Implications of the spandrel type on the lateral behavior of unreinforced masonry walls

Seismic response of unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings is largely influenced by nonlinear behavior of spandrels, which provide coupling between piers under in‐plane lateral actions. Seismic codes do not appropriately address modeling and strength verification of spandrels, adapting procedures originally proposed for piers. Therefore, research on spandrels has received significant attention in some earthquake‐prone countries, such as Italy and New Zealand. In the last years, the authors of this paper have performed both monotonic and cyclic in‐plane lateral loading tests on full‐scale masonry walls with single opening and different spandrel types. Those tests were carried out in a static fashion and with displacement control. In this paper, experimental outcomes for two as‐built specimens are presented and compared with those obtained in the past for another as‐built specimen with a wooden lintel above the opening. In both newly tested specimens, the masonry above the opening was supported by a shallow masonry arch. In one of those specimens, a reinforced concrete (RC) bond beam was realized on top of the spandrel, resulting in a composite URM‐RC spandrel. Then, the influence of spandrel type is analyzed in terms of observed damage, force–drift curves, and their bilinear idealizations, which allowed to compare displacement ductility and overstrength of wall specimens. Furthermore, effects of rocking behavior of piers are identified, highlighting their relationship with hysteretic damping and residual drifts. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spectroscopic evidence on organically-bound iron in natural and synthetic complexes with humic substances

On the basis of a lack of Mössbauer evidence and of a vague interpretation of some i.r. absorptions, Dicksonet al. (1979) conclude that no iron directly bound to humic materials persists after the usually accepted extraction and separation procedures. Many statements in the paper by Dicksonet al. (1979) appear to be contradictory with this conclusion.In this comment the author has tried to demonstrate that Mössbauer spectroscopy alone cannot give an answer to the problem, but needs further spectroscopic and chemical evidence. Mössbauer data, overinterpreted by Dicksonet al. (1979). have been critically discussed, in comparison with similar data previously obtained by various authors. Large spectroscopic—mainly Mössbauer, ESR and i.r.—evidence have been given in order to demonstrate the already well ascertained existence of organically bound iron in natural and synthetic complexes with humic substances.     

East-west trending magnetic anomalies in the Southern Hemisphere of Mars: Modeling analysis and interpretation

Maps of the vector components of the martian crustal magnetic field over the strongly magnetized Terra Cimmeria/Sirenum region are constructed using Mars Global Surveyor magnetometer data. Although pronounced east-west trending anomalies are present on the radial and north field component maps at the mapping altitude (∼360-380 km), these trends are much less prominent at the lower aerobraking altitude (∼90-150 km). Comparisons with similar maps produced using artificial data at the aerobraking altitude indicate that elongated sources in this region may have maximum lengths along the martian surface of ∼500 km and maximum aspect ratios of ∼2. Iterative forward modeling of several relatively isolated anomalies in the mapped region yields paleomagnetic pole positions consistent with those estimated in previous studies of other anomalies using mapping phase and science phasing orbit data. On this basis, it is inferred that sources in the studied region are most probably magnetized primarily in northward or southward directions. Using this additional constraint, iterative forward modeling is then applied to determine a magnetization distribution that is consistent with data at both the aerobraking altitude and the mapping altitude. The model magnetization distribution, which includes 41 discrete sources, again indicates no highly elongated sources. An examination of surface geology in the region as well as a consideration of the global distribution of anomalies suggests that magmatic intrusions (e.g., subsurface dike swarms), cooling in the presence of water, are the most likely sources of the magnetic anomalies.     

Semi-analytical solution for viscous Stokes flow in two eccentrically nested spheres

Applying the infinite Prandtl number approximation, a semi-analytical solution for computing 2-D axisymmetric viscous Stokes flow in a model consisting of two eccentrically nested spheres of different viscosities is derived. Since numerical codes based on spectral or finite techniques for modelling mantle flow in a spherical geometry in the presence of lateral viscosity variation are becoming more and more popular, reliable examples for testing and validating such codes are extremely useful. The eccentrically nested sphere solution was used to test a numerical algorithm based on a mixed spherical-harmonic finite-element formulation of the Stokes problem, and good agreement was obtained.     

