Market‐based control of linear structural systems

To limit the response of structures during external disturbances such as strong winds or large seismic events, structural control systems can be used. In the structural engineering field, attention has been shifted from active control to semi‐active control systems. Unlike active control system devices, semi‐active devices are compact, have efficient power consumption characteristics and are less expensive. As a result, an environment of a large number of actuators and sensors will result, rendering a complex large‐scale dynamic system. Such a system is best controlled by a decentralized approach such as market‐based control (MBC). In MBC, the system is modelled as a market place of buyers and sellers that leads to an efficient allocation of control power. The resulting MBC solution is shown to be locally Pareto optimal. This novel control approach is applied to three linear structural systems ranging from a one‐storey structure to a 20‐storey structure, all controlled by semi‐active hydraulic dampers. It is shown that MBC is competitive in the reduction of structural responses during large seismic loadings as compared to the centralized control approach of the linear quadratic regulation controller. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of petroleum hydrocarbons in water, fish and sediments following the Ekofisk blow-out

Samples of fish, water and sediment were collected during the Ekofisk ‘Bravo’ blow-out and analysed for specific aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. Analyses showed the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons from the blow-out in some of the water samples, but fish and sediments, collected up to a week after it began, showed no evidence of a contribution from the blow-out.     

A Quartz-bearing Orthopyroxene-rich Websterite Xenolith from the Pannonian Basin, Western Hungary: Evidence for Release of Quartz-saturated Melts from a Subducted Slab

An unusual quartz-bearing orthopyroxene-rich websterite xenolithhas been found in an alkali basaltic tuff at Szigliget, Bakony–BalatonHighland Volcanic Field (BBHVF), western Hungary. Ortho- andclinopyroxenes are enriched in light rare earth elements (LREE),middle REE and Ni, and depleted in Nb, Ta, Sr and Ti comparedwith ortho- and clinopyroxenes occurring in either peridotiteor lower crustal granulite xenoliths from the BBHVF. Both ortho-and clinopyroxenes in the xenolith contain primary and secondarysilicate melt inclusions, and needle-shaped or rounded quartzinclusions. The melt inclusions are rich in SiO₂ and alkalisand poor in MgO, FeO and CaO. They are strongly enriched inLREE and large ion lithophile elements, and display negativeNb, Ta and Sr anomalies, and slightly positive Pb anomalies.The xenolith is interpreted to represent a fragment of an orthopyroxene-richbody that crystallized in the upper mantle from a hybrid meltthat formed by interaction of mantle peridotite with a quartz-saturatedsilicate melt that was released from a subducted oceanic slab.Although the exact composition of the slab melt cannot be determined,model calculations on major and trace elements suggest involvementof a metasedimentary component. KEY WORDS: quartz; mantle; silicate melt inclusion; SiO₂-rich melt; subduction; Carpathian-Pannonian Region     

The vertical distribution of condensation nuclei near the ground

Summary Measurements have been made of the concentration of condensation nuclei, Z, at four heights between the ground and 300 cms in country air close to Cambridge. When the results are averaged over sufficiently long periods a systematic variation of Z with height is found and this variation itself has a diurnal variation. The results imply the production of nuclei in the atmosphere in this region. With the aid of simplifying assumptions, estimates of the rate of production are made for various periods of the day and night.     

Porosity determinations of sediments in Knight Inlet using a transient electromagnetic system

A newly developed towed transient electromagnetic (TEM) system is capable of measuring the electrical conductivity of the uppermost 5–10 m of sediments on the sea floor. The profiles of conductivity may be interpreted to give the porosity and likely texture of the bottom sediments. Recent tests of the system have demonstrated that data may be collected continuously in a surveying mode. Results from Knight Inlet, British Columbia, are in good agreement with sea floor samples from the area. Applications for the system include the rapid identification of sediment types for dredging operations, geotechnical surveys, or reconnaissance mapping of Quaternary geology.