Theoretical and experimental research on a new system of semi-active structural control with variable stiffness and damping

In this paper, a new system of semi active structural control with active variable stiffness and damping (AVSD) is suggested. This new system amplifies the structural displacement to dissipate more energy, and in turn, effectively reduces the structural response in the case of relatively small story drifts, which occur during earthquakes. A predictive instantaneous optimal control algorithm is established for a SDOF structure equipped with an AVSD system Comparative shaking table tests of a 1/4 scale single story structural model with a full scale control device have been conducted. From the experimental and analytical results, it is shown that when compared to structures without control or with the active variable stiffness control alone, the suggested system exhibits higher efficiency in controlling the structural response, requires less energy input, operates with higher reliability, and can be manufactured at a lower cost and used in a wider range of engineering applications.     

Stress indicators adjacent to buried channels of Elsterian age in North Germany

Tectonic and soil mechanics investigations of a strongly plastic clay (Miocene ‘Mica Clay’) led to the detection of strain phenomena induced in connection with the formation of Elsterian buried channels. A microjoint system with randomly distributed fissures is thought to result from early Elsterian dessiccation and frost crack formation. It occurs frequently in the upper part of the clay horizon. A younger joint system, which is encountered throughout the entire clay body, comprises macrojoints arranged in three joint sets. The evidence strongly suggests that they were formed by gravitational and kinematic loading of the clay body by overriding ice. The macrojoints display various secondary alterations such as slickensides, escarpments, shear zones, erosive and pressure zones, the formation of which is seen in context with the channel incision. Investigations into the genesis of these alterations indicate a strong horizontally-orientated stress induction lateral to the channels, which resulted in stiffness modulus anisotropy. It has also caused a horizontal compression of the clay body, which at that time was already consolidated through ice overburdening. Horizontal compression of the clay led to evorsion of pore water eroding clay particles from the joint walls. Lower water content of the clay, in combination with increased dry unit weights, are found adjacent to the channels today.     

Joint ventures as an export market: US groundfish

This article examines the growth of joint venture operations in the US Fishery Conservation Zone in the North Pacific since 1977. Joint ventures currently in operation are outlined and the foreign and domestic partners described. The most common joint ventures in the area are contractual joint ventures, which include over-the-side sales of fish, joint lease of processing ships and marketing, seafood trade agreements and joint ventures through US subsidiaries of foreign companies. Supply and demand factors in the joint venture market are analysed and it is pointed out that the joint ventures market does not satisfy the main principles of perfect competition. The author concludes that, because it is an imperfect market, US fishermen receive less for their fish than they would under pure competition conditions.     

The formation and viability of a non-basin water management: The US–Canada case

Despite the much-vaunted advantages of basin-wide management many transboundary water regimes do not conform in practice to the basin-wide scale. This study examines whether a spatial alternative that includes only parts of the basin is indeed viable. To this end the US–Canada case is examined. Two questions are asked: why has a non-basin scale been adopted? And whether this option is indeed viable. The review of the negotiations leading up to the US–Canada 1909 Boundary Treaty, and to the establishment of the International Joint Commission (IJC) to control the boundary water (i.e., only the water that crosses the boundary at the point of crossing), shows that the choice of this scale was an outcome of a deadlock in negotiations at the basin scale. The boundary scale was chosen as it reduced the number of players involved in the decision-making process and, consequently, the political costs of a basin-wide agreement. Inevitably, in the subsequent decades the regime faced challenges due to the discrepancy between its jurisdiction and basins. Perhaps the most severe challenge was posed by the Chicago Diversion that was excluded from the regime jurisdiction. Therefore, the paper focuses on how the boundary scale addressed the Chicago diversion externalities. The discussion of this case suggests that the combination of the flexibility of the regime and its interpretations, the nature of the resource (inter-connected lakes) and the two-way upstream–downstream relations along the borders allowed this challenge to be contained. It seems, thus, that a regime can indeed be set at a different scale than the basin-wide one and still be viable.     

Can tensile stress develop in fractured multilayers under compressive strain conditions?

