Settlements of saturated clean sand deposits in shaking table tests

Shaking table tests were conducted on saturated clean Vietnam sand in the large biaxial laminar shear box (1880 mm×1880 mm×1520 mm) at the National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE), Taiwan. The settlement of sand specimens was measured and evaluated during and after each shaking test. Without liquefaction, the settlement of sand caused by shaking is very small. Significant volume changes occur only when there is liquefaction of sand. The volumetric strain of liquefied sand was calculated according to the measured settlement and the thickness of liquefied sand in the specimen. Relations between volumetric strain after liquefaction and the relative density of saturated clean sand were developed for various shaking durations and earthquake magnitudes. They are not affected by the shaking amplitude, frequency, and direction (one- or multidirectional shaking).     

A 3D discrete FEM iterative algorithm for solving the water pipe cooling problems of massive concrete structures

Water pipe cooling has been widely used for the temperature control and crack prevention of massive concrete structures such as high dams. Because both under‐cooling and over‐cooling may reduce the efficiency of crack prevention, or even lead to great harm to structures, we need an accurate and robust numerical tool for the prediction of cooling effect. Here, a 3D discrete FEM Iterative Algorithm is introduced, which can simulate the concrete temperature gradient near the pipes, as well as the water temperature rising along the pipes. On the basis of the heat balance between water and concrete, the whole temperature field of the problem can be computed exactly within a few iteration steps. Providing the pipe meshing tool for building the FE model, this algorithm can take account of the water pipe distribution, the variation of water flow, water temperature, and other factors, while the traditional equivalent algorithm based on semi‐theoretical solutions can only solve problems with constant water flow and water temperature. The validation and convergence are proved by comparing the simulated results and analytical solutions of two standard second‐stage cooling problems. Then, a practical concrete block with different cooling schemes is analyzed and the influences of cooling factors are investigated. In the end, detailed guidance for pipe system optimization is provided. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Consolidation in spatially random unsaturated soils based on coupled flow‐deformation simulation

This paper integrates random field simulation of soil spatial variability with numerical modeling of coupled flow and deformation to investigate consolidation in spatially random unsaturated soil. The spatial variability of soil properties is simulated using the covariance matrix decomposition method. The random soil properties are imported into an interactive multiphysics software COMSOL to solve the governing partial differential equations. The effects of the spatial variability of Young's modulus and saturated permeability together with unsaturated hydraulic parameters on the dissipation of excess pore water pressure and settlement are investigated using an example of consolidation in a saturated‐unsaturated soil column because of loading. It is found that the surface settlement and the pore water pressure profile during the process of consolidation are significantly affected by the spatially varying Young's modulus. The mean value of the settlement of the spatially random soil is more than 100% greater than that of the deterministic case, and the surface settlement is subject to large uncertainty, which implies that consolidation settlement is difficult to predict accurately based on the conventional deterministic approach. The uncertainty of the settlement increases with the scale of fluctuation because of the averaging effect of spatial variability. The effects of spatial variability of saturated permeability k_sat and air entry parameters are much less significant than that of elastic modulus. The spatial variability of air entry value parameters affects the uncertainties of settlement and excess pore pressure mostly in the unsaturated zone. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Identifying effects of local and nonlocal factors of soil water storage using cyclical correlation analysis

There are various factors governing the spatial and temporal variability of soil water storage including soil properties, topography and vegetation. Some factors act locally, whereas others act nonlocally, which means that a factor measured at one location has effect on soil water storage at another location. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of local and nonlocal controls of soil water storage in a hummocky landscape using cyclical correlation analysis. Soil water storage, soil properties and terrain indices were measured along a 128‐point transect of 576 m long from the semiarid, hummocky, prairie pothole region of North America. There are large coefficients of determination (r²) between soil water storage and sand content (r² = 0.32–0.53), organic carbon content (r² = 0.22–0.56), depth to carbonate layer (r² = 0.13–0.63), wetness index (r² = 0.25–0.45) and other variables at the measurement scale at different times, indicating strong local effects from these variables. The correlation coefficients were also calculated by physically shifting the spatial series of soil water storage with respect to that of controlling factors. The shifting improves the correlation between the spatial series, and the length of shifting indicated the difference in the response of soil water to its controlling factors. For example, the value of r² increased more than eightfold (r² = 0.47–0.64) after shifting the spatial series of soil water storage by 54 m, almost equal to the average length of existing slope, compared with the very weak correlation (r² = 0.02–0.08) at the measurement scale. This indicated the nonlocal effect from the relative elevation. The identification of nonlocal effects from factors improves the prediction of soil water storage. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Upwelling-enhanced seasonal stratification in a semiarid bay

