Hybrid simulation of a multi‐span RC viaduct with plain bars and sliding bearings

This paper deals with the seismic response assessment of an old reinforced concrete viaduct and the effectiveness of friction‐based retrofitting systems. Emphasis was laid on an old bridge, not properly designed to resist seismic action, consisting of 12 portal piers that support a 13‐span bay deck for each independent roadway. On the basis of an OpenSEES finite element frame pier model, calibrated in a previous experimental campaign with cyclic displacement on three 1:4 scale frame piers, a more complex experimental activity using hybrid simulation has been devised. The aim of the simulation was twofold: (i) to increase knowledge of non‐linear behavior of reinforced concrete frame piers with plain steel rebars and detailing dating from the late 1950s; and (ii) to study the effectiveness of sliding bearings for seismic response mitigation. Hence, to explore the performance of the as built bridge layout and also of the viaduct retrofitted with friction‐based devices, at both serviceability and ultimate limit state conditions, hybrid simulation tests were carried out. In particular, two frame piers were experimentally controlled with eight‐actuator channels in the as built case while two frame piers and eight sliding bearings were controlled with 18‐actuator channels in the isolated case. The remaining frame piers were part of numerical substructures and were updated offline to accurately track damage evolution. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Macrofaunal communities of threatened subtidal maërl seabeds on Tenerife (Canary Islands, north-east Atlantic Ocean) in summer

This study contributes with the first data on physical and taxonomical structure of macrofaunal assemblages of ma¨erl beds from the Canary Islands. Ma¨erl beds and Cymodocea nodosa meadows of the Canary Islands are considered biodiversity hot-spots in terms of taxonomic and functional biodiversity with a broad geographical and depth ranges. The authors have studied the structure of the macrofaunal assemblages on different habitat types (Cymodocea, Caulerpa, sabellid field, garden eel and ma¨erl beds). Samples were taken at a range of depths between 14 and 46 m. Correlations were performed among abiotic variables (granulometry, organic matter, nitrogen and phosphates) and the most abundant taxa. Similarity analysis was performed to explore the patchiness of seabeds at a local scale. Significant differences were found in macrofaunal assemblages among seabed types, with highest abundances and lowest biodiversity in sabellid fields, where the sabellid Bispira viola dominated. The polychaetes Aponuphis bilineata and Chone filicauda and the mollusc Turritella brochii were the most abundant taxa on ma¨erl beds. The mosaic of granulometric conditions would explain the associated macroinfaunal community structure and contribute to the creation of diversity on these relatively well preserved seabeds at a local scale.     

Assemblages of megabenthic gastropods from Uruguayan and northern Argentinean shelf: Spatial structure and environmental controls

We analyzed the structure of the megabenthic gastropod assemblages on the Uruguayan and northern Argentinean shelf and slope. Our analysis determined that there are two major biologically distinct assemblages which occurred in a 210,000 km² area showing conspicuous environmental gradients and large frontal areas: (a) an assemblage associated with the zone under the influence of the freshwater discharge of Río de la Plata and the shallow waters of the inner shelf and (b) an assemblage associated with marine zone in the outer shelf, which includes Magellanic (Subantarctic) and subtropical faunas. A multivariate analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between the environmental and biological matrix. This evidence suggests a noticeable effect of the physical environment on the spatial structure of the assemblage. We suggest that the current distribution patterns are caused by two different processes operating together: while processes operating at ecological time scales (e.g. differential tolerances to salinity and depth) determine most of the structure observed at the inner shelf, the presence of two contrasting water masses over the outer shelf determine a biogeographic boundary for the benthic fauna, linked to shifting climatic factors influencing species niche dynamics over evolutionary time scales. Thus, at the spatial scale here considered, ecological and historical processes must be considered when attempting to understand which factors determine the current structure of benthic assemblages at regional scales.     