To contribute to the understanding of how opening-mode fractures (joints) form and open or close at depth in layered rocks, we present a 2D numerical study aiming to determine whether tensile stress can develop in pre-fractured elastic multilayers submitted to biaxial compressive strain conditions.First, we investigate the role of the elastic and geometrical properties of the layers on the development of tensile stress in models with five bonded layers and containing one open fracture in the central layer. Our results indicate that, in absence of elastic contrast (in Young's modulus) between the layers, no tensile stress develops in the models. However, when the fractured layer is stiffer than the two adjacent layers directly above and below, a lobe of horizontal tensile stress develops centered on the pre-existing fracture. The creation of this tensile stress is contingent upon the partial closing of the fracture. The levels of tensile stress and the thickness of the lobe of tensile stress increase logarithmically with an increase in the elastic contrast and are systematically larger for a larger Soft/Stiff ratio (ratio of the total thickness of the soft layers with the total thickness of the stiff layers).Second, we investigate the role of fracture interaction in the development of tensile stress in models containing a pair of open fractures. We observe that the levels of tensile stress in the region between the fractures are systematically higher than those observed in identical models containing a single fracture. This increase in tensile stress is very large for small elastic contrasts between the layers but diminishes when the elastic contrast increases. Furthermore, the spacing between the pre-existing fractures plays an important role in the stress distribution in the region between them. When the fracture spacing is equal to or lower than 1.15 times the height of the fractured layer for the experimental conditions chosen, the lobes of tensile stress centered on the fractures coalesce. This results in the formation of vast areas of tensile stress in models under remote compressive loading conditions. Such tensile areas are likely to allow the initiation and propagation of subsequent opening-mode fractures.The results obtained provide new insights into the formation of joints in layered rocks in compressive environments, with important consequences on fluid flow.     

连拱隧道洞口边仰坡稳定的监测与控制

随着我国公路隧道的发展,连拱隧道的应用也越来越厂泛。连拱隧道一般应用于中短隧道,常常与边坡结合在一起。由于岩土体复杂,岩土力学尚具有半经验半理论的特点,故有必要对连拱隧道洞口边仰坡的稳定性进行监测与分析,并通过分析结果对其进行控制。     

On the estimation of hysteretic energy demands for SDOF systems

Based on a statistical study of the dynamic response of single degree of freedom (SDOF) systems subjected to earthquake ground motions, a rule to estimate hysteretic energy demands is proposed. Expressions for elastic–perfectly plastic, stiffness degrading and pinching SDOF systems were obtained. The proposed rule does not explicitly depend on the period of the system; instead, it depends on the elastic pseudo‐acceleration and elastic velocity spectra. It is shown that the proposed rule can be applied to compute hysteretic energy demands for systems located at different soil conditions. In addition, information about scatter and bias of the proposed rule is also presented. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基坑开挖对邻近不同刚度建筑物影响的三维有限元分析

受各种因素的影响,基坑邻近建筑物的刚度差异显著。为了解基坑开挖对邻近不同刚度建筑物的影响,在考虑土体小应变刚度行为的基础上,对基坑邻近不同刚度建筑物的变形展开精细化分析。算例结果表明:对于任意刚度的建筑物,当其跨越坑外沉降槽最低点以及上凸曲率最大点时,墙体所产生的拉应变最为显著,即此时对于任意刚度的建筑物来说,均为最为不利位置。随着建筑物刚度的增大,墙体挠度值与拉应变值呈对数曲线下降。当建筑物整体刚度较差时,其墙体拉应变更主要取决于坑外沉降幅度,而受自身刚度影响较小。当建筑物刚度较大时,在基坑变形的影响下,建筑物更主要表现为刚体运动,而自身内部变形则相对较小。     

内蒙古达茂旗花岗岩类LA-ICP-MS 锆石U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

对内蒙古达茂旗北部构造单元的巴特敖包岛弧带2个花岗闪长岩岩体样品和南部构造单元一个花岗岩岩体的2件样品进行了LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年。北部构造单元采自2个花岗闪长岩岩体的样品锆石206Pb/238U年龄分别为468Ma±2Ma和452Ma±3Ma,代表了这2个岩体的侵位时间,表明古亚洲洋向华北克拉通之下俯冲不晚于468Ma±2Ma;南部构造单元采自同一花岗岩岩体的2件样品获得的锆石206Pb/238U年龄分别为268Ma±2Ma和264Ma±2Ma,和该单元西部岩体已有的锆石年龄相符。这为华北克拉通北缘岩浆作用研究提供了新的年代学证据。