Estimation of load reduction factors for clay masonry walls

The in‐plane cyclic behaviour of three types of unreinforced clay masonry was characterized by means of laboratory tests on full‐scale specimens. The masonry walls were assembled with various bonding arrangements (head joints made with mortar pockets, dry head joints with mechanical interlocking, thin‐layer mortar bed joints), which are not yet inserted in seismic codes. Experimental behaviour was modelled with an analytical hysteretic model able to predict lateral load–displacement curves in case of shear failure of the unreinforced walls. According to the experimental results and those of the selected analytical model, parametric study to evaluate the reduction in lateral strength demand produced by non‐linear behaviour in masonry walls, i.e. the load reduction factor was carried out by non‐linear dynamic analyses. The calculated values of the load reduction factor were modest. The differences in values found for the three masonry types, although consistent with them, were not great. This may indicate that, in the ultimate limit state, the type of masonry cannot significantly affect the behaviour of an entire building. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Algal pigment patterns and phytoplankton assemblages in different water masses of the Río de la Plata maritime front

The composition of phytoplankton assemblages were studied in three sections across the continental shelf between the Río de la Plata and the oceanic waters of the Subtropical Convergence, during late spring. Algal communities were examined using microscopy and HPLC-derived pigment concentrations. The CHEMTAX program was used to estimate the chlorophyll a (chl a) biomass of different algal classes. Trends in pigment ratios due to phytoplankton photo-adaptation and photo-acclimation were also examined. In order to accommodate the natural diversity of phytoplankton assemblages the original data have been split to represent five ecosystems. In addition, the pigment data for the Brazil Current ecosystem has been split by sample depth.     

Morphology and modern sedimentary deposits of the macrotidal Marapanim Estuary (Amazon,Brazil)

The northern Brazilian coast, east of the Amazon River is characterized by several macrotidal estuarine systems that harbor large mangrove areas with approximately 7600 km². The Marapanim Estuary is influenced by macrotidal regime with moderate waves influence. Morphologic units were investigated by using remote sensing images (i.e., Landsat-7 ETM+, RADARSAT- 1 Wide and SRTM) integrated with bathymetric data. The modern sedimentary deposits were analyzed from 67 cores collected by Vibracore and Rammkersonde systems. Analysis of morphology and surface sedimentary deposits of the Marapanim River reveal they are strongly influenced by the interaction of tidal, wave and fluvial currents. Based on these processes it was possible to recognize three distinct longitudinal facies zonation that revels the geological filling of a macrotidal estuary. The estuary mouth contain fine to medium marine sands strongly influenced by waves and tides, responsible for macrotidal sandy beaches and estuarine channel development, which are characterized by wave-ripple bedding and longitudinal cross-bedding sands. The estuary funnel is mainly influenced by tides that form wide tidal mudflats, colonized by mangroves, along the estuarine margin, with parallel laminations, lenticular bedding, root fragments and organic matter lenses. The upstream estuary contains coarse sand to gravel of fluvial origin. Massive mud with organic matter lenses, marks and roots fragments occur in the floodplain accumulates during seasonal flooding providing a slowly aggrading in the alluvial plain. This morphologic and depositional pattern show easily a tripartite zonation of a macrotidal estuary, that are in the final stage of filling.     

Water contamination and remedial measures at the Troya abandoned Pb-Zn mine (The Basque Country, Northern Spain)

 This article describes a case of contamination of a karstic aquifer by abandoning an underground mine exploiting sulphide ore body. To exploit the ore, the aquifer was drained and the water level declined about 230 m, drying up the spring that had drained the aquifer up to that moment. When the mining activity ceased, the piezometric level recovered and contaminated water began to flow out from a mine adit. The water is high in sulphates and dissolved Fe, although the pH is neutral. When this water reached the nearby creek, the fish population was eliminated, principally due to the presence of toxic metals and the precipitation of Fe hydroxides. The contamination originated in an area of the partially flooded mine rooms where the ore is in contact with both air and water. The acidity generated by pyrite oxidation is neutralized by calcite dissolution. Presently, the mine water is diverted to the old tailings pond which functions as an aerobic wetland. This action has allowed the fish population in the creek to be restored. Received: 20 January 1999 · Accepted: 15 March 1999     

