Nonlinear pushover analysis of infilled concrete frames

Six reinforced concrete frames with or without masonry infills were constructed and tested under horizontal cyclic loads. All six frames had identical details in which the transverse reinforcement in columns was provided by rectangular hoops that did not meet current ACI specifications for ductile frames. For comparison purposes, the columns in three of these frames were jacketed by carbon-fiber-reinforced-polymer （CFRP） sheets to avoid possible shear failure. A nonlinear pushover analysis, in which the force-deformation relationships of individual elements were developed based on ACI 318, FEMA 356, and Chen＇s model, was carried out for these frames and compared to test results. Both the failure mechanisms and impact of infills on the behaviors of these frames were examined in the study. Conclusions from the present analysis provide structural engineers with valuable information for evaluation and design of infilled concrete frame building structures.     

Trace element concentrations in barramundi (Lates calcarifer) collected along the coast of Vietnam

We determined concentrations of 23 trace elements (TEs), and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) signatures in barramundi (Lates calcarifer) specimens collected along the coast of Vietnam in the Northern (NCZ), Central (CCZ) and Southern (SCZ) zones in the period 2007–2010. A combination of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N signatures provided insight into ontogenetic shifts in barramundi foraging choices. There were clear zone-dependent differences in Mn, As, Sr and Tl concentrations; levels of Tl were highest in the NCZ, As in the CCZ, and Mn and Sr in the SCZ. Lowest concentrations of Rb occurred in the NCZ, Bi was lowest in the CCZ, and Cd and Cs were lowest in the SCZ. δ¹⁵N values significantly increased with increasing Zn, Se, Sn and Cs. Concentrations of TEs in barramundi from Vietnam were below worldwide guidelines for human consumption.     

人文主义地理学之我见

人文主义地理学出现于20世纪60年代末,是时欧美正涌动着人文主义思潮,它带动了对逻辑实证主义知识体系进行批判的一系列理论的出现,人文主义地理学就是其一。人文主义地理学的哲学基础是存在主义和现象学,段义孚和雷尔夫(Edward Relph)、布蒂默(Anne Buttimer)、莱(David Ley)、赛明思(Marvyn Samuels)和恩特里金(Nicholas Entrikin)等是人文主义地理学的代表人物。1976年段义孚发表了《人文主义地理学》一文,1978年这些学者一起出版了人文主义地理学的第一部论文集《人文主义地理学》。 　　人文主义地理学的一个主要目标是协调社会科学与人之间的关系,容纳知性(understanding)与智慧(wisdom),客观(objectivity)与主观(subjectivity)以及唯物主义和唯心主义。其主要任务是发展方法论,并深刻理解人类在世界所处的地位。本文各部分都渗透着这个主题。人文主义地理学的社会批判立足点是伦理和道德。 它强调人们对自然、对世界的感悟能力。本文从三个方面探讨了这种感悟力。第一,地理学关注不同地方的差异,地方之间的差异体现在各个地方特点的差异上。人们可以通过感官感受到地方,各种感受的综合形成了地方感;第二,人类在处理与自然的关系上往往是把强权加在自然之上,从而扭曲了自然的本来形态。感悟人与自然的和谐将提升人类的道德;第三,想象力是一种对世界的感悟能力,文化则是想象力的产物。人类在追求物质和精神生活时也会陷入怪圈。本文最后指出,人文主义地理学者必须能够把握大量的事实,同时洞悉人类对自然感悟的复杂与精妙。     

Residues of selected antibiotics in water and mud from shrimp ponds in mangrove areas in Viet Nam

In recent years, antibiotics have been used widely in intensive shrimp culture and this may lead to their contamination of the environment. Surveys on residues of trimethoprim (TMP), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), norfloxacin (NFXC) and oxolinic acid (OXLA) in water and mud in shrimp ponds in mangrove areas were conducted in the north as well as in south of Viet Nam in July and August, 2002. The results show that these antibiotics are found in all samples in both shrimp ponds and surrounding canals. The highest concentrations of TMP, SMX, NFXC and OXLA are 1.04, 2.39, 6.06, and 2.50 ppm in water samples; and 734.61, 820.49, 2615.96, 426.31 ppm (based on wet mud weight), respectively. The comparison of antibiotics residues between study sites and types of shrimp ponds will be discussed in this paper. The results also suggest that antibiotics residues may cause harmful effect on ecosystems in the study sites.     

