Optimal seismic retrofit model for steel moment resisting frames with brittle connections

Based on performance-based seismic engineering, this paper proposes an optimal seismic retrofit model for steel moment resisting frames (SMRFs) to generate a retrofit scheme at minimal cost. To satisfy the acceptance criteria for the Basic Safety Objective (BSO) specified in FEMA 356, the minimum number of upgraded connections and their locations in an SMRF with brittle connections are determined by evolutionary computation. The performance of the proposed optimal retrofitting model is evaluated on the basis of the energy dissipation capacities, peak roof drift ratios, and maximum interstory drift ratios of structures before and after retrofitting. In addition, a retrofit efficiency index, which is defined as the ratio of the increment in seismic performance to the required retrofitting cost, is proposed to examine the efficiencies of the retrofit schemes derived from the model. The optimal seismic retrofit model is applied to the SAC benchmark examples for threestory and nine-story SMRFs with brittle connections. Using the retrofit efficiency index proposed in this study, the optimal retrofit schemes obtained from the model are found to be efficient for both examples in terms of energy dissipation capacity, roof drift ratio, and maximum inter-story drift ratio.     

A simplified method for analyzing the fundamental frequency of monopile supported offshore wind turbine system design

Preliminary design of offshore wind turbines requires high precision simplified methods for the analysis of the system fundamental frequency. Based on the Rayleigh method and Lagrange's Equation, this study establishes a simple formula for the analysis of system fundamental frequency in the preliminary design of an offshore wind turbine with a monopile foundation. This method takes into consideration the variation of cross-section geometry of the wind turbine tower along its length, with the inertia moment and distributed mass both changing with diameter. Also the rotational flexibility of the monopile foundation is mainly considered. The rigid pile and elastic middle long pile are calculated separately. The method is validated against both FEM analysis cases and field measurements, showing good agreement. The method is then used in a parametric study, showing that the tower length Lt, tower base diameter d0, tower wall thickness δt, pile diameter db and pile length Lb are the major factors influencing the fundamental frequency of the offshore wind turbine system. In the design of offshore wind turbine systems, these five parameters should be adjusted comprehensively. The seabed soil condition also needs to be carefully considered for soft clay and loose sand.     

Seismic design of floor–wall joints of multi-storey CLT buildings to comply with regularity in elevation

The effects of irregularity in elevation of cross-laminated timber buildings have not been fully analysed in literature to provide useful information for the design. In this work, a number of building configurations, regular or irregular in elevation, characterized by a different arrangement per storey of the floor–wall joints have been analysed by means of non-linear dynamic analyses. Comparative results in terms of ratio between the behaviour q-factor of the investigated irregular configurations and that of reference regular ones, show that less dissipative capacity can be expected if the building is irregular due to a disequilibrium among storeys between the actual and the required strength provided by the floor–wall joints. A correlation method to estimate the behaviour q-factor for perfectly regular cross-laminated timber buildings is here presented and extended to in-elevation irregular ones. A new empirical formulation to assess the reliable corrective factor accounting for the irregularity in elevation of cross-laminated timber buildings, according to Eurocode 8 provisions, is also proposed. A final discussion about the implications of in-elevation irregularity on the building design is reported.     

Carcinogenic Risk Assessment of Trihalomethanes in Major Drinking Water Sources of Baghdad City

Three standard methodological approaches used for carcinogenic risk assessment of the four trihalomethanes (THMs) species: Dibromochloromethane (CHClBr₂), Bromodichloromethane (CHCl₂Br), Bromoform (CHBr₃) and Chloroform (CHCl₃), in water collected from public water supplies which included main water source (raw water of the Tigris River), water treatment plants (treated water) and distribution system (tap water) in Baghdad City. The total concentration of THMs ranged between 13.78 and 63.1 μg/L in winter and summer respectively. The occurrence of THMs followed the given order: CHClBr₂ (36%) > CHCl₂Br (27%) > CHCl₃ (25%) > CHBr₃ (12%). The annual levels of THMs concentrations in the distribution networks of Baghdad City ranged between 12 and 97.3 μg/L in winter and summer, respectively, and followed the given order: CHClBr₂ (37%) > CHCl₂Br (33%) > CHCl₃ (21%) > CHBr³ (9%). The World Health Organization (WHO) index for additive toxicity approach was in compliant with the WHO guideline value, and does not pose any adverse toxic health impacts. The hazard index does not suggest any potential noncancer risk to the exposed population, whereas the total multi-pathway cancer risk analysis suggests that total cancer risk exceeds the USEPA acceptable level of 10–6.     

