Some curious thermomagnetic curves and their interpretation

A study of the thermomagnetic curves of synthetic titanomagnetite powders, heated in air, in non-saturation applied magnetic fields showed that the shape of the curves was related to the magnitude of the applied field, the coercivity of the samples, and the effects of oxidation. The most important result to emerge from this study was the occurrence of reproducible peaks at low temperatures (～100–200°C). The temperature at which the peaks occur was found to increase with increasing coercive force or decreasing applied field. It is suggested that the peaks are the result of the “unblocking” of the magnetization, and should not be confused with thermomagnetic characteristics used to classify ferrites. The “unblocking” temperature is dependent on both the coercive force and the applied magnetic field, as is predicted by most models of thermo-remanent magnetization.     

Results of optical, thermomagnetic and electron microprobe analyses of titanomagnetite grains

This paper presents results of a study of titanomagnetite from specimens of ten different rock units. The rock units comprise trachytes, basalts, ignimbrites, nephelinites, olivine melanephelinites and welded tuffs from Kenya, with ages ranging from recent to Precambrian. The correlations of the stability index with opaque petrology and with thermomagnetic analyses of the titanomagnetite and titanomaghemite bearing specimens appear to be significant. Electron microprobe analyses of the titanomagnetite grains indicate a high percentage of “impurities” in the low stability index specimens and elevation of the Curie point in the high stability index specimens.     

Theoretical analysis of thermomagnetic properties, low-temperature hysteresis and domain structure of titanomagnetites

Magnetic hysteresis of coarse-grained titanomagnetites at room temperature is characterised by low coercive force, low relative remanence, and a high ratio of coercivity of remanence to coercive force. These properties are generally interpreted in terms of multidomain structure. At low temperatures, however, ulvöspinel-rich compositions exhibit hysteresis properties similar to those of single-domain assemblages, and on this basis Radhakrishnamurty and Deutsch have proposed an alternative interpretation of the domain structure of titanomagnetites having x 0.3 in terms of a mixture of single-domain and superparamagnetic particles. Low apparent Curie temperatures are attributed to the effects of thermal agitation above the blocking temperature.

We have examined theoretically the effects of thermal agitation on the low- and high-field thermomagnetic curves and find that observed Curie temperatures in general represent an intrinsic property of the magnetic mineral present, rather than reflecting thermal agitation. The high coercive force and relative remanence at low temperatures for titanomagnetites having x > 0.5 can be explained on the basis of the interaction of domain walls with crystal defects when the large increases in magnetocrystalline anisotropy and magnetostriction with decreasing temperature are taken into account. We discuss the evidence for the existence of domain walls in coarse-grained ulvöspinel-rich titanomagnetites and conclude that multidomain structure is well established.

It is also shown that fine titanomagnetite grains may have more than one blocking temperature. In any temperature interval for which superparamagnetic grains are present they will disproportionately influence susceptibility and low-field hysteresis.     

Developing fragility curves for a pile-supported wharf

This study proposes a procedure for developing seismic fragility curves for a pile-supported wharf. A typical pile-supported wharf, as commonly used in the ports of Taiwan, is chosen for demonstration. For a structural model of the wharf, the deck is modeled by shell elements and the Winkler model is used for the pile–soil system, in which the piles and soils are represented by beam elements and springs, respectively. A pushover analysis with lateral loads distributed according to the fundamental modal shape of the wharf structure is conducted to deduce the capacity curve of the wharf. The procedure for developing fragility curves can be explicitly performed using the spreadsheet platform in Microsoft EXCEL. First, quantitative criteria for damage states are established from the sequence of development of plastic zones. Then a nonlinear static procedure called the Spectrum Capacity Method (CSM) is used to efficiently construct a response matrix of the wharf to 24 earthquake events with differing levels of peak ground acceleration (PGA). Based on the damage criteria and the response matrix, the fragility curves of the wharf can be thus constructed through simple statistical analysis. Shifted lognormal cumulative distribution functions are also employed to better approximate the fragility curves for practical applications.     

