Minimal‐disturbance seismic rehabilitation of steel moment‐resisting frames using light‐weight steel elements

This paper presents a rehabilitation technique developed under a design and construction scheme, termed minimal‐disturbance seismic rehabilitation. This scheme pursues enhancing the seismic performance of buildings with the intention of improving the continuity of business while minimizing obstruction of the visual and physical space of building users and the use of heavy construction equipment and hot work (welding/cutting). The developed rehabilitation technique consists of light‐weight steel elements and aims to decrease demands to beam‐ends of steel moment‐resisting frames. The behavior of the baseline model was verified through numerical analysis and proof‐of‐concept testing. Furthermore, the effectiveness of rehabilitation is studied through retrofitting a four‐story steel moment‐resisting frame originally designed with Japanese design guidelines. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Permeability measurements of natural and experimental volcanic materials with a simple permeameter: Toward an understanding of magmatic degassing processes

Permeability measurement of quenched volcanic porous materials is an important approach to understand permeability development and degassing of vesicular silicic magmas. In this study, we developed a gas permeameter to measure permeability of natural samples and experimental products. The permeameter has broad measurement ranges of pressure difference (10¹–10⁵ Pa) and gas-flow rate (10^− 9–10^− 5 m³/s). These ranges enable us to measure viscous permeability in the range of 10^− 17–10^− 9 m² for 1 centimeter-scale samples, using the Forchheimer equation, which includes the inertial effect of gas flow permeating through the samples. In addition, we improved the procedure for performing permeability measurements of mm-sized products of decompression experiments. Although a previous study reported the first permeability data for vesicular silicic glass products of decompression experiments, we found an overestimation in their permeability data due to problems in sample preparation, especially for very low permeability samples. Our improved measurements give lower permeability values than those of Takeuchi et al. (2005)(Takeuchi, S., Nakashima, S., Tomiya, A., Shinohara, H., 2005. Experimental constraints on the low gas permeability of vesicular magma during decompression. Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L10312 doi:10.1029/2005GL022491).     

On‐line hybrid test method for evaluating the performance of structural details to failure

A test environment to evaluate the seismic performance of gusset plate connections intended for steel braced frames is proposed. The developed test method combines the substructuring techniques with finite element analysis methods in an on‐line hybrid scheme. Numerical substructure analysis is conducted on bracing members, while bracing connections are treated as experimental substructures. A force‐displacement combined control imposed with the aid of 2 jacks ensures physical continuity between the analysis and test. The rotational behavior of gusset plate connections subjected to large inelasticity and varying axial loading until fracture is investigated. Two gusset plate details were designed and tested to verify the efficiency of the proposed method. The test method is rational, and smooth operation is achieved. The test results revealed the advantage of the developed on‐line hybrid test method in exploring the ultimate capacity of bracing connections.     

Second‐mode tuned mass dampers in base‐isolated structures for reduction of floor acceleration

To reduce floor acceleration of base‐isolated structures under earthquakes, a tuned mass damper (TMD) system installed on the roof is studied. The optimal tuning parameters of the TMD are analyzed for linear base isolation under a generalized ground motion, and the performance of the TMD is validated using a suite of recorded ground motions. The simulation shows that a TMD tuned to the second mode of a base‐isolated structure reduces roof acceleration more effectively than a TMD tuned to the first mode. The reduction ratio, defined as the maximum roof acceleration with the TMD relative to that without the TMD, is approximately 0.9 with the second‐mode TMD. The higher effectiveness of the second‐mode TMD relative to the first‐mode TMD is attributed primarily to the unique characteristics of base isolation, ie, the relatively long first‐mode period and high base damping. The modal acceleration of the second mode is close to or even higher than that of the first mode in base‐isolated structures. The larger TMD mass ratio and lower modal damping ratio of the second‐mode TMD compared to the first‐mode TMD increases its effect on modal acceleration reduction. The reduction ratio with the second‐mode TMD improves to 0.8 for bilinear base isolation. Because of the detuning effect caused by the change in the first‐mode period in bilinear isolation, the first‐mode TMD is ineffective in reducing roof acceleration. Additionally, the displacement experienced by the second‐mode TMD is considerably smaller than that of the first‐mode TMD, thereby reducing the installation space for the TMD.     

