Efficiency of employing fiber-based finite-length plastic hinges in simulating the cyclic and seismic behavior of steel hollow columns compared with other common modelling approaches

The accuracy and efficiency of the modelling techniques utilized to model the nonlinear behavior of structural components is a significant issue in earthquake engineering. In this study, the sufficiency of three different modelling techniques that can be employed to simulate the structural behavior of columns is investigated. A fiber-based finite length plastic hinge (FB-FLPH) model is calibrated in this study. In order to calibrate the FB-FLPH model, a novel database of the cyclic behavior of hollow steel columns under simultaneous axial and lateral loading cycles with varying amplitudes is used. By employing the FB-FLPH model calibrated in this study, the interaction of the axial force and the bending moment in columns is directly taken into account, and the deterioration in the cyclic behavior of these members is implicitly considered. The superiority of the calibrated FB-FLPH modelling approach is examined compared with the cases in which conventional fiber-based distributed plasticity and concentrated plasticity models are utilized. The efficiency of the enumerated modelling techniques is probed when they are implemented to model the columns of a typical special moment frame in order to prove the advantage of the FB-FLPH modelling approach.

     

Prediction of Water Quality Index by Support Vector Machine: a Case Study in the Sefidrud Basin,Northern Iran

Water Resources - The objectives of this study were to predict the water quality index using Support Vector Machine (SVM) model and to identify the most important attributes affecting the...     

Artificial Neural Network and Firefly Algorithm for Estimation and Minimization of Ground Vibration Induced by Blasting in a Mine

Natural Resources Research - It is of a high importance to introduce intelligent systems for estimation and optimization of blasting-induced ground vibration because it is one the most unwanted...     

Phosphorus desorption kinetics in two calcareous soils amended with P fertilizer and organic matter

We studied the effects of poultry manure and pistachio compost with and without phosphorus fertilizer on the kinetics of phosphorus desorption in two calcareous soils of Kerman and Koohbanan farms in the southeastern of Iran. For this purpose mono potassium phosphate, at rates of 0, and 100 parts per million of phosphorus, and air-dried manure, at rates of 0 and 4% were mixed with the soils. The soils were incubated at 24–25°C and near field capacity for 90 days in the greenhouse. Afterwards, the desorption of P was studied by the successive extraction with 0.5 M NaHCO₃. The results of this research indicated that application of OM and fertilizer P combined increased P recovery in each of the extraction time, adding poultry manure and 100 mg phosphorus together to the soils, increased P desorption more than pistachio compost in the soils. The phosphorus desorption rate was initially rapid and then became slower until equilibrium was approached. Kinetic data were best described by power function and simple Elovich equations. Subsequent to these equations, parabolic diffusion equation was also well fitted the time-dependent P desorption data.     

A Bonded Particle Model Simulation of Shear Strength and Asperity Degradation for Rough Rock Fractures

Different failure modes during fracture shearing have been introduced including normal dilation or sliding, asperity cut-off and degradation. Attempts have been made to study these mechanisms using analytical, experimental and numerical methods. However, the majority of the existing models simplify the problem, which leads to unrealistic results. With this in mind, the aim of this paper is to simulate the mechanical behaviour of synthetic and rock fracture profiles during direct shear tests by using the two-dimensional particle flow computer code PFC2D. Correlations between the simulated peak shear strength and the fracture roughness parameter D _R1 recently proposed by Rasouli and Harrison (2010) are developed. Shear test simulations are carried out with PFC2D and the effects of the geometrical features as well as the model micro-properties on the fracture shear behaviour are studied. The shear strength and asperity degradation processes of synthetic profiles including triangular, sinusoidal and randomly generated profiles are analysed. Different failure modes including asperity sliding, cut-off, and asperity degradation are explicitly observed and compared with the available models. The D _R1 parameter is applied to the analysis of synthetic and rock fracture profiles. Accordingly, correlations are developed between D _R1 and the peak shear strength obtained from simulations and by using analytical solutions. The results are shown to be in good agreement with the basic understanding of rock fracture shear behaviour and asperity contact degradation.     

A hybrid clustering-fusion methodology for land subsidence estimation

In many parts of Canada, limited data are available for hydrodynamic model inputs, and the ability to generate quality flood grids through 1D, 2D or 3D methods is nonviable. In this paper, the capability of simplified flood models, which rely solely on digital terrain models (DTMs), was explored to assess the quality and speed of their results. Results were validated against historic floods in two locations. Three non-physics-based simplified conceptual flood models were tested: (1) planar method, (2) inclined plane and (3) height above nearest drainage network (HAND) model. The accuracy and performance were evaluated using three criteria: inundation extent, water depth and computation time. Findings show that the HAND model is the best predictor of inundation extent, with Probability of Detection and Critical Success Index being higher than 0.90 in both study areas. Though the preprocessing time for the HAND model is lengthy, once completed, the time to simulate flooding at a variety of water levels is rapid, making this model the most suitable choice for web-based, on-demand flood inundation mapping. Knowledge of the fit of these flood models and associated uncertainty can be helpful to emergency managers such that they can better understand exposure and vulnerability while preparing flood response plans.