A numerical study of the influence of an air temperature-inversion layer and a seawater density-jump layer on the structure of interacting boundary layers

The effects of an air-temperature inversion in the atmosphere and a seawater density jump in the ocean on the structure of the atmospheric and oceanic boundary layers are studied by use of a coupled model. The numerical model consists of a closed system of equations for velocities, turbulent kinetic energy, turbulent exchange coefficient, local turbulent length scale, and stratification expressions for both air and sea boundary layers. The effects of the temperature inversion and the density jump are incorporated into the equations of turbulent kinetic energy of the atmosphere and ocean by a parameterization. A series of numerical experiments was conducted to determine the effects of various strengths of the inversion layer and surface heat fluxes in the atmosphere and of the density-jump layer in the ocean on the structure of the interacting boundary layers.The numerical results show that the temperature inversion in the atmosphere and density jump in the ocean have strong influences on turbulent structure [especially on the turbulent exchange coefficient (TEC) and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE)] and on air-sea interaction characteristics. Maxima of TKE and TEC strongly decrease with increasing strength of the inversion layer, and they disappear for strong inversions in the atmosphere. Certain strengths (density differences between the upper and the lower layers) of the density-jump layer in the ocean (₂ 0.1 g/cm³) produce double maxima in TEC-profiles and TKE-profiles in the ocean. The magnitudes of air-sea interaction characteristics such as geostrophic drag coefficient, and surface drift current increase with increasing strength of the density-jump layer in the ocean. The density-jump layer plays the role of a barrier that limits vertical mixing in the ocean. The numerical results agree well with available observed data and accepted quantitive understanding of the influences of a temperature inversion layer and a density-jump layer on the interacting atmospheric and oceanic boundary layers.     

越南东北部佐田铅锌矿床硫化物S、Pb 同位素特征及其地质意义

越南东北部佐田（Cho Dien）铅锌矿床分布在北太省（Bac thai）西部则屯西北,属于华南褶皱系越北隆起区。为了探讨该矿床的成矿物质来源和成矿机制,对该矿床的矿石样品进行了S、Pb同位素组成分析。结果表明,5件样品的11种金属硫化物（闪锌矿、磁黄铁矿、方铅矿）的δ34S 值为4.1‰~6.8‰,平均值为5.51‰,极差为2.7‰,显示S同位素组成比较稳定,经计算热液的δ34S 值约为7‰。11种金属硫化物样品的206Pb/204Pb、207Pb/204Pb和208Pb/204Pb变化范围分别为18.451~18.682、15.685~15.878、38.909~39.636,平均值分别为18.59855、15.78227和39.30773,矿石矿物[μ]值为9.36~9.98,平均值为9.80,[ω]值为39.04~42.63,平均值为40.79。Th/U值为3.92~4.13,平均值为4.03。结果表明,佐田铅锌矿床的硫主要来自沉积围岩及三叠纪的Phia Bioc杂岩,矿石铅主要来自上地壳物质,也有地幔物质的加入。综合上述成果及已有数据认为,佐田铅锌矿是在特提斯成矿域早三叠世碰撞环境下形成的,板块碰撞过程中形成的Phia Bioc花岗岩体为矿床的形成提供了一定的物质基础,属热液型矿床。     

龙门山南段五龙断裂带构造岩特征

龙门山南段五龙断裂带为一条２００ｍ～１０００ｍ宽的推覆韧性剪切带。断裂构造岩以糜棱岩和构造片岩为主;根据构造岩及其显微构造、超微构造特征,认为该断裂带为上盘相对向上剪切运动,自北西向南东推覆的产物;其形成深度为１６ｋｍ～２０ｋｍ,温度为４５０℃～５５０℃,压力为４５０ＭＰａ～５３０ＭＰａ,古差异应力值为１００ＭＰａ～１０６ＭＰａ,应变速率为１．３×１０－１０ｍ／ｓ;为高温、高应变条件下形成。     

