Displacement-based seismic design of hysteretic damped braces for retrofitting in-elevation irregular r.c. framed structures

A displacement-based design procedure is proposed for proportioning hysteretic damped braces (HYDBs) in order to attain, for a specific level of seismic intensity, a designated performance level of a reinforced concrete (r.c.) in-elevation irregular framed building which has to be retrofitted. To check the effectiveness and reliability of the design procedure, a numerical investigation is carried out with reference to a six-storey r.c. framed building, which, originally designed according to an old Italian seismic code (1996) for a medium-risk zone, has to be retrofitted by inserting of HYDBs to attain performance levels imposed by the current Italian code (NTC08) in a high-risk zone. To simulate a vertical irregularity, a change of use of the first two floors, from residential to office, is also supposed; moreover, masonry infill walls, regularly distributed along the perimeter, are substituted with glass windows on these floors. Nonlinear dynamic analyses of unbraced (UF), infilled (IF) and damped braced infilled (DBIF) frames are carried out considering sets of artificially generated and real ground motions, whose response spectra match those adopted by NTC08 for different performance levels. To this end, r.c. frame members are idealized by a two-component model, assuming a bilinear moment–curvature law whose ultimate bending moment depends on the axial load, while the response of an HYDB is idealized by a bilinear law, to prevent buckling. Finally, masonry infills are represented as equivalent diagonal struts, reacting only in compression, with an elastic–brittle linear law.     

Simplified approximate method for analysis of rocking systems accounting for soil inelasticity and foundation uplifting

A simplified approximate method to analyze the rocking response of SDOF systems lying on compliant soil is introduced, accounting for soil inelasticity and foundation uplifting. The soil–foundation system is replaced by a nonlinear rotational spring, accompanied by a linear rotational dashpot, and linear horizontal and vertical springs and dashpots. Considering a square footing on clay under undrained conditions, the necessary moment–rotation (M–θ) relations are computed through monotonic pushover finite element (FE) analyses, employing a thoroughly-validated constitutive model. Cyclic pushover analyses are performed to compute the damping–rotation (C_R–θ) relations, necessary to calibrate the rotational dashpot, and the settlement–rotation (Δw–θ) relations, required to estimate the dynamic settlement. The effectiveness of the simplified method is verified through dynamic time history analyses, comparing its predictions with the results of 3D FE analyses. The simplified method is shown to capture the entire rotation time history θ(t) with adequate accuracy. The latter is used to compute the time history of dynamic settlement w(t), employing a simplified approximate procedure. The proposed simplified method should, by no means, be considered a substitute for more sophisticated analysis methods. However, despite its limitations, it may be utilized for (at least preliminary) design purposes.     

Integrative seismic safety evaluation of a high concrete arch dam

An integrative seismic safety evaluation of an arch dam should include all sources of nonlinearities, dynamic interactions between different components and the external loads. The present paper investigates the calibration procedure and nonlinear seismic response of an existing high arch dam. The first part explains the conducted analyses for the static and thermal calibrations of the dam based on site measurements. The second part investigates the nonlinear seismic analysis of the calibrated model considering the effect of joints, cracking of mass concrete, reservoir–dam–rock interaction, hydrodynamic pressure inside the opened joints and the geometric nonlinearity. Penetration of the water inside the opened joints accelerates the damage process. The integrative seismic assessment of a case study shows that the dam will fail under the maximum credible earthquake scenario. The dam is judged to be severely damaged with extensive cracking and the joints undergo opening/sliding. A systematic procedure is proposed for seismic and post-seismic safety of dams.     

Earthquake vulnerability of school buildings: Probabilistic structural fragility analyses

The study presents probabilistic structural fragility assessment of public school buildings in Istanbul, which were constructed based on a standardized/typical project. The typical structure is a four-story, reinforced concrete shear wall building with moment resisting frames. Derivation of fragility functions rely on nonlinear dynamic analyses through Monte Carlo simulations. Nonlinear dynamic analyses are initially performed for a fully deterministic structural model based on the blueprints of the typical school building project. Uncertainties are introduced in different analysis cases following a modified version of the algorithm presented in Smyth et al. (2004) [21], which considers the effect of the random distribution of the parameters using a Monte Carlo approach. Aleatory uncertainties concerning material properties (i.e. compressive strength of concrete, yield strength of reinforcing steel and concrete density), geometrical characteristics (i.e. span lengths and story heights) and cross sectional dimensions of beams, columns and shear walls as well as epistemic uncertainty in the direction of ground motion excitation are considered. Statistical distributions for the parameters considered are obtained from in-situ measurements and material sampling tests. Fragility functions are produced in terms of peak ground acceleration and velocity as well as of the elastic spectral displacement at the first vibration period of the building. Mean damage ratios are calculated from the derived fragility functions. They are further compared to mean damage ratios calculated for similar building typologies provided in HAZUS-MH technical manual and in Istanbul building inventory.     

