Strong ground motion record selection for the reliable prediction of the mean seismic collapse capacity of a structure group

How to select a limited number of strong ground motion records (SGMRs) is an important challenge for the seismic collapse capacity assessment of structures. The collapse capacity is considered as the ground motion intensity measure corresponding to the drift‐related dynamic instability in the structural system. The goal of this paper is to select, from a general set of SGMRs, a small number of subsets such that each can be used for the reliable prediction of the mean collapse capacity of a particular group of structures, i.e. of single degree‐of‐freedom systems with a typical behaviour range. In order to achieve this goal, multivariate statistical analysis is first applied, to determine what degree of similarity exists between each selected small subset and the general set of SGMRs. Principal Component analysis is applied to identify the best way to group structures, resulting in a minimum number of SGMRs in a proposed subset. The structures were classified into six groups, and for each group a subset of eight SGMRs has been proposed. The methodology has been validated by analysing a first‐mode‐dominated three‐storey‐reinforced concrete structure by means of the proposed subsets, as well as the general set of SGMRs. The results of this analysis show that the mean seismic collapse capacity can be predicted by the proposed subsets with less dispersion than by the recently developed improved approach, which is based on scaling the response spectra of the records to match the conditional mean spectrum. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation of Nano‐Lepidocrocite and an Investigation of Its Ability to Remove a Metal Complex Dye

Lepidocrocite (γ‐FeOOH) nanoparticles were synthesized from iron(II) sulfate solution and characterized using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform‐IR (FT‐IR), nitrogen adsorption, and point of zero charge pH (pH_PZC) analyses. TEM, XRD, and FT‐IR analyses proved the synthesis of nano‐lepidocrocite. Surface area and pH_PZC of the synthesized lepidocrocite were 68.1 m² g^?1 and 4.8, respectively. Utilization of the synthesized lepidocrocite in the adsorption of Lanacron brown S‐GL (LBS‐GL) from aqueous solutions was investigated, and the effect of lepidocrocite dosage, pH, temperature, and contact time on this process were optimized and modeled using response surface methodology approach. The lepidocrocite dosage of 0.015 g, pH 3.5, temperature of 38°C, and contact time of 100 min were determined as optimum adsorption conditions. Isotherm and kinetics of the adsorption process were analyzed at the optimum conditions. The equilibrium data were fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity was 528.21 mg g^?1. The adsorption process was described by the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model. Furthermore, the effect of pH on the desorption of LBS‐GL was investigated. High LBS‐GL desorption efficiency was achieved at a high pH value.     

Ecohydrographic constraints on biodiversity and distribution of phytoplankton and zooplankton in coral reefs of the Red Sea,Saudi Arabia

An integral concept of ecological research is the constraint of biodiversity along latitudinal and environmental gradients. The Red Sea features a natural example of a latitudinal gradient of salinity, temperature and nutrient richness. Coral reefs along the Red Sea coasts are supported with allochthonous resources such as oceanic and neritic phytoplankton and zooplankton; however, relatively little is known about how the ecohydrography correlates with plankton biodiversity and abundance. In this article we present the biodiversity of phytoplankton and zooplankton in Red Sea coral reefs. Oceanographic data (temperature, salinity), water samples for nutrient analysis, particulate organic matter, phytoplankton and zooplankton, the latter with special reference to Copepoda (Crustacea), were collected at nine coral reefs over ~1500 km distance along the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. The trophic state of ambient waters [as indicated by chlorophyll a (Chl a)] changed from strong oligotrophy in the north to mesotrophy in the south and was associated with increasing biomasses of Bacillariophyceae, picoeukaryotes and Synechococcus as indicated by pigment fingerprinting (CHEMTAX) and flow cytometry. Net‐phytoplankton microscopy revealed a Trichodesmium erythraeum (Cyanobacteria) bloom north of the Farasan Islands. Several potentially harmful algae, including Dinophysis miles and Gonyaulax spinifera (Dinophyceae), were encountered in larger numbers in the vicinity of the aquaculture facilities at Al Lith. Changes in zooplankton abundance were mainly correlated to the phytoplankton biomass following the latitudinal gradient. The largest zooplankton abundance was observed at the Farasan Archipelago, despite high abundances of copepodites, veligers (Gastropoda larvae) and Chaetognatha at Al Lith. Although the community composition changed over latitude, biodiversity indices of phytoplankton and zooplankton did not exhibit a systematic pattern. As this study constitutes the first current account of the plankton biodiversity in Red Sea coral reefs at a large spatial scale, the results will be informative for ecosystem‐based management along the coastline of Saudi Arabia.     

Modelling underground cadastral survey data in CityGML

In underground environments, survey elements such as survey points and observations provide the information required to define legal boundaries. These elements are also used to connect underground legal spaces to a geodetic survey network. Due to the issues of current 2D approaches for managing underground cadastral data, prominent 3D data models have been extended to support underground land administration. However, previous studies mostly focused on defining underground legal spaces and boundaries, with less emphasis on survey elements. This research aims to extend CityGML to support underground cadastral survey data. The proposed extension is based on the survey elements elicited from underground cadastral plans, which is then implemented for an underground case study area in Melbourne, Australia. This extension integrates underground survey data with legal and physical data in a 3D digital environment and provides an improved representation of survey elements, facilitating the management and communication of underground cadastral survey data.     

