A new model order reduction strategy adapted to nonlinear problems in earthquake engineering

Earthquake dynamic response analysis of large complex structures, especially in the presence of nonlinearities, usually turns out to be computationally expensive. In this paper, the methodical developments of a new model order reduction strategy (MOR) based on the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) method as well as its practical applicability to a realistic building structure are presented. The seismic performance of the building structure, a medical complex, is to be improved by means of base isolation realized by frictional pendulum bearings. According to the new introduced MOR strategy, a set of deterministic POD modes (transformation matrix) is assembled, which is derived based on the information of parts of the response history, so‐called snapshots, of the structure under a representative earthquake excitation. Subsequently, this transformation matrix is utilized to create reduced‐order models of the structure subjected to different earthquake excitations. These sets of nonlinear low‐order representations are now solved in a fractional amount of time in comparison with the computations of the full (non‐reduced) systems. The results demonstrate accurate approximations of the physical (full) responses by means of this new MOR strategy if the probable behavior of the structure has already been captured in the POD snapshots. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Earthquake Engineering & Structural Dynamics Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

A new type of isotopic anomaly in shergottite sulfides

The isotopic composition and abundance of sulfur in extraterrestrial materials are of interest for constraining models of both planetary and solar system evolution. A previous study that included phase‐specific extraction of sulfur from 27 shergottites found the sulfur isotopic composition of the Martian mantle to be similar to that of terrestrial mid‐ocean ridge basalts, the Moon, and nonmagmatic iron meteorites. However, the presence of positive Δ³³S anomalies in igneous sulfides from several shergottites, indicating incorporation of atmospherically processed sulfur into the subsurface, complicated this interpretation. The current study expands upon the previous work through analyses of 20 additional shergottites, enabling tighter constraints on the isotopic composition of juvenile Martian sulfur. The updated composition (δ³⁴S = ?0.24 ± 0.05‰, Δ³³S = 0.0015 ± 0.0016‰, and Δ³⁶S = 0.039 ± 0.054‰, 2 s.e.m.), representing the weighted mean for all shergottites within the combined population of 47 without significant Δ³³S anomalies, strengthens our earlier result. The presence of sulfur isotopic anomalies in igneous sulfides of some meteorites suggests that their parent magmas may have assimilated crustal material. We observed small negative Δ³³S anomalies in sulfides from two meteorites, NWA 7635 and NWA 11300. Although negative Δ³³S anomalies have been observed in nakhlites and ALH 84001, previous anomalies in shergottites have all shown positive values of Δ³³S. Because NWA 7635 has formation age of 2.4 Ga and is much more ancient than shergottites analyzed previously, this finding expands our perspective on the continuity of Martian atmospheric sulfur photochemistry over geologic time.     

Geochemistry of Sediments from the Lopare Basin (Bosnia and Herzegovina): Implications for Paleoclimate, Paleosalinity, Paleoredox and Provenance

A combined inorganic and organic geochemical study was carried out on marls and mudstones collected from the Lower Miocene Lopare Basin, Bosnia and Herzegovina. A total of 46 samples collected from two boreholes, Pot 1 (depth of 193 m) and Pot 3 (depth of 344 m), showed that element abundances like boron (B), lithium (Li), strontium (Sr), uranium (U), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na) and calcium (Ca) are much higher than average than in the upper continental crust (UCC). Chemical composition indicates at least two sources: (i) Mesozoic ophiolites occurring in the north of the investigated area, and (ii) dacito-andesitic pyroclastics (Mesozoic to Cenozoic). Lopare Basin sedimentation was influenced by strong evaporation resulting in a partly hypersaline lake, which formed during a warm climatic period, probably during the Miocene Climatic Optimum. A brief episode of humid climate conditions resulted in the basin filling-up and deposition of felsic sediments enriched in thorium (Th). Organic geochemistry shows that the majority of studied sediments contains predominantly immature to marginally mature algal organic matter (OM). The biomarker patterns are generally in agreement with the geological history of the Lopare Basin and inorganic and mineralogical data. Conversely, the molecular distribution of n-alkanes as reliable climatic and δ-MTTC as paleosalinity indicators do not support this conclusion.     

