Empirical model for estimating Fourier amplitude spectra of ground acceleration in Taiwan region

A collection of ground‐motion recordings (1070 acceleration records) of moderate (5.1⩽M_L⩽6.5) earthquakes obtained during the execution of the Taiwan Strong Motion Instrumentation Program (TSMIP) since 1991 was used to study source scaling model and attenuation relations for a wide range of earthquake magnitudes and distances and to verify the models developed recently for the Taiwan region. The results of the analysis reveal that the acceleration spectra of the most significant part of the records, starting from S‐wave arrival, can be modelled accurately using the Brune's ω‐squared source model with magnitude‐dependent stress parameter Δσ, that should be determined using the recently proposed regional relationships between magnitude (M_L) and seismic moment (M₀) and between M₀ and Δσ. The anelastic attenuation Q of spectral amplitudes with distance may be described as Q=225 ƒ^1.1 both for deep (depth more than 35 km) and shallow earthquakes. The source scaling and attenuation models allow a satisfactory prediction of the peak ground acceleration for magnitudes 5.1⩽M⩽6.5 and distances up to about 200 km in the Taiwan region, and may be useful for seismic hazard assessment. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Distribution, partitioning and fluxes of dissolved and particulate organic C, N and P in the eastern North Pacific and Southern Oceans

Concurrent distributions of dissolved and suspended particulate organic carbon (DOC and POC_susp), nitrogen (DON and PON_susp) and phosphorus (DOP and POP_susp), and of suspended particulate inorganic phosphorus (PIP_susp), are presented for the open ocean water column. Samples were collected along a three-station transect from the upper continental slope to the abyssal plain in the eastern North Pacific and from a single station in the Southern Ocean. The elemental composition of surface sedimentary organic matter (SOM) was also measured at each location, and sinking particulate organic matter (POM_sink) was measured with moored sediment traps over a 110-d period at the abyssal site in the eastern North Pacific only. In addition to elemental compositions, C : N, C : P and N : P ratios were also calculated. Surface and deep ocean concentrations of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and inorganic nutrients between the two sites displayed distinct differences, although suspended POM (POM_susp) concentrations were similar. Concentrations of DOM and POM_susp displayed unique C, N and P distributions, with POM_susp concentrations generally about 1–2 orders of magnitude less than the corresponding DOM concentrations. These differences were likely influenced by different biogeochemical factors: whereas the dissolved constituents may have been influenced more by the physical regime of the study site, suspended particulate matter may have been controlled to a greater extent by biological and chemical alteration. Up to 80% of total particulate P in POM_susp, POM_sink and SOM consisted of PIP. For all organic matter pools measured, elemental ratios reveal that organic P is preferentially remineralized over organic C and organic N at both sites. Increases in C : P and N : P ratios with depth were also observed for DOM at both sites, suggesting that DOP is also preferentially degraded over C and N as a function of depth. A simple one-dimensional vertical eddy diffusion model was applied to estimate the contributions of dissolved and suspended particulate organic C, N and P fluxes from the upper mixed layer into the permanent thermocline. Estimated vertical DOM fluxes were 28–63% of the total organic matter fluxes; POM_susp and POM_sink fluxes were 8–20 and 28–52% of the total.     

Seismic hazard and uncertainty analysis of the Taiwan area

The objectives of this paper are (1) to obtain estimates on the effect of uncertainties of the hazard model, and (2) to evaluate the seismic hazard in Taiwan for structural analysis and design purposes. The seismic hazard in the Taiwan area is presented in terms of an iso-acceleration map. Such a map is developed for return periods of peak ground acceleration of 225 years and 475 years. The contour map of b-values and mean occurence rates for this region is also presented. Uncertainty analyses of model parameters in hazard analysis are concentrated on the analysis of dispersion of PGA values and the probabilistic modeling of stationary and nonstationary Poisson models of occurrences. Th e overall results are considered to be conservative since for most uncertainty analyses the more conservative values are used.     

Engineering analyses of smart 1 array accelerograms

Presented are the results of engineering analyses of selected accelerograms recorded by the SMART 1 strong motion array in Taiwan which is described in a companion paper by B. A. Bolt, Y. B. Tsai, K. Yeh and M. K. Hsu, entitled Earthquake Strong Motions Recorded by a Large Near-source Array of Digital Seismographs. These analyses include (1) transformations to principal axes, (2) generation of Fourier amplitude spectra, (3) development of generalized response spectrum ratios for characterizing multi-support excitations and (4) moving window analyses in the time and frequency domains for studying the spatial variations of recorded ground motions.     