日本东北M_W9.0地震海啸在港池及邻近区域诱发的涡流危险性计算与评估分析

海啸造成的灾害与损失并非都与淹没有关,特别是港口中海啸诱导的强流会对船只及海事设施产生重要的影响及损害.由于海啸流观测数据稀缺及海啸诱导涡流机制的不确定性,过去60年海啸科学主要集中于对海啸波特征及淹没过程的研究与分析,海啸流模拟及验证工作开展较少,导致对海啸流基本特征及其造成灾害现象的曲解.开展海啸诱导的涡流研究及预警服务显得尤为重要及紧迫.考虑快速海啸预警需要,综合对比海啸诱导涡流的物理框架及模型方法,探索兼顾效率与计算精度的海啸流模拟方法是本文的核心工作及出发点.通过分析浅层湍流相干结构(TCS)产生的主要物理耗散机制,确定了考虑2D水平耗散机制的非线性浅水方程可用于海啸涡流的模拟分析.基于高精、高分辨率有限体积模型Geoclaw建立了三个精细化的港口海啸流模型,模型分辨率为5m.利用基于海啸浮标反演的海啸源模型作为初始条件,模拟分析了日本东北地震海啸在远场的海啸波流特征.海啸波流特征模拟结果与观测吻合较好,结果可信.对比发现:波驱动的自由表面流,小的位相或波幅误差就会导致大的流速误差,流的模拟和预报相对波幅来说更具挑战性.研究了海啸波流能量在港池中的分布特征,得到:港池入口及防波堤两端常被强流控制,具有极高的危险性;相对于波幅的空间变化,海啸流具有更强的空间敏感性;所建立的高分辨率海啸模型模拟再现了日本海啸在近场的涡旋结构,给出了与观测基本一致的涡流特征.最后,引入海啸流危险等级标准,分析了港口海啸流危险性等级分布、船只疏散的安全深度及回港的时间周期.针对港口、海湾同时考虑海啸波流特征的海啸预警与评估对于港口应急管理者科学决策具有重要意义.     

基于地震成像数据稀疏反演的不连续及非均质地质体检测方法

本文针对油气藏储层预测中的不连续及非均质地质信息识别问题,研究基于地震成像数据的稀疏反演方法.由于该类地质体的地震响应特征为弱信号,因此利用平面波破坏滤波器由地震成像数据中去除强反射同相轴.在此基础上,对剩余的地震数据进行非线性加强滤波,并构建L1稀疏反演模型.为有效求解L1模型,采用非光滑泛函L1范数逼近和拟牛顿求解算法.该方法考虑稀疏先验信息,能够提高反演结果信噪比.缝洞模型测试验证该方法在检测断点、微断裂、散射点等小尺度地质体上的有效性,塔北缝洞型碳酸盐岩储层预测的应用效果进一步证实该方法的实用性.     

基于CHAMP、GRACE和COSMIC掩星数据的全球电离层h_mF_2建模研究

基于CHAMP、GRACE和COSMIC的电离层h_mF_2掩星数据,采用最小二乘法建立了一个包含地磁和太阳活动、经度、地方时、年积日和纬度信息的非线性多项式h_mF_2模型(Nonlinear Polynomial Peak Height Model—NPPHM).利用GRACE掩星数据对NPPHM与IRI2012进行了独立检验,结果显示这两个模型在2008年与GRACE数据的相关系数分别为0.798和0.532,均方根误差分别为25.97km和44.56km;在2012年,相关系数分别为0.732和0.488,均方根误差分别为31.39km和42.83km.选取全球不同地区14个测高仪站点数据,并引入相似离度对这两个模型的精度进行了评估,结果表明,NPPHM的相似离度远小于IRI2012,更加接近测高仪观测值.使用Athens站2003—2013年数据对模型进行了检验,结果显示IRI2012与Athens站测高仪数据的平均偏差达到8.11%,NPPHM则只有3.53%,并且在太阳活动低年及每年10月NPPHM的精度要明显高于IRI2012.此外,NPPHM也能够较好模拟出h_mF_2的日变化、季节变化及赤道异常等特性.     

