Numerical well model for non-Darcy flow through isotropic porous media[*]This work was supported in part by the EPA under grant # R 825207-01-1, by the State of Texas under ARP/ATP grant # 010366-168 and by a gift grant from Mobil Oil Corp.

Numerical simulation of fluid flow in a hydrocarbon reservoir has to account for the presence of wells. The pressure of a grid cell containing a well is different from the average pressure in that cell and different from the bottom-hole pressure for the well [17]. This paper presents a study of grid pressures obtained from the simulation of single phase flow through an isotropic porous medium using different numerical methods. Well equations are proposed for Darcy flow with Galerkin finite elements and mixed finite elements. Furthermore, high velocity (non-Darcy) flow well equations are developed for cell-centered finite difference, Galerkin finite element and mixed finite element techniques.     

Experimental and analytical studies on the response of freestanding laboratory equipment to earthquake shaking

This paper presents results of a comprehensive experimental program on the seismic response of full‐scale freestanding laboratory equipment. First, quasi‐static experiments are conducted to examine the mechanical behavior of the contact interface between the laboratory equipment and floors. Based on the experimental results, the response analysis that follows adopts two idealized contact friction models: the elastoplastic model and the classical Coulomb friction model. Subsequently, the paper presents shake table test results of full‐scale freestanding equipment subjected to ground and floor motions of hazard levels with corresponding displacements that can be accommodated by the shake table at the UC Berkeley Earthquake Engineering Research Center. For the equipment tested, although some rocking is observed, sliding is the predominant mode of response, with sliding displacements reaching up to 60 cm. Numerical simulations with the proposed models are performed. Finally, the paper identifies a physically motivated intensity measure and the associated engineering demand parameter with the help of dimensional analysis and presents ready‐to‐use fragility curves. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural and nonstructural performance of a seismically isolated building using stable unbonded fiber‐reinforced elastomeric isolators

Stable unbonded fiber‐reinforced elastomeric isolators (SU‐FREIs) exhibit a characteristic horizontal softening and stiffening response, similar to other adaptive devices such as the triple friction pendulum and sliding systems with variable curvature. The transition between the softening and stiffening occurs at a displacement corresponding to a unique deformation known as full rollover. In this paper, the full rollover displacement of SU‐FREIs is altered by using modified support geometry (MSG), a geometric modification of the upper and lower supports applied to tailor the hysteresis loops of the isolator. Experimental results are used to calibrate a numerical model of a base‐isolated structure. The model demonstrates that the stiffening regime provides minimal restraint against displacements during events that meet or exceed the maximum considered earthquake. A parametric study revealed that the level of stiffening required to restrain displacements during large events is significant. This increase in stiffness is reflected in an increase in the response of the structure and light nonstructural components. Full rollover and MSG is considered advantageous to maintain horizontal stability and provide control over the stiffening of SU‐FREIs. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismic response of sliding equipment and contents in base‐isolated buildings subjected to broadband ground motions

Base isolation has been established as the seismic design approach of choice when it comes to protecting nonstructural contents. However, while this protection technology has been widely shown to reduce seismic demands on attached oscillatory equipment and contents (EC), its effectiveness in controlling the response of freestanding EC that are prone to sliding has not been investigated. This study examines the seismic behavior of sliding EC inside base‐isolated buildings subjected to broadband ground motions. The effect of isolation system properties on the response of sliding EC with various friction coefficients is examined. Two widely used isolation models are considered: viscously damped linear elastic and bilinear. The study finds isolation to be generally effective in reducing seismic demands on sliding EC, but it also exposes certain situations where isolation in fact increases demands on EC, most notably for low friction coefficients and high earthquake intensities. Damping at the isolation level is effective in controlling the EC sliding displacements, although damping over about 20% is found to be superfluous. The study identifies a physically motivated dimensionless intensity measure and engineering demand parameter for sliding equipment in base‐isolated buildings subjected to broadband ground motions. Finally, the paper presents easy‐to‐use design fragility curves and an example that illustrates how to use them. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Average spectral acceleration as an intensity measure for collapse risk assessment

This paper investigates the performance of spectral acceleration averaged over a period range (Sa_avg) as an intensity measure (IM) for estimating the collapse risk of structures subjected to earthquake loading. The performance of Sa_avg is evaluated using the following criteria: efficiency, sufficiency, the availability or ease of developing probabilistic seismic hazard information in terms of the IM and the variability of collapse risk estimates produced by the IM. Comparisons are also made between Sa_avg and the more traditional IM: spectral acceleration at the first‐mode period of the structure (Sa(T₁)). Though most previous studies have evaluated IMs using a relatively limited set of structures, this paper considers nearly 700 moment‐resisting frame and shear wall structures of various heights to compare the efficiency and sufficiency of the IMs. The collapse risk estimates produced by Sa_avg and Sa(T₁) are also compared, and the variability of the risk estimates is evaluated when different ground motion sets are used to assess the structural response. The results of this paper suggest that Sa_avg, when computed using an appropriate period range, is generally more efficient, more likely to be sufficient and provides more stable collapse risk estimates than Sa(T₁). Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seasonal abundance of non-commercial demersal fish in the eastern Mediterranean Sea in relation to hydrographic and sediment characteristics

