Selective controlled base isolation system with magnetorheological dampers

A base isolation system composed of low‐damping isolation bearings and magnetorheological (MR) fluid dampers is described. The MR fluid changes its properties under the influence of a magnetic field resulting in a damper with characteristics that may be modified in real time. This feature enables optimal control under changing excitations in a stable and cost‐effective manner. The voltage is applied according to a selective control strategy. According to the proposed approach the dampers are activated only within a given range of the base displacements. The selective control improves the efficiency of the system and significantly reduces the control forces required for an optimal structural behaviour. Models of five‐ and eight‐storey buildings are used to study the efficiency of the proposed system. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Active viscous damping system with amplifying braces for control of MDOF structures

The development and the applications of an active controlled viscous damping device with amplifying braces are described. The system of the dampers, defined as active viscous damping system (AVDS), connected to an amplifying brace (AB) is presented herein. Instantaneous control theory with velocity and acceleration feedback is used to obtain the control forces at each time step during an excitation. Control of the damping forces is possible due to the mechanical structure of the proposed AVDS, and the connection to the AB. The proposed system can be efficiently used to enhance the damping of a structure without modifying its stiffness. The added damping forces can be adjusted in a wide range. The efficiency of the presented system is demonstrated by a numerical simulation of a seven‐storey building subjected to earthquakes. The simulation shows a considerable reduction of control forces required for control to the AVDS with AB, compared to the same system without AB. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

青藏高原北羌塘半岛湖新生代粗面玄武岩橄榄石电子探针和激光探针分析

利用电子探针和激光探针剥蚀系统（LA-ICP-MS），对北羌塘新第三纪粗面玄武岩中的橄榄石主元素和微量、稀土元素进行了系统分析。结果表明，本区橄榄石Fo平均为88，属贵橄榄石种属。相对富集Ni、Co和重稀土，而强烈亏损轻稀土及Rb、Sr、Ba、Zr等大离子亲石元素。其稀土元素配分型配分型式与粗面玄武岩全岩稀土配分型式呈互补状态。     

Use of chemical tracing to study acquisition modalities of the mineralization and behaviour of unconfined groundwaters under a semi-arid climate: the case of the Souss plain (Morocco)

The chemical content of the Souss unconfined groundwater displays spatial variations in conductivity (between 400 and 6,000 µS cm^-1). The chemical tracers (Cl^-, SO₄^2-, Sr²⁺, Br^-), which characterize the different components of the groundwater, allowed the determination of the origin of water salinity. Cl^- and SO₄^2-, reaching respectively 2,000 and 1,650 mg L^-1, display localized salinity anomalies. Br^-/Cl^- ratio distinguishes marine-influenced impoverished zones versus the oceanic domain. Thus, salinity anomalies can be attributed: (1) downstream, to a currently existing salt-encroachment (with added waste water) and sedimentary palaeosalinity, (2) in the middle-Souss, to High Atlas evaporites and to irrigation water recycling. Sr²⁺/Ca²⁺ ratio (evaporites if >1‰), confirms the evaporitic origin of the anomalies along the right bank of oued Souss. Furthermore, it facilitates the distinction between the different aquifer contributions (Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic), and it highlights leakage from deep Turonian limestones in the groundwater recharge system. To the south, recharge is from the Anti Atlas (evaporite-free) waters. Oxygen-18 measurements confirm the groundwater recharge from the High and Anti Atlas as piezometric maps and chemical tracers suggested, plus from leakage from the Turonian and the marine aquifers.     

Combination of Dependent Realizations Within the Gradual Deformation Method

Gradual deformation is a parameterization method that reduces considerably the unknown parameter space of stochastic models. This method can be used in an iterative optimization procedure for constraining stochastic simulations to data that are complex, nonanalytical functions of the simulated variables. This method is based on the fact that linear combinations of multi-Gaussian random functions remain multi-Gaussian random functions. During the past few years, we developed the gradual deformation method by combining independent realizations. This paper investigates another alternative: the combination of dependent realizations. One of our motivations for combining dependent realizations was to improve the numerical stability of the gradual deformation method. Because of limitations both in the size of simulation grids and in the precision of simulation algorithms, numerical realizations of a stochastic model are never perfectly independent. It was shown that the accumulation of very small dependence between realizations might result in significant structural drift from the initial stochastic model. From the combination of random functions whose covariance and cross-covariance are proportional to each other, we derived a new formulation of the gradual deformation method that can explicitly take into account the numerical dependence between realizations. This new formulation allows us to reduce the structural deterioration during the iterative optimization. The problem of combining dependent realizations also arises when deforming conditional realizations of a stochastic model. As opposed to the combination of independent realizations, combining conditional realizations avoids the additional conditioning step during the optimization process. However, this procedure is limited to global deformations with fixed structural parameters.     