Site response analyses using downhole arrays at various seismic hazard levels of Singapore

Local site conditions can significantly influence the characteristics of seismic ground motions. In this study, site response analyses using one-dimensional linear elastic (LE), equivalent-linear (EQL) and nonlinear (NL) approaches are performed at different seismic hazard levels of Singapore. Two seismic stations, namely, the KAP and BES stations located at soft soil sites, are selected from the national network of Singapore. Firstly, site response estimates using the LE, EQL (SHAKE04) and NL (DEEPSOIL) approaches are compared with the borehole recordings. Results show favorable matches between the predictions and the observations at the KAP site, while under-predictions are observed for all the three site effect approaches at the BES site. Secondly, the applicability of the LE, EQL and NL models is examined at different hazard levels of Singapore. It is found that for the hazard level at a return period of 475 years, the computed maximum strain (γ_max) is 0.06% and then the EQL model can provide accurate site response predictions. However, for the hazard level at a return period of 2475 years, the calculated γ_max is larger than 2%, resulting in notable differences in the predictions of different site response models. This study highlights the importance of site effects in seismic hazard analysis of Singapore.     

Seismic response of deep Quaternary sediments in historical center of L’Aquila City (central Italy)

On 6 April 2009 a M_w=6.1 earthquake produced severe destruction and damage over the historic center of L’Aquila City (central Italy), in which the accelerometer stations AQK and AQU recorded a large amount of near-fault ground motion data. This paper analyzes the recorded ground motions and compares the observed peak accelerations and the horizontal to vertical response spectral ratios with those revealed from numerical simulations. The finite element method is considered herein to perform dynamic modeling on the soil profile underlying the seismic station AQU. The subsurface model, which is based on the reviewed surveys that were carried out in previous studies, consists of 200–400 m of Quaternary sediments overlying a Meso-Cenozoic carbonate bedrock. The Martin-Finn-Seed's pore-water pressure model is used in the simulations. The horizontal to vertical response spectral ratio that is observed during the weak seismic events shows three predominant frequencies at about 14 Hz, 3 Hz and 0.6 Hz, which may be related to the computed seismic motion amplification occurring at the shallow colluvium, at the top and base of the fluvial-lacustrine sequence, respectively. During the 2009 L’Aquila main shock the predominant frequency of 14 Hz shifts to lower values probably due to a peculiar wave-field incidence angle. The predominant frequency of 3 Hz shifts to lower values when the earthquake magnitude increases, which may be associated to the progressive softening of soil due to the excess pore-water pressure generation that reaches a maximum value of about 350 kPa in the top of fluvial-lacustrine sequence. The computed vertical peak acceleration underestimates the experimental value and the horizontal to vertical peak acceleration ratio that is observed at station AQU decreases when the earthquake magnitude increases, which reveals amplification of the vertical component of ground motion probably due to near-source effects.     

Isotherm Study of Phosphorus Uptake from Aqueous Solution Using Aluminum Oxide

Aluminum oxide, which could be an alternative filter media for phosphorus uptake from aqueous solution, was selected as an adsorbent for the isotherm study of phosphorus uptake from aqueous solution. Batch method was adopted to investigate the adsorption behavior of phosphorus onto aluminum oxide. The Langmuir, Freundlich, and Redlich–Peterson isotherms were used to analyze the experimental data by both the linear and nonlinear regression methods. The adsorption experiment was conducted at various temperatures, to choose the appropriate method and obtain the creditable adsorption parameters for phosphorus uptake studies. The results indicated that the nonlinear regression method might be a better way to compare the best‐fitting isotherm and obtain the parameters for the adsorption of phosphorus onto aluminum oxide. Both the Redlich–Peterson and the Freundlich isotherms have high coefficients of determination for the adsorption of phosphorus onto aluminum oxide at various temperatures. In addition, a new relationship between the Redlich–Peterson and the Freundlich isotherm parameters was presented.