Developing collapse fragility curves for base-isolated buildings

Seismic isolation technique is increasingly used both for the design of new buildings and for the seismic retrofit of existing buildings. Nevertheless, so far, little attention has been paid on the collapse capacity of these structures, mainly because it requires refined nonlinear models and careful consideration of different sources of uncertainties. To fill this gap, a set of collapse fragility functions for existing reinforced concrete-frame buildings, designed for gravity loads only and then retrofitted with different isolation systems (including rubber-based and friction-based isolation systems), are derived in this study. For completeness, buildings with low and high seismic resistance are also considered. Collapse fragility functions are derived through incremental dynamic analysis, considering different collapse conditions both for isolation system and superstructure. For each case study building, mean and dispersion values are obtained considering both aleatory and epistemic uncertainties, due to record-to record and model variability, respectively. Finally, some comments on the possible use of the results of this study for practical applications are made.     

Fragility curves for risk-targeted seismic design maps

Seismic design using maps based on “risk-targeting” would lead to an annual probability of attaining or exceeding a certain damage state that is uniform over an entire territory. These maps are based on convolving seismic hazard curves from a standard probabilistic analysis with the derivative of fragility curves expressing the chance for a code-designed structure to attain or exceed a certain damage state given a level of input motion, e.g. peak ground acceleration (PGA). There are few published fragility curves for structures respecting the Eurocodes (ECs, principally EC8 for seismic design) that can be used for the development of risk-targeted design maps for Europe. In this article a set of fragility curves for a regular three-storey reinforced-concrete building designed using EC2 and EC8 for medium ductility and increasing levels of design acceleration \((\hbox {a}_\mathrm{g})\) is developed. These curves show that structures designed using EC8 against PGAs up to about 1 m/s \(^{2}\) have similar fragilities to those that respect only EC2 (although this conclusion may not hold for irregular buildings, other geometries or materials). From these curves, the probability of yielding for a structure subjected to a PGA equal to \(\hbox {a}_\mathrm{g}\) varies between 0.14 ( \(\hbox {a}_\mathrm{g}=0.7\) m/s \(^{2})\) and 0.85 ( \(\hbox {a}_\mathrm{g}=3\) m/s \(^{2})\) whereas the probability of collapse for a structure subjected to a PGA equal to \(\hbox {a}_\mathrm{g}\) varies between 1.7 \(\times 10^{-7}\) ( \(\hbox {a}_\mathrm{g}=0.7\) m/s \(^{2})\) and 1.0 \(\times 10^{-5}\) ( \(\hbox {a}_\mathrm{g}=3\) m/s \(^{2})\) .     

Theoretical pv-magnitude calibrating curves for deep foci

Summary The theoretical medium period PV-magnitude calibrating curves were computed for the Earth model PREM and a wide range of focal depths. The calculated set of curves reflects the distribution of model parameters, the influence of source radiation was not taken into account. The widely used Gutenberg's empirical calibrating curves were compared with the theoretical ones. Pronounced deviations in the shape and differences in the level of isolines were found. Thus, if model PREM is considered to be representative of the Earth's structure, the empirical calibrating curves (D, h) for magnitude determination currently used in seismological practice, have to be verified.

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Sedimentation and new operational curves for Mosul Dam,Iraq

Abstract

Mosul Dam is one of the biggest hydraulic structures in Iraq. Its storage capacity is 11.11 × 10⁹ m³ at a maximum operation level of 330 m a.s.l. The dam became operational in 1986 and no survey has been conducted to determine its storage capacity and establish new operational curves since this date. A topographic map of scale 1:50 000 dated 1983 was converted into triangulated irregular network (TIN) format using the ArcGIS program to evaluate the operational curves. Then the reservoir was surveyed in 2011 to establish the reduction in its storage capacity and to develop new operational curves. The results indicated that the reduction in the storage capacity of the reservoir was 14.73%. This implies that the rate of sedimentation within the reservoir was 45.72 × 10⁶ m³ year^?1. These results indicate that most of the sediment was deposited within the upper zone of the reservoir where the River Tigris enters the reservoir.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis

Citation Issa, E.I., Al-Ansari, N., and Knutsson, S., 2013. Sedimentation and new operational curves for Mosul Dam, Iraq. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58 (7), 1456–1466.     

