The near-field method: a modified equivalent linear method for dynamic soil–structure interaction analysis. Part I: Theory and methodology

This paper presents a new direct modeling approach to analyze 3D dynamic SSI systems including building structures resting on shallow spread foundations. The direct method consists of modeling the superstructure and the underlying soil domain. Using a reduced shear modulus and an increased damping ratio resulted from an equivalent linear free-field analysis is a traditional approach for simulating behavior of the soil medium. However, this method is not accurate enough in the vicinity of foundation, or the near-field domain, where the soil experiences large strains and the behavior is highly nonlinear. This research proposes new modulus degradation and damping augmentation curves for using in the near-field zone in order to obtain more accurate results with the equivalent linear method. The mentioned values are presented as functions of dimensionless parameters controlling nonlinear behavior in the near-field zone. This paper summarizes the semi-analytical methodology of the proposed modified equivalent linear procedure. The numerical implementation and examples are given in a companion paper.     

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.     

Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and saprophyticus resistant to antimicrobials isolated from the Lebanese aquatic environment

The indiscriminate use of antimicrobials especially in developing countries has evoked serious bacterial resistance and led to the emergence of new and highly resistant strains of bacteria to commonly used antimicrobials. In Lebanon, pollution levels and bacterial infections are increasing at a high rate as a result of inadequate control measures to limit untreated effluent discharges into the sea or freshwater resources. The aim of this study was to isolate and molecularly characterize various Staphylococcus strains isolated from sea water, fresh water, sediments, and crab samples collected from representative communities along the coast of Lebanon. The results on the antimicrobial resistance indicated that the level of resistance of Staphylococcus aureus varied with various antimicrobials tested. The resistance patterns ranged between 45% in freshwater isolates and 54.8% in seawater ones. Fifty one percent of the tested isolates have shown resistance to at least one of the five tested antimicrobials; with seawater isolates exhibiting the highest rates of antimicrobial resistance.     

Application of Fuzzy Set Theory to Rock Engineering Classification Systems: An Illustration of the Rock Mass Excavability Index

The characterization of rock masses is one of the integral aspects of rock engineering. Over the years, many classification systems have been developed for characterization and design purposes in mining and civil engineering practices. However, the strength and weak points of such rating-based classifications have always been questionable. Such classification systems assign quantifiable values to predefined classified geotechnical parameters of rock mass. This results in subjective uncertainties, leading to the misuse of such classifications in practical applications. Fuzzy set theory is an effective tool to overcome such uncertainties by using membership functions and an inference system. This study illustrates the potential application of fuzzy set theory in assisting engineers in the rock engineering decision processes for which subjectivity plays an important role. So, the basic principles of fuzzy set theory are described and then it was applied to rock mass excavability (RME) classification to verify the applicability of fuzzy rock engineering classifications. It was concluded that fuzzy set theory has an acceptable reliability to be employed for all rock engineering classification systems.     

Machine learning-assisted distinct element model calibration: ANFIS,SVM, GPR,and MARS approaches

Acta Geotechnica - Particle-based discrete element modeling is commonly used in the numerical analysis of geomaterials. However, for the construction of such models, micromechanical parameters...     

Comparing public rationales for justice trade-offs in mitigation and adaptation climate policy dilemmas

Despite a great deal of research on public perceptions of climate change science, very little empirical work has attempted to investigate how members of the lay public might evaluate the justice dilemmas inherent within climate policy decision-making. This exploratory study contrasts arguments about justice from a mitigation perspective, with those from an adaptation perspective and draws insights about the contours of politically acceptable climate policy. Using think-aloud protocols and a structured elicitation approach with members of the lay public to generate quantitative and qualitative data, this study suggests that the two types of climate policy trigger different sets of arguments about justice. When asked about mitigation burden-sharing participants overwhelmingly invoke arguments about causality. In contrast, in discussions of adaptation participants emphasized the needs of the afflicted parties and their ability to cope. Furthermore, social and spatial distances were not a factor in allocation of mitigation burdens, but were used to discount the distribution of compensation towards adaptation. These initial data about public perceptions of justice in this area suggest that the public would view adaptation and mitigation as complements not substitutes. These findings also highlight the importance of exploring public reactions to the sub-components of climate policy individually.     

