Model identification and parameter estimation of elastoplastic constitutive model by data assimilation using the particle filter

Data assimilation, using the particle filter and incorporating the soil‐water coupled finite element method, is applied to identify the yield function of the elastoplastic constitutive model and corresponding parameters based on the sequential measurements of hypothetical soil tests and an actual construction sequence. In the proposed framework of the inverse analysis, the unknowns are both the particular parameter within the exponential contractancy model, n_E, which parameterizes various shapes for the yield function of the competing constitutive models, including the original/the modified Cam‐Clay models and in‐between models and the parameters of the corresponding constitutive model. An appropriate set, consisting of the yield function of the constitutive model and the parameters of the constitutive model, can be simultaneously identified by the particle filter to describe the most suitable soil behavior. To examine the validity of the proposed procedure, hypothetical and actual measurements for the displacements of a soil specimen were obtained for consolidated and undrained tests through a synthetic FEM computation and for consolidated and drained tests, respectively. After examining the applicability of the proposed procedure to these test results, the present paper then focuses on the actual measured data, ie, the settlement behavior including the lateral deformation of the Kobe Airport Island constructed on reclaimed land.     

Development of partial factor design method on bearing capacity of pile foundations for Japanese Specifications for Highway Bridges

ABSTRACT

This paper shows the development of a partial factor design method on the bearing capacity of pile foundations for Japanese Specifications for Highway Bridges. Firstly, estimation design equations on the bearing capacities of pile foundations are improved by analysis of pile load test results and uncertainties in the bearing capacities are evaluated. Secondly, the reliabilities of pile foundations designed by the former specifications are evaluated based on reliability analysis considering the uncertainties in the bearing capacities and coefficients of subgrade reaction. Finally, a partial factor design method is developed based on the target reliability index obtained based on the conventional pile installation method by the pile installation methods. The factors are different for each pile installation method.     

Detailed abundances of rare earth elements,thorium and uranium in chondritic meteorites: An ICP-MS study

Abstract— Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was successfully applied to bulk samples of Allende, Jilin, Modoc, Saint-Séverin and Atlanta for the determination of rare earth elements (REE) (Y and 14 lanthanoids), Th and U. The results of ICP-MS showed good agreement with recommended values, and their reproducibilities were high enough to discuss the detailed abundances of lanthanoids and actinoids in chondritic meteorites. For the Allende reference sample issued by the Smithsonian Institution, a positive anomaly of Tm, a fractionation between light REE and heavy REE and a high Th/U ratio were observed in the CI-normalized abundances of REE, Th and U. These features are common for group II inclusions in Allende, suggesting that the abundances of refractory lithophiles in Allende are somewhat influenced by those in a specific constituent. For the other chondritic meteorites, a zigzag alteration was commonly observed in the heavy-REE region of their CI-normalized abundance patterns. It is suggested that such a zigzag pattern is attributable to erratically high abundances of monoisotopic REE (Tb, Ho and Tm) in the CI values. Abundances of REE, Th and U in the bulk samples are also discussed separately in detail.     

Thermal evolution of the Lesser Himalaya, central Nepal: Insights from K-white micas compositional variation

The Lesser Himalayan low- to medium-grade metamorphic rocks in central Nepal are rich in K-white micas occurring as porphyroclasts and in matrix defining S₁ and S₂. Porphyroclasts are usually zoned with celadonite-poor cores and celadonite-rich rims. The cores are the relics of igneous or high grade metamorphic muscovites, and the rims were re-equilibrated or overgrown under lower T metamorphic conditions. The matrix K-white micas defining S₁, pre-dating the Main Central Thrust activity, are generally celadonite-rich. They show heterogeneous compositional zoning with celadonite-rich cores and celadonite-poor rims. They were recrystallized at lower T condition prior to the Main Central Thrust activity, most probably prior to the India–Asia collision (pre-Himalayan metamorphism). The matrix K-white micas along S₂, synchronous to the Main Central Thrust activity (Neohimalayan metamorphism), are relatively celadonite-poor and were recrystallized under relatively higher T condition. K-white micas defining S₁ also were partially re-equilibrated during the Neohimalayan metamorphism. The average compositions of recrystallized K-white micas defining both S₁ and S₂ become gradually poor in (Fe + Mg)- and Si-contents and rich in Al- and Ti-contents from south to north showing an increase of metamorphic grade from structurally lower to higher parts in the Lesser Himalaya. This shows that the metamorphism is inverted throughout the inner Lesser Himalaya. The tectono-metamorphic significance of the published K–Ar and ⁴⁰Ar / ³⁹Ar K-white micas ages from the Lesser Himalaya need re-evaluation in the context of observed intrasample compositional variation and zoning, and possible higher closure temperature (500 °C) for K–Ar system.     