Statistical procedures for developing earthquake damage fragility curves

This paper describes statistical procedures for developing earthquake damage fragility functions. Although fragility curves abound in earthquake engineering and risk assessment literature, the focus has generally been on the methods for obtaining the damage data (i.e., the analysis of structures), and little emphasis is placed on the process for fitting fragility curves to this data. This paper provides a synthesis of the most commonly used methods for fitting fragility curves and highlights some of their significant limitations. More novel methods are described for parametric fragility curve development (generalized linear models and cumulative link models) and non‐parametric curves (generalized additive model and Gaussian kernel smoothing). An extensive discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each method is provided, as well as examples using both empirical and analytical data. The paper further proposes methods for treating the uncertainty in intensity measure, an issue common with empirical data. Finally, the paper describes approaches for choosing among various fragility models, based on an evaluation of prediction error for a user‐defined loss function. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrical conduction in rocks and minerals: Parameters for interpretation

Recent studies of electrical properties have clarified the important parameters governing electrical conductivity in minerals — temperature, oxygen fugacity, stoichiometry, iron content — and in porous rocks — shape and interconnections of fluid-filled pore spaces. These parameters are discussed in terms of: (1) how they contribute to bulk conduction mechanisms within minerals; and (2) how they pertain to the conditions of rocks in situ.     

Bayesian methods for estimating multi-segment discharge rating curves

This study explores Bayesian methods for handling compound stage–discharge relationships, a problem which arises in many natural rivers. It is assumed: (1) the stage–discharge relationship in each rating curve segment is a power-law with a location parameter, or zero-plane displacement; (2) the segment transitions are abrupt and continuous; and (3) multiplicative measurement errors are of equal variance. The rating curve fitting procedure is then formulated as a piecewise regression problem where the number of segments and the associated changepoints are assumed unknown. Procedures are developed for describing both global and site-specific prior distributions for all rating curve parameters, including the changepoints. Estimation and uncertainty analysis is evaluated using Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation (MCMC) techniques. The first model explored accounts for parameter and model uncertainties in the interpolated area, i.e. within the range of available stage–discharge measurements. A second model is constructed in an attempt to include the uncertainty in extrapolation, which is necessary when the rating curve is used to estimate discharges beyond the highest or lowest measurement. This is done by assuming that the rate of changepoints both inside and outside the measured area follows a Poisson process. The theory is applied to actual data from Norwegian gauging stations. The MCMC solutions give results that appear sensible and useful for inferential purposes, though the latter model needs further efforts in order to obtain a more efficient simulation scheme.     

Horizontal rough fracture type curves for groundwater movement

Abstract

Type curves are derived analytically for radial flow in rough horizontal fractures toward a well. The basic assumptions are that there is no turbulent flow near the borehole and the well storage is ignored. The basis of the methodology is to write explicit expressions for the continuity and cubic law flow equations, which are combined using a Boltzmann transformation leading to a simple ordinary differential equation for groundwater movement. Solutions are presented as a set of type curves for different fracture apertures. It is observed that the solutions provide a method of uniquely identifying fracture hydraulic parameters when the fracture is smooth, but pose ambiguity for rough fracture parameter estimations. However, large time portions of these type curves appear as straight lines on semi-logarithmic paper, which provides a unique way for rough fracture parameter determination. Identification of the fracture parameters, namely, the aperture and relative roughness, is possible in a unique manner with the use of these lines and the dimensionless time drawdown concept. The cubic law is the asymptotic behaviour, either for large times or large fracture apertures. Prior to this asymptotic part, there is a non-cubic portion which gives rise to systematic deviations from the cubic law. The technique presented is useful, especially for evaluating pumping tests from a single major fracture isolated by packers.     