Evaluation of the dynamic <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>–<Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis><Subscript>p</Subscript> loops of pile-supported structures on sloping ground

A key issue in the design of pile-supported structures on sloping ground is soil–pile interaction, which becomes more complicated in case of dynamic loading. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of slope on the dynamic behavior of pile-supported structures by performing a series of centrifuge tests. Three models were prepared by varying the slope and soil density of dry sand grounds. The mass supported on 3 by 3 group piles was shaken applying sinusoidal wave with various amplitudes. Test results showed that the location of maximum values and distribution shape of the bending moment below the ground surface varied noticeably with the pile position in the slope case. The relationship between the soil resistance and pile deflection (p–y_p loops) was carefully evaluated by applying the piecewise cubic spline method to fit the measured bending moment curves along piles. It was found that the shape of the p–y_p loops was irregular due to the effect of slope, and immensely influenced by the movement of the unstable zone. In addition, the effect of the pile group in the horizontal case was evaluated by comparing with the previously suggested curves that represent the relationship between the soil resistance and pile–soil relative displacement (p–y curves) to propose the multiplier coefficients.     

Evidence that earthquakes have been triggered by reservoir in the Song Tranh 2 region,Vietnam

In the Song Tranh 2 (ST2) hydropower reservoir located in the Quang Nam province, Central Vietnam, earthquakes started occurring soon after impoundment of the reservoir in late 2010. Earthquakes continue to occur in the region, and two earthquakes of M 4.6 and 4.7 on October 22, 2012 and November 15, 2012, respectively, have been reported (Trieu et al. 2014; Giang et al. 2015) in the vicinity of the reservoir. In the present study, b-value has been estimated, and focal mechanism solutions have been computed for the first time using moment tensor inversion approach. Also, the influence of impoundment of reservoir on the occurrence of earthquakes has been computed for the ST2 region based on Coulomb stress. A quality data set of 595 earthquakes recorded for the period of October 2012 to April 2014 at ten stations of the seismic network operated by the Institute of Geophysics (IGP) has been used to calculate b-values for the northern and southern seismicity clusters of the region. In general, the b-values associated with reservoir-triggered seismicity (RTS) are found to be higher than the regional b-values in the frequency-magnitude relation of earthquakes. For the ST2 region, it is found that the b-values for the northern and southern clusters are 0.94 ± 0.04 and 0.90 ± 0.04, respectively. Focal mechanism solutions obtained for the two earthquakes close to the reservoir have a right-lateral strike-slip mechanism, with the preferred planes trending NW-SE. These results are concurrent with the orientation of the nearby local surface faults, which we confirm as the active faults in this region. Influence of the stresses due to reservoir water load on the local seismicity is computed based on the obtained focal mechanism by using the concept of fault stability. It is found that most of the earthquakes occur in the positive Coulomb stress region, which shows the influence of reservoir impoundment on earthquake occurrence in the vicinity. Our results suggest that the local earthquakes are triggered by the impoundment of the ST2 reservoir.     

Study the elastic properties and the anisotropy of rocks using different machine learning methods

This paper aims to demonstrate that the elastic stiffnesses and the anisotropic parameters of rocks can be accurately predicted from geophysical features such as the porosity, the density, the compression stress, the pore pressure and the burial depth using relevant machine learning methods. It also suggests that the extreme gradient boosting method is the best method for this purpose. It is more accurate, extremely faster to train and more robust than the artificial neural networks and the support vector machine methods. Very high R-squared scores was obtained for the predicted elastic stiffnesses of a relevant dataset that is available in the literature. This dataset contains different types of rocks, and the values of the features are in large ranges. An optimal set of parameters was obtained by considering an appropriate sensitivity analysis. The optimized model is very easy to implement in Python for practical applications.