Cyclic tests of post‐tensioned precast CFT segmental bridge columns with unbonded strands

Two ungrouted post‐tensioned, precast concrete‐filled tube (CFT) segmental bridge columns were tested under lateral cyclic loading to evaluate the seismic performance of the column details. The specimens included a load stub, four equal‐height circular CFT segments, and a footing. Strands were placed through the column and post‐tensioned to provide a precompression of the column against the footing. One specimen also contained energy‐dissipating devices at the base to increase the hysteretic energy. The test results showed that (1) both specimens could develop the maximum flexural strength at the design drift and achieve 6% drift with small strength degradation and residual displacement, (2) the proposed energy‐dissipating device could increase energy dissipation in the hysteresis loops, and (3) the CFT segmental columns rotated not only about the base but also about the interface above the bottom segment. This study proposed and verified a method to estimate the experimental flexural displacement using two plastic hinges in the segmental column. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Wavelet analysis on the runoffs of the Changjiang River and the Huanghe River

Summary The Runoff of the Changjiang River and the Huanghe River were investigated with the method of wavelet transform. Several significant periods were found. Comparison between wavelet analysis and Fourier analysis was made, which shows the advantages of the former. Finally, the application of the wavelet analysis to operational prediction is discussed.This study is supported by the State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (LASG), Chinese Academy of Sciences.With 6 Figures     

岩浆岩的熔点、粘度及其与化学成分的关系

本文研究了我国中、新生代一些岩浆岩的化学成分、熔点、人工玻璃的折射率和比重以及它们在不同温度下的粘度。在常压下岩石酸度愈大,熔点愈高。熔点与岩石的Fe~(2+(+Fe~(3+)+Mn+Mg±Ca为反相关;与Si+Al+K+Na为正相关。计算粘度与温度的关系表明,酸度愈大,粘度愈大;碱度愈大,粘度愈小,温度愈高,粘度愈低;同一温差下,酸度愈大,粘度变化愈大。     

Comparative study of the kinetics and mechanisms of dissolution of carbonate minerals

The influence of pH on the rate of dissolution of various carbonates (calcite, aragonite, witherite, magnesite and dolomite) has been investigated at 25°C using a continuous fluidized bed reactor. The general rate dependence on pH observed for the simple carbonates is very similar and is in agreement with the results observed for calcite and aragonite by L.N. Plummer and coworkers. However, the rate of dissolution of magnesite is approximately four orders of magnitude lower than calcite.

For simple carbonates, the elementary steps involved in the dissolution reaction are:

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where M represents the metal ion which can be Ca, Mg and Ba. According to the stoichiometry of the three reaction steps and the thermodynamic constraints, the total forward and backward rates can be expressed as:

R_f=k₁a_H+k₂a_H2CO3^*+K₃

r_b=k_-1^aM²+^aHCO₃^-+k_-2^aHCO3^-+k_{-3^aM²+^aCO3^2-}

The rate constants (k₁, k₂, k₃ and k₋₃) determined with our experimental results for calcite, aragonite and witherite show that the dissolution rates are similar for these three minerals and that the nature of the cations does not play a significant role. The good agreement between the K_sp calculated from the measured k₃/k₋₃ ratio and the theromodynamic value suggests that our dissolution mechanism is coherent.

The rate dependence on pH of the dissolution of dolomite obeys a fractional order at low pH's and confirms previously published observations therein. However, the two-step reaction mechanism proposed does not explain the fractional reaction order observed, which is likely due to a more complex surface reaction.     

Organic geochemical characterization of the New Albany Shale group in the Illinois Basin

Benzene extractable aliphatic hydrocarbons from the New Albany Shale in the Illinois Basin were characterized by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, and the total organic matter of the shale was characterized by solid state carbon-13 cross polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance. Core samples from a northwest-trending cross-section of the Illinois Basin were studied. Gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis (GC/MS) data indicate a regional variation of the aliphatic composition of the shale extracts. A positive, linear relationship between the two ratios, pristane/n-C₁₇ and phytane/n-C₁₈, is indicated. The NMR results indicated that organic matter deposited in northwestern Illinois shale is relatively high in aliphatic hydrocarbon content while, in contrast, organic matter found in southeastern Illinois shale is relatively low in aliphatic hydrocarbon content. Our findings suggest that the organic variation of the shale is mainly due to the differences in thermal maturity of the shale organic matter and the use of pristane/n-C₁₇ ratio as a thermal parameter in the study of oil may be extended to the study of the ancient sediments.     

