A frequency response function change method for damage localization and quantification in a shear building under ground excitation

A frequency response function change (FRFC) method to detect damage location and extent based on the change in the frequency response functions of a shear building under the effects of ground excitation was proposed in this paper. The damage identification equation was derived from the motion equations of the system before and after the occurrence of the damage. Efforts to make the FRFC method less model‐dependent were made. Intact system matrices, which could be estimated using the measured data without the need for an analytical model, and the frequency response functions were required for the FRFC method. The effects of measurement noise and model parameter error in the FRFC method were studied numerically. The proposed FRFC method was validated by experimental studies of a six‐story steel building structure with single and multiple damage cases. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of Fourier series in managing the seasonality of convective and monsoon rainfall

ABSTRACT

This study assesses the performance of Fourier series in representing seasonal variations of the tropical rainfall process in Malaysia. Fourier series are incorporated into a spatial-temporal stochastic model in an attempt to make the model parsimonious and, at the same time, capture the annual variation of rainfall distribution. In view of Malaysia’s main rainfall regime, the model is individually fitted for two regions with distinctive rainfall profiles: one being an urban area receiving rainfall from convective activities whilst the other receives rainfall from monsoonal activities. Since both regions are susceptible to floods, the study focuses on the rainfall process at fine resolution. Fourier series equations are developed to represent the model’s parameters to describe their annual periodicity. The number of significant harmonics for each parameter is determined by inspecting the cumulative fraction of total variance explained by the significant harmonics. Results reveal that the number of significant harmonics assigned for the parameters is slightly higher in the region with monsoonal rains. The overall simulation results show that the proposed model is capable of generating tropical rainfall series from convective and monsoonal activities.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis Associate editor K. Hamed     

Recent progress in estimating uncertainty in geomagnetic field modeling

Abstract

Recent work pertaining to estimating error and accuracies in geomagnetic field modeling is reviewed from a unified viewpoint and illustrated with examples. The formulation of a finite dimensional approximation to the underlying infinite dimensional problem is developed. Central to the formulation is an inner product and norm in the solution space through which a priori information can be brought to bear on the problem. Such information is crucial to estimation of the effects of higher degree fields at the Core-Mantle boundary (CMB) because the behavior of higher degree fields is masked in our measurements by the presence of the field from the Earth's crust. Contributions to the errors in predicting geophysical quantities based on the approximate model are separated into three categories: (1) the usual error from the measurement noise; (2) the error from unmodeled fields, i.e. from sources in the crust, ionosphere, etc.; and (3) the error from truncating to a finite dimensioned solution and prediction space. The combination of the first two is termed low degree error while the third is referred to as truncation error.

The error analysis problem consists of “characterizing” the difference δz = z—z, where z is some quantity depending on the magnetic field and z is the estimate of z resulting from our model. Two approaches are discussed. The method of Confidence Set Inference (CSI) seeks to find an upper bound for |z—?|. Statistical methods, i.e. Bayesian or Stochastic Estimation, seek to estimate E(δz² ), where E is the expectation value. Estimation of both the truncation error and low degree error is discussed for both approaches. Expressions are found for an upper bound for |δz| and for E(δz² ). Of particular interest is the computation of the radial field, B., at the CMB for which error estimates are made as examples of the methods. Estimated accuracies of the Gauss coefficients are given for the various methods. In general, the lowest error estimates result when the greatest amount of a priori information is available and, indeed, the estimates for truncation error are completely dependent upon the nature of the a priori information assumed. For the most conservative approach, the error in computing point values of B_r at the CMB is unbounded and one must be content with, e.g., averages over some large area. The various assumptions about a priori information are reviewed. Work is needed to extend and develop this information. In particular, information regarding the truncated fields is needed to determine if the pessimistic bounds presently available are realistic or if there is a real physical basis for lower error estimates. Characterization of crustal fields for degree greater than 50 is needed as is more rigorous characterization of the external fields.     

大地震前区域能量场的时间因子异常特征

本文采用自然正交函数展开方法,讨论了我国大陆发生的30次6.0级以上地震前的震中附近地区地震活动能量场的时间因子变化特征.结果表明,在大地震发生前,几个主要特征值所对应的典型场的时间因子均出现了明显的突升或突降变化,显示出与未来强地震有较好的对应关系.时间因子异常一般出现在震前1～3年,多数情况下小于2年,表现出异常的中短期特点;有些地震前异常出现时间小于3个月,显示出异常的短临性质.笔者认为,地震能量场时间因子可能是强地震前的一种有效的异常观测量和中短期异常指标.     

芦山7.0级地震医疗建筑震害与启示

鉴于医疗建筑在防灾救灾中的重要地位和作用,本科考小组对雅安地区医疗建筑在芦山地震中的震害进行了调查,调查包括不同烈度区、不同结构类型和建筑年代、不同级别的医疗卫生机构,对结构构件、非结构构件、医疗设备的震害特征,以及其他影响医疗秩序和使用功能的因素做了阐述和分析,并总结了汶川灾后新建及重建项目的抗震效果.调查表明,雅安地区医疗建筑在建筑结构的抗震安全性及救灾功能的实现方面仍存在很多问题,反映了我国医疗建筑的普遍问题.因此,对医疗建筑的抗震设防,需要作进一步系统的研究.     

