A rational approach to seepage flow effects on bottom friction beneath random waves

The bottom friction beneath random waves is predicted taking into account the effect of seepage flow. This is achieved by using wave friction factors for rough turbulent, smooth turbulent and laminar flow valid for regular waves together with a modified Shields parameter which includes the effect of seepage flow. Examples using data typical to field conditions are included to illustrate the approach. The analytical results can be used to make assessment of seepage effects on the bottom friction based on available wave statistics. Generally, it is recommended that a stochastic approach should be used rather than using the rms values in an otherwise deterministic approach.     

Characterization of aboveground biomass in an unmanaged boreal forest using Landsat temporal segmentation metrics

Canada is dominated by forested ecosystems which are subject to various inventory and management practices, with more northern boreal forests subject to neither. Our objectives were to measure the capacity of temporal trajectory metrics for estimating selected forest attributes in a northern Canadian boreal forest context using Landsat imagery and investigate the importance of different types of temporal trajectory metrics. Results indicated that Wetness was the best Tasseled Cap (TC) component for aboveground biomass estimation (R² = 50%, RMSE% = 56%), and the combination of simple and complex metrics from all TC components produced the highest R² (62%) and lowest RMSE% (49%). Using a similar combination of variables, other forest attributes were estimated equally reliably with lower RMSE% values. The most important temporal trajectory metrics were simple and described TC component values at each point of change in the temporal trajectory, however the most important variables overall were environmental variables.     

Proposed nonlinear 3-D analytical method for piled raft foundations

The load distribution and deformation of piled raft foundations subjected to axial and lateral loads were investigated by a numerical analysis and field case studies. Special attention is given to the improved analytical method (YSPR) proposed by considering raft flexibility and soil nonlinearity. A load transfer approach using p–y, t–z and q–z curves is used for the analysis of piles. An analytical method of the soil–structure interaction is developed by taking into account the soil spring coupling effects based on the Filonenko-Borodich model. The proposed method has been verified by comparing the results with other numerical methods and field case studies on piled raft. Through comparative studies, it is found that the proposed method in the present study is in good agreement with general trend observed by field measurements and, thus, represents a significant improvement in the prediction of piled raft load sharing and settlement behavior.     

The critical scale of fluctuation for active lateral forces in spatially variable undrained clays

This study addresses the phenomenon of the critical scale of fluctuation (SOF) for active lateral force (P_a) in undrained clay when there is a spatial variability in the clay. The phenomenon is significant under shear strength (τ_f) random fields but is insignificant under unit weight (γ) random fields. It is found that the phenomenon of the critical SOF is connected to the nature of the spatial averaging, which is “line averaging” under τ_f random fields and is “area averaging” under γ random fields. The former averaging effect (line) is significantly weaker than the latter (area), so the tendency for the critical slip plane to seek for a favorable location is stronger for the τ_f random field than for the γ random field. Hence, the phenomenon of the critical SOF is more pronounced under τ_f random fields than under γ random fields. The underlying mechanisms for the phenomenon of the critical SOF will be explored in this paper.     

Modelling river water temperature using deterministic,empirical, and hybrid formulations in a Mediterranean stream

River water temperature is a common target of water quality models at the watershed scale, owing to its principal role in shaping biogeochemical processes and in stream ecology. Usually, models include physically‐based, deterministic formulations to calculate water temperatures from detailed meteorological information, which usually comes from meteorological stations located far from the river reaches. However, alternative empirical approaches have been proposed, that usually depend on air temperature as master variable. This study explored the performance of a semidistributed water quality application modelling river water temperature in a Mediterranean watershed, using three different approaches. First, a deterministic approach was used accounting for the different heat exchange components usually considered in water temperature models. Second, an empirical approximation was applied using the equilibrium temperature concept, assuming a linear relationship with air temperature. And third, a hybrid approach was constructed, in which the temperature equilibrium concept and the deterministic approach were combined. Results showed that the hybrid approach gave the best results, followed by the empirical approximation. The deterministic formulation gave the worst results. The hybrid approach not only fitted daily river water temperatures, but also adequately modelled the daily temperature range (maximum–minimum daily temperature). Other river water features directly dependent on water temperature, such as river intrusion depth in lentic systems (i.e. the depth at which the river inflow plunges to equilibrate density differences with lake water), were also correctly modelled even at hourly time steps. However, results for the different heat fluxes between river and atmosphere were very unrealistic. Although direct evidence of discrepancies between meteorological drivers measured at the meteorological stations and the actual river microclimate was not found, the use of models including empirical or hybrid formulations depending mainly on air temperature is recommended if only meteorological data from locations far from the river reaches are available. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

数字滤波技术在射电天文测量中的应用

随着数字技术的发展，数字信号处理芯片的速度越来越快，这为高速数字滤波的实时实现提供了可能。简要阐述了数字滤波的原理，并对两种数字滤波的实现方法进行了分析；给出了数字滤波较模拟滤波的优势；介绍了数字滤波在射电天文测量中的各种应用。     

Virtual Field Geologic Trip System

Virtual Field Geologic Trip System (VFGTS) constructed by the technique of visualization can efficiently present geologic field information and widely used in the field of geologic education. This paper introduces the developing thinking of VFGTS and discusses the main implement processes. Building VFGTS mainly includes systemically gathering of field geological data, the building of virtual geological world, and displaying of virtual geologic world and human-computer interaction.     

Statistical properties of the number of runs of matches between two random stratigraphic sections

A quantity based on the number of runs of matches between two lithological sequences is suggested as an alternative or a supplement to the coefficient of cross-association. It is shown that, in many practical situations, the proposed random variable can serve as a more sensitive indicator of nonrandom similarities between two such sequences. Formulas pertaining to its asymptotic properties under the assumption of independence are derived.     

Generating soil thickness maps by means of geomorphological-empirical approach and random forest algorithm in Wanzhou County,Three Gorges Reservoir

Soil thickness, intended as depth to bedrock, is a key input parameter for many environmental models. Nevertheless, it is often difficult to obtain a reliable spatially exhaustive soil thickness map in wide-area applications, and existing prediction models have been extensively applied only to test sites with shallow soil depths. This study addresses this limitation by showing the results of an application to a section of Wanzhou County (Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China), where soil thickness varies from 0 to ～40 m. Two different approaches were used to derive soil thickness maps: a modified version of the geomorphologically indexed soil thickness (GIST) model, purposely customized to better account for the peculiar setting of the test site, and a regression performed with a machine learning algorithm, i.e., the random forest, combined with the geomorphological parameters of GIST (GIST-RF). Additionally, the errors of the two models were quantified, and validation with geophysical data was carried out. The results showed that the GIST model could not fully contend with the high spatial variability of soil thickness in the study area: the mean absolute error was 10.68 m with the root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 12.61 m, and the frequency distribution residuals showed a tendency toward underestimation. In contrast, GIST-RF returned a better performance with the mean absolute error of 3.52 m and RMSE of 4.56 m. The derived soil thickness map could be considered a critical fundamental input parameter for further analyses.     

卵石地层的特殊性及其对基坑支护的影响分析

主要从卵石地层的特征分类、特殊结构及场内施工条件3个方面,对基坑支护结构选型及施工工艺选择进行深入、系统的分析论证,力求使在卵石地层中的基坑支护设计方案更科学、经济,使施工方法、工艺更具可操作性。