A SUSPENDED SEDIMENT BUDGET OF THE YICHANG-WUHAN REACH OF THE YANGTZE RIVER, CHINA

The amount of the sediment deposition in the Yichan-Wuhan reach of the middle Yangtze River (also known as Changjiang River) has been determined using the concept of sediment budget at the channel-reach scale. The fill-scour processes of the middle Yangtze River were studied during the period 1956–1997 in response to the variation in sediment load and flow inputs. The results show that 13.3% of the net input of sediment was deposited in the studied river reach. Since 1956, the output sediment load of the studied reach increased with time to 1981, followed by a decline. The increase in output before 1981 can be related to the man-made bend neck-cutoff which caused a decrease in the sediment load diverted through the 'three outfalls' (i.e. the three distributaries from the Yangtze main stem to the Dongting Lake) and increased the sediment-carrying capacity of the river. Thereby, the river could transport more sediment to the outlet of the studied river reach. The decrease in the sediment load output after 1984 was directly due to the decreased sediment load at Yichang station. Multiple regression equations have been established to assess the contributions of influencing factors to the variation in sediment deposition amount in the studied river reach.     

Monitoring and numerical analysis of behaviour of Miaojiaba concrete-face rockfill dam built on river gravel foundation in China

This study evaluated the behaviour of a concrete face rockfill dam (CFRD) built on river gravel foundation on the basis of in-situ measurement records and numerical analysis. The monitoring records were obtained from a detailed deformation-monitoring system. A 3D finite element analysis was performed to assess long-term dam behaviour. The behaviour of the CFRD built on river gravel foundation was analysed comprehensively. A discussion of behaviour, especially with relevance to the behaviour of dams built on stiff-foundation, was included. The effect of the river gravel foundation was analysed, and the exact mechanisms were discussed. The relative contribution of various factors on the long-term behaviour of the CFRD was also studied. In-situ measurements were compared with numerical results to discuss the capability of the numerical model to predict the dam behaviour.     

Effect of non-linear soil deformation on the interaction among energy piles

This study investigates the effect of non-linear soil deformation on the displacement interaction among energy piles. The work is based on interaction factor analyses of full-scale pile group tests, whose results are compared with experimental evidence. The results presented highlight the tendency of interaction factor analyses that ignore non-linear soil deformation to overestimate the interaction and the displacement of energy pile groups. This outcome, in accordance with previous studies for conventional pile groups subjected to mechanical loads, may be considered in the analysis and design of energy pile groups subjected to thermal (and mechanical) loads through the interaction factor method.     

Barriers to movement: Modelling energetic costs of avoiding marine wind farms amongst breeding seabirds

Proposals for wind farms in areas of known importance for breeding seabirds highlight the need to understand the impacts of these structures. Using an energetic modelling approach, we examine the effects of wind farms as barriers to movement on seabirds of differing morphology. Additional costs, expressed in relation to typical daily energetic expenditures, were highest per unit flight for seabirds with high wing loadings, such as cormorants. Taking species-specific differences into account, costs were relatively higher in terns, due to the high daily frequency of foraging flights. For all species, costs of extra flight to avoid a wind farm appear much less than those imposed by low food abundance or adverse weather, although such costs will be additive to these. We conclude that adopting a species-specific approach is essential when assessing the impacts of wind farms on breeding seabird populations, to fully anticipate the effects of avoidance flights.     

上海软土的流变特性试验研究

本文利用无侧向变形的单向压缩试验仪,对原状和重塑上海软土进行了压缩试验和流变试验,研究了不同压力和超固结比对次固结系数的影响以及压缩特性和次固结变形特性的关系。试验结果表明,原状上海软土的次固结系数随着压力而变化,而重塑上海软土的次固结系数随压力变化不大。上述研究得到的结论及相关参数可为工程实践、上海软土流变模型的建立提供参考数据。     

Numerically based proposals for the stiffness and strength of masonry infills with openings in reinforced concrete frames

Aimed at investigating the effect of openings on the in‐plane behaviour of masonry infills in reinforced concrete frames, a parametric study is presented based on model calibration via experimental tests. Two types of openings are investigated: central window openings and different combinations of door and window openings based on the typologies of southern European countries. First, a finite element model of the structure is made using the DIANA software program. Then, after calibration with experimental results, a parametric analysis is carried out to investigate the effect of the presence and location of the different types of openings on the in‐plane behaviour of the infilled frame. Finally, different equations for predicting the initial stiffness and lateral strength of infilled frames with any types of openings were obtained. An α factor related to the geometry of the piers between openings is proposed to take into account the location of the openings in the developed equations. Subsequently, the masonry infill panel is replaced by a diagonal strut. An empirical equation is also proposed for the width of an equivalent strut to replace a masonry infill panel with openings in such a way that they possess the same initial stiffness. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Developing parallel procedures for line simplification

Abstract

This paper explores parallel programming issues that are relevant to the efficient implementation of spatial data handling procedures on current parallel computers through sample implementations of the Douglas line simplification procedure. Using source code-equivalent implementations of the Douglas procedure, this paper analyses the performance characteristics of two parallel implementations, compares their performance characteristics to those of a sequential implementation, and identifies critical components of the parallel implementations that enhance or inhibit their overall performance values. The results of this work show that the selection of appropriate interprocessor communication and load balancing strategies are crucial to obtaining large speedup values over comparable sequential implementations.     

Structural pounding between adjacent buildings subjected to strong ground motions. Part I: The effect of different structures arrangement

The effect of different structures configurations on the collision between adjacent planar RC building frames subjected to strong earthquakes is examined in this paper. Two 5‐storey and two 8‐storey frames, regular or with setbacks, are combined together to produce nine different pairs of adjacent RC structures. These pairs of buildings are subjected to six strong ground motions that are absolutely compatible with the design process. Various parameters are investigated such as maximum displacements, permanent displacements, members' ductility and internal forces and interstorey drift ratios. It is concluded that the effect of collision of adjacent frames seems to be unfavourable for most of the cases and, therefore, the structural pounding phenomenon is rather detrimental than beneficial. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Time–frequency analysis to profile hydrological regimes: application to Haiti

Abstract

Comprehensive characterization of its flow rates is prerequisite to a proper understanding and water management of a given hydrological region. Several studies question the soundness of stationarity in time series and suggest the need for a quantification of the events and non-stationary features in flow rate time series. In this study, we combine statistical and time–frequency (TF) analyses to characterize and classify the flow rates of an understudied region, namely Haiti. Wavelet transforms and cyclostationarity analyses were combined with principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering to identify three groups of hydrological regimes in the country, suggesting similar management: (1) relatively stable flow rates with TF behaviour; (2) periodic and strongly seasonal flow rates; and (3) unstable flow rates. We argue that the TF methodology can yield additional information in regard to flow events and multiscale behaviour, even for short records. Flow rate characterization would benefit from the exhaustive approach described here.

EDITOR Z.W. Kundzewicz ASSOCIATE EDITOR E. Toth