Seismic performance evaluation of traditional timber <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hımış</Emphasis> frames: capacity spectrum method based assessment

Timber constructions have been widely suggested to be seismically resistant based on post-disaster reconnaissance studies. This observation has, however, remained to a large extent anecdotal due to the lack of experimental work supporting it, especially for certain timber architectural forms, including traditional timber frame “h?m??” structures. To fill this gap, the authors carried out an extensive full-scale testing scheme using frames of various geometrical configurations, tested under reverse-cyclic lateral loading with/without infill (brick and adobe) or cladding (ba?dadi and ?amdolma) (Aktas et al. in Earthq Spectra 30(4):1711–1732, 2014a, b). The tests concluded that h?m?? frames had high energy dissipation capabilities due mostly to nailed connections. Infill/cladding significantly helped improve stiffness and lateral load strength of the frames, and timber type did not seem to make a remarkable impact on the overall behaviour. The current paper, on the other hand, uses test data to calculate capacity/demand ratios based on capacity spectrum method and Eurocode 8 to elaborate more on the performance of “h?m??” structures under seismic loading. The obtained results are discussed to draw important conclusions with regards to how frame geometry and infill/cladding techniques affect the overall performance.     

A simplified approximation for seismic analysis of silo–bulk material system

In order to estimate the distribution, as well as the magnitude, of dynamic material pressures on ground-supported silos a simplified seismic analysis procedure was utilized. The seismic analysis of silos can be complex, as the evaluation of several parameters must be taken into consideration, including the properties of bulk materials used and how the bulk materials and silo wall are joined together. It is therefore useful to develop an analytical approximation in order to better assess results. In addition to a simplified model for the seismic analysis of a silo–bulk material system being utilized, a three-dimensional finite element model was also incorporated. Using the finite element method, a more realistic representation of the structure is possible. Moreover, the finite element method also takes into consideration contact problems between the bulk material and the silo wall, which results in easier analyses. Both a squat and a slender silo were selected for this study. The results obtained in the study of selected examples were compared with those findings obtained via EN1998-4. Modified Veletsos and Younan approximations, which are commonly used for the analysis of grain silos, were also used. Results and analysis concluded that the proposed analytical model provided, overall, a good outcome, especially in regards to the analysis of dynamic material pressure. It should be noted that using the analytical method as proposed in Eurocode, the dynamic material pressure for squat silos can be underestimated, but the results for slender silos are stronger.     

Organochlorine residue and toxic metal (Pb, Cd and Cr) levels in the surface sediments of the Marmara Sea and the coast of Istanbul, Turkey

In this study, organochlorine and toxic metal (Pb, Cd and Cr) analyses have been done in the surface sediments. Sediment samples have been collected from 7 parts of the Marmara Sea and the coast of Istanbul during 2009. Total Pb, Cd and Cr contents vary between 32 μg g(-1) and 122 μg g(-1); 0.19 μg g(-1) and 1.16 μg g(-1); 62 μg g(-1) and 372 μg g(-1), respectively. EF values of Pb and Cr are higher than 1.5 in all the stations. EF value of Cd is considerably high at Station MY1 (Tuzla Port). Total organochlorine residue contents range between 4.33 ng g(-1) and 22.2 ng g(-1) in the surface sediments.     

Investigation of the effects of expectation values for radii on the determination of transition probabilities using WBEPM theory

Transition probabilities for some excited s-p and p-s transition arrays of neutral nitrogen have been calculated using the weakest bound electron potential model theory (WBEPMT) for the investigation of effects of expectation values of radii.We have used both numerical non-relativistic Hartree-Fock (NRHF) wave functions and numerical Coulomb approximation (NCA) wave functions to calculate expectation values of radii. The transition probability results obtained using the parameters determined with two different wave functions agree well with each other and accepted values taken from NIST for low values of transition probability. However, the NRHF wave functions present better results for p-s transitions, while NCA wave functions are better in s-p transitions for large values of transition probability.     

