A comparative slope stability analysis of sheet pile supported I-wall in New Orleans,Louisiana with sheet pile penetrating into sand layer

Computer modelling and stability analyses of the New Orleans I-walls with and without the consideration of gap formation has drawn significant attention of the engineering community during the post Katrina period. In addition, when the sheet pile penetrates into sand layer, seepage becomes an integral part of the stability analysis. Basic guidelines have been developed for the analysis of this problem by other researchers and documented by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). However, the inherent complexity of the problem and uncertainties associated with the choice of analysis methods warrant for further investigation of this problem in detail so that more useful insights can be gained. In this paper, a comprehensive analysis of this complex coupled problem of seepage and stability of a typical New Orleans I-wall is presented using different limit equilibrium methods of slope stability analysis. Useful comparisons are made between the analyses results and methodologies. The authors believe that the findings of this study will enhance the understanding of the behaviour of the I-wall sheet pile system subjected to seepage forces, when different limit equilibrium methods of analyses are invoked.     

The flooding of New Orleans

With its man-made defences, New Orleans is at best only a marginally stable city, and it was destined to suffer as more powerful natural processes evolved. The aftermath of the August 2005 hurricane was the disaster that had been waiting to happen.     

不同应力路径下天津滨海软土强度参数试验研究

以天津滨海新区地下工程涉及较多的9～18m深度海相软土为研究对象,采用应力应变控制式三轴剪切渗透试验仪,分别进行三轴固结不排水试验(CU)、三轴不固结不排水试验(UU)以及模拟基坑开挖卸荷的减p路径试验(DEP),得到滨海软土在不同应力路径下的力学性状与初始固结状态有关。CU与UU试验应力与应变关系曲线呈硬化特征,CU试验孔隙水压力与应变关系呈先剪缩后剪胀的性质;DEP试验应力与应变关系曲线呈软化特征,在等应力控制条件下,孔隙水压力与应变关系呈剪胀性质,孔压为负。DEP试验对于总应力强度参数有影响,对有效应力强度参数影响较小。在滨海软土基坑支护设计中,选用CU试验参数进行计算,设计偏于安全。     

Social memory and resilience in New Orleans

A key concept in resilience studies is that human societies can learn from hazard events and use their accumulated social memory to better contend with future catastrophes. This article explores the deliberate referral to historical records complied after Hurricane Betsy in 1965 and how they were used to prepare for tropical storms at the time of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Despite proclamations that Louisiana would not repeat its mistakes, hazards planners seriously neglected the historical record.     

Touristic disaster: Spectacle and recovery in Post-Katrina New Orleans

This paper develops the concept touristic disaster as a heuristic device to examine the conflictual and contradictory aspects of showcasing disaster-devastated neighborhoods as tourist attractions. Touristic disaster refers to the application of tourism modes of staging, visualization, and discourse to reenchant the money making deterrents (stigma) of “destruction” and “ruin” and re-signify disaster to indicate “recovery” and “rebirth.” This paper uses empirical examples from New Orleans to examine the transition from “disaster tourism” to “recovery tourism” in tourism framings of post-Katrina rebuilding. The concept of touristic disaster views disaster-devastated neighborhoods as sites and arenas of contestation in which opposing groups and interests battle to control representations of urban space. The paper illustrates the motivations, processes, and paradoxical impacts of the commodification and global representation of “disaster” and “recovery” and provides insights into the ways in which people can use spectacle to contest marginalization.     

Collective resources in the repopulation of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina

This study explores the influence of three factors on a person’s decision to drive in winter weather: destination, affected area, and caution level. Participants (n = 555) completed an online survey that included scenarios with text of a simulated radio message involving a character named Mike. After the scenario, participants answered Likert-scaled questions related to their intention to drive (what would you do) and their recommended behavior for others (what should Mike do). There was a significant effect of destination and caution level on the decision to drive. Participants were more likely to respond that they would drive if the destination was work rather than dinner, and if the caution statement was “exercise caution” rather than “do not drive.” There were similar significant effects of destination and caution level on what the scenario character should do. It is recommended that a clear directive be included in warning messages to encourage drivers to stay off the roadways during hazardous weather.     

碎石桩复合地基桩体减震作用研究

地震引起的土体液化和地基失效对岩土工程师而言仍是一个热点问题。地震液化及地基变形可以采用多种地基加固方法防治,碎石桩技术是常用方法之一。碎石桩复合地基抗液化效用主要是增加桩周土体的密度、桩体的排水以及桩体分担地震水平剪应力作用(桩体减震作用)。目前,以抗液化为主的碎石桩复合地基的设计以及效果评价方法仍只考虑加密作用。首先通过3个模型(1个饱和砂土地基模型、2个碎石桩复合地基模型)的振动台试验研究抗液化碎石桩的减震作用。然后以试验记录的模型动力反应以及建立的理论模型为基础,分析碎石桩复合地基的桩体减震作用。试验及理论分析结果表明,复合地基中的碎石桩可以明显地降低作用在桩间可液化土上的地震剪应力。     

Learning from environmental justice in Viet Village Versai in New Orleans

This paper explores the attempt to plan and to implement pollution remediation projects in Viet Village Versai, New Orleans. The process was marred by gaps in collaboration behaviours between the stakeholders, which ultimately impeded the progress of the remediation projects and as a result, failed to transform the Viet Village Versai into a sustainable community. In drawing the link between the behavioural gaps and implementation failures, I bring attention to the crucial role that collaboration plays in helping to build sustainable communities.     

