Coseismic Fault Slip of the September 16, 2015 <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mw</Emphasis> 8.3 Illapel,Chile Earthquake Estimated from InSAR Data

The complete surface deformation of 2015 Mw 8.3 Illapel, Chile earthquake is obtained using SAR interferograms obtained for descending and ascending Sentinel-1 orbits. We find that the Illapel event is predominantly thrust, as expected for an earthquake on the interface between the Nazca and South America plates, with a slight right-lateral strike slip component. The maximum thrust-slip and right-lateral strike slip reach 8.3 and 1.5 m, respectively, both located at a depth of 8 km, northwest to the epicenter. The total estimated seismic moment is 3.28 × 10²¹ N.m, corresponding to a moment magnitude Mw 8.27. In our model, the rupture breaks all the way up to the sea-floor at the trench, which is consistent with the destructive tsunami following the earthquake. We also find the slip distribution correlates closely with previous estimates of interseismic locking distribution. We argue that positive coulomb stress changes caused by the Illapel earthquake may favor earthquakes on the extensional faults in this area. Finally, based on our inferred coseismic slip model and coulomb stress calculation, we envision that the subduction interface that last slipped in the 1922 Mw 8.4 Vallenar earthquake might be near the upper end of its seismic quiescence, and the earthquake potential in this region is urgent.     

Building frequency fluctuations from continuous monitoring of ambient vibrations and their relationship to temperature variations

Building frequencies (fundamental and higher modes) are a critical parameter especially in the field of structural health monitoring mainly based on the stability of the structural dynamic parameters of individual building (frequencies, damping and modes shape). One of the most used methods to find out these parameters is based on the use on ambient vibration analysis. In this work, we study the fluctuations over a month period of the fundamental frequencies (transverse and longitudinal) of a 3.5-story RC-building made of 2 identical units connected by a structural joint. Time independent building frequencies is a strong assumption; as illustrated by our experiment showing that over an observation period of a month, building frequencies fluctuate of about 3.5 %. A clear correlation is found between the building frequency fluctuations and temperature variations, with a phase-shift interpreted as the characteristic time of heat diffusion within the walls. This allows: (1) determining the thermal diffusivity of the structure, (2) inferring its relative stiffness variations, and (3) showing that its Young modulus varies linearly with temperature.     

Large wavenumber convection in the rotating annulus

Abstract

The annulus model considers convection between concentric cylinders with sloping endwalls. It is used as a simplified model of convection in a rapidly rotating sphere. Large azimuthal wavenumbers are preferred in this problem, and this has been exploited to develop an asymptotic approach to nonlinear convection in the annulus. The problem is further reduced because the Taylor-Proudman constraint simplifies the dependence in the direction of the rotation vector, so that a nonlinear system dependent only on the radial variable and time results. As Rayleigh number is increased a sequence of bifurcations is found, from steady solutions to periodic solutions and 2-tori, typically ending in chaotic behaviour. Both the magnetic (MHD convection) and non-magnetic problem has been considered, and in the non-magnetic case our bifurcation sequence can be compared with those found by previous two-dimensional numerical simulations.     

A cyclic UH model for sand

A simple cyclic elastoplastic constitutive model for sand is proposed based on the UH model for overconsolidated clay. The proposed model has the following features. First, in order to describe the stress-induced anisotropy in sand, a rotational hardening rule is introduced for the evolution of the yield surface axis with development of plastic deviatoric strain in the principal stress space. Second, the relationship between the rotational axis and stress-induced anisotropy is modeled by introducing the slope of rotational axis into the yield function. The fl atness of the yield surface can be determined by the slope of rotational axis. Finally, a revised unifi ed hardening parameter is proposed to incorporate the stress-induced anisotropy. The model capability in describing the cyclic response of sand is verifi ed by comparing the simulations with available test results.     

Deflection amplification factor for estimating seismic lateral deformations of RC frames

Different values have been assigned to the ratio of the defl ection amplifi cation factor(Cd) to the response modifi cation factor(R) for a specifi ed force-resisting system in the seismic design provisions while the same application is defi ned for it. An analytical study of the seismic responses of several reinforced concrete frames subjected to a suite of earthquake records performed in this research indicate that the stories’ overstrength and stiffness distribution along the structural height can affect local defl ections more than global ones. Therefore, the Cd/R ratio is calculated based on the ratio of both maximum inelastic to maximum elastic displacements and interstory drifts. Due to damage concentration in some specifi c stories, the defl ection amplifi cation factor calculated based on inelastic interstory drifts was larger than that of the inelastic displacements. Consequently, a minimum value of 1.0 is recommended for the Cd/R ratio in order to estimate maximum inelastic drifts. The ratio of inelastic to elastic displacement was generally found to increase slightly along the structural height for the studied RC models. In addition, it was detected that the story damage indices of the studied RC frames decrease when the inverted value of inelastic interstory drift ratios are increased through a(negative) power form.     

地震作用下非贯通节理岩体斜坡破坏的物理模型试验研究

地震作用下高斜坡破坏的发生发展过程比较短暂、剧烈,破坏机理相对复杂。本文采用模型试验的方法来研究地震作用下非贯通节理岩体斜坡的反应。试验结果表明:节理上的应变最大,模型上部应变大于下部应变;节理贯通机理复杂,多为拉剪复合型破坏;节理的贯通并不意味着斜坡的破坏,而是破坏了斜坡的整体性,使其处于临界状态。试验揭示了此类斜坡在地震作用下的动力响应及破坏机理,可为理论和工程实践应用提供有益的参考和指导。     

铁路连续梁拱组合桥基于摩擦摆支座的减隔震研究

研究了铁路连续梁拱组合体系桥梁的支座减、隔震设计.针对该桥梁的特点提出了摩擦摆支座减、隔震设计的原则与方法;建立全桥计算模型,采用非线性时程分析方法重点分析了摩擦摆支座的减、隔震效果.结果表明,采用摩擦摆支座可以显著地减小结构顺桥向的最大地震弯矩及拱顶变形,横桥向的减、隔震效果受输入地震动的影响很大.     

垂直应变的研究意义及模型分析

近20多年来国内垂直应变领域一直无人涉及.垂直应变量的获取可将应变固体潮从平面应变观测提升到三维空间应变观测.本文说明了垂直应变观测的必要性,建立了垂直应变观测系统的原始模型,并提出了研制的难点和理论上的解决方法.     

玉门、民乐等地震前跨断层形变异常及与定点前兆观测的相互印证

2002年甘肃玉门5.9级、2003年民乐6.1、5.8级及岷县5.2级地震前震区周围十几至二、三百公里范围内观测到一定数量、明显的跨断层短水准形变异常,其异常形态以加速、突跳或尖点突跳为主,具中期背景或短期前兆意义,反映震前断裂出现先逆断增强后松弛的变化过程,在转折松弛时段易发生地震.其异常空间分布、出现时间等与定点前兆异常具有较好的相互印证意义.