Ocean Rise Instability in Coastal Clay Slopes and Possible Countermeasures: A Centrifuge Modeling Study

Increase in saturation in natural clayey slopes along coastal zones as a result of tsunamis or storm surges may cause flow slides or failures. One of the common treatments is to increase the overall stability by soil replacement and/or re-compaction, which is often difficult to implement, expensive, and, most importantly, damages the natural vegetation. In this paper, remedial effectiveness of a relatively economical and environmentally friendly method involving insertion of geotextile strips with drainage capability into natural clayey slopes is evaluated through a series of centrifuge tests. The test results demonstrate the effectiveness of the employed technique to increase the stability of slopes and their drainage capability as well as to reduce the deformations under surcharge loadings.     

Turbidity Removal from Wastewaters of Natural Stone Processing by Coagulation/Flocculation Methods

The effectiveness of coagulation (at pH values of 6, 7.5, and 9), flocculation (at pH 9), and coagulation plus flocculation (at pH 9) on turbidity removal from natural stone (travertine) processing wastewaters (NSPW) were examined by applying classical sedimentation tests. FeCl₃·6 H₂O, AlCl₃, and Al₂(SO₄)₃·16 H₂O were used as coagulants and a polyacrylamide based anionic polymer was used as the flocculant. In this way, it was found that the coagulation method alone was not sufficient to purify NSPW, whereas flocculation and coagulation plus flocculation methods provided superior purification. Among the coagulants used, AlCl₃ gave the best result in terms of turbidity removal by coagulation from NSPW at pH 6 and 9, whereas the turbidity removal performances of the three coagulants were almost identical at pH 7.5. In addition, relatively low pH (i. e., pH 6) improved the purification performance of all coagulants. During coagulation of NSPW at pH 6, a charge neutralization mechanism played a decisive role in turbidity removal. However, in neutral (pH 7.5) and slightly basic (pH 9) media, a sweep coagulation mechanism was predominant. For flocculation of NSPW, the basic mechanism comprised of polymer bridging.     

Interpretation of Magnetic Anomalies and Estimation of Depth of Magnetic Crust in Slovakia

The magnetic map of Slovakia used in the paper was compiled as part of a project titled Atlas of Geophysical maps and profiles in 2001. The residual magnetic data were analyzed to produce Curie point estimates. To remove distortion of magnetic anomalies caused by the Earth’s magnetic field, reduction to pole transformation was applied to the magnetic anomalies using the magnetization angle of the induced magnetization. Anomalies reduced to the pole tend to be better correlated with tectonic structures. We applied a 3-km upward continuation to the residually compiled magnetic anomalies in order to remove effects of topography. The depth of magnetic dipoles was calculated by an azimuthally averaged power spectrum method for the entire area. Such estimates can be indicative of temperatures in the crust, since magnetic minerals lose their spontaneous magnetization according to Curie temperature of the dominant magnetic minerals in the rocks. The computed Curie point depths in the Slovakia region vary between 15.2 km and 20.9 km. Heat flow higher than 100 mWm⁻² occurs at the central volcanics and eastern part of Slovakia, where the Curie point depths values are shallow. The correlation between Curie point depths, heat flow and crust depth was investigated for two E-W cross sections. Heat flow and Curie point depth values are correlated with each other however, these values could not be correlated with crust depth. The Curie point isotherm, which separates magnetic and non-magnetic parts of the crust, is represented in two cross sections.     

Prediction of the unconfined compressive strength of compacted granular soils by using inference systems

Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and artificial neural network (ANN) models have been extensively used to predict different soil properties in geotechnical applications. In this study, it was aimed to develop ANFIS and ANN models to predict the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of compacted soils. For this purpose, 84 soil samples with different grain-size distribution compacted at optimum water content were subjected to the unconfined compressive tests to determine their UCS values. Many of the test results (for 64 samples) were used to train the ANFIS and the ANN models, and the rest of the experimental results (for 20 samples) were used to predict the UCS of compacted samples. To train these models, the clay content, fine silt content, coarse silt content, fine sand content, middle sand content, coarse sand content, and gravel content of the total soil mass were used as input data for these models. The UCS values of compacted soils were output data in these models. The ANFIS model results were compared with those of the ANN model and it was seen that the ANFIS model results were very encouraging. Consequently, the results of this study have important findings indicating reliable and simple prediction tools for the UCS of compacted soils.