Mitigation of earthquake-induced damage of breakwater by geogrid-reinforced foundation

A strong earthquake often precedes a tsunami, and a breakwater may settle during the earthquake. Such seismic subsidence of the breakwater may reduce its ability to block the tsunami, and the tsunami may easily enter coastal areas by overflowing it. This study deals with the instability of a breakwater due to an earthquake. In addition, to protect a breakwater from damage caused by an earthquake, a new concept of using geogrid for reinforcing the foundation of a breakwater is introduced. To determine the behavior of unreinforced foundation and to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed reinforced foundation under different earthquake loadings, a series of shaking table tests were performed. It was observed that the earthquake generated excess pore water pressures and deformations of foundation ground were main reasons of failure of the breakwater. The reinforced foundation was found effective to reduce the earthquake-induced damage of the breakwater, and finally it makes the breakwater resilient against earthquake-induced forces. Numerical simulations were also performed to elucidate the mechanism of reinforcement–breakwater–soil–water system under different earthquake loadings.     

MAIN CENTRAL THRUST ZONE IN THE KATHMANDU AREA, CENTRAL NEPAL, AND ITS TECTONIC SIGNIFICANCE

MAIN CENTRAL THRUST ZONE IN THE KATHMANDU AREA, CENTRAL NEPAL, AND ITS TECTONIC SIGNIFICANCE1　AritaK ,LallmeyerRD ,TakasuA .TectonothermalevolutionoftheLesserHimalaya ,Nepal:constraintsfrom 4 0 Ar/3 9AragesfromtheKathmandunappe[J].TheIslandArc ,1997,6 :372～ 384. 2　RaiSM ,GuillotS ,LeFortP ,etal.Pressure temperatureevolutionintheKathmanduandGosainkundregions ,CentralNepal[J].JourAsianEarthSci ,1998,16 :2 83～ 2 98. 3　SchellingD ,KArita .…     

Shape detection of multiple subsurface cavities by particle filtering with elastic wave propagation

A numerical technique for detecting the number and shape of subsurface cavities is presented, applying the particle filter and the parametric level set method to elastic wave propagation under the ground. When subsurface cavities exist, the elastic wave propagating in the ground is reflected at the boundary faces of the cavities. Observing the velocity of the reflection wave at the surface of a ground that includes multiple cavities and parameterizing the shape of the cavities by the parametric level function, both the number and the shape of the cavities can be identified by the particle filter. Numerical experimentation for detecting multiple cavities is conducted with synthetic observation data. The results show that the proposed technique enables the number of cavities to be identified by the number of peaks in the posterior probabilistic distribution function and solves geometric inverse problems by estimating the shape of the cavities through the parameter identification of the level set function.     

Gamma-ray burst neutrino background and star formation history in the universe

We estimate the flux of the gamma-ray burst (GRB) neutrino background and compute the event rate at SK and TITAND in the collapsar model, assuming that GRB formation rate is proportional to the star formation rate. We find that the predicted background neutrino flux is highly sensitive to unknown model parameters, mainly to the mass–accretion rate, to the fraction of disk energy emitted in thermal neutrinos (as opposed to emission through electromagnetic processes), and to the fraction of collapsar events leading to GRBs. The predicted neutrino flux varies over many orders of magnitude as the values of unknown model parameters are varied. We investigate the detection possibility of thermal neutrinos from collapsars which lead to GRBs by TITAND. We find that the GRB neutrino background might be detected by TITAND within 10 yrs only for the optimistic cases in which the average mass–accretion rate is high ( a few M s⁻¹), and the probability that one collapsar generates a GRB is high (f=0.5–1.0).     

Effects of 17β-estradiol on the reproduction of Java-medaka (Oryzias javanicus), a new test fish species

17β-estradiol (E2) is a female hormone which is known to be one of the strongest estrogenic chemicals in the environment. The present study investigated the effects of E2 on the reproduction of the estuarine fish, Java-medaka (Oryzias javanicus). Starting from the embryonic stages, Java-medaka was exposed for 6 months to 9.5, 16, 68, 159 and 243 ng/l of E2. The fecundity of Java-medaka exposed to E2 levels >16 ng/l was significantly lower than that of the control. The appearance of secondary sexual characteristics seemed to be inhibited by exposure to 159 and 243 ng/l E2. Vitellogenin concentrations in the liver of male fish exposed to 68, 159 and 243 ng/l were significantly higher than that of the control. Thirty-three and sixty percent of male fishes exposed to 159 and 243 ng/l, respectively, had testis-ova. These results suggest that reproduction in the Java-medaka, especially the male fish, could be affected by exposure to E2 concentrations greater than 16 ng/l.