The role of wind-driven upwelling in stratifying a semiarid bay in the Gulf of California is demonstrated with observations in Bahía Concepción, Baja California Sur, Mexico. The stratification in Bahía Concepción is related to the seasonal heat transfer from the atmosphere as well as to cold water intrusions forced by wind-driven upwelling. During winter, the water column is relatively well-mixed by atmospheric cooling and by northwesterly, downwelling-favorable, winds that typically exceed 10 m/s. During summer, the water column is gradually heated and becomes stratified because of the heat flux from the atmosphere. The wind field shifts from downwelling-favorable to upwelling-favorable at the beginning of summer, i.e., the winds become predominantly southeasterly. The reversal of wind direction triggers a major cold water intrusion at the beginning of the summer season that drops the temperature of the entire water column by 3–5 °C. The persistent upwelling-favorable winds during the summer provide a continuous cold water supply that helps maintain the stratification of the bay.     

Post-independence population planning and social development in Singapore

The unique and remarkable post-independence demographic transition of Singapore, from high to low growth, has been accompanied by an equally spectacular social transformation. Both population control and social change have a positive impact on the fertility trend. Singapore's population policy has been dictated much by the crisis consciousness of the leadership which has been able to create a high degree of awareness among its population with regard to fertility.Ironically, public response to the government's population control has been too successful, particularly so among the upper-income groups. This has recently prompted the government to examine the sustained low fertility rate which, if unchecked, will bear serious social, economic, political and defence consequences in 20 to 30 years time. The aim of the current fertility campaign is to reachieve the replacement level, first reached in 1975, through the correction of the lopsided procreation pattern. As such, some disincentives have remained or been removed, while several new incentives and measures have been introduced. Observations are made with regard to the future fertility trends.     

1988年四川八美5级地震参数和前兆的研究

本文对1988年6月四川省道孚八美(即乾宁)4.5、5.0、4.0级地震前后地震活动进行了研究,给出了地震参数、P波初动解、余震序列和前兆变化的分析及未来地震危险性的讨论。     

红石泉铀矿床黑云母与晶质铀矿同步富集作用探讨

红石泉铀矿床是以岩浆气成热液成矿作用占主导地位的复成因型铀矿床。研究结果表明,黑云母的结晶时间明显晚于伟晶状白岗岩中的长石、石英等主要造岩矿物,这是由白岗质 岩浆本身的物质成分和物理化学条件所决定的。岩体边缘的黑云母与晶质铀矿同步富集作用是以元素地球化学和矿物热力学作用为主导的地质作用。黑云母与晶质铀矿结晶时间相近,具有一定的成因联系,并且,其组份具有明显的亲缘性是二者密切共生的原因。     

物理过程和分辨率对西南涡演变的中尺度模拟影响

本文运用PSU/NCAR中尺度模式第四改进型(MM_4),对“81.7”四川暴雨期西南涡的演变进行了一系列96和72小时数值模拟;其目的在于研究模式物理过程和空间分辨率以及行星边界层(PBL)参数化对西南涡生成和发展模拟的影响。96小时的控制试验(方案Ⅰ)结果表明:水平分辨率160km和总体PBL的10层MM_4对西南涡发展模拟得较好,但对其生成只有初步模拟的能力;各种物理过程主要影响西南涡演变的强度,而对其位置影响较小;去掉潜热释放会显著影响西南涡在后期的发展;没有地面通量将使西南涡的生成和发展强度明显减弱;于试验不能模拟出西南涡在整个暴雨期的发展,且使其移速略快,无摩擦试验指出,地面摩擦对西南涡的生成是不重要的。提高模式空间分辨率和采用高分辨PBL模式,能使西南涡生成和发展位置的模拟有明显改进,但其强度一般偏强于实况。事实表明,进一步完善模式物理过程、改进PBL参数化和提高模式空间分辨率将是十分必要的。