Seismic response of tall building considering soil-pile-structure interaction

The seismic behavior of tall buildings can be greatly affected by non-linear soil-pile interaction during strong earthquakes. In this study a 20-storey building is examined as a typical structure supported on a pile foundation for different conditions: (1) rigid base, i.e. no deformation in the foundation: (2) linear soil-pile system; and (3) nonlinear soil-pile system. The effects of pile foundation displacements on the behavior of tall building are investigated, and compared with the behavior of buildings supported on shallow foundation. With a model of non-reflective boundary between the near field and far field, Novak’s method of soil-pile interaction is improved. The computation method for vibration of pile foundations and DYNAN computer program are introduced comprehensively. A series of dynamic experiments have been done on full-scale piles, including single pile and group, linear vibration and nonlinear vibration, to verify the validity of boundary zone model.     

Strain analysis of a shear zone in a granodiorite

A ductile shear zone in a late Precambrian granodiorite, from the Rouergue (southwest part of the French Massif Central) has been studied.A single episode of deformation is responsible for the formation of a foliation and a well-defined lineation which are localized into an elongated zone, a few decimeters wide.The strain features can be attributed to a simple-shear mechanism (Ramsay and Graham, 1970), so that the main parameters of the deformation are defined.At stages of increasing deformation, the quartz isotropic sub-fabric of the undeformed host rock is progressively transformed into an anisotropic fabric composed of a single oblique girdle while the subgrain size progressively decrease and the dislocation density remains constant. It is suggested that the gliding planes of quartz are the basal plane (0001) and a predominant prismatic plane 101̄0 the slip directions may be a for both glide-planes.The results obtained in this investigation provide a basis for a high voltage electron microscope (H.V.E.M.) study which shows that the fabrics development may be related to dislocation processes. The difference of strain rates in the host rock and in the shear zone is calculated from the dislocation microstructures.     

Dosage du potassium par spectrom étrie gamma sur les carottes de 5 sondages réalisés dans le quaternaire d'Evian (France)

Résumé Nous présentons les premiers résultats obtenus sur la distribution du potassium en surface et en profondeur dans les formations morainiques, d'âge quaternaire de la région d'Evian. Les mesures ont été réalisées par l'un de nous (Ph.Olive) en opérant par spectrométrie gamma. Les échantillons ont été prélevés dans 5 sondages carottés dont l'étude détaillée fait l'objet de la thèse de l'un de nous (B.Blavoux).Les résultats obtenus montrent que la teneur en potassium varie dans le même sens que le pourcentage de la fraction fine (inférieure à 40 ), et inversement à la calcimétrie totale exprimée en % du sédiment. Le dosage du potassium permet ainsi de distinguer un sédiment morainique d'un sédiment interglaciaire.

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We present the first results concerning potassium surface and depth-distribution in morainic formations of quaternary age in the Evian area. Measurements were made by one of us (Ph. Olive) by means of gamma spectroscopy. Samples were collected through 5 core-drillings of which a schematic geological section is shown; a thesis has been devoted by one of us (B.Blavoux) to the detailed study of these drillings.According to the results of our research, the potassium content varies with the percentage of fine fraction below 40 and in inverse ratio to total calcimetry as expressed in % of sediment.

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Zusammenfassung Wir veröffentlichen die ersten Resultate über die Oberflächen- und Tiefen-Kaliumvorkommen in den Moränenformationen des Quartärs aus der Umgebung von Evian. Die Messungen werden vonPh. Olive durchgeführt und zwar mit Hilfe der Spektranalyse der Gammastrahlen. Die Proben entnahmen wir fünf Kernbohrungen, die wir in einem schematischen geologischen Schnitt zeigen, deren detaillierte Auswertung aber Thema der Dissertation eines unserer Mitarbeiter ist (B.Blavoux).Die gefundenen Resultate zeigen, daß der Kaliumgehalt parallel zum Prozentsatz an Feinbruch (kleiner als 40 ) variiert, und reziprok zur Calcimétrie totale, gemessen in Sedimentsprozenten. Die Bestimmung des Kaliumgehaltes erlaubt also, ein Moränensediment von einem Sediment der Zwischeneiszeit zu unterscheiden.

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a Evian '. .

     

Fonctions orthogonales dans la sphere resolution theorique du probleme du potentiel terrestre

Résumé Il est possible de définir des fonctions orthogonales dans la sphère, capables d'approximer en norme euclidienne toute fonction à variation bornée (potentiel, densité). La représentation de la densité étant supposée donnée, on trouve le potentiel intérieur et extérieur, et l'on montre notamment que seul le sous-ensemble harmonique de la densité interne produit un potentiel externe non nul.     

The distribution of population and medical facilities in the Arab Republic of Yemen

The aim of this paper is to study the relationship between population distribution and medical facilities in the Arab Republic of Yemen. In order to do this hospital work-loads have been calculated for each province. The results show that the provision of health services, in the country as a whole, is rather critical, while the situation in certain provinces has reached a dangerous level. The paper concludes with a call for the Yemeni authorities to substantially improve the delivery of medical care on a nationwide scale.     

Le gisement plombo-zincifère de Salafossa (Alpes italiennes orientales): Remplissage d'un paléokarst triasique par des sédiments sulfures

The anisian carbonate formations in the Sappada region (Eastern Italian Alps) were emerged and karstified several times during the middle triassic period. The various Zn-Pb-Ba-Fe occurrences appear to be strictly bound to continental dolomitic sediments (black ferroan dolomites), which outline the triassic erosional surfaces. In this regional environment, the Salafossa Pb-Zn deposit occurs in a peculiar site corresponding to the longest emersion: it is located, along a triassic fault, in an area where the anisian dolomites are directly covered by the transgressive ladino-carnian dolomites. This fault allowed the formation of an important underground cavities network, partly collapsed. The analysis of the mineralized karst infillings shows, in relation with the voids shape, clear vertical variations of facies and paragenesis. The sulphide sediments deposited in the quiet and confined waters of the karstic network, progressively sunk during the rising of the base level, in relation with the marine transgression on the margin of the emerged area.     

Radiometric age of volcanics of the Cambrian “Krivoklat-Rokycany” complex (Bohemian Massif)

The volcanics from Krivoklat-Rokycany complex (Barrandian synclinal of Bohemia) are investigated by the Rb-Sr whole-rock isochron method (λ ⁸⁷Rb=1,47 10^?11y^?1). The age of 474±5 m. y. of these volcanics, stratigraphically overlain by the Tremadoc, implies that the Cambrian-Ordovician boundary, up to now estimated at 500 m. y. might be reset at about 470 m. y. The good quality of the isochron stresses the consanguinity of the different pétrographic terms of the Krivoklat-Rokycany volcanic series and the initial isotopic ratio⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr at 0,7041±0,0003 points out its infracrustal or mantle origin.     

The image of nature in geomancy

The art of geomancy (feng-shui in Chinese) is concerned with choosing auspicious sites from which man can benefit. Geomancy has been one of the most important ideas which influenced man's relationships with nature in East Asia and has significantly affected the location and morphology of cities, villages, houses and graves in China and Korea. In geomancy, nature is basically interpreted in terms of the following three images, namely: (1) magical, that which is produced mysterious power to influence man; (2) personified, that which is treated as functioning system of animate organism or inanimate object; (3) vulnerable, that which can be destroyed or recovered by human action.