Impact of elevated levels of CO2 on animal mediated ecosystem function: The modification of sediment nutrient fluxes by burrowing urchins

A mesocosm experiment was conducted to quantify the relationships between the presence and body size of two burrowing heart urchins (Brissopsis lyrifera and Echinocardium cordatum) and rates of sediment nutrient flux. Furthermore, the impact of seawater acidification on these relationships was determined during this 40-day exposure experiment. Using carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas, seawater was acidified to pH_NBS 7.6, 7.2 or 6.8. Control treatments were maintained in natural seawater (pH ≈ 8.0). Under normocapnic conditions, burrowing urchins were seen to reduce the sediment uptake of nitrite or nitrate whilst enhancing the release of silicate and phosphate. In acidified (hypercapnic) treatments, the biological control of biogeochemical cycles by urchins was significantly affected, probably through the combined impacts of high CO₂ on nitrifying bacteria, benthic algae and urchin behaviour. This study highlights the importance of considering biological interactions when predicting the consequences of seawater acidification on ecosystem function.     

Metamodel-based design of alluvial channels at incipient motion subjected to seepage

Abstract

The design of an alluvial channel affected by seepage requires information about five basic parameters: particle size, water depth, energy slope, seepage velocity, and average velocity. The conventional approach to predicting the incipient motion in an alluvial channel cannot be applied in the case of a channel affected by seepage. Metamodelling techniques are nowadays widely used in engineering design to simulate a complex system. Here, a metamodel is described which employs the radial-basis function (RBF) network to predict the seepage velocity and energy slope based on experimental data under incipient motion conditions. It was found that the model fits experimental data very well and provides predictions for the design. With the help of the metamodel generated by the RBF network, design curves based on the RBF metamodel are presented for use in designing an alluvial channel when it is affected by seepage.

Citation Kumar, B., Sreenivasulu, G. & Ramakrishna Rao, A. (2010) Metamodel-based design of alluvial channels at incipient motion subjected to seepage. Hydrol. Sci. J. 55(3), 459–466.     

Nonmodal Growth on a Sphere at Various Horizontal Scales

Nonmodal growth (NG) and unstable normal mode growth are considered in spherical geometry. Two groups of initial conditions (IC) are studied: "connected" IC (common in Cartesian studies) and "separated" IC (based on observed conditions prior to cyclogenesis). Time series of growth rates are emphasized in conjunction with eigenmode projections. Projections show that early on normal mode growth was much stronger for connected IC and that NG caused negative growth early on of some variables for separated IC. Projections explain why amplitude, kinetic energy (KE), and potential vorticity have more NG than available potential energy (APE). Though varying between ICs and with initial phase shift, NG increases with wavenumber. For middle wavelengths, NG is significant and positive using connected IC but negative or small using separated IC. Total energy and KE growth rates of short waves are very similar during the first 2 days for both ICs. Amplitude time series closely follow KE in all cases studied. APE has less overlap than does KE between the main modes present, so less NG occurs for APE than for KE. In separated IC cases, APE growth rates evolve consistent with emergence of an unstable normal mode and little NG.     

Bacteria‐removing and Bactericidal Efficiencies of PDADMAC Composite Coagulants in Enhanced Coagulation Treatment

Enhanced coagulation treatment of bacteria‐containing raw water was studied by using three series of composite coagulants, that were prepared by combining polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDADMAC) with different intrinsic viscosity values (0.55–2.47 dL/g) and mass percentages (5–20%) with polyaluminum chloride (PAC), aluminum sulfate (AS), and the composite of aluminum sulfate and ferric chloride (A‐F), respectively. The coagulants were tested by jar tests for the efficiencies to remove bacteria in raw water and to kill bacteria in settled sludge. It was found that when the residual turbidity of supernatant after sedimentation reached the control standard of 2 NTU in drinking water plant, the bacteria‐removing rates of PAC, AS, and A‐F were 92.22, 92.60, and 94.99%, respectively, and the bactericidal rates were 2.52, 1.22, and 2.94%, respectively. Contrastively, the bacteria‐removing rates of PAC/PDADMAC, AS/PDADMAC, and A‐F/PDADMAC could reach 95.45, 96.90, and 98.89%, respectively, and the bactericidal rates could reach 86.60, 91.81, and 96.98%, respectively. It could be deduced from the results that the bactericidal efficiencies of composite coagulants stemmed from the bactericidal action of PDADMAC, and the inorganic coagulants had little bactericidal function.     

测绘师的职业素养和成长进程研究

要实现测绘强国,一要有先进发达的测绘科技,二要有规范繁荣的测绘市场,而二者平衡发展的关键就在于人才。测绘师在测绘行业中起着至关重要的作用。测绘师的能力通常可以反映测绘事业的整体水平。作为一个合格的注册测绘师必须具有测绘职业道德、素质修养和专业技能,才能胜任功能社会的需要。注册测绘师的成长需要经历学校培养、见习锻炼和执业发展3个阶段,从而逐步形成测绘师自身和测绘行业的社会地位和专业魅力。