Full‐scale shaking table test of a base‐isolated medical facility subjected to vertical motions

Base isolation is a well known technology that has been proven to reduce structural response to horizontal ground accelerations. However, vertical response still remains a topic of concern for base‐isolated buildings, perhaps more so than in fixed‐base buildings as isolation is often used when high performance is required. To investigate the effects of vertical response on building contents and nonstructural components, a series of full‐scale shaking table tests were conducted at the E‐Defense facility in Japan. A four‐story base‐isolated reinforced concrete building was outfitted as a medical facility with a wide variety of contents, and the behavior of the contents was observed. The rubber base isolation system was found to significantly amplify vertical accelerations in some cases. However, the damage caused by the vertical ground motions was not detrimental when peak vertical floor accelerations remained below 2 g with three exceptions: (1) small items placed on shelves slid or toppled; (2) objects jumped when placed on nonrigid furniture, which tended to increase the response; and (3) equipment with vertical eccentricities rocked and jumped. In these tests, all equipment and nonstructural components remained functional after shaking. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Using aerial photography and in situ measurements to estimate the quantity of macro-litter on beaches

This study has demonstrated a reliable method of quantifying the total mass of litter on a beach. It was conducted on Ookushi beach, Goto-Islands, Japan, and uses a combination of balloon-assisted aerial photography and in situ mass measurements. The total mass of litter over the beach was calculated to be 716 ± 259 kg. This figure was derived by multiplying the litter-covered area (calculated using balloon-assisted aerial photography) by the mass of litter per unit area. Light plastics such as polyethylene made up 55% of all plastic litter on the beach, although more work is needed to determine whether lighter plastics are transported to beaches more readily by winds and ocean currents compared with heavier plastics, or whether lighter plastics comprise a greater percentage of marine litter. Finally, the above estimates were used to calculate the total mass of metals released into coastal ecosystems via plastic litter on beaches.     

Investigation of the sliding behavior between steel and mortar for seismic applications in structures

The friction developed between a steel base plate and a mortar base contributes shear resistance to the building system during a seismic event. In order to investigate the possible sliding behavior between the base plate and the mortar, a shake table study is undertaken using a large rigid mass supported by steel contact elements which rest on mortar surfaces connected to the shake table. Horizontal input accelerations are considered at various magnitudes and frequencies. The results provide a constant friction coefficient during sliding with an average value of approximately 0.78. A theoretical formulation of the friction behavior is also undertaken. The theoretical equations show that the sliding behavior is dependent on the ratio of the friction force to the input force. The addition of vertical accelerations to the system further complicates the sliding behavior as a result of the varying normal force. This results in a variable friction resistance which is a function of the amplitude, phase, and frequency of the horizontal and vertical input motions. In general, this study showed a consistent and reliable sliding behavior between steel and mortar. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Newly-generated Daliangshan Fault Zone—Shortcutting on the central section of Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system

The Daliangshan fault zone is the eastern branch in the central section of Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system. It has been neglected for a long time, partly because of no destructive earthquake records along this fault zone. On the other hand, it is located on the remote and inaccessible plateau. So far it was excluded as part of the Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system. Based on the interpretation of aerophotographs and field investigations, we document this fault zone in detail, and give an estimation of strike-slip rate about 3 mm/a in Late Quaternary together with age dating data. The results suggest that the Daliangshan fault zone is a newly-generated fault zone resulted from shortcutting in the central section of Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system because of the clockwise rotation of the Southeastern Tibetan Crustal Block, which is bounded by the Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system. Moreover, the shortcutting may make the Daliangshan fault zone replace the Anninghe and Zemuhe fault zones gradually, and finally, the later two fault zones will probably die out with the continuous clockwise rotation.     