Multimedia Risk-Based Soil Cleanup at a Gasoline-Contaminated Site Using Vapor Extraction

At a utility service center, gasoline from an underground storage tank had leaked into subsurface vadose zone soils for several years. To remediate the site, a soil vapor extraction (SVE) system was installed and operated. At the completion of the SVE operation, gasoline-containing residues in several confirmation soil borings exceeded agency-mandated cleanup levels. Rather than continue with SVE, a risk-based approach was developed to evaluate what levels of gasoline-containing residues could be left in the soil and still protect human health. The risk-based approach consisted of simulating the fate of chemical residues through the vadose zone and then into both the ground water and atmosphere. Receptor point concentrations were predicted, and health risks were assessed. The risk assessment concluded that ingestion of contaminated ground water and inhalation of air while showering were the largest potential contributors to risk, and that risks associated with inhalation of vapor-containing ambient air are small. However, all predicted risks are below the acceptable risk levels of 10⁻⁶ individual cancer risk probability and 1.0 hazard index. Therefore, the lead agency accepted the recommendation that the site requires no further remediation. The service center continues normal operations today.     

Seismic demand based on damage control model—considering basin effect and source effect

The Park and Ang damage model was used as the "Structural Damage Control Model" to study the seismic design parameters. This damage control model included the displacement ductility and hysteretic energy in the analysis of elastic-perfect-plastic single-degree-of-freedom system. Based on this damage control model, the reduction factor and yield base shear coefficient are discussed. Seismic data collected from Taipei basin were used to examine the code-provided yield base shear coefficient which reflects the influence of using a damage control model in the seismic design parameter. Effects of seismic source as well as Taipei basin topography are also considered in examining the variation of yield base shear coefficient.     

Determination of first mode ground period and site-dependent design response spectrum for Taiwan High Speed Rail

The objective of this paper is to identify the first mode ground period T_g, at each interesting site along Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) route, and further, to determine the site-dependent design response spectrum for particular sites with T_g larger than 1 s. In this paper, a linear model of shear wave propagating in a multi-layered half-space is developed to identify the first mode ground period T_g of an interesting site on the basis of the field bore hole data. Furthermore, for each one of the strong ground motion observation stations within the Chiayi-Tainan area, the first mode ground period T_g was identified by either coda waves or pre-event ambient vibrations from the seismograms. In addition, the site-specific parameter C_v in defining the normalized response spectrum was also determined based on the observed strong ground motions at the specified observation station, and hence the empirical function between T_g and C_v can be regressed for this interesting area. Therefore, for a particular site along THSR route within the Chiayi-Tainan area, the site-specific parameter C_v can be determined from the regressed empirical function by the identified first mode ground period T_g, and further, used to develop the site-dependent design response spectrum.     

Vibration‐based damage assessment of steel structure using global and local response measurements

Damage assessment of a structure involves acquiring and identifying dynamic characteristics of the structure and using these characteristics to evaluate behavior and performance. In this study, an unsymmetrical three‐story steel structure (fabricated with one weak column in the first floor) was tested on shaking table and subjected to a series of earthquake excitations with increasing level of excitation back to back. Besides, white noise excitation was also applied in between the earthquake excitation to serve as the reference state. Both the traditional sensing system (accelerometer and linear variable differential transformer) and the local optical tracker system were implemented in the structure to collect the vibration‐based responses. For operational modal analysis, structural response from white noise excitation will be used in this study. First, the traditional system identification using global response data is used (multivariate autoregressive (AR)‐model) to extract system natural frequencies and mode shapes from all different set of white noise responses after earthquake excitation. The migration of AR‐coefficient ellipse error from each sensor response was used to identify the damage location. Second, blind source separation technique was used to identify the modal contribution of the structure from each test, which provide information to detect the damage severity. Finally, from the local optical tracker array data, the principal component analysis was applied to quantify the earthquake‐induce local stress of the structural member. Combine the result from damage detection using global measurement and the identified local element stress, one can locate and quantify the damage. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Heavy metal distribution and accumulation in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spartina alterniflora</Emphasis> from the Andong tidal flat,Hangzhou Bay,China

In order to study the heavy metal accumulation and distribution in the roots, stems, and leaves of Spartina alterniflora, we collected S. alterniflora samples and the associated sediments along three transects at the Andong tidal flat, Hangzhou Bay. Co, Ni, Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn were mainly accumulated in the aerial parts (stems and leaves) of the plants, and their distributions depended on their mobility and their roles during the metabolism processes of S. alterniflora. The concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, and Pb were significantly enhanced with the increasing of heavy metal concentrations in the sediments, while those of Co and Ni remained relatively constant. Bioaccumulation factors results showed that the serious heavy metal contamination in the sediments from the transect A may overwhelm the accumulation capability of the plants. In addition, the physicochemical properties of the sediments and the pore water therein also play a role in the heavy metal concentrations and accumulations in the plants, because they can influence the behaviors and bioavailabilities of heavy metals during nutrition and bioaccumulation processes of the plants. The sediments with vegetation did not show significantly decreased heavy metal concentration with respect to the unvegetated sediments, although the plants did absorb heavy metals from the sediments. Principal component analysis and correlation analyses indicated that Co–Ni, Cu–Cd–Hg behaved coherently during accumulation, which may be ascribed to their similar accumulation mechanisms. This work provided essential information on the heavy metal accumulation by plants in a tidal flat, which will be useful for the environmental control through phytoremediation at estuaries.