Structural response for stochastic kinematic interaction

The influence of stochastic kinematic interaction (SKI) on structural response is investigated in this paper. The SKI is evaluated through a computational model based on the boundary element method (BEM) formulated in the frequency domain. The singular integrals required in the computation of BEM are evaluated in a closed form. It is assumed that the foundation input motion (FIM) is the result of the superposition of many plane, stationary, correlated stochastic SH‐, P‐ and SV‐waves travelling within a homogeneous viscoelastic soil at different angles. The results obtained indicate that the effect of SKI on the foundation response is qualitatively similar to that of wave passage. Both effects involve a reduction of translational components of the response at intermediate and high frequencies and creation of a rotational response component at intermediate frequencies, which decreases at high frequencies. While, it is found that the SKI decreases the maximum response of structures built on embedded rigid strip foundations excited by SH‐ and P‐waves, it increases the maximum response for SV‐waves, except when the natural frequency of the structure is less than 0.5 Hz and for short structures excited by shallowly incident SV‐waves. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Clay minerals in fluvial shaley sandstone of upper Triassic reservoir (TAGS)—Toual field SE Algeria: identification from wireline logs and core data

The creep property of rock under cyclic loading is very important in civil engineering. In order to establish a novel constitutive equation for rock under cyclic loading, a fractional-order viscoplastic body under cyclic loading was constructed based on fractional-order viscous element. A fractional-order visco-elastoplastic model (FVEPM) for rock was established by connecting constructed fractional-order viscoplastic body with Burgers model. The model was a Burgers model when the maximum value of cyclic loading was less than the critical strength of rock; otherwise, it was a FVEPM which can be used to reflect the transient, steady-state, and tertiary creep phases of rock. The cyclic loading was decomposed into a static load and a cyclic loading with a zero average stress. According to rheological mechanics theory, the rheology constitutive equation of rock under the static load can be derived. According to viscoelastic mechanics theory, the constitutive equation under cyclic loading with a zero average stress was established by introducing the variation parameters of energy storage and energy dissipation compliance caused by rock damage and fracture. Finally, a new dynamic constitutive equation of rock cyclic loading can be obtained by superimposing the constitutive equation under static load and cyclic loading with a zero average stress. Compared with existing test results of rock under cyclic loading, the proposed constitutive model can be used to describe the creep characteristics of rock under cyclic loading and reflect the presented fluctuation of strain curve of rock under cyclic loading.     

On the role of pre-existing discontinuities on the micromechanical behavior of confined rock samples: a numerical study

The deformation process and failure mechanism of rock mass with increased density of initial joints subjected to confined stress state are investigated in this study using discrete element method (DEM). A numerical model of standard size granite samples is developed and validated using experimental data for both intact and jointed rocks. The micro-parameters of the rock material are first determined, and the effects of the rock discontinuity on strength, deformability, stress–strain relationship, and failure modes are then investigated at the macro-scale level. Analyses are also performed to examine the tensile and shear crack distributions, fragmentation characteristics, particle kinematics, and energy dissipation to advance the current understanding of the deformation processes and failure mechanisms of jointed rock masses. The microscopic evolutions in the fabric and force anisotropy during loading and distributions of contact forces provide insights into the influence of increasing initial jointing on the macroscopic deformational behavior of the rock. The results show how the deceleration in the growth of fabric and contact force anisotropies develops and confirms that the increase in initial jointing and the associated changes in microstructure can restrain the development of anisotropy, thereby reducing significantly the strength of the rock samples.

     

Using microtremors for microseismic zonation in Cairo’s crowded, urban areas

In order to determine the fundamental period of soil vibrations in Cairo, 174 microtremors stations, in conjunction with mobile accelerographs, were used. The result was a collection of long-period microtremors and ambient noise arising from cultural disturbances. The Nile Valley shows some fixed peaks at 2.5–3.5 Hz at the center of the basin, while the Nile’s surrounding area shows a fundamental peak of 4–5 Hz, leaving a 5–7-Hz resonance peak for the sand-like, gravelly soil from Abbasiya to the airport. A frequency-dependent soil amplification map is drawn, which includes seismic microzonation maps for Cairo. Based on the above, a maximum acceleration map for two important earthquakes affecting Egypt in the last century is produced (Faiyum, 1992, and Aqaba, 1995).     