古里雅浅孔冰芯所记录的夏季风盛行时δ~(18)O与海温以及与500hPa高度场的关系

青藏高原古里雅冰帽浅孔冰芯中 (δ18O) max代表该区夏季风盛行时的温度状况 ,它与全球海温(SST)、北半球 5 0 0hPa高度之间的相关关系被分析 .对冰芯中 (δ18O) max产生重要影响的海洋相关区均位于海洋的洋流区或洋流汇合区 .它们分别在赤道东太平洋、太平洋西风漂流、东印度洋热池、莫桑比克海流、北大西洋海流、加那利海流和大西洋赤道海流 .其中位于低纬度海洋相关区的SST与冰芯中δ18Omax呈负相关关系 ,即当这些海区的SST升高 (或降低 )时 ,古里雅冰帽浅孔冰芯中 (δ18O) max减小 (或增大 ) .位于中纬度海洋相关区的SST与冰芯中 (δ18O) max呈正相关关系 ,即当这些海区的SST升高 (或降低 )时 ,古里雅冰帽浅孔冰芯中 (δ18O) max增大 (或减小 ) ;对 (δ18O) max产生重要影响的 5 0 0hPa高度上的相关区分别位于中低纬度大洋上的副热带高压区和巴尔喀什湖长波槽区 .这些相关区的高度均与冰芯中 (δ18O) max存在显著的负相关关系 ,即当这些相关区的高度值增加 (或降低 )时 ,冰芯中(δ18O) max减小 (或增大 ) .其影响机制表现为不同水汽来源向古里雅地区输送的差异 .欧洲脊和贝加尔湖脊的强度与 (δ18O) max存在显著的正相关关系 ,即当高压脊加强 (或减弱 )时 ,冰芯中 (δ18O) max增大(或减小 ) .它们对     

Chemistry of Fe-Ti oxide minerals in the Hobenzan granitic complex,SW Japan: Subsolidus reduction in relation to base metal mineralization

Summary The mineralized stock of the Hobenzan granitic complex is composed of tonalite and a continuous differentiation series of biotite-hornblende granodiorite, hornblende biotite granite and biotite granite. Texture and mineral chemistry of the Fe-Ti oxide minerals in the Hobenzan granitic complex exhibit two different processes of magma evolution: one is an oxyexsolution process related to the magmatic and high temperature subsolidus stage, and the other is a reduction process of consecutive subsolidus stage. Rocks distributed in the northern part of the granitic complex preserve well the oxyexsolution process and show higher magnetic susceptibility, whereas those in the southern part of the complex, record the reduction process and show lower magnetic susceptibility.The magnetite-ilmenite geothermometer indicates temperatures of ca. 730°C for the oxide pairs of the early stage. Oxygen fugacity of one to three orders of magnitude higher than the annite-sanidine-magnetite (ASM) univariant curve, and an aqueous sulfur composition,fSO₂/fH₂S, of around 1.0 is indicated. This first stage corresponds to the crystallization of phenocrystic hornblende and plagioclase at depth. At about 700°C crystallization changed to biotite, K-feldspar and quartz, and continued to about 600°C. ThefO₂ during this second stage is buffered by the ASM assemblage. This second stage defines the oxyexsolution process. Below about 600°C, a reduction process, caused by assimilation of carbonaceous matter of country rocks, overprinted the southern part of the complex. Oxide pairs show that thefO₂ is about four orders of magnitude lower than the ASM univariant curve, andfSO₂/fH₂S is 10^–8.0 or less at 550°C for this reduced assemblage. The drastic change in composition of sulfur-bearing aqueous species may be one of the principal factors allowing base metal mineralization.

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Chemismus von Fe-Ti Oxiden des Hobenzan Granitkomplexes, SW Japan: Subsolidus Reduktion und ihre Beziehung zu metallischen Vererzungen

Zusammenfassung Der mineralisierte Hobenzan Granitkomplex setzt sich aus Tonaliten und einer kontinuierlichen Differentiationsserie, bestehend aus Biotit-Hornblende-Granodioriten, Hornblende-Biotit-Graniten und Biotit-Graniten, zusammen. Die Texturen und die Mineralchemie der Fe-Ti Oxide belegen zwei unterschiedliche Prozesse bei der Entwicklung des Hobenzan Granitkomplexes: einerseits einen Oxyexsolution-Prozeß, während des magmatischen und hochtemperierten Subsolidus-Stadiums, andererseits einen Reduktionsprozeß während des tiefertemperierten Subsolidus-Stadiums. Gesteine im nördlichen Hobenzan Komplex belegen vor allem den Oxyexsolution Prozeß und zeigen höhere magnetische Suszeptibilität, während jene im südlichen Teil den Reduktionsprozeß widerspiegeln und niedrigere magnetische Suszeptibilität zeigen.Das Magnetit-Ilmenit Geothermometer ergab Temperaturen von ca. 730°C für Oxidpaare des Frühstadiums. Die Sauerstoff Fugazität liegt um eine bis drei Größenordnungen über der univarianten Reaktionskurve Annit-Sanidin-Magnetit (ASM), und dasfSO₂/fH₂S Verhältnis der wässrigen Schwefelkomplexe bei ca. 1.0. Dieses Frühstadium korrespondiert mit der Kristallisation von Horblende und Plagioklas im Magma in größerer Tiefe. Ab ca. 700°C erfolgt die Kristallisation von Biotit, Alkalifeldspat und Quarz bis etwa 600°C, wobeifO₂ durch die ASM Mineralassoziation gepuffert wird. Dieses zweite Stadium wird als Oxyexsolution Prozeß beschrieben. Unter 600°C erfolgte eine Reduktion durch Assimilation von kohlenstoffreichem Material vor allem im südlichen Teil des Komplexes. Oxidpaare dieses Stadiums belegen, daßfO₂ um etwa vier Größenordnungen unterhalb des ASM Puffers liegt, undfSO₂/fH₂S ist 10^–8 bei 550°C. Die dramatische Änderung in der Zusammensetzung der Schwefelkomplexe in den Lösungen wird als der Hauptfaktor für die Bildung der Erzmineralisationen angesehen.

