Results from an amino acid racemization inter-laboratory proficiency study; design and performance evaluation

It is nearly thirty years since the last inter-laboratory study was carried out for amino acid racemization (AAR) analysis using powdered fossil material (Wehmiller 1984). Since then there have been major changes in sample preparation and instrumentation, and it was considered timely to coordinate a new inter-laboratory study in support of current methodologies. In 2010, two such studies were undertaken. The first of these, coordinated by Wehmiller (this edition), used homogeneous hydrolysates of Pleistocene mollusc and eggshell materials and focused on the agreement of analytical measurements between laboratories, without interference from differing sample preparation procedures. The second (this study) was designed specifically as a proficiency test. Unlike previous inter-laboratory comparisons that have focussed on precision estimates, the purpose of this study was to carry out an evaluation of measurement bias by comparing the measurement results of laboratories carrying out their routine methods, including extraction, against the consensus values. Participants were sent one dried sample of a mixed amino acid standards solution and five homogeneous powders: two Pleistocene mollusc test materials prepared from material (ILC-A) supplied and used by Wehmiller in previous inter-laboratory studies (1984; and this edition), one Pleistocene opercula test material from the terrestrial gastropod, Bithynia tentaculata, and two heat-treated modern ostrich eggshell test materials. Results from this study demonstrate that whilst individual laboratory precision may be excellent, suggesting good control of random error influences (less than 1% for replicate measurements by some individual laboratories), agreement between methods, or even between laboratories carrying out the same method, may be very different. Trueness evaluation (determined as the relative percentage bias) reveals the extent of the disagreement reflected by the inter-laboratory variability. Individual laboratory D/L value biases of 10–30% or more when compared to the consensus values are not uncommon. We demonstrate why bias contributions should also be included in AAR uncertainty estimation and recommend that the preparation of defined reference materials are seen as a priority in order to control and correct for systematic error influences in the analytical system.     

Performance of CRONUS-P – A pyroxene reference material for helium isotope analysis

Helium isotope analyses are central to modern earth science and measured by many noble gas laboratories around the globe (Burnard, 2013; Wieler et al., 2002), spanning a wide spectrum of fundamental research – from identifying primordial reservoirs in the Earth mantle to paleoclimate reconstructions. The CRONUS-Earth initiative included the manufacturing, distribution and analysis of a pyroxene reference material (CRONUS-P) that was designed to be useful for internal reliability control of ³He measurements within a few percent and potentially for ⁴He on a higher level of uncertainty.This short paper describes the CRONUS-P material and its performance as ³He and ⁴He reference sample for noble gas laboratories. The companion paper by Blard et al. 2015 describes in depth the inter-laboratory helium isotope experiment within CRONUS-Earth.We show normalized helium isotope data of CRONUS-P measured at three different noble gas laboratories. Data from all three laboratories show no relation between helium isotope concentrations and sample mass, implying that the material is homogeneous. The data show that CRONUS-P is useful as an internal standard for ³He within better 2% (1σ) and for ⁴He within better 10%.     

Interlaboratory comparison of some chemical analyses of Hawaiian Volcanic Rocks

The comparability of chemical analyses of Hawaiian volcanic rocks by different laboratories is investigated. The comparability is reasonably good for most purposes, but small differences in compositions of rocks determined by different laboratories should not be used as a basis of classification or to support petrogenic deductions.     

宝鸡某学院图书馆双塔连体结构的抗震分析

本文对宝鸡职业技术学院图书馆结构进行分析,对此工程的结构方案进行了优化,讨论了大底盘双塔弱连体结构抗震设计中的若干问题。采用基于性能抗震设计方法,计算了连体滑动支座的滑移控制量并根据滑移量设计了适合本工程的滑动支座。采用SATWE及ETABS软件进行计算比较,通过比较,可以看出此工程各项指标良好,结构抗震性能较好。     

Geographically distributed hybrid testing & collaboration between geotechnical centrifuge and structures laboratories

Distributed Hybrid Testing (DHT) is an experimental technique designed to capitalise on advances in modern networking infrastructure to overcome traditional laboratory capacity limitations. By coupling the heterogeneous test apparatus and computational resources of geographically distributed laboratories, DHT provides the means to take on complex, multi-disciplinary challenges with new forms of communication and collaboration. To introduce the opportunity and practicability afforded by DHT, here an exemplar multi-site test is addressed in which a dedicated fibre network and suite of custom software is used to connect the geotechnical centrifuge at the University of Cambridge with a variety of structural dynamics loading apparatus at the University of Oxford and the University of Bristol. While centrifuge time-scaling prevents real-time rates of loading in this test, such experiments may be used to gain valuable insights into physical phenomena, test procedure and accuracy. These and other related experiments have led to the development of the real-time DHT technique and the creation of a flexible framework that aims to facilitate future distributed tests within the UK and beyond. As a further example, a real-time DHT experiment between structural labs using this framework for testing across the Internet is also presented.     