Upper mantle anisotropy beneath central and southwest Japan: An insight into subduction-induced mantle flow

Analysis of seismic anisotropy in the crust and mantle wedge above subduction zones gives much information about the dynamic processes inside the Earth. For this reason, we measure shear wave polarization anisotropy in the crust and upper mantle beneath central and southwestern Japan from local shallow, intermediate, and deep earthquakes occurring in the subducting Pacific slab. We analyze S phases from 198 earthquakes recorded at 42 Japanese F-net broadband seismic stations. This data set yields a total of 980 splitting parameter pairs for central and southwestern Japan. Dominant fast polarization directions of shear waves obtained at most stations in the Kanto–Izu–Tokai areas are oriented WNW–ESE, which are sub-parallel to the subduction direction of the Pacific plate. However, minor fast polarization directions are oriented in NNE–SSW directions being parallel to the strike of the Japan Trench, especially in the north of Izu Peninsula and the northern Tokai district. Generally, fast directions obtained at stations located in Kii Peninsula and the Chubu district are oriented ENE–WSW, almost parallel to the Nankai Trough, although some fast directions have NW–SE trends. The fast directions obtained at stations in northern central Honshu are oriented N–S. Delay times vary considerably and range from 0.1 to 1.25 s depending on the source depth and the degree of anisotropy along the ray path. These lateral variations in splitting character suggest that the nature of anisotropy is quite different between the studied areas. Beneath Kanto–Tokai, the observed WNW–ESE fast directions are probably caused by the olivine A-fabric induced by the corner flow. However, the slab morphology in this region is relatively complicated as the Philippine Sea slab is overriding the Pacific slab. This complex tectonic setting may induce lateral heterogeneity in the flow and stress state of the mantle wedge, and may have produced NNE–SSW orientations of fast directions. The ENE–WSW fast directions in Kii Peninsula and the Chubu district are more coherent and may be partly induced by the subduction of the Philippine Sea plate. The N–S fast directions in northern central Honshu might be produced by the trench-parallel stretching of the wedge due to the curved slab at the arc–arc junction.     

三维MCSEM利用电磁场分解消除空气波效应

对于浅水域可控源电磁勘探,在资料处理和解释过程中需要消除空气波影响,电磁场上下场分解方法是消除这种影响的一种有效手段.为了快速有效实现电磁场分解,假定电磁场沿水平方向变化缓慢,基于麦克斯韦方程组,本文推导了一种仅利用电磁场水平梯度实现电磁场分解新方法.数值试验表明利用这种分解方法可以得到稳定可靠的分解结果,同时论证了这种方法是一种海洋可控源电磁法（MCSEM）数据快速定性解释手段.     

Quality Assessment of Southeast Nile Delta Groundwater for Irrigation

The Nile Delta aquifer has deteriorated in the quality of the groundwater due to domestic, agricultural and industrial activities. In order to examine this, a dataset of thirty-one shallow groundwater samples and four surface water samples were collected in May 2014. The objective of our study is to investigate the hydrochemical characteristics of the groundwater at El-Khanka region in El-Qalubia governorate, southern Nile Delta to discuss the possibility of groundwater use for agricultural purpose. Groundwater types were defined, and the suitability for use in irrigation was evaluated. The factor analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between the thirteen variables for exploring the loading of them in the model. Then, the principal component analysis was performed to identify the linear combination of variables that account for the greatest amount of common variance. Results showed that groundwater samples are mainly alkaline with an average pH value of 8.60. The total dissolved solids (TDS) range from 350 to 1456 mg/L. The highest concentrations of the anions and cations are sulfate (\(\rm{SO}_4^{2-}\)) and sodium (Na⁺) respectively. The residual sodium carbonate (RSC) is less than 1.25 meq/L. Also, all groundwater samples are located in good and permissible salinity with TDS < 1500 mg/L. In addition, all samples are located in the low sodium hazard zone where sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) is less than 10. Therefore, it is concluded that, the groundwater is suitable for irrigation use in El-Qalubia Governorate. Four factors with Eigenvalues above 1.0 which correlated to each other contributed to the model with 81% of the total variance and governed the spatial variability of the aquifer.     

