Interaction between torsional and axial pile responses

The effect of axial load on the torsional pile response and the effect of torque on the axial pile response are investigated. To perform this investigation, a computer program was developed which uses the transfer matrix method to analyse a pile supported by a series of coupled axial and torsional elasto-plastic springs. The study indicated that the ultimate torsional and axial pile capacities, as well as the axial displacements and rotations, are significantly affected by the combined load action.     

Piles under axial and torsional loads

An analysis of axially and torsionally loaded piles is presented in which the pile is treated as an elastic bar supported on two series of interacting non-linear axial and torsional springs. The characteristics of these springs depend on the soil properties and the diameter of the pile as well as on the interaction between the axial and torsional response. Predicted pile responses are compared to the results of model tests conducted on piles installed in a soft clay bed and loaded with combined axial and torsional loads. Both experimental results and theoretical predictions show that a torque applied to the pile head affects significantly the settlement and the axial bearing capacity of the pile.     

Atmospheric temperature response to variations in CO2 concentration and the solar-constant

The response of the Earth's global mean vertical atmospheric temperature structure to large increases in the atmospheric CO₂ concentration was examined using a 1-D radiative-convective atmospheric model. It was found that the greenhouse warming of the terrestrial surface can be strongly inhibited by the development of a more isothermal, moister and higher troposphere than at present. The saturation of the strong CO₂ infrared bands for high CO₂ concentrations further inhibits the greenhouse warming to such an extent that a runaway greenhouse fuelled only by a rise in the atmospheric CO₂ is not possible. However, a continuously rising solar-constant does eventually lead to a runaway.     

Radiative energy partition and cloud radiative forcing at a Po valley site

Values of downward and upward flux densities of solar and terrestrial radiation were continuously recorded between 1 December 2001 and 30 November 2002 using a four-components radiometer at S. Pietro Capofiume (SPC) in northern Italy (44°39′N, 11°37′E, alt. 11 m a.m.s.l.), which is characterized by a weakly-reflective surface. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of clouds on surface radiation balance (SRB); the cloud fraction (N) has been retrieved through the inverted form of the parameterization proposed by Kasten and Czeplak [Solar Energy 24 (1980) 177] and cloud types estimated following the methodology of Duchon and O'Malley [J. Appl. Meteorol. 38 (1999) 132]. The cloud radiative forcing (CRF) was evaluated through the Bintanja and Van den Broeke [Int. J. Climatol. 16 (1996) 1281] formula and then associated with cloud type. Experimental results showed that during the measuring period the net shortwave (Sw) balance always decreased with increasing N, whereas the net longwave (Lw) balance increased in all seasons. The net radiation available at the surface decreased with increasing N in all seasons except in winter, where no significant dependency was detected.The analysis of the cloud radiative forcing indicates that all seasons were characterized by a net cooling of the surface except winter, where clouds seem to have no effects on the surface warming or cooling. Taking into account the dependence on solar radiation cycle, an intercomparison between the retrieved cloud types seems to indicate that the effect of stratus was a slight cooling whereas that of cumulus clouds was a stronger cooling of the surface. On the contrary, cirrus clouds seem to have slight warming effect on the surface.The annual trends of mean monthly values of shortwave and longwave radiation balances confirmed that the measurement site is characterized by a temperate climate. Moreover, in spite of the cooling effect of clouds, a monthly radiative energy surplus is available all year long for surface–atmosphere energy exchanges. The analysis is also instrumental for the detection of SRB variations.     

A new digital method for three-dimensional stress analysis in elastic media

SummaryA New Digital Method for Three-Dimensional Stress Analysis in Elastic Media A new method for three-dimensional stress analysis in elastic media is outlined. According to this approach the problem is formulated purely in terms of conditions prevailing at the bounding surfaces of an elastic body. Stress and displacements on these surfaces, as well as inside the body, are expressed in terms of the superimposed effect of a set of basic solutions having suitable properties.The method is developed in matrix form. Some general properties of the governing matrices are established with a view to developing suitable numerical procedures.The convergence characteristics of two iterative schemes are considered.The paper concludes with observations concerning the generality of the approach.

