An improved capacity spectrum method for ATC‐40

In order to account for the non‐linear behavior of structures via non‐linear static procedure, the capacity spectrum method has been adopted by ATC‐40 for evaluation and retrofit of reinforced concrete buildings. For elastic‐perfectly‐plastic SDOF systems, the accuracy of the capacity spectrum method depends only on the acceleration response spectrum chosen to form the demand spectrum and the adopted model for calculating the equivalent viscous damping ratios. According to this method, the pseudo‐acceleration response spectrum (PS_a) is used to create the demand diagram. It is found that the ATC‐40 procedure, using its Type A hysteretic model, may be inaccurate especially for systems with damping ratios greater than 10% and periods longer than 0.15sec. In order to improve the accuracy of the capacity spectrum method, this study proposes to use the real absolute acceleration response spectrum (S0._a) instead of the PS_a to establish the demand diagram. The step‐by‐step procedure of the improved method and examples are implemented in this paper to illustrate the calculations of earthquake‐induced deformations. In addition, three selected models of equivalent viscous damping are also compared in this paper to assess the accuracy of the model used in the ATC‐40 procedure. Results show that the WJE damping model may be used by the capacity spectrum method to reasonably predict the inelastic displacements when the ductility demand (μ) of the structures is less than 4, whereas the damping model proposed by Kowalsky can be implemented when μ>4.0. Alternatively, the damping model proposed by Kowalsky may be used to calculate the equivalent viscous damping for the entire range of ductility. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

利用重力资料反演京津唐张地区震质中

流动重力观测结果显示，地震孕育过程中重力变化最大处往往不与震中重合，美国科学家J.T.Kuo（郭宗汾）提出了孕震体质量变化中心震质源(hypocentroid)和其在地表的投影震质中(epicentroid)的概念．本文采用球、椭球和圆柱体等3种旋转体模型模拟孕震体，分别计算孕震体均匀膨胀引起的表面重力变化模型，并利用最小二乘法对1981～2000年发生在京津唐张测网内16次M>4.0地震进行震质中迭代反演. 计算精度表明，圆柱体模型为三者中的最隹模型．研究了震中、震质中与断层之间的位置关系，发现京津唐张地区M4~5地震震质中与震中的距离在0~40 km之间，震中一般发生在断层末端，或断层交汇处；而震质中大都发生在断层间的块体内，且成丛分布．这意味着区域内存在小范围的构造——地震孵化区，一次次地震在孵化区内孵化，但却在其周围发生．其间，断层的存在起着重要的控制作用．      

Comparison of displacement coefficient method and capacity spectrum method with experimental results of RC columns

For the performance‐based seismic design of buildings, both the displacement coefficient method used by FEMA‐273 and the capacity spectrum method adopted by ATC‐40 are non‐linear static procedures. The pushover curves of structures need to be established during processing of these two methods. They are applied to evaluation and rehabilitation of existing structures. This paper is concerned with experimental studies on the accuracy of both methods. Through carrying out the pseudo‐dynamic tests, cyclic loading tests and pushover tests on three reinforced concrete (RC) columns, the maximum inelastic deformation demands (target displacements) determined by the coefficient method of FEMA‐273 and the capacity spectrum method of ATC‐40 are compared. In addition, a modified capacity spectrum method which is based on the use of inelastic design response spectra is also included in this study. It is shown from the test specimens that the coefficient method overestimates the peak test displacements with an average error of +28% while the capacity spectrum method underestimates them with an average error of ‐20%. If the Kowalsky hysteretic damping model is used in the capacity spectrum method instead of the original damping model, the average errors become ‐11% by ignoring the effect of stiffness degrading and ‐1.2% by slightly including the effect of stiffness degrading. Furthermore, if the Newmark–Hall inelastic design spectrum is implemented in the capacity spectrum method instead of the elastic design spectrum, the average error decreases to ‐6.6% which undervalues, but is close to, the experimental results. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A mathematical basis for the convergence of the capacity spectrum method

The capacity spectrum method is adopted by the ATC‐40 document for evaluating the inelastic deformation demands of reinforced concrete structures. Several studies have shown that the iterative procedure needed in the method may not give convergent outcomes in some cases. This paper focuses on the convergence of the capacity spectrum method in the constant velocity region of the response spectrum. The results obtained from the examples discussed in this study show that the convergent characteristics of this method depend on the elastic period, the hysteretic damping model, the yield displacement and the ductility ratio of the system analyzed. The capacity spectrum method can converge only for the case that the absolute value of the first derivative of the government equation derived from the demand and capacity diagrams of structures is smaller than 1.0. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sources for gold,palladium and iridium in deep-sea sediments