Evaluation of plan configuration irregularity effects on seismic response demands of L-shaped MRF buildings

Damage assessments after past earthquakes have frequently revealed that plan configuration irregular buildings have more severe damage due to excessive torsional responses and stress concentration than regular buildings. The plan configuration irregularities introduce major challenges in the seismic design of buildings. One such form of irregularity is the presence of re-entrant corners in the L-shaped buildings that causes stress concentration due to sudden changes in stiffness and torsional response amplification; hence causes early collapse. A constructive research into re-entrant corner and torsional irregularity problems is essentially needed greater than ever. Therefore, the focus of this study is to investigate structural seismic response demands for the class of L-shaped buildings through evaluating the plan configuration irregularity of re-entrant corners and lateral–torsion coupling effects on measured seismic response demands. The measured responses include story drift, inter-story drift, story shear force, overturning moment, torsion moment at the base and over building height, and torsional irregularity ratio. Three dimensional finite element model for nine stories symmetric buildings as reference model is developed. In addition, six L-shaped building models are formulated with gradual reduction in the plan of the reference building model. The results prove that building models with high irregularity are more vulnerable due to the stress concentration and lateral torsional coupling behavior than that with regular buildings. In addition, the related lateral shear forces in vertical resisting elements located on the periphery of the L-shaped buildings could be significantly increased in comparison with the corresponding values for a symmetric building.     

Quantifying Modern Recharge and Depletion Rates of the Nubian Aquifer in Egypt

Egypt is currently seeking additional freshwater resources to support national reclamation projects based mainly on the Nubian aquifer groundwater resources. In this study, temporal (April 2002 to June 2016) Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE)-derived terrestrial water storage (TWS_GRACE) along with other relevant datasets was used to monitor and quantify modern recharge and depletion rates of the Nubian aquifer in Egypt (NAE) and investigate the interaction of the NAE with artificial lakes. Results indicate: (1) the NAE is receiving a total recharge of 20.27 ± 1.95 km³ during 4/2002?2/2006 and 4/2008–6/2016 periods, (2) recharge events occur only under excessive precipitation conditions over the Nubian recharge domains and/or under a significant rise in Lake Nasser levels, (3) the NAE is witnessing a groundwater depletion of ? 13.45 ± 0.82 km³/year during 3/2006–3/2008 period, (4) the observed groundwater depletion is largely related to exceptional drought conditions and/or normal baseflow recession, and (5) a conjunctive surface water and groundwater management plan needs to be adapted to develop sustainable water resources management in the NAE. Findings demonstrate the use of global monthly TWS_GRACE solutions as a practical, informative, and cost-effective approach for monitoring aquifer systems across the globe.     

Exploring Groundwater Resources and Recharge Potentialities at El-Gallaba Plain,Western Desert,Egypt

Egypt has a fast-growing population rate of 2.5%/year; consequently, there is an increase in the water demand for living and launching different development plans. Meanwhile, there is intensive construction of several dams in the upstream Nile basin countries. Thus, it is necessary to search for new water resources to overcome the expected shortages of the Nile water supply by focusing on alternative groundwater resources. El-Gallaba Plain area is one of the most promising areas in the western desert of Egypt attaining the priority for new reclamation projects; however, its hydrogeological setting is not well understood. The present work aims at identifying the recharge potential of the groundwater aquifers in El-Gallaba Plain, as well as exploring the role of geologic structures as natural conduits, and evaluating the groundwater types, origin and distribution. The integration of hydrogeophysical studies (aero and land magnetic surveys, vertical electrical sounding), hydrochemical analyses and remote sensing were successfully used for assessing the groundwater development potential. The hydrogeophysical studies show a large graben bound aquifer with thickness exceeding 220 m. The hydrochemical results indicate the presence of three major water types; Na mix, Na Cl, Na Cl HCO₃ with salinities ranging between 227 and 4324 mg/L. The aquifer receives little recharge from the western fractured calcareous plateau from past pluvial periods and scarce present flashfloods. There is no indication for recent recharge from Lake Nasser to the aquifer domain. Further modeling studies are essential for establishing sustainable abstraction levels from this aquifer.