Influence of the spatial distribution of energy-dissipating bracing elements on the seismic response of multistorey frames

Several reinforced concrete frames with different dissipator distributions, and a conventional moment-resisting frame, are compared in order to select the best dissipator distribution from the point of view of seismic response and structural design. The structures with dissipators are designed according to a criterion proposed in the present paper. Each frame is excited with a set of eleven simulated accelerograms. The choice of the best dissipation distribution is based mainly on the differences between the mean of the maximum overturning moments developed at the base of the frames and between the weights of steel reinforcement and concrete resulting from the structural design of each frame. A comparison of initial construction costs of a building with dissipators and a conventional building shows that the former is 3·5 per cent more expensive.     

Rb/Sr ages of rocks from the Chilean metamorphic basement

Eleven whole rock Rb/Sr age determinations from the Chilean metamorphic basement — formerly considered as Precambrian — define two limiting reference isochrons of 342 and 273 my. Analized rocks are phyllites and schists of sedimentary origin with mineralogical assemblages mainly corresponding to the greenschist facies.Two metamorphic series characterize the Chilean metamorphic basement: an eastern low P/T series, and a western high P/T series. Four of the analyzed samples belong to the former and seven to the latter.The obtained age is interpreted as the age of a main metamorphic episode of the basement. This episode would have taken place in the Upper Paleozoic.     

Granite generation and rapid unroofing related to strike-slip faulting, Aysén, Chile

A stock of biotite-muscovite-garnet leucogranite crops out in the lower course of Río Cisnes as an unusual minor lithology within the predominantly dioritic to tonalitic North Patagonian Batholith. Foliated and unfoliated varieties are present—the former are nearer to the main lineament of the Liquin˜e-Ofqui Fault Zone (LOFZ). Two-feldspar thermometry indicates equilibration temperatures above 600°C, for pressures probably not over 3 kbar, as suggested by the Mn-rich garnet composition. A Rb-Sr whole-rock isochron age of 9.6 ± 0.4 Ma (1σ error) probably indicates the time of magma crystallization. ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar ages of 6.6 ± 0.3 Ma on muscovite and 5.5 ± 0.4 Ma on biotite are cooling ages from which a moderate average uplift/denudation rate ( 1 mm/yr) may be calculated. Paucity of occurrence, distribution close to the LOFZ and a near minimum-melt composition all suggest that the leucogranite magma was derived by partial melting of the lower crust, perhaps by decompression melting at a time when uplift/denudation rates were high (4 mm/yr or more are required). Regional evidence for rapid Holocene uplift in the immediate vicinity of the LOFZ substantiates the feasibility of the proposed petrogenetic model, which may be valid in other strike-slip orogenic environments.     

Site effects in Mexico City eight years after the September 1985 Michoacan earthquakes

The purpose of this paper is to take a comprehensive look at site effects in Mexico City for the 1985 Michoacan earthquake. We examine, successively, 1D and 2D models. For the latter, we consider in detail both large scale and small scale heterogeneities, using extensively the Aki-Larner wave propagation method, in the version given by Bard and Gariel. In particular, we make a critical review of the different explanations proposed for the large duration of strong ground motion in the lake zone. Our purpose is two-sided. We first outline the difference between what is well established and what remains still unexplained regarding the seismic response of Mexico City basin. On the other hand, we wish to make explicit the conditions that the proposed models require to explain strong motion duration. Our results allow us to qualify the models proposed to date and to point out what could be the experiments and the new data required to find a truly satisfactory explanation of strong ground motion at Mexico City.     

