Seismic response of simple structures using spring-assisted sliding slabs with coulomb damping

Coulomb damping can be utilized effectively to reduce the dynamic response of structures subjected to seismic ground motions. To activate this damping, some parts of a vibrating structure are allowed to slide at rough interfaces. The dynamic response of structures provided with sliding interfaces at the base, between a floor slab and frame and in the cross bracings of a frame has been examined recently. In this paper, a simple slab sliding system provided with a spring to introduce a recovery mechanism and to reduce the sliding displacement requirement for low frequency structures has been examined. The equations of motion for this system are developed. An approach is presented to solve these coupled equations for earthquake induced ground motions. Structures with varying frequency and friction characterisics are considered and the numerical results are presented in response spectrum form. It is observed that, in low frequency structures, provision of a rather weak spring can reduce the sliding displacement requirements without significantly increasing the forces in the supporting frame and the acceleration input to supported secondary systems.     

A univariate model for long-term streamflow forecasting

This paper, the first in a series of two, employs the principle of maximum entropy (POME) via maximum entropy spectral analysis (MESA) to develop a univariate model for long-term streamflow forecasting. Three cases of streamflow forecasting are investigated: forward forecasting, backward forecasting (or reconstruction) and intermittent forecasting (or filling in missing records). Application of the model is discussed in the second paper.     

Action Sites of Cypermethrin,a Synthetic Pyrethroid in the Snail Lymnaea acuminata

24 h of in vivo exposure to 40 and 80 = LC50 of the synthetic pyrethroid cypermethrin significantly reduced the acetylcholinesterase, cytochrome oxidase and lactic dehydrogenase activity in the nervous tissue of L. acuminata. Succinic dehydrogenase activity increased significantly after the same treatment. Fifteen minutes in vitro exposure to different doses of cypermethrin also significantly inhibited cytochrome oxidase and lactic dehydrogenase activity. However, acetylcholinesterase and succinic dehydrogenase activities remain unaltered. It is concluded that the cypermethrin on the one hand causes repititive discharges at the nerve terminal and on the other hand blocks the electron transport chain.     

An improved response spectrum method for calculating seismic design response. Part 1: Classically damped structures

A good response spectrum method, used for calculating the seismic design response for design inputs defined in terms of response spectra, should be able to include the effect of the higher modes, even though they may be truncated and not explicitly considered in the analysis. It should also be able to include the intercorrelation of the retained modes as well as their correlation with truncated modes. Herein one such method based on a suitable combination of the mode displacement and mode acceleration formulations of structural dynamics is proposed. Several numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed approach vis-a-vis some other commonly used response spectrum approaches.     

Static deformation of two welded half-spaces due to very long strike-slip dislocations

Closed form analytic expressions for displacement and stresses at any point of either of the two homogeneous, isotropic, perfectly elastic half-spaces in welded contact due to very long strike-slip dislocations are obtained. Both cases of vertical and horizontal strike-slip dislocations are discussed in detail. Variation of the displacement with horizontal distance from the fault and with vertical distance from the interface for a vertical strike-slip fault is studied numerically.     

Triton: stratospheric molecules and organic sediments

Hydrocarbons and nitriles are produced in Triton's stratosphere by energetic electrons from Neptune's magnetosphere and other charged particle sources. Laboratory plasma experiments reported here show a substantial yield of molecules from low pressure flows of 10(-3) CH4 in N2 appropriate to Triton if both CH4 and N2 are saturated at the surface. An active magnetosphere similar to that of Uranus would result in a flux approximately 0.3 erg cm-2 s-1 of 0.1-1 MeV electrons in Triton's stratosphere; molecular production rates are then 10(6)-10(8) cm-2 s-1 for NH3, C2H2, HCN, and NCCN; tens of hundreds of gm cm-2 of these compounds per 10(9) yr (and lesser quantities of at least eight other molecules experimentally detected) would freeze to fine-grained white condensates in the lower stratosphere and sediment to the surface. Along with dark/colored organic haze produced in the stratosphere and other heteropolymers produced at the surface, these condensates are subjects to redistribution by aeolian processes and may appear as lag deposits and/or sediment layers. A simple eddy diffusion model indicates abundances approximately 10(19) molec cm-2 for HCN and C2H2, and > 10(17) molec cm-2 for NCCN, CH3CCH, CH2CCH2, and CH3CN in the stratosphere; these and other organic molecules will be detectable by IRIS if the stratosphere is (as expected) heated through ultraviolet and visible light absorption by the haze.     