A place for place: Modelling and analysing platial representations

This editorial presents a special collection of papers addressing the concept of place and its use in geographical information science (GIScience). The concept of place is a topic of increasing interest among GIScience scholars. First attempts to formalise platial information have been made and it is increasingly held that user‐generated data sets in particular are often more platial than spatial in nature. At the same time, and especially when compared to geometric spatial concepts, the concept of place is ambiguous, complex and difficult to capture in formal and analytical terms, suggesting the need for interdisciplinary approaches. This collection presents articles covering a wide range of place‐related aspects, including both conceptual and more applied contributions. In the present editorial we summarise these and comment on their individual contributions, and hope that the readership of Transactions in GIS will find the special collection inspiring and informative.     

A comparison of biological trends from four marine ecosystems: Synchronies, differences, and commonalities

Major features of four marine ecosystems were analyzed based on a broad range of fisheries-associated datasets and a suite of oceanographic surveys. The ecosystems analyzed included the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, the Norwegian/Barents Seas in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, and the eastern Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska in the Northeast Pacific Ocean. We examined survey trends in major fish abundances, total system fish biomass, and zooplankton biomasses. We standardized each time series and examined trends and anomalies over time, using both time series and cross-correlational statistical methods. We compared dynamics of functionally analogous species from each of these four ecosystems. Major commonalities among ecosystems included a relatively stable amount of total fish biomass and the importance of large calanoid copepods, small pelagic fishes and gadids. Some of the changes in these components were synchronous across ecosystems. Major differences between ecosystems included gradients in the magnitude of total fish biomass, commercial fish biomass, and the timing of major detected events. This work demonstrates the value of comparative analysis across a wide range of marine ecosystems, suggestive of very few but none-the-less detectable common features across all northern hemisphere ocean systems.     

从多岛弧盆系构造看西特提斯造山系构造演化

本文通过综述近年西特提斯带主要缝合带的研究进展及所代表洋盆的发育特征,提出了古特提斯缝合带可能的位置和俯冲消亡方式.结合区域资料探讨了西特提斯带古生代末—中生代洋陆构造格局,认为东、西古特提斯洋完全可以类比,自晚古生代末西特提斯带主要受古特提斯大洋双向俯冲制约,在俯冲带后缘以二叠纪裂谷带为基础逐渐发展成中生代多岛弧盆系...     

Participatory and Integrated Research in Mountainous Regions of Thailand and Vietnam： Approaches and Lessons Learned

Introduction Until the late 1980s, the mountainous regions of northern Thailand and northern Vietnam were largely cut off from the rapid economic develop- ment in the urban centers such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Hanoi, and from the dynamics of the ‘gree…     

Crystallization and very rapid exhumation of the youngest Alpine eclogites (Tauern Window,Eastern Alps) from Rb/Sr mineral assemblage analysis

Multimineral Rb/Sr internal isochrons from eclogite facies rocks of the Eclogite Zone (Tauern Window, Eastern Alps) consistently yield an Early Oligocene age of 31.5±0.7 Ma. This age has been obtained both for late-prograde, dehydration-related eclogitic veins, and for rocks variably deformed and recrystallized under eclogite facies conditions (2.0–2.5 GPa, 600°C). Initial Sr-isotopic equilibria among all phases indicate absence of significant post-eclogitic isotope redistribution processes, therefore the ages date eclogite facies assemblage crystallization. Equilibria also prove that no prolonged pre-eclogite facies history is recorded in the rocks. Instead, subduction, prograde mineral reactions, and eclogitization proceeded rapidly. Fast exhumation immediately after eclogitization, with minimum rates >36 mm/a is inferred from a 31.5±0.5 Ma internal mineral isochron age of a post-eclogitic greenschist facies vein assemblage. Such rates equal typical subduction rates. Late Eocene to Early Oligocene subduction of the European continental margin, with subsequent rapid exhumation of high-pressure nappe complexes has previously been recognized only in the Western Alps. The new data signify synchronous continental collision all along the Alpine belt. Our results demonstrate the unique potential of Rb/Sr assemblage system analysis for precise dating of both eclogite facies and post-eclogitic events, thus for precisely constraining exhumation rates of deep-seated rocks, and for straightforward linkage of petrologic evidence with isotopic ages.     

Bemerkungen zur Kristallklassen-Systematik

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