The Petrology and Geochemistry of Calc-Alkaline Andesites on Shodo-Shima Island, SW Japan

Petrographical and geochemical characteristics of calc-alkalineandesites on Shodo-Shima Island, SW Japan, having bulk compositionslargely identical to the continental crust, are presented. Thefollowing petrographic observations suggest a role for magmamixing in producing such andesite magmas: (1) two types of olivinephenocrysts and spinel inclusions, one with compositions identicalto those in high-Mg andesites and the other identical to thosein basalts, are recognized in terms of Ni–Mg and Cr–Al–Fe³⁺relations, respectively; (2) the presence of orthopyroxene phenocrystswith mg-number >90 suggests the contribution of an orthopyroxene-bearinghigh-Mg andesite magma to production of calc-alkaline andesites;(3) reversely zoned pyroxene phenocrysts may not be in equilibriumwith Mg-rich olivine, suggesting the involvement of a differentiatedandesite magma as an endmember component; (4) the presence ofvery Fe-rich orthopyroxene phenocrysts indicates the associationof an orthopyroxene-bearing rhyolitic magma. Contributions fromthe above at least five endmember magmas to the calc-alkalineandesite genesis can also provide a reasonable explanation ofthe Pb–Sr–Nd isotope compositions of such andesites. KEY WORDS: calc-alkaline andesites; high-Mg andesites; magma mixing; continental crust; SW Japan     

Rates of Deglaciation during the Last Glaciation and Holocene in the Cordillera Vilcanota-Quelccaya Ice Cap Region, Southeastern Perú

Moraine chronology is combined with digital topography to model deglacial rates of paleoglacier volumes in both the Huancané Valley on the west side of the Quelccaya Ice Cap and the Upismayo Valley on the northwest side of the Cordillera Vilcanota. The fastest rates of deglaciation (39×10⁻⁵ to 114×10⁻⁵ km³ yr⁻¹ and 112×10⁻⁵ to 247×10⁻⁵ km³ yr⁻¹ for each valley, respectively) were calculated for the most recent paleoglaciers, corresponding to the last few centuries. These results are consistent with observations in the Venezuelan Andes showing high rates of deglaciation since the Little Ice Age. These rates also fall within the range of 20th century rates of deglaciation measured on the Quelccaya Ice Cap (29×10⁻⁵ to 220×10⁻⁵ km³ yr⁻¹, Brecher and Thompson, 1993; Thompson, 2000). These results imply that rates of deglaciation may fluctuate significantly over time and that high rates of deglaciation may not be exclusive to the late 20th century. Equilibrium line altitude (ELA) depressions for the ice volumes of the last glaciation modeled here were computed as 230 m for the Quelccaya Ice Cap and 170 m for the Cordillera Vilcanota. Maximum ELA depressions are lower than previously published: <500 m for the Cordillera Vilcanota and <400 m for the Quelccaya Ice Cap. These lower values could imply a topographic control over paleoglacier extent.     

Analyzing CO2 emissions mitigation by technology improvement in Central and Eastern Europe

As a legacy of the centrally planned economy, the economies in transition of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) have a unique potential to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions through the improvement in their high energy intensities. Since much of this `low-hanging fruit' in energy-efficiency improvements can be highly cost-effective, many developed countries facing difficulties in meeting their greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets domestically are eager to find such opportunities in the CEE region. Therefore, studies analysing the potentials and costs of carbon dioxide reduction through technology improvement in the region have come into the limelight. While there are a few excellent studies in the region aimed at analysing climate change abatement potentials, they all embark on different assumptions, methodologies and boundary conditions. It is hence difficult, if not impossible, to compare and analyse the results of these studies across different authors, countries or time horizons. Consequently, the purpose of this paper is to place four leading studies on GHG mitigation through technology improvement from the CEE region into an internationally comparable framework. Four studies were selected from three countries, Poland, Hungary and Estonia, which are all the results of major national and international efforts to assess costs and potentials of GHG reduction. The paper places their assumptions, methods and final results into a framework which enables policy-makers and project designers to compare these across geographical and technological boundaries. Since other studies from around the globe have been analysed in this framework in the literature, this paper provides a vehicle for the findings of these four studies to be compared to others worldwide. In addition, the paper highlights a few areas where similar studies to be completed in the future in the region may be enhanced by incorporating features used in GHG mitigation research in other parts of the world. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Crack damage stress as a composite function of porosity and elastic matrix stiffness in dolomites and limestones

Twenty-five uniaxial compression tests were performed to determine stress at onset of dilation, referred to herein as “the crack damage stress,” in heterogeneous dolomites and limestones. A simplified model for crack damage stress (σ_cd) is developed here using porosity, elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio and three empirical coefficients. The model shows that when porosity decreases and elastic modulus increases, σ_cd rapidly increases and approaches its maximum value. On the other hand, when porosity increases and elastic modulus decreases, σ_cd rapidly decreases and approaches its minimum value. The proposed model is validated for six heterogeneous limestone and dolomite formations which are widely distributed in Israel.