A study of seismic response characteristics of structures with friction damping

The effectiveness of introducing Coulomb damping in structures to reduce seismic response is evaluated. Response characteristics of simple one-degree-of-freedom structures with sliding interfaces between the top slab and supporting frame and between the base and foundation are studied and compared. It is shown that, analytically, the top slab sliding system is a special case of the base sliding system. The slab sliding system is seen to offer certain advantages over the base sliding system inasmuch as it provides a more effective reduction in the lateral forces in the supporting frame as well as a better isolation of supported secondary systems, as depicted by a significantly reduced level of floor spectrum response. The analytical ease of predicting the response of the slab sliding system is also demonstrated. The required unobstructed sliding displacements seem to be reasonable except, may be, for flexible systems. The similarities and differences between the hysteretic and slab sliding systems are also highlighted by comparison of their response results.     

Innovative Sampling Techniques for Ground Water Monitoring at Hazardous Waste Sites

The authors have recently used several innovative sampling techniques for ground water monitoring at hazardous waste sites. Two of these techniques were used for the first time on the Biscayne Aquifer Super-fund Project in Miami, Florida. This is the largest sampling program conducted so far under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund Program.
One sampling technique involved the use of the new ISCO Model 2600 submersible portable well sampling pump. A compressed air source forces water from the well into the pump casing and then delivers it to the surface (through a pulsating action). This pump was used in wells that could not be sampled with surface lift devices.
Another sampling technique involved the use of a Teflon manifold sampling device. The manifold is inserted into the top of the sampling bottle and a peristaltic pump creates a vacuum to draw the water sample from the well into the bottle. The major advantage of using this sampling technique for ground water monitoring at hazardous waste sites is the direct delivery of the water sample into the collection container. In this manner, the potential for contamination is reduced because, prior to delivery to the sample container, the sample contacts only the Teflon, which is well-known for its inert properties.
Quality assurance results from the Superfund project indicate that these sampling techniques are successful in reducing cross-contamination between monitoring wells. Analysis of field blanks using organic-free water in contact with these sampling devices did not show any concentration at or above the method detection limit for each priority pollutant.     

Geomorphological map of Bist Doab Tract,Punjab from Landsat imagery analysis

The Bist Doab Tract of Punjab is an agriculturaly important region lying between the two rivers viz: Beas and Satluj on two sides and the Siwaliks range on the third side. Landsat imagery of bands 5,7 and false colour composite covering this tract were analysed for the texture, shape, size and pattern to study the different geomorphic units developed under different geological periods and environments. The study has enabled to identify the following land form zones (i) Structural hill-Siwaliks-Z1 (ii) Table land-Z2 (iii) Upper piedmont-Z3 (iv) Lower piedmont-Z4 (v) Alluvial plain-Z5 (vi) Sandy and Saline tract-Z6 (vii) Older flood plain-Z7 (viii) Active flood plain-Z8. The resultant geomorphological map of the area has been prepared on 1: 1M scale and as such the applicability of the remotely sensed data has been found to be of immense use in the quick identification of regional geomorphic setting of the area.     

Relationship between 500 hPa ridge axis positions over the indian and the west Pacific regions and the Indian summer monsoon rainfall

500 hPa ridge positions over the Indian and the West Pacific regions during April are related with the summer monsoon rainfall over India. The ridge position over the Indian region shows better relation with monsoon rainfall than that shown by the ridge over the Pacific region. The multiple correlation of these ridge positions with monsoon rainfall exceeds 0.7. These predictive relationships are better than those shown by other parameters, viz. (1) Northern Hemispheric surface temperature; (2) East-Pacific sea surface tempera-ture; (3) El-Nino events and (4) Tahiti-Darwin pressure difference, and index of southern oscillation, over the 30-year samples analysed.