Propagation of spiral density waves in a magneto-active disk

The propagation of spiral density waves in a differentially rotating, self-gravitating, magnetoactive and highly flattened disk is investigated by using the asymptotic theory for tightly wound spirals developed by Lin and his collaborators. We adopt the continuum fluid model as the primary basis, and our treatment will be largely analytical. The disk plasma is studied in the frozen field approximation and inhomogenceous magnetic fields in the plane of the disk are considered in detail.In a differentially rotating disk with strong magnetic fields, the field lines will be considerably distorted and the mutual influence of magnetic fields and differential rotation is by no means obvious.In this paper we present a new asymptotic dispersion relation for tightly wound spiral density waves with magnetic fields along the spiral armsB (r). The effects of the magnetic fields lead to such terms likek ²(a ² +V _A ² ), wherek is the wave number,a represents the speed of sound,V _A = (B ²/4)^1/2 is the Alfvén speed,B denotes the field strength, and is the plasma density. These terms depict the well-known magnetoacoustic waves and could have been anticipated without a detailed computation. However the interaction of magnetic fields and differential rotation may give rise to other significant terms which are not so easy to foresee.We also present a more exact local dispersion relation by using the WKB approximation and study the effects of magnetic fields on the growth rate through the parametersQ andJ defined in the literature.Although the effects of the magnetic fields are rather insignificant for applications to Galactic dynamics, the effects of the magnetic fields are important for applications to star formation and problems related to the solar nebula.     

Effects of Climate Change on Evapotranspiration from Paddy Fields in Southern Taiwan

The major objective of this study was to investigate the effects of climate change on evapotranspiration from paddy fields. A sensitivity analysis of meteorological variables at the Kao-Hsiung station, one of meteorological stations in southern Taiwan, was carried out using the modified Penman formula. Forty-eight-year records of temperature, relative humidity, sunshine duration, wind speed, and precipitation depth comprised the database. Trend and persistence analyses of the data were performed using the Mann–Kendall test, the Cumulative Deviation test, Linear Regression, andthe Autocorrelation Coefficient. The results indicated that only temperature and relative humidity have significant long-term trends and persistence. Two climatic scenarios, viz. (1) linear extrapolation of climatic trends and (2) the predictions of General Circulation Models (GCMs), were assumed to investigate the effects of climate change on evapotranspiration. The study revealed that evapotranspiration from paddy fields increased under both climatic scenarios studied.     

基于PALSAR数据的青藏高原冻土形变检测方法研究

季节性冻胀和融沉导致的地面形变是青藏高原冻土区建设施工与维护的主要问题。对冻融造成的形变进行有效监测是青藏铁 路建设与维护的前提。差分干涉测量技术是地表形变监测的重要手段之一,PALSAR（L波段的合成孔径雷达）数据在非城市区域具 有较高的相关性,适合青藏高原冻土区的地表形变监测。本文选用4景覆盖研究区域的PALSAR数据,研究利用该数据进行冻土形变 检测的方法,并对其检测结果进行了分析。结果表明,该方法与水准测量方法有较好的一致性。     

Abundance and size distribution of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in a coccolithophorid bloom in the northern Bay of Biscay

The distribution of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) was investigated during a coccolithophorid bloom in the northern Bay of Biscay (North Atlantic Ocean) in early June 2006. MODIS chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and reflectance images before and during the cruise were used to localize areas of important biological activity and high reflectance (HR). TEP profiles along the continental margin, determined using microscopic (TEP_micro) and colorimetric (TEP_color) methods, showed abundant (6.1×10⁶–4.4×10⁷ L^?1) and relatively small (0.5–20 μm) particles, leading to a low total volume fraction (0.05–2.2 ppm) of TEP_micro and similar vertical profiles of TEP_color. Estimates of carbon content in TEP (TEP-C) derived from the microscopic approach yielded surface concentration of 1.50 μmol C L^?1. The contribution of TEP-C to particulate organic carbon (POC) was estimated to be 12% (molar C ratio) during this survey. Our results suggest that TEP formation is a probable first step to rapid and efficient export of C during declining coccolithophorid blooms.