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With 5 Figures     

The Cretaceous Ofuku Pluton and Its Relation to Mineralization in the Western Akiyoshi Plateau,Yamaguchi Prefecture,Japan

The relationship between the magmatism of the Cretaceous Ofuku pluton and mineralization in and around the Akiyoshi Plateau, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan was investigated using a combination of field observation, petrographic and geochemical analyses, K–Ar geochronology, and fluid inclusion data. The Ofuku pluton has a surface area of 1.5 × 1.0 km, and was intruded into the Paleozoic accretionary complexes of the Akiyoshi Limestone, Ota Group and Tsunemori Formation in the western part of the Akiyoshi Plateau. The pluton belongs to the ilmenite‐series and is zoned, consisting mainly of early tonalite and granodiorite that share a gradational contact, and later granite and aplite that intruded the tonalite and granodiorite. Harker diagrams show that the Ofuku pluton has intermediate to silicic compositions ranging from 60.4 to 77.9 wt.% SiO₂, but a compositional gap exists between 70.5 to 73.4 wt.% SiO₂ (anhydrous basis). Modal and chemical variations indicate that the assumed parental magma is tonalitic. Quantitative models of fractional crystallization based on mass balance calculations and the Rayleigh fractionation model using major and trace element data for all crystalline phases indicate that magmatic fractionation was controlled mainly by crystal fractionation of plagioclase, hornblende, clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene at the early stage, and quartz, plagioclase, biotite, hornblende, apatite, ilmenite and zircon at the later stage. The residual melt extracted from the granodiorite mush was subsequently intruded into the northern and western parts of the Ofuku pluton as melt lens to form the granite and aplite. The age of the pluton was estimated at 99–97 Ma and 101–98 Ma based on K–Ar dating of hornblende and biotite, respectively. Both ages are consistent within analytical error, indicating that the Ofuku pluton and the associated Yamato mine belong to the Tungsten Province of the San‐yo Belt, which is genetically related to the ilmenite‐series granitoids of the Kanmon to Shunan stages. The aplite contains Cl‐rich apatite and REE‐rich monazite‐(Ce), allanite‐(Ce), xenotime and bastnäsite‐(Ce), indicating that the residual melt was rich in halogens and REEs. The tonalite–granodiorite of the Ofuku pluton contains many three‐phase fluid inclusions, along with daughter minerals such as NaCl and KCl, and vapor/liquid (V/L) volume ratios range from 0.2 to 0.9, suggesting that the fluid was boiling. In contrast, the granite and aplite contain low salinity two‐phase inclusions with low V/L ratios. The granodiorite occupies a large part of the pluton, and the inclusions with various V/L ratios with chloride daughter minerals suggest the boiling fluids might be related to the mineralization. This fluid could have carried base metals such as Cu and Zn, forming Cu ore deposits in and around the Ofuku pluton. The occurrence and composition of fluid inclusions in the igneous rocks from the Akiyoshi Plateau are directly linked to Cu mineralization in the area, demonstrating that fluid inclusions are useful indicators of mineralization.     

Ship berthing and mooring monitoring system by pneumatic-type fenders

Ship berthing and mooring monitoring system by using pneumatic-type fenders has been proposed. This system consists of present berth monitoring system including a mooring line load monitoring system, and a fender load monitoring system. The fender loads such as fender deflection and reaction force are calculated by measuring inner air pressure of the pneumatic fenders, which have unique characteristics in performance. Furthermore both loads for the mooring lines and the fenders can be used to estimate moored ship motions simultaneously. Total ship monitoring system at jetty can be achieved and contributes safe ship berthing and mooring.