Une explication de l''origine de l''energie liberee lors des seismes induits par le remplissage de certains lacsbarrages (an explanation of the origin of the energy released during seismicity associated with reservoirs)

This paper shows by means of a numerical example and using the finite-element method that the diminution of the strain energy of a reservoir rock foundation in consequence of the failure of joints may be equivalent to the energy released by an earthquake of magnitude 6.     

The nature of megafaunal extinctions during the MIS 3–2 transition in Japan

The nature of late Quaternary megafaunal extinctions has been the subject of intense debate since the 1960s. Traditionally, scientists cite either climatic changes or human predation as the primary reason for worldwide megafaunal extinctions. In many island cases (e.g., Madagascar, New Zealand), scientists have had a tendency to lean toward humans as being the direct or indirect dominant cause for the relatively quick extirpation of indigenous megafaunas. This study evaluates the record for megafaunal (e.g., Palaeoloxodon, Mammuthus, Sinomegaceros) extinctions in the Japanese islands and draw the tentative conclusion that: (1) humans directly and/or indirectly influenced the extinction of some large herbivores; and (2) the megafaunal extinctions likely began earlier than originally proposed; during the marine isotope stage (“MIS”) 3–2 transition (～30–20 ka) rather than during the MIS 2–1 (～15–10 ka) shift that roughly coincides with the advent of the Jomon period in Japan. However, we temper our findings due to the current paucity of sites in Japan that have associated archaeology and vertebrate paleontological materials that date to the MIS 3–2 transition.     

Equilibrium scour depths around piles in noncohesive sediments under currents and waves

A universal formula for the estimation of equilibrium scour depth around a single cylindrical pile under the action of steady currents, tidal and short waves is presented.     

Reliability-based design of spread footings on fibre-reinforced clay

The potential use of fibres in a number of geotechnical engineering applications is gaining more interest in the geotechnical community. A select application consists of the improvement of soft grounds to mitigate their problematic shear strength characteristics. Extensive experimental work has been reported on the response/behaviour of fibre-reinforced clay (FRC) and was recently complemented by several strength prediction models. The effectiveness of these models has not been thoroughly evaluated yet. The objectives of this study are to (1) quantify the model uncertainty of a newly developed FRC model that is aimed exclusively at predicting the “undrained” shear strength of FRCs, (2) combine the model uncertainty with other conventional sources of uncertainty to assess the reliability levels that are inherent in the ultimate limit state design of spread footings that rest on a top FRC layer underlain by weaker natural soft clay, and (3) recommend factors of safety that would ensure a target reliability level for these footings. Results indicate that the traditional safety factor of 3 should be used with caution as it may not be sufficient to yield the desired level of reliability, particularly for smaller footings, lower applied stresses, larger scales of fluctuation, and larger target reliability indices.     

Critical density solitary waves structures in a hot dusty plasma with vortex-like ion distribution in phase space

The nonlinear properties of solitary waves structure in a hot dusty plasma consisting of isothermal hot electrons, non isothermal ions and high negatively charged massive dust grains, are reported. A modified Korteweg-de Vries equation (modified KdV), which admits a solitary waves solution for small but finite amplitude, is derived using a reductive perturbation theory. A nonisothermal ions distribution provides the possibility of coexistence of amplitude rarefactive as well as compressive solitary waves. On the other hand, consideration of a critical ions density gives a stationary solution of solitary waves and the dynamics of small but finite amplitude of solitary waves is governed by Korteweg-de Vries equation (KdV). The properties of solitary waves in the two cases are discussed.     

A geostatistical re-interpretation of gravity surveys in the Yagoua,Cameroon region

Since 1960, many gravity studies have been carried out in the Yagoua region of northern Cameroon. Gravity data was collected over a wide area of approximately 11628 km². These data are insufficient, irregular, scattered and do not efficiently permit gravity field downward and upward continuations, derivatives and other operations that might require regular gridded data. Some anomalies on the Collignon map (1968), may correlate with known geological structure but do not appear on maps by Louis (1970) and Poudjom et al. (1996). To produce regular gridded gravity data and better control anomalies due to geological structures, the kriging method was applied to a 188-data baseline. Several variogram models were tested for this purpose. It was found that a spherical variogram model is the best; it has produced a new kriging dataset of about 10,100 data and a new map of kriged Bouguer data. This map contains positive anomalies in the Maroua-Mindif and Maga areas on the Collignon (1968) map, which were not present on Louis (1970) and Poudjom et al. (1996) maps. The positive anomalies of Guibi-Doukoula and Yagoua, not separated on the Louis (1970) and Poudjom et al. (1996) maps, show up as clearly distinct as previewed by Collignon (1968). The new results can be used for subsequent gravimetric studies.     

Modeling disruptions causing domino effects in urban guided transport systems faced by flood hazards

Coastal cities are more vulnerable to floods due to the joint impact of rainfall and tide level. Quantitative risk assessment of disaster-causing factors is critical to urban flood management. This paper presents an integrated method to quantify the hazard degree of disaster-causing factors, rainfall and tide level, and to investigate the optimal management of flooding risk in different disaster-causing factor areas. First, an urban flood inundation model is used to simulate inundated extents in different drainage districts. Then, formulas are put forward to calculate the hazard degree of rainfall and tide level based on inundated extents in different combinations of rainfall and tide level. According to the hazard degree, the main disaster-causing factor could be identified in each drainage district. Finally, the optimal management of flooding risk in different disaster-causing factor areas is selected by disaster reduction analysis and cost–benefit analysis. Furthermore, the coastal city, Haikou of China, is taken as a case study. The results indicate that the hazard degree increases with the increasing distance between the drainage district and the Qiongzhou Strait or the Nandu River in the eastern of Haikou. Heavy rain is the main disaster-causing factor in inland areas, while high tide level is the main disaster-causing factor in island areas. For the area whose main disaster-causing factor is heavy rain, water storage projects could effectively reduce flooding. Meanwhile, pumps are economical choices for the area where tide level is the main disaster-causing factor. The results can provide reference for drainage planning in other coastal areas.     

Gravity Modeling of the Au–U Mineralized Crust at the North-Central Cameroon Illustrating Crustal Permeability

Natural Resources Research - The north-central Cameroon is located at the northern edge of Archean Congo–Sao Francisco craton and at the east of the West African craton. This area includes...