Geographically distributed hybrid testing & collaboration between geotechnical centrifuge and structures laboratories

Distributed Hybrid Testing(DHT) is an experimental technique designed to capitalise on advances in modern networking infrastructure to overcome traditional laboratory capacity limitations. By coupling the heterogeneous test apparatus and computational resources of geographically distributed laboratories, DHT provides the means to take on complex, multi-disciplinary challenges with new forms of communication and collaboration. To introduce the opportunity and practicability afforded by DHT, here an exemplar multi-site test is addressed in which a dedicated fibre network and suite of custom software is used to connect the geotechnical centrifuge at the University of Cambridge with a variety of structural dynamics loading apparatus at the University of Oxford and the University of Bristol. While centrifuge time-scaling prevents real-time rates of loading in this test, such experiments may be used to gain valuable insights into physical phenomena, test procedure and accuracy. These and other related experiments have led to the development of the real-time DHT technique and the creation of a flexible framework that aims to facilitate future distributed tests within the UK and beyond. As a further example, a real-time DHT experiment between structural labs using this framework for testing across the Internet is also presented.     

Overview of the EUROSAM project and a Decision Support System

The EUROpean SAlt marshes Modelling (EUROSAM) project is part of the Thematic Network European Land–Ocean Interaction Studies programme. The main aims of the EUROSAM project were to fill in some of the main gaps in the understanding of ecological processes, to integrate this knowledge into models to predict the likely response of salt marsh ecosystems to environmental changes, and to make the knowledge available to decision-makers. Research work and model development for the project were carried out by researchers in France, Portugal, the Netherlands, and England, and included studies on sediment dynamics and interactions with vegetation, plant population dynamics and genetics, models of organic matter production and cycling, studies of animal communities, food webs and organic matter fluxes, and development of hydrodynamic models at different scales: salt marsh, bay, and estuary.This paper describes the main aims and outputs of the EUROSAM project, and the incorporation of the findings and models into a prototype Decision Support System (DSS). The EUROSAM DSS is designed as a guide for the non-specialist to understand the important role and functioning of salt marshes, and for use as a management tool. Example scenarios were selected from the work within the project to illustrate the interactions between components of the salt marsh–mudflat ecosystem, and the potential impact of human activities and environmental change on the salt marsh system.     

多腔扁钢管混凝土斜折柱抗震性能试验研究

大连国际会议中心结构幕墙柱中,采用了一种扁钢管混凝土斜折柱.文中结合该工程设计,进行了2个1/3缩尺的扁钢管混凝土斜折柱试件的低周反复荷载试验,1个试件为普通扁钢管混凝土斜折柱,1个试件为多腔扁钢管混凝土斜折柱.比较分析了两个试件的承载力、刚度、延性、滞回特性及破坏特征.研究表明:多腔扁钢管混凝土斜折柱与普通扁钢管混凝...     

城市湖泊水环境修复组合工艺效果研究——以深圳市荔枝湖治理工程为例

以深圳市荔枝湖为例,通过历时9个月的水质连续监测,研究该湖水污染综合治理工程实施后不同治理工艺的处理效果.研究表明,自动过滤工艺TP和COD平均去除率分别为33.6%和16.2%;生物砾石床工艺TP和COD平均去除率分别为39.O%和21.3%;人工湿地工艺TP和COD平均去除率分别为80.2%和56.1%.通过荔枝湖四湖总磷串联模型,计算在设计初始条件下,采用组合治理工艺时湖水恢复为地表Ⅳ类水所需要的时间.计算表明工艺每天运行24h,需要2.5d可将各湖TP浓度降至O.1mg/L以下,TP总去除量为7.27kg,去除率为46.%.     

