Numerical stability of non-local viscoplastic FEM analyses for the study of localisation processes

As is well known, numerically handling, by means of finite element codes, localisation problems involving softening materials is still quite delicate. As soon as strain localisation occurs, mesh dependence and serious problems of convergence take place. This paper deals with this type of problem in the case where localisation occurs in an ideal naturally cemented granular specimen tested under plane strain conditions. Different versions (a local elasto-plastic, a local viscoplastic and a non-local viscoplastic) of the same strain softening model are taken into consideration and the relative numerical results are critically discussed and compared. The snap-back problem is numerically taken into account and it has been demonstrated to be affected not only by the softening parameters but also by the viscous nucleus definition. To highlight the relationship between viscosity and non-locality, the results of a numerical parametric analysis are finally discussed.     

三峡水库蓄水后长江中游水沙时空变化的定量评估

定量评价三峡蓄水后长江中游流域水文情势的时空变化,为长江中游生态保护和区域水资源管理提供科学依据。采用变化范围法分析了长江干流5个水文站的流量、含沙量日均数据,定量评估了三峡工程蓄水后,长江中游水沙变化度最大的江段和水文指标类别,及其对应的生态影响。研究结果表明三峡蓄水后,下游河道含沙量的变化度远大于流量,除城陵矶站外,含沙量较蓄水前有了大幅度下降,宜昌站的含沙量下降幅度达到了一个数量级,洞庭湖对长江干流含沙量有明显的调蓄作用。流量的变化度随着与大坝距离的增加而减小,且在7~11月流量下降幅度明显。这些水文节律的变化将影响下游鱼类产卵栖息地以及滞洪区水生生物与周边植被的生长。     

Large static problem in numerical limit analysis: A decomposition approach

A general decomposition approach for the static method of limit analysis is proposed. It is based on piecewise linear stress fields, on a partition into finite element sub‐problems and on a specific coordination of the subproblem stress fields through auxiliary interface problems. The final convex optimization problems are solved using nonlinear interior point programming methods. As validated for the compressed bar with Tresca/von Mises materials in plane strain, this method appears rapidly convergent, so that very large problems with millions of constraints and variables can be solved. Then the method is applied to the classical problem of the stability of a Tresca vertical cut: the static bound to the stability factor is improved to 3.7752, a value to be compared with the recent best upper bound 3.7776. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

模拟分析低低跟踪模式重力卫星反演地球重力场的精度

本文利用卫星重力反演与模拟软件ANGELS系统(ANalyst of Gravity Estimation with Low-orbit Satellites)对低低跟踪模式的重力卫星的关键载荷精度指标进行了深入分析.模拟结果表明: (1) 对短弧长积分法而言,在低低跟踪模式的关键载荷精度指标中,重力场反演精度对星间距离变率精度最为敏感; (2) 通过对目前在轨运行GRACE的载荷指标进行分析,发现轨道数据的误差主要影响重力场的低阶部分(约小于25阶),较高阶次部分(约大于26阶)主要受星间距离变率的误差限制; (3) 如果下一代低低跟踪模式的重力卫星的目标之一是把重力异常反演精度较GRACE提高约10倍,则在保持轨道高度和GRACE相同的前提下,轨道、星间距离变率和星载加速度计等关键载荷指标需要达到的最低精度分别约为2 cm、10 nm·s-1和3.0×10-10 m·s-2; (4) 轨道精度和混频误差将是影响下一代低低跟踪模式重力卫星重力场恢复能力进一步提高的主要制约因素,距离变率精度和加速度计精度存在盈余.     

Periodicity of sediment load and runoff in the Yangtze River basin and possible impacts of climatic changes and human activities / Périodicité de la charge sédimentaire et de l'écoulement dans le bassin du Fleuve Yangtze et impacts possibles des changements climatiques et des activités humaines

Abstract

Periodicity of the runoff and the sediment load, and possible impacts from human activities and climatic changes, in the Yangtze River basin during 1963–2004 are discussed based on the monthly sediment and runoff data, and using the wavelet approach. Research results indicated that: (a) Sediment load changes are severely impacted by the different types of human activity (e.g. construction of water reservoirs, deforestation/afforestation); and the runoff variability is the direct result of climatic changes, e.g. the precipitation changes. (b) The impacts of human activity and climatic changes on the sediment load and runoff changes are greater in smaller river basins (e.g. the Jialingjiang River basin) than in larger river basins. The response of sediment load and runoff changes to the impacts of human activities and climatic changes are prompt and prominent in the Jialingjiang River basin relative to those in the mainstem of the Yangtze River basin. (c) Construction of the Three Gorges Dam has already had obvious impacts on the sediment transport process in the middle and lower Yangtze River basin, but shows no obvious influence on the runoff changes. Construction of the Three Gorges Dam will result in further re-adjustment of the scouring/filling process within the river channel in the middle and lower Yangtze River basin, and have corresponding effects on the altered sediment load because of the Dam's operation for the river channel, ecology, sustainable social economy and even the development of the Yangtze Delta. This will be of concern to local governments and policy makers.     