Données sur le metamorphisme regional hercynien dans le dôme du Tormes (provinces de Salamanca et Zamora,Espagne)

Résumé Dans ce travail sont présentees les caractéristiques du métamorphisme régional hercynien dans une zone située dans la partie Centre-Occidentale de la Peninsule Iberique. Cette zone est caractérisee par la présence de materiaux proterozoïques et de un Ordovicien discordant afectés par trois phases principales de deformation hercyniennes et par l'existence de deux séries granitiques différentes.Quatre zones métamorphiques caractérisees par l'apparition des mineraux indices suivants y ont été définies: chlorite, biotite, andalousite-cordierite et sillimanite-K feldspath. Dans chaque zone les différentes paragéneses existantes on été analysées par la méthode deThompson etBarker. Cela a permis de définir une suite principale de subfacies qui correspondent a un métamorphisme a basse pression type Abukuma. Les isogrades, bien que coïncidant localement avec la direction hercynienne NW-SE, dessinent dans leur ensemble un dôme allongé transversalement. Cette disposition paradoxale pourrait être due a la nature profonde du socle.

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In this paper the general characteristics of the Hercynian metamorphism in an area situated in the Central-Western part of the Iberian Peninsula are given. This zone is characterised by the presence of a Precambrian series and an Ordovician one affected by three main phases of Hercynian deformation, and by the presence of two different granitic series.Four different metamorphic zones have been established and they are characterised by the appearance of the following index minerals: chlorite, biotite, andalusitecordierite and sillimanite-K feldspar. In each zone the present parageneses are studied according theThompson andBarker methods and a main suite of subfacies belonging to a low pressure metamorphism of Abukuma type is defined.The isograds, though locally have the NW-SE hercynian direction, draw as a whole a transversally elonged dome. These unexpected attitude of the isograds could be originated by the deep socle characteristics.

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Zusammenfassung Die hercynische Metamorphose in einem Gebiet des zentralen Westteiles der Iberischen Halbinsel wird dargestellt. Diese Zone ist charakterisiert durch das Vorhandensein einer präkambrischen sowie einer ordovizischen Serie, die durch drei Hauptphasen hercynischer Deformation geprägt wurden, und zwei verschiedener granitischer Serien.Vier verschiedene metamorphe Zonen werden unterschieden, die durch das Vorkommen der folgenden Index-Minerale gekennzeichnet sind: Chlorit, Biotit, Andalusit-Cordierit und Sillimanit-Kali-Feldspat. In jeder Zone werden die vorhandenen Paragenesen nach der Thompson- und der Barker-Methode untersucht, und eine Subfazies-Abfolge, die zu einer Niederdruckmetamorphose des Abukama-Typs gehört, wird beschrieben.Die Isograden bilden, obwohl sie stellenweise mit der hercynischen NW-SE-Richtung zusammenfallen, insgesamt eine längliche Queraufwölbung. Diese ungewöhnliche Erscheinung könnte auf die große Tiefe des Grundgebirges zurückzuführen sein.

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Resumen En este trabajo se exponen las caracteristicas que presenta el metamorfismo herciniano en una zona situada en la parte Centro-Occidental de la Peninsula Ibérica. Esta zona esta caracterizada por la presencia de una serie precámbrica y de un Ordovícico afectados por tres fases principales de deformación hercinianas y por la presencia de dos series graníticas diferentes.Se han definido cuatro zonas metamórficas caracterizadas por la aparición de los siguientes minerales indice: clorita, biotita, andalucita-cordierita y sillimanita-feldespato potásico. En cada una de estas zonas se han analizado las diferentes paragénesis existentes de acuerdo con los métodos deThompson yBarker y se definido una suite principal de subfacies que corresponden a un metamorfismo de baja presión tipo Abukuma. La dispositión de las isogradas alrededor de un nucleo de orientatión NE-SW, aunque localmente coincida con la directión herciniana NW-SE, es paradójica y podría deberse a la naturaleza profunda del zócalo.