Integrating cellular automata,artificial neural network,and fuzzy set theory to simulate threatened orchards: application to Maragheh,Iran

Urbanization processes challenge the growth of orchards in many cities in Iran. In Maragheh, orchards are crucial ecological, economical, and tourist sources. To explore orchards threatened by urban expansion, this study first aims to develop a new model by coupling cellular automata (CA) and artificial neural network with fuzzy set theory (CA–ANN–Fuzzy). While fuzzy set theory captures the uncertainty associated with transition rules, the ANN considers spatial and temporal nonlinearities of the driving forces underlying the urban growth processes. Second, the CA–ANN–Fuzzy model is compared with two existing approaches, namely a basic CA and a CA coupled with an ANN (CA–ANN). Third, we quantify the amount of orchard loss during the last three decades as well as for the upcoming years up to 2025. Results show that CA–ANN–Fuzzy with 83% kappa coefficient performs significantly better than conventional CA (with 51% kappa coefficient) and CA–ANN (with 79% kappa coefficient) models in simulating orchard loss. The historical data shows a considerable loss of 26% during the last three decades, while the CA–ANN–Fuzzy simulation reveals a considerable future loss of 7% of Maragheh’s orchards in 2025 due to urbanization. These areas require special attention and must be protected by the local government and decision-makers.     

How deep can forest vegetation cover extend their hydrological reinforcing contribution?

An experimental campaign was set up to quantify the contribution of evapotranspiration fluxes on hillslope hydrology and stability for different forest vegetation cover types. Three adjacent hillslopes, respectively, covered by hardwood, softwood, and grass were instrumented with nine access tubes each to monitor soil water dynamics at the three depths of 30, 60, and 100 cm, using a PR2/6 profile probe (Delta‐T Devices Ltd) for about 6 months including wet periods. Soil was drier under softwood and wetter under grass at all the three depths during most of the monitoring period. Matric suction derived via the soil moisture measurements was more responsive to changes in the atmospheric conditions and also recovered faster at the 30 cm depth. Results showed no significant differences between mean matric suction under hardwood (101.6 kPa) with that under either softwood or grass cover. However, a significant difference was found between mean matric suction under softwood (137.5 kPa) and grass (84.3 kPa). Results revealed that, during the wettest period, the hydrological effects from all three vegetation covers were substantial at the 30 cm depth, whereas the contribution from grass cover at 60 cm (2.0 kPa) and 100 cm (1.1 kPa) depths and from hardwood trees at 100 cm depth (1.2 kPa) was negligible. It is surmised that potential instability would have occurred at these larger depths along hillslopes where shallow hillslope failures are most likely to occur in the region. The hydrological effects from softwood trees, 8.1 and 3.9 kPa, were significant as the corresponding factor of safety values showed stable conditions at both depths of 60 and 100 cm, respectively. Therefore, the considerable hydrological reinforcing effects from softwood trees to the 100 cm depth suggest that a hillslope stability analysis would show that hillslopes with softwood trees will be stable even during the wet season.     

Mainshock-consistent ground motion record selection for aftershock sequences

In recent years, the additional risk posed to the built environment due to aftershock sequences and triggered events has been brought to attention, and several efforts have been directed towards developing fragility functions for structures in damaged conditions. Despite this rise of interest, a rather fundamental component for such tasks, namely that of aftershock ground motion record selection, has remained under-scrutinized. Herein, we propose a pragmatic procedure that can be applied for the selection of mainshock-aftershock ground motion pairs using consistent causal parameters and accounting for the correlation between their spectral accelerations. In addition, a structural analysis strategy that can be employed for the analytical derivation of damage-dependent fragility functions is outlined and presented through a case study. A more conventional back-to-back IDA analysis is also carried out in order to compare the derived damage-dependent fragility functions with the ones obtained with the proposed procedure. The results indicate that record selection remains a crucial factor even when assessing the structural vulnerability of damaged buildings, and should thus be treated cautiously.     

Geochemistry characterization of groundwater in an agricultural area of Razan,Hamadan, Iran

This study was conducted to evaluate factors regulating groundwater quality in an area with agriculture as main use. Thirty groundwater samples have been collected from Razan area (Hamadan, Iran) for hydrochemical investigations to understand the sources of dissolved ions and assess the chemical quality of the groundwater. The chemical compositions of the groundwater are dominated by Na⁺, Ca²⁺, HCO₃ ⁻, Cl⁻ and SO₄ ²⁻, which have been derived largely from natural chemical weathering of carbonate, gypsum and anthropogenic activities of fertilizer’s source. The production of SO₄ ²⁻ has multiple origins, mainly from dissolution of sulphate minerals, oxidation of sulphide minerals and anthropogenic sources. The major anthropogenic components in the groundwater include Na⁺, Cl⁻, SO₄ ²⁻ and NO₃ ⁻, with Cl⁻ and NO₃ ⁻ being the main contributors to groundwater pollution in Razan area.