Mineral fibres and environmental monitoring:A comparison of different analytical strategies in New Caledonia

Covered by ultrabasic units for more than a third of its surface,the New Caledonia(South West Pacific)is one of the largest world producers of Ni-ore from lateritic deposits.Almost all outcrops of geological units and open mines contain serpentine and amphibole,also as asbestos varieties.In this geological context,in which weathering processes had a great contribution in the production and dispersion of mineral fibres into the environment,the development of a routinely analytical strategy,able to discriminate an asbestiform fibre from a non-harmful particle,is a pivotal requisite.However,the acquisition of all these parameters is necessary for determining the risk associated to fibres exposition.A multidisciplinary routinely approach,based on the use of complementary simply-to-use but reliable analytical methods is the only possible strategy.In addition,the instrumental apparatus must be easily transportable on the field,directly on the mining site.The employment of specialized tools such as Polarized Light Microscopy associated to Dispersion Staining method(PLM/DS)and portable Raman spectroscopy for identification of environmental asbestos,are proved extremely effective in the improvement of the performance and rapidity of data acquisition and interpretation.Both PLM/DS and handheld Raman devices confirmed to be discriminant in the detection and characterization of asbestos fibres for both serpentine and amphibole.Furthermore,these techniques proved extremely effective even in the presence of strongly fibrous and altered samples.     

Porosity-reducing and porosity-enhancing diagenetic factors for some carbonate microfacies: a guide for petrophysical facies discrimination

The present study deals with the petrographical and petrophysical properties of the Aptian–Albian Risan Aneiza Formation in north Sinai, Egypt. Cementation and aggrading neomorphism are the main porosity-reducing factors for Risan Aneiza Formation, whereas dissolution and leaching out are the main porosity-enhancing factors. Dolomitization, on the other hand, played a multistage role as a porosity-reducing factor in the initial invasion stage by Mg-bearing solutions and in the final pervasive stage, while it played an enhancing role in the selective dolomitization midway stage. Mostly, the mentioned pore types were later reduced by cementation with sparite and dolosparite as well as by aggrading neomorphism. Based on the governing effect of diagenetic factors on the petrophysical behavior and their enhancing or reducing effect on the pore volume, the Risan Aneiza Formation has to be classified into seven petrophysical facies; each one has its characteristic petrophysical features and behavior. The petrophysical behavior of the studied facies has been examined by measuring porosity, density, permeability, and electrical resistivity. The reservoir quality index reveals that the petrophysical features of the studied facies can be explained based on their petrographical features, indicating bad reservoir properties for the Risan Aneiza samples. Studying the petrophysical facies behavior indicates that the permeability and formation resistivity factors are mostly dependent on the effective porosity and, to some extent, on the electric tortuosity. Precautions must be taken into consideration in extrapolating the present conclusion to the subsurface extensions, e.g., similarity of the mineralogical composition, the diagenetic history stage, as well as the geopressure.     

A method of determining optimum scales for averaging the earth's topography in quantitative studies of atmospheric cyclo- and anti-cyclogenesis

A method for optimum modelling of the earth's topography, corresponding to differing meteorological phenomena, is presented.The optimum averaging scale for mountains in terms of orographic cyclo- and anti-cyclogenesis is shown to be of the order of 150 km. The use of larger or smaller averaging scales decreases the correlation between the degree of cyclo- and anti-cyclogenesis and the parameters which describe the orography.A quantitative relation between orographic cyclo- and anti-cyclogenesis and the form of orography determined by the Laplacian ² Z ₀ of the terrain function Z ₀ = Z ₀(x, y) is presented.     

Choice chamber experiments to test the attraction of postflexion Rhabdosargus holubi larvae to water of estuarine and riverine origin

Although the recruitment of larvae and juveniles of marine fishes into estuaries has been well documented, little is known about the factors governing the immigration of estuary-associated marine fishes into estuaries. Fishes have a well-developed sense of smell and it has been suggested by several workers that olfactory cues of freshwater or estuarine origin serve as stimuli, attracting larvae and juveniles of estuary-associated species into estuaries. Attraction of postflexion Rhabdosargus holubi larvae to estuary and river water from the Kowie estuarine system, South Africa, was measured using a rectangular choice chamber. In experiments, conducted during peak recruitment periods, larvae selected estuary and river water with a significantly higher frequency than sea water. This study, the first to assess the possible role of olfaction in the recruitment process of an estuary-associated marine fish species, demonstrates that larvae are able to recognise water from different origins, probably based on odour.