A study of design spectra based on attenuation relationship of ground motion

In recent years, more and more studies are focused on the performance in seismic design instead of the strength of structures. People have realized that the structure deformation (displacement) can describe the damage more properly and directly than the strength (force). The displacement design spectra need to be constructed within more wide range of the period and the damping for the displacement-based seismic design.     

岩体与锚固体间粘结强度的确定

在预应力锚索设计参数的确定中，岩体与锚固体间粘结强度的确定是其十分重要的环节。现有的确定方法大多基于经验与现场试验的结合，费时费工，故有必要根据已有的试验资料确定一种定量方法。通过对国内30余例工程的统计分析表明，岩体与锚固体的粘强度不仅与岩石单轴抗压强度有关，还与内锚固段裂隙的分布与性质有关。通过室内外试验进一步建立了适合国内岩体质量指标确定的粘结强度经验公式与内锚段长度设计系数的图系，同时，也可为岩锚加固数值仿真提供经验判据。实例计算表明，所提供的确定方法与岩锚试验结果较为吻合。     

澜沧江某电站右坝肩复杂岩体质量分类

笔者通过对澜沧某电站右岸坝肩复杂岩体的成因进行分析，采用岩体质量指数Z并结合水利水电工程围岩分级和RMR分级等岩体分类方法对电站右岸坝肩的复杂岩体进行了综合分类。     

Derivation Of Refractive Index And Temperature Gradients From Optical Scintillometry To Correct Atmospherically Induced Errors For Highly Precise Geodetic Measurements

Refraction effects of optical beams are generally caused by an inhomogeneous propagation medium and are a major source of systematic errors in the precise optical determination of angles and distances in the atmospheric surface layer. In this contribution a method for deriving vertical temperature and refractive index gradients from optical scintillation is presented. Knowledge of these gradients is required for the compensation of atmospherically induced errors for highly precise terrestrial geodetic measurements, like direct transfer and levelling. The advantage of the present optical method is, that temperature and refractive index gradients can be derived as line-averaged values over the propagation path, which is not possible by meteorological point measurements. Field observations have been carried out with a displaced-beam scintillometer over flat terrain and under different atmospheric conditions in order to verify this method. The experiments show, that this method allows to derive accurate correction values for precise terrestrial geodetic measurements.     

Scattering of seismic waves by cracks in multi-layered geological regions: II. Numerical results

The mechanical model for plane strain, time-harmonic seismic wave propagation problems in cracked, multi-layered geological regions with surface topography and non-parallel interfaces was described in the first part of this work. Here, this model is used to investigate the response of such a region to the presence of traveling elastic waves generated by a seismic source. The computational methodology that was developed in the first part is based on a combination of both the regular (displacement-based) and the hypersingular (traction-based) Boundary Integral Equation Method (BIEM). First, the accuracy and convergence characteristics of this hybrid BIEM are studied. Then, a series of problems involving four different configurations of a reference geological deposit with both interface and internal cracks are solved, for a loading that is due to a seismically-induced pressure wave propagating upwards from the underlying rigid half-plane. The purpose of the numerical study is to investigate the influence of various key parameters of the problem, such as frequency and incidence angle of the incoming wave, size of the surface relief, location and size of the buried cracks, interaction effects between cracks and finally the presence of layers, on both the scattered displacement field and the stress concentration field.     

Inelastic spectra for displacement-based seismic design

In recognition of the emergence of displacement-based seismic design as a potentially more rational approach than force-based techniques, this paper addresses derivation of inelastic displacement spectra and associated topics. A well-constrained earthquake strong-motion dataset is used to derive inelastic displacement spectra, displacement reduction factors and ductility–damping relationships. These are in a format amenable for use in design and assessment of structures with a wide range of response characteristics.     