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Petrology of garnet — cordierite — sillimanite gneisses from the El Tormes thermal dome,Iberian Hercynian foldbelt (W Spain)

The core of the El Tormes thermal dome, situated in the central part of one of the main metamorphic belts of the Iberian Peninsula, is formed by garnet-cordierite-biotite-sillimanite pelitic gneisses. These rocks, that very often are cut by minor intrusions of Al-rich S-type granites, are metatexitic gneisses in which there exists garnet showing different stages of resorption and transformation into an aggregate of cordierite±plagioclase±biotite. The garnet, mantled and corroded mainly by cordierite, has never been found to occur in contact with the prismatic sillimanite of the matrix, thus indicating that the continuous reaction Gr+Sill+Q = Cd has taken place. The presence of corroded biotite inside the garnet-rimming cordierite of the aggregates as well as inside the cordierite of the matrix, which usually includes remmants of sillimanite, indicates that the continuous reaction Bi+Sill+Q = Cd+FK+H₂O has occurred too. Therefore, a realistic net reaction for these aggretates should be represented by the univariant, at a given , equilibrium: Biotite+Sillimanite+Garnet+Quartz = Cordierite+K-feldspar+H₂O (1)The important garnet resorption near the anatectic granitic veins implies that this process is favoured by a decrease in , this factor being otherwise buffered by the reaction (1) assemblage.The most probable P-T path, assuming these conditions, consistent with the AFM projection of the former (inferred) and present assemblages in the aggregates and in the matrix, implies a decrease in P coeval with a decrease in T (Fig. 4, path 2).The most reliable P-T determination for the final stage of garnet breakdown through reaction (1), based on the coexistence of the seven phase assemblage garnet — cordierite — biotite — sillimanite — plagioclase — potash feldspar — quartz plus melt, gives 695° C, 4.3 kbar, = 0.5, The maximum pressure for this process, obtained from the garnet — plagioclase equilibrium, is 6.5±1 kbar at the same temperature.The estimates of the T for the garnet core-garnet included biotite pairs are consistently lower, ca. 550° C, than those obtained for the garnet rim-biotite in aggregates, ca. 645° C, or garnet rim-adjacent cordierite pairs, ca. 695° C.It may, therefore, be supposed that, during their evolution these rocks underwent first an increase in T and then, during the last stages, as garnet and biotite brokedown, a decrease in P and T. This represents an uplift of the core of El Tormes dome under high grade amphibolite to low pressure granulite facies conditions, accompanied by a process of partial melting with local decrase in . It is suggested, from mineral growth-deformation relationships, that this process took place during the late hercynian deformation phases, P-3 or doming stage.     

United Nations office for outer space affairs GNSS web-pages

In this article, Dr. J.F.G. Monico introduces the on-line resources at the website of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs, including the web-based GPS resources and their technical background information. Its purpose is to inform the reader about the data, software, electronic documents that are available on-line. This article is coordinated by Dr. Jinling Wang, University of New South Wales, Sydney. Comments and suggestions are appreciated (Jinling.Wang@unsw.edu.au).     

Spatial variability of soil nutrients in disturbed riverine mangrove forests at different stages of regeneration in the San Juan River estuary,Venezuela

Geostatistical analysis of selected soil properties were performed in two mangrove sites (B7 and B9) dominated by the mangrove speciesRhizophora mangle along the San Juan River, Venezuela, to evaluate the effect of forest disturbance on nutrient spatial distributions. Plots within area B7 were clear-cut in 1972–1973 and in area B9 in 1982–1983. Four plots within each area were systematically selected and represented natural (2) and regenerated (2) forests. Individual plots were 1.5 ha in B7 and 1.25 ha in B9 and sampled at a resolution of 25 m. Soil samples were obtained at the intersection of an aligned grid with 90 points in B7 and 78 points in B9. Measured soil properties included salinity, total nitrogen, total carbon, total phosphorus, osmolality, and pore water cation concentrations (potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sodium). Sites were sampled in May 1996 and 1997, although spatial analysis was performed only for the data obtained in May 1997. Geostatistical analysis showed that most of the variables tested were spatially auto-correlated within each area and that there were no differences between regenerated and natural plots. Structural variance as a proportion of sample variance ranged from 55–99% for most of the properties. The significant spatial dependence observed for most of the variables in natural and regenerated plots, despite management schedules, indicates that clear-cutting did not have an effect on modifying the distribution of nutrient concentrations. These results suggest that after 15 and 25 yr following forest disturbance nutrient distributions were reestablished either there was not a net effect on patterns of element loss or tidal input was stronger than plant modifications of soils.