Seismic wave scattering effects under different canyon topographic and geological conditions

Based on our numerical model for wave scattering problems due to P and SV wave incidences and the frequency domain analysis procedure, the effect of canyon topographic and geologic conditions on ground motion due to P and SV earthquake wave incidences has been extensively studied in this paper. The numerical results from this research illustrated that: (1) canyon topographic and geologic conditions can dramatically affect both peak value and frequency contents of the free field motion along the canyon surface during an earthquake; (2) a canyon may be subjected to stronger ground motion when its predominant frequency is in coincidence with the predominant frequency of the incident earthquake wave; (3) a stronger wave mode conversion effect can be induced by a steeper canyon bank or a softer weathered stratum on the canyon surface in the case of an earthquake wave incidence; (4) compared with harmonic wave incidences, the amplification effect of a canyon on the incident earthquake wave is a little weaker due to the average self-healing effect of the earthquake wave.     

Note on the stability of parallel magnetic fields

The stability characteristics of parallel magnetic fields when fluid motions are present along the lines of force is studied. The stability criterion for both symmetric (m=0) and asymmetric (m=1) modes are discussed and the results obtained by Trehan and Singh (1978) are amended in the present study. The results obtained for the cylindrical geometry are shown to play an important role forka<4, wherek is the wave number,a is the radius of the cylinder, compared to the results obtained by Geronicolas (1977) for the slab geometry.     

A numerical procedure for three-dimensional transient free surface seepage

A three-dimensional procedure based on the finite element method is proposed for transient free surface seepage. It involves solution of the governing equations by using a time integration scheme. The procedure is applied for solution of confined, and transient free surface flow; the latter includes verification with respect to test results from a laboratory model. It is also applied to free surface flow through a dam with a crack.     

Dynamic soil–structure interaction analysis via coupled finite-element–boundary-element method

In this paper, a study on the transient response of an elastic structure embedded in a homogeneous, isotropic and linearly elastic half-plane is presented. Transient dynamic and seismic forces are considered in the analysis. The numerical method employed is the coupled Finite-Element–Boundary-Element technique (FE–BE). The finite element method (FEM) is used for discretization of the near field and the boundary element method (BEM) is employed to model the semi-infinite far field. These two methods are coupled through equilibrium and compatibility conditions at the soil–structure interface. Effects of non-zero initial conditions due to the pre-dynamic loads and/or self-weight of the structure are included in the transient boundary element formulation. Hence, it is possible to analyse practical cases (such as dam–foundation systems) involving initial conditions due to the pre-seismic loads such as water pressure and self-weight of the dam. As an application of the proposed formulation, a gravity dam has been analysed and the results for different foundation stiffness are presented. The results of the analysis indicate the importance of including the foundation stiffness and thus the dam–foundation interaction.     

An axi-symmetric infinite element for transient radial flow problems

The formulation of an axi-symmetric infinite element for transient analysis of flow problems in unbounded domain is presented. The theoretical basis as well as the implementation of the element is discussed, and the element decay function is derived using the analytical solution of a one-dimensional axially symmetric configuration. The form of decay within the element is described as a function of both time and space, and thus the hydraulic head distribution in the far field is simulated rigorously. The accuracy and the efficiency of the proposed element are demonstrated through several numerical examples in infinite media. In general, it is shown that using the present infinite element transient flow problems in unbounded domains can be simulated effectively. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Transient infinite elements for seepage problems in infinite media

In this paper, a time-dependent infinite element which can be used to simulate transient seepage problems in infinite media is presented. The hydraulic head distribution function of the element has been derived in detail and the property matrices of the element have been well formulated. Since both space and time variables are used in the course of constructing the hydraulic head distribution function of the element, the present infinite element can be referred to as a transient one. Using the present infinite element to model the far field of a system, the mechanism of transient seepage problems in infinite media can be rigorously simulated because the property matrices of the element are evaluated at any time of interest in the analysis. Since explicit expressions can be written for the property matrices of the infinite element, they may be evaluated quite easily and this can be carried out by writing a simple subroutine in a computer program. In order to examine the accuracy and efficiency of the present infinite element, both a one-dimensional (ID) transient seepage problem in a semi-infinite medium and a 2D transient seepage problem in a full plane have been solved using the finite and infinite element technique. It has been demonstrated that the present infinite element is very useful for the numerical simulation of transient seepage problems in infinite media.     

A hierarchical approach for constitutive modelling of geologic materials

A hierarchical concept is proposed for the development of constitutive models to account for various factors that influence behaviour of (geologic) materials. It permits evolution of models of progressively higher grades from the basic model representing isotropic hardening with associative behaviour. Factors such as non-associativeness and induced anisotropy due to friction and cyclic loading, and softening are introduced as corrections or perturbations to the basic model. The influence of these factors is captured through non-associativeness manifested by deviation from normality of the plastic strain increments to the yield surface, F. Details of four models: isotropic hardening with associative behaviour, isotropic hardening with non-associative behavioural anisotropic hardening and strain-softening with a damage variable are presented. They are verified with respect to laboratory multiaxial test data under various paths of loading, unloading and reloading for typical soils, rock and concrete. The proposed concept is general, yet sufficiently simplified in terms of physical understanding, number of constants and their physical meanings, determination of the constants and implementation.     

Fuzzy finite element analysis of a foundation on an elastic soil medium

One of the important factors that lead to errors in settlement predicitions is the degree of precision in obtaining the soil parameters. Most mathematical methods for reliability modelling offered to date in the area of geomechanics are based on the classical probabilistic approach, in which soil properties are treated as random variables. In this paper, a model based on the theory of fuzzy sets is presented to take account of the uncertainty in the soil behaviour. This proposed method considers the elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio as two fuzzy numbers in the elastic matrix. An example is given to show the possibility distributions of the displacements and the stresses at some locations in the soil medium. By means of a fuzzy inference scheme, the total possibility distributions or total membership functions of the finite element results may be obtained by considering the estimated error resulting from the mesh discretization.     

Magnetoacoustic–Gravity Surface Waves with Evershed flow – A model for Running Penumbral Waves

The penumbral region of a sunspot is modelled as a two-layer plasma. The upper layer with magnetic field is taken with Evershed flow and the static lower layer is assumed to be field-free. The magnetoacoustic–gravity surface wave (MAGSW) propagation along this interface is studied. Our results show that the flow suppresses the fast MAGSW and allows only slow MAGSW. More importantly, we suggest that the running penumbral waves are more likely to be slow MAGSW.     

Numerical modelling of transient contaminant migration problems in infinite porous fractured media using finite/infinite element technique. Part II: Parametric study

Using the numerical model presented in the first paper of this research,¹ a parametric study has been carried out in this paper to investigate the effect of several important parameters on the transient contaminant transport in infinite porous fractured media. From the related numerical results, it has been demonstrated that: (1) transmissive coefficient between the porous block and the fissured network has a significant influence on the value of the concentration but has little effect on the speed of contaminant transport; (2) porosities in the porous block and fissured network have a significant influence on the maximum value of the concentration; (3) average linear velocity of flow has a significant influence on both the concentration distribution and speed of contaminant transport; (4) dispersion coefficient of the medium affects not only the shape of the concentration versus time curve but also the peak value of the concentration.