Inelastic buildings with tuned mass dampers under moderate ground motions from distant earthquakes

The effectiveness of tuned mass dampers (TMD) in vibration control of buildings was investigated under moderate ground shaking caused by long‐distance earthquakes with frequency contents resembling the 1985 Mexico City (SCT) or the 1995 Bangkok ground motion. The elastic–perfectly plastic material behaviour was assumed for the main structure, with linear TMDs employed by virtue of their simplicity and robustness. The accumulated hysteretic energy dissipation affected by TMD was examined, and the ratio of the hysteretic energy absorption in the structure with TMD to that without it is proposed to be used, in conjunction with the peak displacement ratio, as a supplementary TMD performance index since it gives an indication of the accumulated damage induced in the inelastic structures. For the ground motions considered, TMD would be effective in reducing the hysteretic energy absorption demand in the critical storeys for buildings in the 1.8–2.8 s range. The consequence is reduction in damage of the buildings which would otherwise suffer heavy damage in the absence of TMD, resulting in economical restorability in the damage control limit state. This is of practical significance in view of the current trend toward performance‐based design. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Reliability Based Expert System for Assessment and Mitigation of Landslides Hazard Under Seismic Loading

Different models were developed for evaluating the probabilistic three-dimensional (3-D) stability analysis of earth slopes and embankments under earthquake loading using both the safety factor and the displacement criteria of slope failure.The probabilistic models evaluate the probability of failure under seismic loading considering the different sources of uncertainties involved in the problem. The models also take into consideration the spatial variabilities and correlations of soil properties. The developed models are incorporated in a computer program PTDDSSA.These analysis/design procedures are incorporated within a code named SARETL developed in this study for stability analysis and remediation of earthquake triggered landslides. In addition to the dynamic inertia forces, the system takes into consideration local site effects.The code is capable of assessing the landslide hazard affecting major transportation routes in the event of earthquakes and preparing earthquake induced landslide hazard maps (i.e., maps showing expected displacements and probability of slope/embankments failure) for different earthquake magnitudes and environmental conditions. It can also beused for proposing a mitigation strategy against landslides.     

Characterization of Geochemical Distributions Using Multifractal Models

The use of multifractals in the applied sciences has proven useful in the characterization and modeling of complex phenomena. Multifractal theory has also been recently applied to the study and characterization of geochemical distributions, and its relation to spatial statistics clearly stated. The present paper proposes a two-dimensional multifractal model based on a trinomial multiplicative cascade as a proxy to some geochemical distribution. The equations for the generalized dimensions, mass exponent, coarse Lipschitz–Hölder exponent, and multifractal spectrum are derived. This model was tested with an example data set used for geochemical exploration of gold deposits in Northwest Portugal. The element used was arsenic because a large number of sample assays were below detection limit for gold. Arsenic, however, has a positive correlation with gold, and the two generations of arsenopyrite identified in the gold quartz veins are consistent with different mineralizing events, which gave rise to different gold grades. Performing the multifractal analysis has shown problems arising in the subdivision of the area with boxes of constant side length and in the uncertainty the edge effects produce in the experimental estimation of the mass exponent. However, it was possible to closely fit a multifractal spectrum to the data with enrichment factors in the range 2.4–2.6 and constant K₁ = 1.3. Such parameters may give some information on the magnitude of the concentration efficiency and heterogeneity of the distribution of arsenic in the mineralized structures. In a simple test with estimated points using ordinary lognormal kriging, the fitted multifractal model showed the magnitude of smoothing in estimated data. Therefore, it is concluded that multifractal models may be useful in the stochastic simulation of geochemical distributions.     

Two-dimensional geostatistical modeling and prediction of the fracture system in the Albala Granitic Pluton, SW Iberian Massif, Spain

We use a fracture index distribution method of geostatistical modelling and prediction to characterize quantitatively the fracture system in two-dimensions (2D) in the Mina Ratones area, located in the Albalá Granitic Pluton (SW Iberian Massif). The fracture index (FI) is a quantitative estimate of the fracture density in discrete domains. To validate the results of geostatistical modeling a detailed structural map of the area was also made on a scale of 1:1000. The resulting grids, expressed as pixel-maps, describe the continuous value of the FI in 2D for the whole Mina Ratones area. Based on the modelled distribution of the FI and their correlation with mapped faults, we distinguish two structural domains in the studied area: elongated bands of fracture zones with high FI values and romboidal blocks located between them with low FI values. The separation between both domains is gradual. Though a threshold value of the FI that separate both structural domains is not clearly defined, the fracture zones generally present FI>1 and the individualized blocks FI<0.50. As a consequence, the obtained grid of the FI permits the quantitative structural classification of the granitic massif in 2D and understanding fault zone architecture in the Mina Ratones area.