桩-液化土相互作用p-y关系分析

基于多工况的桩-液化土体动力相互作用振动台试验,研究地震荷载作用下液化土层中桩土间侧向相互作用力p与桩身和土体间侧向相对位移y之间的关系。将试验得到的实际p-y曲线与采用拟静力法和以API规范为基础的折减系数法计算出的p-y曲线进行对比,结果表明:(1)液化土层中试验得到的桩真实p-y响应及由拟静力法和折减系数法得到的结果都呈非线性变化,三者极限状态有接近一致的趋势,但变化过程差异明显;(2)采用拟静力法和折减系数法都会使液化土层桩基础侧向反力迅速增长,很快达到屈服极限,远远超过实际情况,会导致相当保守的结果;(3)液化进程中控制桩p-y响应的是土体位移而非惯性力,因而拟静力法和折减系数法的原理不适合桩-液化土体动力相互作用分析,不能用于液化土层中桩基础地震响应的计算。     

Inverse modeling of lichen growth curves and implications for lichenometric dating

Lichenometric dating represents a quick and affordable surface exposure dating method that has been widely used to provide a minimum age constraint on tectonic and geomorphic landscape changes as well as buildings and anthropogenic landscape changes in various settings during the late Holocene. Despite its widespread usage, this method has several limitations. Major problems relate to the sampling of lichen population on any given rock surface and the modeling of growth curves. In order to overcome these issues, it has been suggested to subdivide the rock surface into some areas and measure the largest lichen thallus on each one. However, how to express the data in terms of a probability distribution function and link it to an age of last exposure of the rock surface are still a matter of debate. Here, we propose a novel approach to the modeling of lichen growth curves by treating lichen growth as a continuous-time Markov process with a time-varying rate and additive Brownian noise. Given the growth rates, the probability distribution of the lichen population at any time can then be obtained by solving the Fokker–Planck equation. This method is illustrated using a dataset from the Huashan area of eastern China, which consists of measurements of the largest thalli on 12 rock surfaces of known age. We first build up the probability distribution of the lichen population for each rock surface based on extreme value theory and then use these to optimize the growth curve by minimizing the Jensen–Shannon divergence. A new method is also proposed to use the growth curve to map a sample of size data from an undated rock surface to the calendar age domain so as to yield a fully probabilistic estimate of the exposure age of the undated rock surface rather than a point estimate.     

Seismic fragility curves for greek bridges: methodology and case studies

This study focusses on the estimation of seismic fragility curves for all common bridge types found in modern greek motorways. At first a classification scheme is developed in order to classify the existing bridges into a sufficient number of classes. A total of 11 representative bridge classes resulted, based on the type of piers, deck, and pier-to-deck connection. Then an analytical methodology for deriving fragility curves is proposed and applied to the representative bridge models. This procedure is based on pushover analysis of the entire bridge and definition of damage states in terms of parameters of the bridge pushover curves. The procedure differentiates the way of defining damage according to the seismic energy dissipation mechanism in each bridge, i.e. bridges with yielding piers of the column type and bridges with bearings (with or without seismic links) and non-yielding piers of the wall type. The activation of the abutment-backfill system due to closure of the gap between the deck and the abutments is also taken into account. The derived fragility curves are subjected to a first calibration against empirical curves based on damage data from the US and Japan.     

Search for orthorhombic or higher symmetry in rocks

Summary The properties of quadrics of stress and strain, which were derived from the eigenvectors of the matrix of elastic constants, are analysed for a medium with orthorhombic or higher symmetry. It was found that the orientation of the axes of the quadrics can be employed to determine the crystallographic axes of the medium. This formalism derived for minerals is used for finding the axes of the internal symmetry of a rock for which we assume a distribution close to that of the orthorhombic system with a view to the spatial distribution of P-wave velocities.     

饱和砂岩的黏弹行为的实验研究

通过Metravib热机械分析仪,用正弦波进行加载,实验时固定静载为100 N,正弦波动载荷恒为60 N,将总载荷控制在屈服点以下;在温度为-50～125℃,升温速率为1℃/min,频率为5～1000 Hz的条件下,对泵油饱和长石砂岩、彭山砂岩样品进行单轴循环加载实验,求取泵油饱和长石砂岩和彭山砂岩的衰减、耗散角、模量...