Modeling the 2D behavior of dry‐stone retaining walls by a fully discrete element method

The dry‐stone retaining walls (DSRW) have been tipped as a promising solution for sustainable development. However, before recently, their behavior is relatively obscure. In this study, discrete element method (DEM) approach was applied to simulate the plane strain failure of these walls. A commercial DEM package (PFC2D™) was used throughout this study. The authors used a fully discrete approach; thus, both the wall and the backfill were modeled as discrete elements. The methodology for obtaining the micromechanical parameters was discussed in detail; this includes the three mechanical sub‐systems of DSRWs: wall, backfill and interface. The models were loaded progressively until failure, and then the results were compared with the full‐scale experimental results where the walls were loaded, respectively, with hydrostatic load and backfill. Despite its complexity and its intensive calculation time, DEM model can then be used to validate a more simplified approach. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A field comparison of two methods for the determination of copper complexation: Bacterial bioassay and fixed-potential amperometry

Complexation of copper added to seawater was determined by bacterial bioassay and fixedpotential amperometry. Consistent results were obtained by these two fundamentally different methods. The results of this study support the validity of both techniques and the field applicability of fixed-potential amperometry.The intercomparison studies were performed on samples collected at the N.Y.C. sewage sludge dumpsite and in relatively unpolluted coastal waters. In this limited study, the calculated free cupric ion concentrations at ambient total copper concentrations were similar at both sites.     

Adaptation of the vertical resolution in the mixed layer for HYCOM

This paper focuses on the dynamics of the mixed layer. When the mixed layer depth increases, the vertical discretisation eventually becomes too sparse at the bottom of this layer to accurately resolve its evolution and strong numerical errors can appear. This is linked to the fact that the vertical resolution is concentrated in the upper part of the ocean and does not adapt to the deepening of the mixed layer.Knowing that the HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) is able to modify the distribution of the vertical levels, we suggest in this paper a method to adapt the resolution to the mixed layer extension. This method is tested in 1-D configurations for two academic atmospheric forcing conditions (strong convection and wind-mixing) and a realistic forcing extending over one year, with seasonal restratification following strong winter convection. The new method improves the results in all cases, and in particular when the mixed layer reaches deep layers.     

Ekman drift and vortical structures

In this article, the authors study the influence of a constant wind on the displacement of a vortex. The well known Ekman current develops in the surface layer and is responsible for a transport perpendicular to the wind: the Ekman drift.An additional process is, however, evidenced, whose importance is as strong as the Ekman drift. There indeed exists a curl of the wind-driven acceleration along isopycnic surfaces when they are spatially variable (they enter and leave the depth where the wind stress acts), which generates potential vorticity anomalies. This diabatic effect is shown to generate potential vorticity anomalies which acts on the propagation of vortical waves and non linear vortices.It is shown that this effect drastically reduces the effect of the Ekman drift for linear waves and surface intensified vortices, while extending its effect to subsurface vortices. It also generates along wind propagation, whose sign depends on the vortex characteristics.     

Etude des Déformations et Inclinaisons du Sous-sol: Développements Instrumentaux et Applications dans la Région Sismique d’Arette,France

We present a modified version of a tilt and strain meter conceived to have great sensibility and good stability. These instruments were deployed in a cave at the seismic Pyrenean region of Arette (France). We set in evidence several types of phenomena, of which deformations brought about by water recharge filling up fissures on the massif are of importance. Owing to the redundance in the data, the study of the co-seismic deformations allows one to separate instrumental displacements and local readjustments from regional motions.     

Numerical analyses of deformability tests in jointed rock — “Joint Perturbation” and “No Tension” Finite Element solutions

SummaryNumerical Analyses of Deformability Tests in Jointed Rock — Joint Perturbation and No Tension Finite Element Solutions Sound design of structures in or upon rock requires a thorough knowledge of the rock mass deformability. Field test data interpretation has generally relied upon analytical or Finite Element linear elastic solutions. However, when testing in jointed rock, these can no longer be readily used since the medium cannot resist the tension induced upon loading. Accordingly, other solutions are required. If the discontinuities of the rock mass can all be mapped and their surface properties determined, the Finite Element model will use a Joint Perturbation solution where the joint elements have variable stiffnesses to account for movements along the fractures. If the discontinuities cannot be satisfactorily mapped, a global approach is provided by a No Tension analysis of the stress transfer type. The two techniques are compared in the case of bore hole jack deformability tests and found to agree remarkably well, indicating an appreciable difference from results of linear elasticity.