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ZusammenfassungNeues digitales Verfahren zur dreidimensionalen Spannungsanalyse in elastischen Medien In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden die Grundlagen eines neuen Verfahrens der dreidimensionalen Spannungsanalyse beschrieben.Die Behandlung des allgemeinen Problems der Gebirgsmechanik, d. h. die Bestimmung der Spannungs- und Verschiebungsverteilungen in der Umgebung von untertägigen Hohlräumen, mit Hilfe konventioneller Verfahren — wie z. B. der Methode der Finiten Elemente — hat den Nachteil, daß der gesamte Gebirgskörper berücksichtigt werden muß. Dies hat zur Folge, daß sich realistische dreidimensionale Probleme auch mit modernsten Digitalrechnern nicht mehr innerhalb annehmbarer Rechenzeiten lösen lassen. Das hier vorgestellte Verfahren vermeidet diese Schwierigkeiten durch eine Formulierung, die ausschließlich die Randbedingungen an den Begrenzungsflächen des Mediums verwendet. Spannungen und Verschiebungen an diesen Flächen sowie im Inneren des Gebirgskörpers werden als Überlagerungseffekt einer Reihe von Grund-Lösungen mit geeigneten Eigenschaften ausgedrückt.Aus Gründen der Einfachheit wird in dieser Arbeit nureine solche Grund-Lösung verwendet. Diese beschreibt die Wirkungen einer Einzelkraft, die an einem Punkt eines unendlichen Mediums angreift. Mit Hilfe dieser Lösung kann die Wirkung eines Aggregates derartiger Kräfte in Matrizenform ausgedrückt werden.Läßt man eine Einzelkraft an jedem infinitesimalen Element einer kontinuierlichen Fläche angreifen, dann können die Spannungs- und Verschiebungsverteilungen im Körper mit Hilfe der an dieser Fläche herrschenden Randbedingungen beschrieben werden. Begrenzt die Fläche einen geschlossenen Hohlraum, so trennt sie das Medium in einen inneren und einen äußeren Teil. Auf diese Art entstehen zwei Problemklassen: Während der innere Bereich die Spannungsanalyse von Ingenieurbauten beinhaltet, entspricht der äußere Bereich dem Hohlraumproblem der Gebirgsmechanik.Die beschriebene Formulierung mittels Matrizen ist für beide Bereiche gültig. Es wird jedoch gezeigt, daß die entsprechenden Matrizen charakteristisch unterschiedliche Eigenschaften haben. Diese Beobachtung ist von grundlegender Bedeutung für die Entwicklung numerischer Lösungsverfahren. Die Konvergenz-Charakteristiken zweier Iterativ-Schemata werden in Betracht gezogen.Zusammenfassend wird noch einmal die generelle Gültigkeit des Verfahrens betont. Weitere Grund-Lösungen und ihre Anwendung auf spezielle Probleme werden erwähnt.

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RésuméUne nouvelle méthode pour la solution de problèmes à trois dimensions dans la théorie de l'élasticité Les auteurs élaborent une nouvelle méthode pour la solution de problèmes à trois dimensions dans la théorie de l'élasticité.En Mécanique des Roches, lorsque les excavations sont situées dans une masse infinie de roches, les méthodes courantes, telle que les éléments finis, ont le désavantage d'avoir à opérer sur une quasi-infinité d'éléments. Il en résulte que l'analyse de configurations réelles à trois dimensions devient impossible même avec les plus grands ordinateurs modernes. La nouvelle méthode évite ces difficultés en reformulant le problème entièrement en fonction des conditions régnant aux limites de la configuration. Les tensions et les déplacements aux limites, ainsi qu'à l'intérieur de la masse, sont produits par les actions superposées d'un ensemble convenablement choisi de fonctions — solutions élémentaires.Pour alléger l'exposé on n'a employé qu'une seule fonction — solution dans cette publication. Elle décrit l'action d'une force concentrée en un point d'un milieu infini. Les actions d'une distribution de pareilles forces concentrées peuvent s'exprimer sous forme matricielle.En appliquant une force concentrée à chaque élément infinitésimal d'une surface continue située dans le milieu on arrive à exprimer les tensions et les déplacements en un point quelconque en fonction des conditions régnant sur cette surface.Si cette surface est fermée elle divise le milieu en une région intérieure et une région extérieure, ce qui donne lieu a deux classes de problèmes. Le problème intérieur se présente surtout en Résistance des Matériaux, tandis que le problème extérieur se recontre en Mécanique des Roches.Le formalisme matriciel mentionné ci-dessus est applicable dans les deux régions. Cependant il apparaît que les matrices associées ont des propriétés foncièrement différentes. Cette constatation est de première importance lors de l'élaboration de méthodes de solutions numériques ayant recours à l'ordinateur.Deux procédés de calculs appropriés sont analysés dans cette publication.Dans leurs conclusions les auteurs mettent de nouveau en relief la généralité de la méthode. Quelques exemples de fonctions — solutions élémentaires, différentes de la fonction — solution (force concentrée) employée dans cette publication, sont cités.