Groundwater salinization in Pico Island (Azores, Portugal): origin and mechanisms

 A hydrogeochemical survey was conducted on Pico Island (Azores archipelago) in order to evaluate the groundwater chemistry patterns and the main mineralization processes. Samples were from cold waters and corresponded mainly to sodium chloride type. Conductivity measurements were ∼82–9790 μS/cm and suggest the existence of highly mineralized waters. In fact, 18% had a conductivity >5130 μS/cm and the total dissolved solid (TDS) value for two of the wells was from the brackish water range. The changes in groundwater composition are because of two main processes: (1) silicate mineral dissolution, especially in a few springs located at high altitude and (2) water salinization in the coastal area, as a result of saltwater intrusion and sea-salt spraying. The salinization process corresponds to a binary mixing system, as suggested by the chloride and δ¹⁸O data, and explains the sharp concentration increase in major and minor species detected in several wells. Received: 23 July 1999 · Accepted: 8 December 1999     

临界包裹体及其在金矿地质研究中的应用

临界包裹体具有在热动力过程中气液相比不变直至均一成一个流体相的特征.它在超临界流体中,当临界体积为一定值时才能形成.它可以在各类岩浆岩、火山岩、深变质岩以及铁、铜、金等多金属矿床中出现.利用临界包裹体的临界均一温度结合该流体体系的相图,可以获得如成矿流体体系的热力学状态、流体基本组分特征、临界压力、盐度、密度等成矿物理化学信息.通过多年研究发现,临界包裹体在中国北方深变质岩区的很多金矿床都有出现,它的临界均一温度都小于纯水的临界温度(374.2℃),表明成矿早期的超临界流体是由一种低盐度CO₂-H₂O体系组成,它可能来自古老的深变质岩.另一种较高盐度的成矿热液来自与矿床毗邻的中生代中酸性小岩体.它们通过超临界流体成矿地质作用,形成了具有中国特色的多源多期多成因金矿床.这在包裹体冷冻法及其成分分析和包裹体水的氢氧同位素分析的结果中也得到证实.     

应用EUROSEM模型对三峡库区陡坡地水力侵蚀的模拟研究

三峡库区坡地资源被广泛利用,但水土保持措施没有被很好地利用。坡地,尤其是陡坡地是库区主要泥沙来源,因此,有效评估土壤侵蚀风险、预测径流和侵蚀速率以及选择合理的水土保持措施在该地区显得非常必要。EUROSEM模型是动态分布式模型,可以在单独地块或小流域中预测水力侵蚀强度,其特点比较适合库区土壤侵蚀预测预报。本研究以在三峡库区秭归县王家桥小流域水土保持试验站的标准径流小区的人工降雨资料为基础,应用EUROSEM模型模拟陡坡地中的侵蚀状况。模拟结果表明,EUROSEM对人工降雨中径流模拟效果较好,但对土壤流失的模拟效果相对较差,更精确地模拟库区陡坡地的土壤侵蚀状况则需要作进一步的研究     

三峡库区巫山移民新城址松散堆积体成因机制研究

以巫山移民新城址松散堆积体成因类型为例 ,对三峡库区分布较广的松散堆积体进行了研究。通过对大量新开挖剖面的调查测绘 ,在许多地段发现了堆积与基岩之间的滑坡主滑带 ,说明了在该区分布较广的松散堆积体成因具有复合性。它是构造和岩溶作用前提下形成的滑坡体、崩塌体、泥石流堆积体和岩溶坍陷堆积体。运用高分辨率浅层地震勘探揭示堆积体发育深度可达 40 m至 6 0 m ,通过面波测试可按波速将之划分为三层。最后 ,建立了松散堆积体形成演化的概念模型 ,并运用目前最新版本的离散元软件 (UDEC3.0 )对其中最为重要的一种类型滑崩堆积体的形成演化过程进行了模拟。结果表明 ,该区的层状岩体在长江河流下切过程中 ,形成了区域性的卸荷松动 ,而在岩体下部形成压碎张裂带 ;地下水沿卸荷拉裂带渗入 ,并与压裂带贯通 ,形成了岩溶发育带 ,为滑坡、崩塌、塌陷等表生改造提供了条件。