CPTU试验在土体动力学参数计算中的应用研究

为探讨孔压静力触探(CPTU)数据能否在土体动力学参数计算中进行应用,结合港珠澳大桥补充勘察项目CPTU及波速测试资料,利用SPSS和OriginPro软件对比分析前人研究成果,提出了更适合于计算研究区波速(Vp、Vs)的经验拟合公式,公式考虑了深度影响,计算结果优于前人经验公式,尤其是当土层埋深大于30m时.基于此,对CPTU数据在土体动力学参数Ed、Gd及μd计算方面进行了对比分析研究,提出了研究区土体动力学参数计算公式,公式计算偏差均在可接受范围之内.同时发现土层深度及修正锥尖阻力的负指数形式在拟合土层纵、横波速Vp、Vs时具有重要意义.     

砾石土层中注浆扩散参数的研究

采用注浆模拟试验与数值分析等研究方法,探讨了砾石土层中注浆的注浆量、浆液扩散半径及注浆形成的结石体抗压强度等参数预测计算模型,并设计试验对其进行了验证。试验结果表明,砾石土层中注浆的注浆量、浆液扩散半径及结石体的抗压强度等参数预测计算模型计算的注浆量、浆液扩散半径与注浆结石体抗压强度的理论值与试验实测值间虽分别有10%、5%、10%左右的差异,但均相差不大,因此,可用来预测砾石土层实际注浆工程中的注浆量、浆液扩散半径及注浆形成的结石体的抗压强度等参数。研究成果不仅可为砾石土层实际注浆工程实践提供理论支撑,还可为砾石土诱发的滑坡、泥石流等灾害的防灾减灾提供技术参考。     

四川省简阳市三岔镇紫色土微量元素全量与有效性评价

以简阳三岔镇土地整理区紫色土中B、Mn、Zn、Cu、Mo元素全量,与有效态含量、有机质含量、pH值为数据源,分析土壤微量元素的含量特征.通过对有效态含量进行分级评价,并结合有效态与全量、pH值、有机质含量的相关性分析,对研究区提出养份管理建议.研究表明,该区紫色土微量元素全量及交换性Mn含量相对正常,但有效B、Zn、C...     

有效参数的幂平均算法对农田尺度阿特拉津淋溶动态数值模拟的影响

以模拟农田尺度降雨入渗—重分布条件下阿特拉津(atrazine)在非饱和土壤中的淋溶动态为数值算例,通过在北京东郊的一块27m×27m的农田采集100个土壤样品,测定其主要理化性质,间接计算获得各土壤样品的van Genuchten型水力学参数、溶质运移的弥散度及atrazine在土壤中吸附的分配系数,进而基于柱模型假设,运用HY DRUS 1D软件得到不同时刻采样区内土壤水负压和atrazine浓度的平均分布。在此基础上,重点探讨了应用幂平均算法计算不同的等价有效参数对农田尺度下土壤水负压和atrazine浓度平均分布的数值模拟精度的影响。就所设计的降雨入渗—重分布条件下atrazine淋溶的算例而言,土壤水力学参数、溶质运移参数和吸附特性参数取几何平均或调和平均作为有效参数值,空间平面上呈正态分布的土壤水负压的初值采用算术平均值作为流场模拟的初始条件,可以获得满意的数值模拟结果。     

5参数高速公路软基处理方案ANN决策模型

首先，介绍了中国高速公路软基处理技术决策问题的研究现状，然后，介绍了决策模型参数的确定。最后，以折学森整理的高速公路的资料为原始数据，以MATLAB-NNT为工具，建立了5参数高速公路软基处理方案的ANN决策模型。对所建立的ANN模型进行训练、回判和预测，得到了满意的结果，证明模型是有效的。     

Damage to residential buildings due to flooding of New Orleans after hurricane Katrina