过套管电阻率测井的地层电阻率快速反演算法

过套管电阻率测井是通过测量套管壁电势实现测量地层的视电阻率,基于传输线方程理论,针对层状地层,给出了套管壁电势、电流对地层横向电阻导数的微分方程(称Jacobi矩阵微分方程)及边界条件;利用Jacobi矩阵微分方程边值问题导出了过套管电阻率测井反演地层参数的Jacobi矩阵系数的解析表示, 利用Marquardt方法实现了过套管测井的地层电阻率反演;通过计算对Jacobi矩阵的特性进行了探讨,并获得了较快的计算速度(因为Jacobi矩阵是用解析解表示的),反演结果与地层模型取得了较好的逼近.本文实现了过套管电阻率测井地层参数的Jacobi系数矩阵的快速计算及地层电阻率反演,为进一步开展电阻率测井数据处理提供了理论依据和快速反演算法.     

NEW WAYS FOR THE INTERPRETATION OF GEOELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY MEASUREMENTS IN THE SEARCH FOR AND DELIMITATION OF AQUIFERS

Abstract

Geoelectric resistivity measurements by means of direct current for solving hydrogeological problems have become increasingly significant in recent years. Measurements on the surface according to the four-point-method (SCHLUMBERGER or WENNER arrangement) result in so-called “apparent” resistivities ? α as a function of the electrode distance L. The evaluation of these measuring data, here in form of sounding graphs ? α(L/2), consists of the determination of true resistivities as a function of the depth z. Since a direct computation of ? (z) from α (L/2) is not possible in practice, theoretically computed master curves constitute the essential auxiliary means for the evaluation.

New simplified calculation techniques allow to establish accurately computed master curves for an underground consisting of more than three layers. By means of such standard graphs special problems of hydrogeology can quantitatively be solved by applying geoelectrical methods. The procedure is demonstrated on hand of complicated cases of aquifers devided into several storeys.     

A macro‐model with nonlinear springs for seismic analysis of URM buildings

Seismic assessment of existing unreinforced masonry buildings represents a current challenge in structural engineering. Many historical masonry buildings in earthquake regions were not designed to withstand seismic loading; thus, these structures often do not meet the basic safety requirements recommended by current seismic codes and need to be strengthened considering the results from realistic structural analysis. This paper presents an efficient modelling strategy for representing the nonlinear response of unreinforced masonry components under in‐plane cyclic loading, which can be used for practical and accurate seismic assessment of masonry buildings. According to the proposed strategy, generic masonry perforated walls are modelled using an equivalent frame approach, where each masonry component is described utilising multi‐spring nonlinear elements connected by rigid links. When modelling piers and spandrels, nonlinear springs are placed at the two ends of the masonry element for describing the flexural behaviour and in the middle for representing the response in shear. Specific hysteretic rules allowing for degradation of stiffness and strength are then used for modelling the member response under cyclic loading. The accuracy and the significant potential of the proposed modelling approach are shown in several numerical examples, including comparisons against experimental results and the nonlinear dynamic analysis of a building structure. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A quasi three-dimensional model for flow and transport in unsaturated and saturated zones: 1. Implementation of the quasi two-dimensional case

A quasi three-dimensional (QUASI 3-D) model is presented for simulating the subsurface water flow and solute transport in the unsaturated and in the saturated zones of soil. The model is based on the assumptions of vertical flow in the unsaturated zone and essentially horizontal groundwater flow. The 1-D Richards equation for the unsaturated zone is coupled at the phreatic surface with the 2-D flow equation for the saturated zone. The latter was obtained by averaging 3-D flow equation in the saturated zone over the aquifer thickness. Unlike the Boussinesq equation for a leaky-phreatic aquifer, the developed model does not contain a storage term with specific yield and a source term for natural replenishment. Instead it includes a water flux term at the phreatic surface through which the Richards equation is linked with the groundwater flow equation. The vertical water flux in the saturated zone is evaluated on the basis of the fluid mass balance equation while the horizontal fluxes, in that equation, are prescribed by Darcy law. A 3-D transport equation is used to simulate the solute migration. A numerical algorithm to solve the problem for the general quasi 3-D case was developed. The developed methodology was exemplified for the quasi 2-D cross-sectional case (QUASI2D). Simulations for three synthetic problems demonstrate good agreement between the results obtained by QUASI2D and two fully 2-D flow and transport codes (SUTRA and 2DSOIL). Yet, simulations with the QUASI2D code were several times faster than those by the SUTRA and the 2DSOIL codes.     

Response of multiply supported secondary systems to earthquakes in frequency domain

A new formulation of the transfer function has been proposed for the seismic analysis of linear, multiply supported secondary systems. The transfer function for a given response quantity has been formulated by directly using the fixed-base modes of the primary and secondary systems. This approach is exact and does not involve the determination of the combined system properties. Further, it is applicable to the secondary systems with various mass ratios and configurations. A few example primary–secondary systems have been considered to illustrate the proposed formulation in case of different mass ratios. It has also been shown how the proposed formulation can be used to obtain reasonably accurate stochastic estimates of the secondary system responses. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.