既有地下结构用于地铁工程的可行性研究(I)

7381工程是70年代初哈尔滨市按照当时地铁限界标准修建的一条地下人防工程。隧道穿越粉质粘土、细砂土层,埋深10～20米。为了评价7381工程现在用于地铁运营的安全性,本文从结构承载能力、构造、变形和裂缝等方面进行了详细检测,主要内容包括混凝土强度、混凝土碳化、混凝土表面裂缝、钢筋强度及锈蚀、隧道衬砌拱顶厚度等,检测结果为旧隧道的安全性与使用性评价奠定了基础。     

EFFECT OF INFILLS ON THE GLOBAL BEHAVIOUR OF R/C FRAMES: ENERGY CONSIDERATIONS FROM PSEUDODYNAMIC TESTS

A series of pseudo-dynamic tests were conducted on a full-scale four-storey reinforced concrete building designed according to Eurocodes 2 and 8. The building was 10 m long, 10 m wide, and 12⋅5 m high. It was designed as a ductility class ‘High’ structure, for typical live loads and for a peak ground acceleration of 0⋅3 g and medium soil conditions. A first test was conducted on the bare frame. The project was carried out within the framework of the European Association of Structural Mechanics Laboratories (EASML), and was designed to assess the adequacy of the damage indicators to be used in the calibration of Eurocode 8. The pseudodynamic test was conducted by using an artificially generated earth-quake derived from a real earthquake (Friuli, 1976), with nominal acceleration 50 per cent larger than the value adopted in design. The structure performed as expected. The pattern of the measured rotations was that of a weak-beam, strong-column mechanism. The fundamental frequency of the structure after the test was found to be half of the initial value, but the damage was limited and uniformly distributed. A second experimental programme was conducted as part of the work of the Network Prenormative Research in support of Eurocode 8, to study the influence of masonry infill panels on the global behaviour of the frame. Two pseudodynamic tests were conducted, with different infill patterns. A test was performed by infilling the two external frames with hollow brick masonry in all four storeys (uniform infill distribution). The test was then repeated on the structure without infills at the first storey, to create a soft-storey effect. The input signal was the same as in the tests on the bare frame. The purpose of the tests was to study the effects of the different layouts of infills, as well as to calibrate the computer models for the infills to be used in parametric analyses. In this paper the test results are presented and the performances of the structure with different infill configurations are compared. The global behaviour of the structure is compared with the predictions which could have been made with simplified approaches. In particular, single degree of freedom energy concepts are used to verify if the differences in the global behaviour could have been predicted. The differences in the single degree of freedom energy demands with respect to the bare frame may be used as a means of accounting for the presence of irregular distributions of non-structural infills in the simplified design of the frame.     

采用摩擦垫层及阻尼器对外套加层结构体系的减振研究

本文提出了一种耗能减震加层结构新体系,即利用旧有建筑顶层与加层结构之间的摩擦垫层井依靠在两结构各层连接点处增设的耗能阻尼器来吸收耗散能量的减振体系。在进行非线性动力分析过程中,首次建立了系统的结构模型,引入了一种新的库仑摩擦力表达式并对影响体系减振率的有关参数进行了研究。最后通过对一实际工程的设计和计算,验证了这种加层减振做法的有效性。     

冬奥会保障项目井下地电阻率观测专用电缆设计与测试

根据冬奥会保障晋冀蒙监测能力提升项目的设计方案,在晋冀蒙交界及附近区域的宝昌、集宁、阳原、大同、代县、临汾、通州和平谷等8个地电阻率台站原观测场地建设井下小极距全空间地电阻率观测装置系统。参照该项目对井下地电阻率观测的技术要求,设计了井下地电阻率专用电缆,在项目实施过程中对专用电缆的导体直流电阻、线间绝缘电阻等主要指标进行了技术测试。测试结果表明,该专用电缆适用于本项目井下地电阻率观测,可保障井下地电阻率观测装置的长期稳定性。     

An overview of seismic testing needs in Europe: towards a new advanced experimental facility

This paper presents a synthesis of the activities carried out in the framework of the European project EFAST (design study of a European Facility for Advanced Seismic Testing) to determine the general characteristics of a new European world-class facility for earthquake testing of structures. To this end the demands for the necessary testing to support the modern seismic engineering research have been investigated and compared to the actual capabilities of European laboratories. The outcome is the determination of performance objectives and requirements in the gross. On the basis of the needs assessment carried out during the first phase of the project and taking into account the technological advances in both experimental techniques and equipment (hardware and software) for seismic testing, a modern facility for experimental seismic research should be composed, mainly, of a high performance shaking tables array and a large reaction structure where both traditional (pseudo-static/dynamic) and innovative testing techniques (e.g. real time hybrid testing) can be applied and combined. A tentative layout of the facility is also proposed and issues related to the best utilization of such a laboratory are discussed.     