Deep-sea sediment cores, one from the Caribbean (calcareous ooze) and three from the Pacific-Antarctic basin (Globigerina ooze, siliceous ooze and pelagic clay) were analysed for Au, Pd, Ir and Mn by neutron activation. The average noble metal contents for 37 samples are: Au (ppb) Pd (ppb) Ir (ppb) 1.05 ± 0.9 3.5 ± 2.8 0.31 ± 0.14 Biogenic and lithogenic (terrigenous) constituents account for much of the noble metal in these sediments. The average noble metal content, particularly that of Au and Ir, shows little variation over the entire suite of four cores despite large differences in the proportions of biogenic and lithogenic fractions. In general neither component is a markedly more significant noble metal sink than the other. However, a strong correlation between Au and CaCO₃ in the Caribbean calcareous ooze suggests that the biogenic fraction is a significant concentrator in this core.Palladium content is more variable than that of Au or Ir and in two of the Antarctic cores some Pd, probably of hydrogenous origin, is present.The Ir content of all cores is higher than that expected of purely terrigenous sources and there is little suggestion of biogenic concentration of the metal. $\text{Au}\text{Ir}$ ratios differ greatly from average continental crust but are similar to oceanic crust. In one of the Antarctic cores some Ir of hydrogenous and of extraterrestrial origin may be present.     

基于加密观测资料的杭州城市热环境及闷热特征分析

基于加密观测的自动站资料,统计分析了杭州主城区热环境空间分布及时间演变特征,结果表明:杭州城市热岛效应在秋、冬季最强,春季次之,夏季最弱。江干、萧山、上城的大部地区为热岛强度主要高值区,年平均值达0.50℃以上。秋季最高值达0.75℃以上,其余季节高值区为0.50℃以上,高值区范围在冬季最大、夏季最小,热岛效应有从老城区向新城区扩展的趋势。杭州城市热岛效应还存在夜间强、白天弱的日变化特征,02:00高值中心达1.00℃以上,08:00降到0.50～0.75℃,14:00全市几乎均为0.00～0.25℃,20:00最大值为0.75℃以上。城区比郊区更易发生闷热天气,程度也更强,但近几年城乡热感差异有缩小趋势。     

Three‐dimensional hydrodynamic and salinity transport modelling of Danshuei River estuarine system and adjacent coastal sea,Taiwan

A three‐dimensional, time‐dependent hydrodynamic and salinity model was applied to the Danshuei River estuarine system and adjacent coastal sea in Taiwan. The model forcing functions consist of tidal elevations along the open boundary and freshwater flows from the main stem and tributaries in the Danshuei River system. The bottom roughness height was calibrated and verified with model simulation of barotropic flow, and the turbulent diffusivities were calibrated through comparison of time‐series of salinity distributions. The overall model verification was achieved with comparisons of residual current and salinity distribution. The model simulation results are in qualitative agreement with the available field data. The model was then used to investigate the tidal current, residual current, and salinity patterns under the low freshwater flow condition in the modelling domain. The results reveal that the extensive intrusion of saline water imposes a significant baroclinic forcing and induces a strong residual circulation in the estuary. The downriver net velocity in the upper layer increases seaward despite the enlargement of the river cross‐section in that direction. Strong residual circulation can be found near the Kuan‐Du station. This may be the result of the deep bathymetric features there. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental investigation on seismic behavior of scoured bridge pier with pile foundation

This study investigated the seismic performance and soil‐structure interaction of a scoured bridge models with pile foundation by shaking table tests using a biaxial laminar shear box. The bridge pier model with pile foundation comprised a lumped mass representing the superstructure, a steel pier, and a footing supported by a single aluminum pile within dry silica sand. End of the pile was fixed at the bottom of the shear box to simulate the scenario that the pile was embedded in a firm stratum of rock. The bridge pier model was subjected to one‐directional shakes, including white noise and earthquake records. The performance of the bridge pier model with pile foundation was discussed for different scoured conditions. It is found that the moment demand of pile increases with the increase of scoured depth whereas the moment demand of the bridge pier decreases, and this transition may induce the bridge failure mechanism transform from pier to pile. The seismic demand on scoured pile foundations may be underestimated and misinterpreted to a certain degree. When evaluating the system damping ratio with SSI, the system response may not be significantly changed even if the soil viscous damping contribution is varied. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.