour and liquefaction resistance of Izumio sands in Osaka,Japan

Abstract

This article presents a study of liquefaction resistance behaviour of sand using a cyclic triaxial test. The site investigation was performed, and frozen undisturbed specimens were taken from the Izumio site in Osaka, Japan. According to the evidence in 1995 Kobe Earthquake, the first two sand layers are vulnerable to undergo liquefaction. The effect of deviatoric stress on liquefaction resistance was focused on in this study. The excess pore pressure ratio, hysteresis loop, and effective stress path from the cyclic triaxial tests were reported. A multispring element model was employed to simulate the soil behaviour under cyclic loading. The results showed that applied deviatoric stress could influence the liquefaction resistance of sandy soil samples. The plots of the cyclic stress ratio versus the number of cycles to generate liquefaction known as a liquefaction resistance curve can be then constructed and compared with other sands.     

日本东北9.0级地震的同震与震后滑动

大部分强震都发生在海沟,那里是海洋板块向大陆板块俯冲的地方.大量矩震级MW9.0以上的地震发生在若干区域,包括智利,阿拉斯加,堪察加半岛和苏门答腊岛等.位于太平洋板块俯冲鄂霍茨克板块的日本海沟,历史记载上没有发生过MW9.0地震,除了至今震级还有争议的公元869年Jogan大地震[1](可能超过MW9.0).然而,根据...     

Induced fabric under cyclic and rotational loads in a strain space multiple mechanism model for granular materials

The strain space multiple mechanism model idealizes the behavior of granular materials on the basis of a multitude of virtual simple shear mechanisms oriented in arbitrary directions. Within this modeling framework, the virtual simple shear stress is defined as a quantity dependent on the contact distribution function as well as the normal and tangential components of interparticle contact forces, which evolve independently during the loading process. In other terms, the virtual simple shear stress is an intermediate quantity in the upscaling process from the microscopic level (characterized by contact distribution and interparticle contact forces) to the macroscopic stress. The stress space fabric produces macroscopic stress through the tensorial average. Thus, the stress space fabric characterizes the fundamental and higher modes of anisotropy induced in granular materials. Herein, the induced fabric is associated with monotonic and cyclic loadings, loading with the rotation of the principal stress, and general loading. Upon loading with the rotation of the principal stress axis, some of the virtual simple shear mechanisms undergo loading whereas others undergo unloading. This process of fabric evolution is the primary cause of noncoaxiality between the axes of principal stresses and strains. Although cyclic behavior and behavior under the rotation of the principal stress axis seem to originate from two distinct mechanisms, the strain space multiple mechanism model demonstrates that these behaviors are closely related through the hysteretic damping factor. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dilatancy of granular materials in a strain space multiple mechanism model

A granular material consists of an assemblage of particles with contacts newly formed or disappeared, changing the micromechanical structures during macroscopic deformation. These structures are idealized through a strain space multiple mechanism model as a twofold structure consisting of a multitude of virtual two‐dimensional mechanisms, each of which consists of a multitude of virtual simple shear mechanisms of one‐dimensional nature. In particular, a second‐order fabric tensor describes direct macroscopic stress–strain relationship, and a fourth‐order fabric tensor describes incremental relationship. In this framework of modeling, the mechanism of interlocking defined as the energy less component of macroscopic strain provides an appropriate bridge between micromechanical and macroscopic dilative component of dilatancy. Another bridge for contractive component of dilatancy is provided through an obvious hypothesis on micromechanical counterparts being associated with virtual simple shear strain. It is also postulated that the dilatancy along the stress path beyond a line slightly above the phase transformation line is only due to the mechanism of interlocking and increment in dilatancy due to this interlocking eventually vanishing for a large shear strain. These classic postulates form the basis for formulating the dilatancy in the strain space multiple mechanism model. The performance of the proposed model is demonstrated through simulation of undrained behavior of sand under monotonic and cyclic loading. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interpretation of landslide distribution triggered by the 2005 Northern Pakistan earthquake using SPOT 5 imagery

The 2005 northern Pakistan earthquake (magnitude 7.6) of 8 October 2005 occurred in the northwestern part of the Himalayas. We interpreted landslides triggered by the earthquake using black-and-white 2.5-m-resolution System Pour l’Observation de la Terre 5 (SPOT 5) stereo images. As a result, the counts of 2,424 landslides were identified in the study area of 55 by 51 km. About 79% or 1,925 of the landslides were small (less than 0.5 ha in area), whereas 207 of the landslides (about 9%) were large (1 ha and more in area). Judging from our field survey, most of the small landslides are shallow rock falls and slides. However, the resolution and whitish image in the photos prevented interpreting the movement type and geomorphologic features of the landslide sites in detail. It is known that this earthquake took place along preexisting active reverse faults. The landslide distribution was mapped and superimposed on the crustal deformation detected by the environmental satellite/synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, active faults map, geological map, and shuttle radar topography mission data. The landslide distribution showed the following characteristics: (1) Most of the landslides occurred on the hanging-wall side of the Balakot–Garhi fault; (2) greater than one third of the landslides occurred within 1 km from the active fault; (3) the greatest number of landslides (1,147 counts), landslide density (3.2 counts/km²), and landslide area ratio (2.3 ha/km²) was found within Miocene sandstone and siltstone, Precambrian schist and quartzite, and Eocene and Paleocene limestone and shale, respectively; (4) there was a slight trend that large landslides occurred on vertically convex slopes rather than on concave slopes; furthermore, large landslides occurred on steeper (30° and more) slopes than on gentler slopes; (5) many large landslides occurred on slopes facing S and SW directions, which is consistent with SAR-detected horizontal dominant direction of crustal deformation on the hanging wall.