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With 3 Figures     

Extending the application of integral frame abutment bridges in earthquake‐prone areas by using novel isolators of recycled materials

Integral abutment bridges (IABs) are jointless structures without bearings or expansion joints which require minimum or zero maintenance. The barrier to the application of long‐span integral abutment bridges is the interaction of the abutment with the backfill soil during the thermal expansion and contraction of the bridge deck, that is, serviceability, or when the bridge is subjected to dynamic loads, such as earthquakes. The interaction of the bridge with the backfill leads to settlements and ratcheting of the soil behind the abutment and, as a result, the soil pressures acting on the abutment build up in the long term. This paper provides a solution for the aforementioned challenges by introducing a novel isolator that is a compressible inclusion of reused tyre‐derived aggregates placed between the bridge abutment and the backfill. The compressibility of typical tyre‐derived aggregates was measured by laboratory tests, and the compressible inclusion was designed accordingly. The compressible inclusion was then applied to a typical integral frame abutment model, which was subjected to static and dynamic loads representing in‐service and seismic loads correspondingly. The response of both the conventional and the isolated abutment was assessed based on the settlements of the backfill, the soil pressures and the actions of the abutment. The study of the isolated abutment showed that the achieved decoupling of the abutment from the backfill soil results in significant reductions of the settlements of the backfill and of the pressures acting on the abutment. Hence, the proposed research enables extending the length limits of integral frame bridges subjected to earthquake excitations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigation of topographic reductions and aliasing effects on gravity and the geoid over Greece based on various digital terrain models

The reduction of gravity-field related quantities (e.g., gravity anomalies, geoid heights) due to the topography plays a crucial role in both geodetic and geophysical applications, since in the former it is an intermediate step towards geoid prediction and in the latter it reveals lateral as well as radial density contrasts and infers the geology of the area under study. The computations are usually carried out by employing a DTM and/or a DBM, which describe the topography and bathymetry, respectively. Errors in these DTMs/DBMs will introduce errors in the computed topographic effects, while poor spatial resolution of the topography and bathymetry models will result in aliasing effects to both gravity anomalies and geoid heights, both influencing the accuracy of the estimated solutions. The scope of this work is twofold. First, a validation and accuracy assessment of the SRTM 3″ (90 m) DTM over Greece is performed through comparisons with existing global models as well as with the Greek 450 m national DTMs. Whenever a misrepresentation of the topography is identified in the SRTM data, it is “corrected” using the local 450 m DTM. This process resulted in an improved SRTM DTM called SRTMGr, which was then used to determine terrain effects to gravity field quantities. From the fine-resolution SRTMGr DTMs, coarser models of 15″, 30″, 1′, 2′ and 5′ have been determined in order to investigate aliasing effects on both gravity anomalies and geoid heights by computing terrain effects at variable spatial resolutions. From the results acquired in two test areas, it was concluded that SRTMGr provides similar results to the local DTM making the use of other older global DTMs obsolete. The study for terrain aliasing effects proved that when high-resolution and accuracy gravity and geoid models are needed, then the highest possible resolution DTM should be employed to compute the respective terrain effects. Based on the results acquired from two the test areas a corrected SRTMGr DTM has been compiled for the entire Greek territory towards the development of a new gravimetric geoid model. Results from that analysis are presented based on the well-known remove-compute-restore method, employing land and marine gravity data, EGM08 as a reference geopotential model and the SRTMGr DTM for the computation of the RTM effects.     

The Poynting-Robertson effect in the Newtonian potential with a Yukawa correction

We consider a Yukawa-type gravitational potential combined with the Poynting-Robertson effect. Dust particles originating within the asteroid belt and moving on circular and elliptic trajectories are studied and expressions for the time rate of change of their orbital radii and semimajor axes, respectively, are obtained. These expressions are written in terms of basic particle parameters, namely their density and diameter. Then, they are applied to produce expressions for the time required by the dust particles to reach the orbit of Earth. For the Yukawa gravitational potential, dust particles of diameter \(10^{ - 3}\) m in circular orbits require times of the order of \(8.557 \times 10^{6}\) yr and for elliptic orbits of eccentricities \(e =0.1, 0.5\) require times of \(9.396 \times 10^{6}\) and \(2.129 \times 10^{6}\) yr respectively to reach Earth’s orbit. Finally, various cases of the Yukawa potential are studied and the corresponding particle times to reach Earth’s are derived per case along with numerical results for circular and various elliptical orbits.