Bi-directional pseudodynamic test of a full-size three-storey building

The reliability of a Pseudodynamic (PsD) test depends primarily on the accuracy of the control system. Difficulties arise mainly when the method is applied to very stiff or very heavy structures or to structures with a high number of Degrees of Freedom (DoFs). This paper describes the bi-directional PsD testing of a full-size three-storey building. The tested specimen is a composite structure with plan dimensions of 12×16 m and height of 9·5 m, made of steel columns and beams combined with composite reinforced concrete slabs. The PsD test included the application of two uncorrelated accelerograms along the horizontal directions X and Y. Since the structure was not symmetric about the Y-axis, the possibility of torsion was considered by taking into account both horizontal displacements and the yaw rotation at every floor. Three displacement-controlled hydraulic actuators were thus used at each floor to impose these three DoFs while a fourth actuator with special control strategy was added to optimize the distribution of loads among the pistons. The validity of the testing methodology was verified by performing also a dynamic random burst test on the specimen which was afterwards pseudodynamically reproduced. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Increased phagocytic activity in contaminated seastars (Asterias rubens) collected in the Southern Bight of the North Sea

In invertebrates, the phagocytosis exerted by immune cells constitutes the main line of internal defence against offending microorganisms. This study assessed during two consecutive years the phagocytic activity in seastars (Asterias rubens) collected in stations along the Belgian and Dutch coasts. The contamination of these seastars by metals and PCBs were measured in parallel. Increased phagocytic activities were found in seastars collected in the plume of the Scheldt river. This correlated with the contamination of seastars by metals, mainly Pb, but not with the contamination by the analysed PCB congeners. Furthermore, the relationship between phagocytosis and metal contamination was reproducible from one year to another. The possible mechanisms explaining this effect are discussed in light of a direct or indirect link between phagocytic activity and metal contamination of seastars.     

Methods for Industrial Measurement and Basic Principles of Their Choices

In this paper,a variety of industrial objects are systematically analyzed.Ten methods for industrial measurement are summarized.For each method,its nature,advantages,disadvantages and adaptability are briefly given.The basic principles to choose the right industrial method are indicated.     

Approximate representation of thep-norm distribution

［1］Liu D J,Shi W Z,Tong X H,et al.Precision analysis and quality cont rol of GIS spatial data.Shanghai:Shanghai Publishing House of Scientific Documen ts,1999 ［2］Chen X R,Fang Z B,Li G Y,et al.Non_parameter statistics.S hanghai:Shanghai Publishing House of Science and Technology,1989 ［3］Li Q H,Tao B Z.Application of probability statistical theory in survey ing.Beijing:Beijing Publishing House of Surveying and Mapping,1982 ［4］Sun H Y.p_norm distribution theory and its application in surveyin g data processing:[Ph.D Thesis].Wuhan:Wuhan Technical University of Surveying and Mapping,1995     

King George Island GIS (KGIS) project of WGGGI —A state of the art

The presentation contains information on existing geodetic data for King George Island obtained from the questionnaires distributed among the members of the WGGGI.     

KGI-XGIS SUPPORTING DECISION MAKING WITH KNOWLEDGE-BASED TECHNIQUES

1　ＩｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎＫｉｎｇＧｅｏｒｇｅＩｓｌａｎｄ (ＳｏｕｔｈＳｈｅｔｌａｎｄＩｓｌａｎｄｓ,Ａｎｔａｒｃｔｉｃａ)ｉｓｏｎｅｏｆｔｈｅｍｏｓｔｄｅｎｓｅｌｙｐｏｐｕｌａｔｅｄａｒ ｅａｓｉｎＡｎｔａｒｃｔｉｃａ .Ｐｅｒｍａｎｅｎｔｓｔａｔｉｏｎｓｏｆｎｉｎｅｄｉｆｆｅｒ ｅｎｔｎａｔｉｏｎｓａｎｄａｎａｉｒｓｔｒｉｐｓｕｉｔａｂｌｅｆｏｒｈｕｇｅａｉｒ ｃｒａｆｔｓａｒｅｌｏｃａｔｅｄｏｎｉｔｓｉｃｅｆｒｅｅａｒｅａｓ.Ｔｈｅｓｅａｒｅａｓｃｏｍｐｒｉｓｅｌｅｓｓｔｈａｎ 5%ｏｆｔｈｅｉｓｌ…     

4D data fusion technique in urban waterlog-draining decision support system

This paper studies urban waterlog-draining decision support system based on the 4D data fusion technique.4D data includes DEM,DOQ,DLG and DRG.It supplies entire databases for waterlog forecast and analysis together with non-spatial fundamental database.Data composition and reasoning are two key steps of 4D data fusion.Finally,this paper gives a real case: Ezhou Waterlog-Draining Decision Support System (EWDSS) with two application models,i.e.,DEM application model,water generating and draining model.     

Pb and Co removal from paint industries effluent using wood ash

The release of heavy metals into the environment is a worldwide major concern. Different studies have demonstrated that natural agents have a high removal capacity for divalent heavy metal ions. Wood ash is a natural adsorbent and, in comparison with others, has a very low price. In this study, the removal of heavy metals (Pb and Co) from Binalood paint industry (Kerman, Iran) effluent was investigated in batch condition. Pb and Co measurement in samples were done with atomic absorption equipment and test methods were adapted from standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. The effect of pH and the amount of adsorbent was determined and different adsorption isotherms were also obtained. This study shows that the adsorption process follows the adsorption Langmuir isotherm. The amount of wood ash has a great role in the adsorption rate and adsorption rate increased as wood ash increased. In the study, the reactions reached equilibrium in 3 h contact time. The maximum Pb removal efficiency was 96.1 % at pH 2 with a contact time of 3 h and 100 g/L wood ash and the maximum Co removal efficiency was 99 % at pH 2 with a contact time of 3 h and 100 g/L wood ash. According to the results, wood ash is recommended as a low cost and available adsorbent to remove Pb and Co from municipal and industrial wastewaters.     

Simulation of spatial and temporal trends in nitrate concentrations at the regional scale in the Upper Dyle basin,Belgium

Models are the only tools capable of predicting the evolution of groundwater systems at a regional scale, by taking into account a large amount of information. This study presents the association of a water balance model (WetSpass) with a groundwater flow and solute transport model (SUFT3D, saturated and unsaturated flow and transport in 3D) in order to simulate the present and future groundwater quality in terms of nitrate in the Upper Dyle basin (439 km²) Belgium. The HFEMC (hybrid finite element mixing cell) method implemented in the SUFT3D code is used to model groundwater flow and nitrate transport. Spatially distributed recharge, modelled with WetSpass, is considered for prescribing the recharge to the groundwater flow model. The feasibility of linking the WetSpass model with the finite-elements SUFT3D code is demonstrated. Time evolution and distribution of nitrate concentration are then simulated using the calibrated model. Nitrate inputs are spatially distributed according to land use. The spatial simulations and temporal trends are compared with previously published data on this aquifer and show good results.