Hybrid simulation: An early history

This historical note reports on the early days of the development of an experimental method called “hybrid simulation.” As background, the seeds of this concept, initiated in the early 1970s by Japanese researchers, are presented first, followed by initial efforts (regarded as Stage I) to realize the concept of hybrid simulation and its first applications to explore the seismic performance of structures. The initial research in this now-seminal field of earthquake engineering began in the early 1970s by Koichi Takanashi and his coworkers at the Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo. Their highly notable efforts in laying the groundwork for hybrid simulation occurred in the mid-1970s through the early 1980s by Takanashi (for steel structures) and Tsuneo Okada (for RC structures). These two men and their coworkers first applied hybrid simulation to explore the seismic behavior, performance, and design of various types of building structures. In Stage I, this method was called “the on-line computer-controlled test” or “pseudo dynamic test” because the unique feature of the method was the combined test and simulation and the intentional slow loading in the test. Extension of the scope and application of hybrid simulation occurred largely between the early 1980s and the early 1990s (regarded as Stage II) in conjunction with the United States–Japan joint research project. A few notable efforts made around that period are touched upon briefly, including error propagation and suppression in multi-degree-of-freedom hybrid simulation, application of the substructure methodology to hybrid simulation, and real-time hybrid simulation.     

Oxygen and carbon isotope records of cultured freshwater pearl mussel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hyriopsis</Emphasis> sp. shell from Lake Kasumigaura,Japan

We present oxygen and carbon isotope ratios and the morphological structure of the cultured freshwater pearl mussel (Hyriopsis sp., Unionidae) shell and pearl. The number of first-order fluctuations of δ¹⁸O of the outer shell layer along the maximum growth axis was consistent with the number of cultured years. The dominant factor controlling annual δ¹⁸O fluctuations was water temperature with a minor contribution from the variation in δ¹⁸O of ambient water, especially during the rainy season. The δ¹³C values were approximately constant throughout the life of the mussel, suggesting that the contributions of body size to δ¹³C of the shell were minor. We observed nine distinct disturbance rings on the outer surface of the shell. Five rings coincided with the five winter peaks of the δ¹⁸O profile, indicating winter growth cessation below approximately 10°C, probably because of either inactive growth at low water temperatures or reproduction. Summer disturbance rings were not observed in all years. Moreover, some summer rings showed discontinuity in the inner structure. These findings suggest that summer growth cessation may be caused by occasional events such as heavy rains, as the decrease of dissolved oxygen concentration. The δ¹⁸O profile and shell structures indicated that shell aragonite was precipitated at close to equilibrium conditions with respect to the oxygen isotope composition of the ambient water. Hyriopsis sp. shells can potentially be used for reconstruction of past hydrologic conditions. The δ¹⁸O of a pearl indicated that calcification occurred over a temperature range of at least 13–23°C. The optimal temperature for pearl calcification in this species is lower than that for marine pearl calcification.     

Comparison of the effects of water-soluble (EDTA) and particulate (Chelex-100) synthetic ligands on the growth of phytoplankton population in the disphotic zone seawater

To clarify the beneficial roles of naturally occurring organic ligands on the growth of phytoplankton in newly upwelled water, phytoplankton culture experiments using disphotic zone water were conducted to discriminate between the effects of EDTA in the detoxification of certain toxic metal ions and increasing the availability of essential metals. Culture media were prepared by adding EDTA and Chelex-100, separately or in combination, to disphotic zone water samples. Our proposed working hypothesis is that phytoplankton growth can be enhanced by removing toxic metal ions from culture media by Chelex-100 and by detoxification of toxic metal ions or increasing the availability of essential metals by EDTA. A shortening of the lag period and an increase of the specific population growth rate were clearly observed after the addition of Chelex-100; nd EDTA. The effects of EDTA were more considerable than those of Chelex-100; a 17 to 44% in shortening the lag period and a 35 to 56% increase in the growth rate, when comparing the effects of Chelex-100 with those of EDTA. The similar effects of removing toxic metal ion by Chelex-100 as those of detoxification by EDTA suggested that EDTA has a role not only of detoxification but also of increasing the availability of essential metals. The present study suggests that the low productivity in newly upwelled water observed by Barber and Ryther (1969) can be ascribed to both toxic metal ions and a lack of available forms of essential metals because of their low contents of free natural organic ligands.     