Plant Species Richness Increased Belowground Plant Biomass and Substrate Nitrogen Removal in a Constructed Wetland

The effects of plant species richness on both above‐ and belowground plant biomass, plant nitrogen (N) pool size, and substrate N concentrations were studied in a full‐scale subsurface vertical‐flow constructed wetland (CW). Results showed that (i) plant species richness increased belowground plant biomass and its N pool size but had no effect on aboveground plant biomass and its N pool size; (ii) plant species richness increased substrate N removal, especially ammonium N removal; and (iii) plant species richness had no effect on plant N use efficiency, suggesting that the N pool size increased with increasing plant species richness. More N accumulation could be removed through harvesting plant biomass. We concluded that the N removal performance of the CW improved by plant species richness through increasing belowground biomass and relevant N pool size.     

利用P波初动测定地震计水平分向的定向偏差

基于P波质点振动方式和初动方向,设计一种测定地震计水平分向定向偏差的方法。通过旋转两水平分向波形获取P波优势能量方向,将旋转角度与地震方位角进行比较,得到地震计水平分向偏离正北方向的位置。再以地震计垂直向初动和已知震中确定台站初始速度的方向（即向源或离源方向）,依此初始速度方向在地震计坐标系中的位置,与水平分向实际记录初动符号所代表的方向进行确认,即可认定地震计水平分向的极性,进而确定地震计水平分向任一极性偏离的角度。     

Large aftershocks triggering by Coulomb failure stress following the 2001<Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis><Subscript>S</Subscript>=8.1 great Kunlun earthquake

The great Kunlun earthquake occurred on Nov. 14, 2001 in Qinghai Province, China. Five large aftershocks with magnitude larger than 5.0 occurred near the Kunlun fault after main shock. Calculations of the change in Coulomb failure stress reveal that 4 of 5 large aftershocks occurred in areas with Δσ_f>0 (10^?2–10^?1 MPa) and one aftershock occurred in an area with Δσ_f=?0.56 MPa. It is concluded that the permanent fault displacement due to the main shock is the main cause of activity of large aftershocks, but not the whole cause.     

The application of auto-temperature-controlled ventilation embankment in Qinghai-Tibet Railway

Auto-temperature-controlled ventilation embankment is an effective engineering measure for “cooling roadbed”. Practice proves that this new method can sufficiently make use of natural cold energy. It has the advantages of higher efficiency, better cooling effect and feasibility in engineering practice, and wider application in various environment, etc. And also, it is comparatively cheap in project cost. Through practice in the field for half a year, the testing results show that, with the application of auto-temperature-controlled system, the artificial permafrost table has been raised by 65 cm. The artificial permafrost table was basically at the embankment bottom, and the action of freeze-thaw circle on engineering stability was effectively avoided. In the month with highest ground temperature, in the scope with 1–4 m in depth, including the majority of the embankment and the upper part in the original seasonal layer, the ground temperature decreased by 0.7°C. Through thermal flux calculation in the original seasonal layer, in the month with the maximum thermal flux coming into permafrost, it is found that the thermal flux reduces nearly by half. Coming into the cooling period for nearly a month, the ground temperature in entire auto-temperature-controlled embankment is close to zero, and the foundation is at negative temperature. But in a large region in the embankment and foundation the ground temperature was over 0°C and varied from 0°C to0.39°C in ordinary ventilation embankment.     

云南地区中强地震连发及其调制比的时空展布特征

剖析并定义了云南地区1970～2001年中强地震连发,发现中强地震连发的时空展布具有空间分布按一定方向有规律迁移,时间分布集中于5～11个月的特点。利用小震调制比分析云南地区中强地震连发的孕震演变,结果发现小震调制比的异常特性：空间上中强震连发前2～0．5a的时段内小震调制比出现8个平方度以上的异常面积元,异常面积元集中的地区为未来中强震连发的主体区域,时间上中强震连发前1～3a出现小震调制比R。的高值异常。并用花岗岩块体受压实验结果初步探讨了中强地震连发及其调制比时空展布特征的构造活动。     

Shear waves in elastic medium with void pores welded between vertically inhomogeneous and anisotropic magnetoelastic semi-infinite media

The paper intends to study the propagation of horizontally polarized shear waves in an elastic medium with void pores constrained between a vertically inhomogeneous and an anisotropic magnetoelastic semi-infinite media. Elasto-dynamical equations of elastic medium with void pores and magnetoelastic solid have been employed to investigate the shear wave propagation in the proposed three-layered earth model. Method of separation of variables has been incorporated to deduce the dispersion relation. All possible special cases have been envisaged and they fairly comply with the corresponding results for classical cases. The role of inhomogeneity parameter, thickness of layer, angle with which the wave crosses the magnetic field and anisotropic magnetoelastic coupling parameter for three different materials has been elucidated and represented by graphs using MATHEMATICA.