Stratigraphic evolution of the Triassic–Jurassic succession in the Western Southern Alps (Italy): the record of the two-stage rifting on the distal passive margin of Adria

The Triassic–Lower Jurassic succession of the Southern Alps is characterized by rapid thickness changes, from an average of about 5000 m east of Lago Maggiore to about 500 m in the Western Southern Alps. The stratigraphy reflects the Triassic evolution of the Tethyan Gulf and the Early Jurassic rifting responsible for the Middle Jurassic break‐up of Adria from Europe. The succession of the Western Southern Alps starts with Lower Permian volcanics directly covered by Anisian sandstones. The top of the overlying Ladinian dolostones (300 m) records subaerial exposure and karstification. Locally (Gozzano), Upper Sinemurian sediments cover the Permian volcanics, documenting pre‐Sinemurian erosion. New biostratigraphic data indicate a latest Pliensbachian–Toarcian age for the Jurassic synrift deposits that unconformably cover Ladinian or Sinemurian sediments. Therefore, in the Western Southern Alps, the major rifting stage that directly evolved into the opening of the Penninic Ocean began in the latest Pliensbachian–Toarcian. New data allowed us to refine the evolution of the two previously recognized Jurassic extensional events in the Southern Alps. The youngest extensional event (Western Southern Alps) occurred as tectonic activity decreased in the Lombardy Basin. During the Sinemurian the Gozzano high represents the western shoulder of a rift basin located to the east (Lombardy). This evolution documents a transition from diffuse early rifting (Late Hettangian–Sinemurian), controlled by older discontinuities, to rifting focused along a rift valley close to the Pliensbachian–Toarcian boundary. This younger rift bridges the gap between the Hettangian–Sinemurian diffuse rifting and the Callovian–Bathonian break‐up. The late Pliensbachian–Toarcian rift, which eventually lead to continental break‐up, is interpreted as the major extensional episode in the evolution of the passive margin of Adria. The transition from diffuse to focused extension in the Southern Alps is comparable to the evolution of the Central Austroalpine during the Early Jurassic and of the Central and Northern Atlantic margins.     

Concentrated flow erosion as a main source of sediments in Galicia,Spain

Knowledge of soil loss rates by water erosion under given climate, soil, topography, and management conditions is important for establishing soil conservation schemes. In Galicia, a region with Atlantic climatic conditions in Spain, field observations over the last decade indicate that interrill, rill and ephemeral gully erosion may be an important sediment source. The aim of this work was to assess concentrated erosion rates, describe types of rills and ephemeral gullies and determine their origin, evolution and importance as sediment sources. Soil surface state and concentrated flow erosion were surveyed on medium textured soils, developed over basic schists of the Ordenes Complex series (Coruña province, Spain) from 1997 to 2006. Soil surface state was characterized by crust development, tillage features and roughness degree. Soil erosion rate was directly measured in the field. Concentrated flow erosion took place mainly on seedbeds and recently tilled surfaces in late spring and by autumn or early winter. During the study period, erosion rates were highly variable and the following situations could be distinguished: (a) no incision or limited rill incision, i.e. below 2 Mg ha^?1 year^?1; (b) generalized rill and ephemeral gully incision in the class of mean values between 2·5 and 6·25 Mg ha^?1 year^?1, this was the most common erosion pattern; and (c) heavy erosion as observed during an extremely wet winter period, between October 2000 and February 2001, with erosion figures that may be about ten orders of magnitude higher, up to 55–60 Mg ha^?1 year^?1. Therefore, low values of soil losses are dominant, but also large values of rill and ephemeral gully erosion occurred during the study period. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sardinia Coastal Uplift and Volcanism

The low variability of MIS 5.5 sea level (M.I.S = Marine Isotopic Stage) with respect to the present day sea level, allows the Sardinian coast to be used as an eustatic reference for the entire Mediterranean region. This level is generally at 7 ± 2 m above current sea level along the Sardinian coast. One sector along the Orosei Gulf (eastern Sardinia) includes a characteristic and well conserved tidal notch that changes in elevation from 7.6 to 11.5 m over only 30 km, tilting upwards towards the north. Generally, height deviations of such a tidal notch would be due to tectonic or volcanic activity. The Sardinia coast however, is considered to have too little tectonic activity, and also too small post-glacial rebound in order to explain the anomaly. The remaining possibility is Neogene-Quaternary continental and/or submarine volcanic activity, which we investigate as a possible cause for the observed anomalies. In this paper, our goal is to explain the anomaly by modelling recent volcanic loading or updoming related to magmatic intrusion emplacement. We review the literature on the recent volcanic deposits, both on-shore and off-shore, and investigate to what extent volcanic loads can influence the coastline from a theoretical standpoint, using the isostatic flexure model and a range of loads. We find that the observed notch height anomaly cannot be explained by volcanic loading, but must be produced by an upward welling due to the emplacement of volcanic material, as produced for instance by a laccolith or batholith. The upward movement could be related to the submarine volcano only recently detected, or to a source located on the eastern Sardinia coast near Orosei.