In-situ IR measurements of OH species in quartz at high temperatures

The nature of OH species in natural clear quartz was investigated by means of in-situ IR measurements over the temperature range –185 to 1000 °C. Reversible thermal behavior of OH species was examined for a sample pre-heated to 1000 °C for 1 hour. At room temperature, the IR spectrum of the quartz sample examined includes an intense absorption peak at 3379 cm^–1 which has been assigned to an OH stretching vibration associated with Al substituting for Si (OH(Al)). The major spectral changes of the OH(Al) bond involve a systematic shift of its peak position and a decrease in its integral absorbance with temperature. A quasi-linear increase of the peak position from –185 to 400 °C is interpreted to be due to the change in the vibrational frequency of OH(Al) with hydrogen bond (H bond) distance. At higher temperatures, the IR frequency shows only a slight change, indicating a small influence of the H bond. On the other hand, the gradual decrease of the integral absorbance of OH(Al) with temperature indicates a decrease of this defect’s molar absorptivity without any reduction in defect concentration. This is interpreted to result from a decrease in dipole moment of OH(Al) with temperature. A sudden shift of the vibrational frequency from 3396 to 3386 cm^–1 between 550 and 560 °C and a constant value of the integral absorbance from 535 to 570 °C were considered to be related to the change in H bond distance during the structural transformation of α-quartz to its β-form. The local environment of OH(Al) begins to change at temperatures below 570 °C, where the crystallographic α–β transition occurs. Received: 18 February 1998/ Accepted: 10 July 1998     

Intermineral oxygen three‐isotope systematics of silicate minerals in equilibrated ordinary chondrites

High‐precision oxygen three‐isotope ratios were measured for four mineral phases (olivine, low‐Ca and high‐Ca pyroxene, and plagioclase) in equilibrated ordinary chondrites (EOCs) using a secondary ion mass spectrometer. Eleven EOCs were studied that cover all groups (H, L, LL) and petrologic types (4, 5, 6), including S1–S4 shock stages, as well as unbrecciated and brecciated meteorites. SIMS analyses of multiple minerals were made in close proximity (mostly <100 μm) from several areas in each meteorite thin section, to evaluate isotope exchange among minerals. Oxygen isotope ratios in each mineral become more homogenized as petrologic type increases with the notable exception of brecciated samples. In type 4 chondrites, oxygen isotope ratios of olivine and low‐Ca pyroxene are heterogeneous in both δ¹⁸O and Δ¹⁷O, showing similar systematics to those in type 3 chondrites. In type 5 and 6 chondrites, oxygen isotope ratios of the four mineral phases plot along mass‐dependent fractionation lines that are consistent with the bulk average Δ¹⁷O of each chondrite group. The δ¹⁸O of three minerals, low‐Ca and high‐Ca pyroxene and plagioclase, are consistent with equilibrium fractionation at temperatures of 700–1000 °C. In most cases the δ¹⁸O values of olivine are higher than those expected from pyroxene and plagioclase, suggesting partial retention of premetamorphic values due to slower oxygen isotope diffusion in olivine than pyroxene during thermal metamorphism in ordinary chondrite parent bodies.     

Noble gases in angrites Northwest Africa 1296, 2999/4931, 4590, and 4801: Evolution history inferred from noble gas signatures

Noble gases in the five angrites Northwest Africa (NWA) 1296, 2999, 4590, 4801, and 4931 were analyzed with total melting and stepwise heating methods. The noble gases consist of in situ components: spallogenic, radiogenic, nucleogenic, and fission. Cosmic-ray exposure ages of the angrites (including literature data) spread uniformly from <0.2 to 56 Ma, and coarse-grained angrites have longer exposure ages than fine-grained angrites. It is implied that the parent bodies from which the two subgroups of angrites were ejected are different and have distinct orbital elements. The ²⁴⁴Pu-¹³⁶Xe relative ages of the angrites obtained by using ²⁴⁴Pu/¹⁵⁰Nd ratios are as old as that of Angra dos Reis, reflecting their early formation. On the other hand, another method to obtain ²⁴⁴Pu-¹³⁶Xe relative ages, using fission ¹³⁶Xe, spallogenic ¹²⁶Xe, and Ba/REE ratios, yields systematically older ²⁴⁴Pu-¹³⁶Xe ages than those obtained by using ²⁴⁴Pu/¹⁵⁰Nd ratios, which is explained by apparently high Ba/REE ratios caused by Ba contamination during terrestrial weathering. The ²⁴⁴Pu/²³⁸U ratio at 4.56 Ga of angrites is estimated as 0.0061 ± 0.0028, which is consistent with those for chondrules, chondrites, achondrites, and a terrestrial zircon. It is suggested that initial ²⁴⁴Pu/²³⁸U ratio has been spatially homogeneous at least in the inner part of the early solar system.