Learning from integrated assessment of climate change

The objective of integrated assessment of climate change is to put available knowledge together in order to evaluate what has been learned, policy implications, and research needs. This paper summarizes insights gained from five years of integrated assessment activity at Carnegie Mellon. After an introduction, in Section 2 we ask: who are the climate decision makers? We conclude that they are a diffuse and often divergent group spread all over the world whose decisions are primarily driven by local non-climate considerations. Insights are illustrated with results from the ICAM-2 model. In Section 3 we ask: what is the climate problem? In addition to the conventional answer, we note that in a democracy the problem is whatever voters and their elected representatives think it is. Results from studies of public understanding are reported. Several other specific issues that define the problem, including the treatment of aerosols and alternative indices for comparing greenhouse gases, are discussed. In Section 4 we discuss studies of climate impacts, focusing on coastal zones, the terrestrial biosphere and human health. Particular attention is placed on the roles of adaptation, value change, and technological innovation. In Section 5 selected policy issues are discussed. We conclude by noting that equity has received too little attention in past work. We argue that many conventional tools for policy analysis are not adequate to deal with climate problems. Values that change, and mixed levels of uncertainty, pose particularly important challenges for the future.     

Potential map of gas hydrate formation in Caspian Sea based on physicochemical stability evaluation of methane hydrate

Preliminary studies of Caspian Sea have shown the possibility of gas hydrate accumulations, because of suitable physicochemical conditions, existence of clayey deposits, and high concentrations of organic matter. Studies have indicated that gas hydrates are mainly composed of methane. Therefore, based on physicochemical equations for methane hydrate stability in different pressure, temperature, and salinity, this study was designed to calculate the potential of gas hydrate formation in the Caspian Sea basin. For this, data of more than 600 locations were analyzed and in each location, upper and lower limits of methane hydrate formation zone were calculated. Then, the zoning maps of upper and lower limits were prepared which can be useful for exploring the gas hydrate as an energy source or predicting gas hydrate hazards. According to the calculations and maps, methane hydrate formation in Caspian Sea, theoretically, can take place from near the seabed to 4000 and 2500 m beneath the sea surface when low and high geothermal gradient are supposed, respectively. By comparing the results with gas hydrate zones revealed in geophysical profiles, it has been shown that, in Caspian Sea, gas hydrates probably accumulate near the lower limit when a high geothermal gradient is assumed.     

Experimental study on the settlement of marine deposits of Anzali under cyclic loading by laminar box apparatus

The central Alborz mountain range, located in northern Iran, neighboring the Caspian Sea and where the two Persia and Eurasia plates meet, is known as a seismologically active area. In this regard, investigation of the behavior of saturated sand deposits located in this area may be of particular interest. Saturated sand deposits are subjected to instabilities owing to liquefaction or volume change due to earthquake shakings. A particular type of saturated sand deposits is Anzali sand which is abundant in Anzali port and other cities located in this area in northern Iran. This type of sand is a representative for most sands found in this area, i.e., the southern coastal line of Caspian Sea. This research is solely focused on the volume change behavior of marine deposits of Anzali area, often characterized as Anzali sand, in terms of the settlement of a model footing located on the surface of the sand by the aid of a transparent laminar shear box apparatus. Effects of a number of factors such as the frequency of the cyclic loading, the initial density of the sand, and the sample preparation method have been investigated. Observations indicated that the density index and the frequency of loading which are proportional to the energy of an earthquake have direct effects on the accumulation and amount of the final settlement of Anzali sand.     

The near-field method: a modified equivalent linear method for dynamic soil–structure interaction analysis. Part II: verification and example application

Usually for modeling of soil in a direct soil–structure interaction (SSI) problem, the equivalent linear soil properties are used. However, this approach is not valid in the vicinity of a foundation, where the soil experiences large strains and a high level of nonlinearity because of structural vibrations. The near-field method was developed and described in a companion paper to overcome this limitation. This method considers the effects of large strains and suggests a shear modulus and a damping ratio further modified in the near-field of a foundation. Validity and performance of this approach are evaluated, application examples are explained and the results of a parametric study about the role of soil and structure parameters in the extent of SSI effects on the nonlinear seismic response of structures are presented in this paper. One real existing and five, ten, fifteen and twenty story moment-resisting frame steel buildings with two different site conditions corresponding to firm and soft soils are considered and the responses obtained from the near-field method are compared with the recorded and rigorous responses. Moreover, various SSI modeling techniques are employed to investigate the accuracy and performance of each approach. The results show that the near-field method is a simple yet accurate enough approach for analysis of direct SSI problems.