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ZusammenfassungNumerische Analyse von Verformungsversuchen in geklüfteten Fels — Lösungen mittels Kluft-Perturbation und No Tension Analysis auf Grund der Methode der Finiten Elemente Der Entwurf von Bauwerken in oder auf Fels erfordert eine genaue Kenntnis des Formänderungsverhaltens der Felsmasse. Im allgemeinen basiert die Interpretation der Ergebnisse von Feldversuchen auf den Lösungen des zugehörigen Randwertproblems der linearen Elastostatik mittels klassischer analytischer Methoden oder der Methode der Finiten Elemente. Wenn die Versuche aber in geklüftetem Fels durchgeführt werden, müssen die theoretischen Methoden modifiziert werden, da das Medium keine Zugspannungen aufnehmen kann. Zwei Fälle können unterschieden werden. Erstens: die Kluftflächen der Felsmasse können geometrisch erfaßt und ihre Oberflächeneigenschaften können bestimmt werden; in diesem Falle kann die Finite-Elemente-Lösung eine Kluft-Perturbations-Methode verwenden, in welcher spezielle Kluft-Elemente verschiedener Steifigkeiten normal und tangential zu den Kluftflächen die Bewegungen entlang derselben bestimmen. Zweitens: die Diskontinuitäten der Felsmasse können nicht hinreichend beschrieben werden; für diesen Fall ist vorgekehrt durch die Finite-Element-Analyse vom Typ der Spannungsumlagerung unter Ausschaltung der Zugspannungen (No Tension Analysis), um das globale Verhalten der geklüfteten Felsmasse zu erfassen. Die Lösungen dieser beiden Methoden wurden für den Fall der Bohrloch-Verformungs-Tests verglichen; der Vergleich zeigt ausgezeichnete Übereinstimmung, im Gegensatz zu den Lösungen als lineares Elastizitätsproblem.

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RésuméLa méthode des Eléments Finis appliquée aux résultats d'essais de vérins cylindriques dans les roches fissurées — solutions dites Joint Pertubé et Sans Traction La construction de structures sur ou dans des roches nécessite une connaissance approfendie de la déformabilité du massif rocheux. L'analyse des résultats d'essais en place se fait généralement à l'aide de solutions analytiques ou par Eléments Finis, qui supposent une élasticité linéaire du milieu. De fait, dans les roches fissurées, ces solutions sont inadéquates puisque le milieu ne peut résister aux sollicitations de traction. Il s'agit donc d'utiliser d'autres méthodes d'analyse. Lors qu'il est possible de déterminer la géométrie et les propriétés de toutes les discontinuités, l'on pourra utiliser une solution par Eléments Finis, dite Joint Perturbé dans laquelle la rigidité de surface du joint (ou fissure) peut varier lorsque des movements prennent place au niveau du joint. Si cela est impossible, il faudra utiliser une approche globale dite Sans Traction qui redistribue les contraintes de traction et les dissipe. On compare ces deux types de solutions dans le cas des essais de vérins cylindriques unidirectionnels. Leurs résultats sont identiques et ont nettement différents de ceux obtenus avec une solution élastique linéaire.

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Research supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration — Contract NAS 8-21432.

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With 8 Figures     

Seeing Conditions at Sutherland. Results of the 1992/93 seeing campaign

In order to decide whether the seeing conditions at SAAO/Sutherland justify the erection of a 3.5 m telescope and also to compare Sutherland with the Gamsberg/Namibia site, a seeing campaign covering 15 months has been carried out. For direct comparison with the results of the seeing campaign at Gamsberg twenty years before the same QUESTAR telescope was employed. The seeing is determined by the scattering of the star-trail exposed on a film in the focal plane of the telescope. The campaign commenced in February 1992. Up to May 1993, data for 204 nights, that is 47.3% of the total number of nights, were collected. Due to wind speeds above 30 km h^-1, 25 out of the 204 nights were not considered in the final reduction. The useful 179 nights are evenly distributed over the campaign period. The median seeing value for the whole period is = 0.52. There are differences during the year: the best season gives = 0.42, the worst = 0.67. Each night was divided into three intervals, although data for each of the three intervals were not always available. Generally, there is an improvement in the seeing during the course of a night. The results are compared to the seeing values of Gamsberg/Namibia and ESO/La Silla.