基于C/S和B/S混合架构的云南地震科技信息数字化建设

介绍了基于C/S与B/S混合架构的云南地震科技信息数字化建设项目的设计和实现方法。该项目包括大震考察档案等8个数据库系统的设计、管理软件的开发和地震科技信息服务网络平台的建设。云南地震科技信息数字化系统的建立为地震科研人员提供了完善的地震科技信息服务。     

Application of the Clean Development Mechanism in the Sanitation Sector: “Proof of Concept”

Greenhouse gas emissions from the waste sector account for only 4% of the total production, with wastewater management accounting for accurately 8 to 10% of this contribution. Wastewater disposal and treatment activities, mainly contributes to non‐CO₂ gases such as methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O). Capturing or avoiding these emissions is thus both a concern and an opportunity. The clean development mechanism (CDM) offers an instrument to internalize global climate concerns into the design of wastewater treatment facilities. Properly designed facilities could improve effluent quality and optimize the abatement of greenhouse gas emissions, thus ensuring additional revenues to pay for capital, operation and maintenance costs and possibly justify higher levels of wastewater treatment. This document summarizes the experience of the “Rio Frio CDM project” in Colombia, as an example of what is achievable through the CDM application in wastewater treatment upgrade in developing countries. This document summarizes the scope of the project, the methodology used to establish current greenhouse emissions and future reductions, and the estimated financial results.     

WASP hunts planets

Don Pollacco reviews progress so far on SuperWASP, a wide-field astronomy project designed to detect extrasolar planets and more, built with a lot of hard work – and a little help from eBay.     

山东海阳核电一期取水沟道进出口部位抗震分析

以山东海阳核电一期取水沟道工程为背景,采用动力时程反应分析方法,利用非线性有限差分软件FLAC3D建立三维土体-结构模型,分析该核电站取水沟道进、出口部位在自重、外水压力、土压力、温度、水锤压力、地震等荷载效应组合下的内力变化情况。通过编制FLAC3D程序并结合五点公式计算衬砌结构的内力,对该核电取水沟道进、出水口部位进行抗震分析。计算结果表明温度荷载、水锤压力以及地震荷载对沟道进出口部位内力影响显著,设计施工时应对薄弱截面进行加密配筋处理。本文的计算方法和分析成果可为核电厂取水沟道地震反应分析以及其他类似结构设计提供参考。     

Concept design and hydrodynamic optimization of an innovative SWATH USV by CFD methods

The paper presents the main characteristics of an innovative platform which has been conceived and designed to extend the operational capabilities of current unmanned surface vehicles in terms of platform stability in waves and of powering requirement at a relatively high speed. The main idea which rules the project is the realization of a small autonomous surface unit (about 6 m in length) capable of undertaking several tasks in the marine environment even with moderate rough sea conditions. The designed vessel has the ability to locate, recover, and launch other members of the autonomous fleet (like AUVs or other underwater devices) and at the same time could carry out a surveillance service of the surrounding areas. To manage these tasks, the vehicle is designed to provide a fairly good autonomy which is needed to face intermediate-range missions (100 nautical miles). The choice of a small waterplane area twin hull (SWATH) form has been motivated by its excellent properties of seakeeping qualities, combined with a non-conventional low resistance underwater hull shape, currently under patenting process, which is able to reduce to a minimum the resistance of the vessel especially at higher speeds. To obtain the most efficient profile of the underwater bodies, a systematic optimization with an automatic procedure based on a parametric definition of the geometry, a state-of-the-art computational fluid dynamics (CFD) flow solver, and a differential evolution global minimization algorithm have been created and used. As expected, all the final CFD computations on the best design have demonstrated the superior efficiency of the developed unconventional SWATH technology with respect to different alternatives of current hull typologies.     

Levels of Probability of Exceedance for Current Code Spectra in China

Long-period acceleration spectra determined by seismic safety evaluation for project sites are generally lower than that given by relative code spectra. In this paper, we discuss the recurrence periods corresponding to the code spectra of different periods, by using ground motion attenuation laws for sites of types Ⅰand Ⅲ. We show the results that the longer the periods of code spectra are commonly the more conservative the seismic level is. As for the project examples in this paper, when the periods are longer than 3.7 or 5.2 seconds for sites of types Ⅰ or Ⅲ, the recurrence periods corresponding to the code spectra are longer than 5000 years. We suggest that some problems need to be further discussed, including the reliability of the present attenuation laws, the performance of those project structures that suffer long period seismic waves and have been designed according to the conservative codes, and the effects of ground motion parameters such as velocity and displacement on seismic design.