Fish-habitat associations were investigated for twenty-five non-commercial demersal species in the Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean) using Generalized Additive Modeling techniques. Fishery related abundance indices, derived from experimental bottom trawl surveys, were linked to various habitat variables: substrate characteristics, area, season, depth, temperature and salinity. Depth was the most important factor for all species. Eleven species showed decreasing abundance with depth, while the remaining species were more abundant in specific depth zones either on the continental shelf or in the upper continental slope. Most species were associated with specific substratum characteristics such as the dry weight percentage of sand-gravel and the carbonate content. The dry weight percentage of sand-gravel in the sediments was selected as a predictor of the relative abundance of most (twenty three) species. Seasonal patterns in the relative abundance of species were observed, related in most cases to the seasonal differentiation of temperature. The effect of temperature was more pronounced in summer and autumn, when a marked thermocline is observed, while it was much less intense in winter. For most of the species, the preferable habitat was identified, that contributes valuable information for the successful implementation of an ecosystem approach to fisheries management.     

Incremental dynamic analysis for estimating seismic performance sensitivity and uncertainty

Incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) is presented as a powerful tool to evaluate the variability in the seismic demand and capacity of non‐deterministic structural models, building upon existing methodologies of Monte Carlo simulation and approximate moment‐estimation. A nine‐story steel moment‐resisting frame is used as a testbed, employing parameterized moment‐rotation relationships with non‐deterministic quadrilinear backbones for the beam plastic‐hinges. The uncertain properties of the backbones include the yield moment, the post‐yield hardening ratio, the end‐of‐hardening rotation, the slope of the descending branch, the residual moment capacity and the ultimate rotation reached. IDA is employed to accurately assess the seismic performance of the model for any combination of the parameters by performing multiple nonlinear timehistory analyses for a suite of ground motion records. Sensitivity analyses on both the IDA and the static pushover level reveal the yield moment and the two rotational‐ductility parameters to be the most influential for the frame behavior. To propagate the parametric uncertainty to the actual seismic performance we employ (a) Monte Carlo simulation with latin hypercube sampling, (b) point‐estimate and (c) first‐order second‐moment techniques, thus offering competing methods that represent different compromises between speed and accuracy. The final results provide firm ground for challenging current assumptions in seismic guidelines on using a median‐parameter model to estimate the median seismic performance and employing the well‐known square‐root‐sum‐of‐squares rule to combine aleatory randomness and epistemic uncertainty. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Shear wave velocity structure in western Thessaloniki (Greece) using mainly alternative SPAC method

The aim of the paper is the definition of the material parameters of sediments in the western part of Thessaloniki useful in the prediction of strong ground motion. The region of interest is elongated in the E–W direction and is confined between the Kalochori suburb and the harbor of Thessaloniki, while in the N–S direction it is extended between the coastline and the region of sediments and outcrop rock boundary. Many geological and seismotectonic studies, as well as geophysical surveys with electrical soundings and geotechnical boreholes, contribute to our understanding of the general sedimentary structure. Nonetheless, these studies could not provide any information regarding the material stiffness in terms of shear wave velocity; the most useful parameter in site response studies.     

Experimental and analytical studies on the response of 1/4-scale models of freestanding laboratory equipment subjected to strong earthquake shaking

This paper investigates the seismic response of freestanding equipment when subjected to strong earthquake motions (2% probability of being exceeded in 50 years). A two-step approach is followed because the displacement limitations of the shake table do not permit full-scale experiments. First, shake table tests are conducted on quarter-scale wooden block models of the equipment. The results are used to validate the commercially available dynamic simulation software Working Model 2D. Working Model is then used to compute the response of the full-scale freestanding equipment when subjected to strong, 2% in 50 years hazard motions. The response is dominated by sliding, with sliding displacements reaching up to 70 cm. A physically motivated dimensionless intensity measure and the associated engineering demand parameter are identified with the help of dimensional analysis, and the results of the numerical simulations are used to obtain a relationship between the two that leads to ready-to-use fragility curves.     

Ground motion records for seismic performance assessment: To rotate or not to rotate?

The response of a non‐circular structure strongly depends on the orientation of the horizontal ground motion components vis‐à‐vis the structure's principal axes. At the same time, the structural response is also a function of accelerogram characteristics that give rise to considerable record‐to‐record variability even when the incident angle is neglected. Therefore, when the structural orientation relative to the fault geometry is unknown and we have limited resources for estimating the distribution of structural response given the seismic intensity, the question arises as to whether it is preferable to use (1) few records rotated to multiple orientations, (2) many records, each at a random incident angle, or (3) some combination of the two. To this purpose, we subjected several single‐degree‐of‐freedom systems and one plan‐asymmetric multi‐degree‐of‐freedom structure to a pulsive and a non‐pulsive set of ground motions using different combinations of record set size and incident angle rotations. In all cases, the natural record‐to‐record variability of the (unrotated) waveforms clearly outweighed the influence of the record orientation. In addition, the choice of an intensity measure that utilizes the geometric mean of spectral accelerations in both horizontal axes at one or more periods of vibration was found to further enhance this difference, essentially nullifying the already small effect of the incident angle. In all cases, spending any significant proportion of the limited number of dynamic analyses to incorporate the effect of incident angle was detrimental to the fidelity of the estimated performance.