This article analyzes the direct damage to residential buildings caused by the flooding of New Orleans after hurricane Katrina in the year 2005. A public dataset has been analyzed that contains information on the economic damage levels for approximately 95,000 residential buildings in the flooded area. The relationship between the flood characteristics and economic damage to residential buildings has been investigated. Results of hydrodynamic flood simulations have been used that give insight in water depths and flow velocities in the study area. In general, differences between the three polders in the observed distributions of damage estimates are related to differences in flood conditions. The highest damage percentages and structural damage mainly occurred in areas where higher flow velocities occurred, especially near the breaches in the Lower 9th Ward neighborhood. Further statistical analysis indicated that there is not any strong one-to-one relationship between the damage percentage and the water depth or the depth–velocity product. This suggests that there is considerable uncertainty associated with stage-damage functions, especially when they are applied to individual structures or smaller clusters of buildings. Based on the data, a more general approach has been proposed that could be used to distinguish different damage zones based on water depth and flow velocity for an area that is affected by flooding due to breaching of flood defenses. Further validation of existing damage models with the dataset and further inclusion of information on building type in the analysis of damage levels is recommended.     

超重力场中界面土压力的测量

测量诸如孔隙水压力、位移和载荷等物理量能够达到相当高的精度,但土压力的测量则困难得多。在吸取了国内外同行经验后,为离心模型试验设计研制了一种微型土压力盒,主要用于土与结构物界面土压力的测量。水压力、干砂压力和砂土压力三种标定结果表明,这种微型土压力盒的线性度良好;在研究地下连续墙的侧向土压力分布的离心模型试验中,根据这种微型土压力盒的测试结果,获得了合理的侧压力系数。     

温度对土壤水分运动基本参数的影响

为探讨土壤温度变化对土壤中水分运动过程和运动参数影响机理,在室内实验的基础上结合理论探讨,对不同温度条件下实验土壤的水分特征曲线、导水率、扩散率和比水容量等土壤水分运动基本参数的温度效应进行了研究分析.结果表明:土壤温度对土壤水分性质及土壤结构性质影响显著,二者共同作用使得土壤水分运动过程发生改变,且其影响效应可通过土...     

岩体初始应力场识别的随机方法

利用地下隧道开挖后变形收敛观测数据 ,采用最小二乘法研究了岩体初始应力场识别问题。 考虑了变形观测的随机性 ,建立了岩体初始应力场参数识别的随机方法 ,研究了变形观测的随机特性对识别结果的影响。待识别参数对目标函数的灵敏度越低 ,参数识别结果的标准差就越大 ,其可识别性越差     

Geometric parameters and REV of a crack network in soil

Cracks are common in natural and engineered soils and provide preferential pathways for water infiltration into the soil. Statistical properties of crack geometries are important inputs for analyzing preferential flows in discrete random crack networks. This paper reports the outcome of a field study conducted on a compacted, cracked soil ground at a steady moisture condition. The objectives of the field study were to investigate the crack patterns and probability distributions of the geometric parameters of cracks and to determine the representative elementary volume (REV) of the crack network. The desiccation cracks at the survey site formed an inter-connected columnar structure. The traces of the cracks on the soil surface formed a primary structure consisting of inter-connected crack polygons and a secondary structure comprising of isolated cracks. The locations and orientations of the desiccation cracks followed a uniform distribution, differing from the distribution of fracture sets often observed in fractured rocks. The lengths and apertures of the cracks followed a lognormal distribution as expected. The REV size for the cracked soil was found to be approximately five times the mean crack length, above which the variation in crack porosity in relation to domain size was negligible.     

Optimization routine for identification of model parameters in soil plasticity

The paper presents an optimization routine especially developed for the identification of model parameters in soil plasticity on the basis of different soil tests. Main focus is put on the mathematical aspects and the experience from application of this optimization routine. Mathematically, for the optimization, an objective function and a search strategy are needed. Some alternative expressions for the objective function are formulated. They capture the overall soil behaviour and can be used in a simultaneous optimization against several laboratory tests. Two different search strategies, Rosenbrock's method and the Simplex method, both belonging to the category of direct search methods, are utilized in the routine. Direct search methods have generally proved to be reliable and their relative simplicity make them quite easy to program into workable codes. The Rosenbrock and simplex methods are modified to make the search strategies as efficient and user‐friendly as possible for the type of optimization problem addressed here. Since these search strategies are of a heuristic nature, which makes it difficult (or even impossible) to analyse their performance in a theoretical way, representative optimization examples against both simulated experimental results as well as performed triaxial tests are presented to show the efficiency of the optimization routine. From these examples, it has been concluded that the optimization routine is able to locate a minimum with a good accuracy, fast enough to be a very useful tool for identification of model parameters in soil plasticity. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

土壤非饱和导水率模型中参数的敏感性分析

针对邵明安根据再分布过程得出的非饱和导水率模型,对其中参数的敏感性进行分析,通过实测资料计算非饱和导水率对不同参数的敏感度,对比参数对非饱和导水率的影响程度。研究表明采用线性关系表示土壤湿润剖面的平均湿度和湿润锋处湿度之间的关系时,非饱和导水率对参数的敏感性比其他参数高得多。