“It's Not Easy Being Green”: Environmental Advocacy and Policymaking in Chile

This article analyzes the collective action frames used by members of Chilean nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) while engaging in policy advocacy. The focus is a large-scale dam project along the Bío Bío River that generated controversy for more than a decade due to its impact on the environment and indigenous communities. It is argued that the environmental advocates’ reliance on certain frames hindered their ability to influence policymaking. They framed the neoliberal model as “pathologically” growth centered, unjust, and destructive. Additionally, advocates were besieged by counter frames portraying them as foes of modernization. Though compelling, the groups’ frames set them on a collision course with the policymaking establishment. In contrast, members of groups advocating for children used more effective discursive strategies and achieved a greater presence in policy debates. These arguments are supported with qualitative data collected primarily through interviews with NGO members, textual analysis of their documents, and news content analysis.     

Influence of gusset plate connections and braces on the seismic performance of X‐braced frames

Braced frames are one of the most economical and efficient seismic resisting systems yet few full‐scale tests exist. A recent research project, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), seeks to fill this gap by developing high‐resolution data of improved seismic resisting braced frame systems. As part of this study, three full‐scale, two‐story concentrically braced frames in the multi‐story X‐braced configuration were tested. The experiments examined all levels of system performance, up to and including fracture of multiple braces in the frame. Although the past research suggests very limited ductility of SCBFs with HSS rectangular tubes for braces recent one‐story tests with improved gusset plate designs suggest otherwise. The frame designs used AISC SCBF standards and two of these frames designs also employed new concepts developed for gusset plate connection design. Two specimens employed HSS rectangular tubes for bracing, and the third specimen had wide flange braces. Two specimens had rectangular gusset plates and the third had tapered gusset plates. The HSS tubes achieved multiple cycles at maximum story drift ratios greater than 2% before brace fracture with the improved connection design methods. Frames with wide flange braces achieved multiple cycles at maximum story drift greater than 2.5% before brace fracture. Inelastic deformation was distributed between the two stories with the multi‐story X‐brace configuration and top story loading. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Shaking‐table tests of a full‐scale single‐story masonry veneer wood‐frame structure

This paper presents the findings of shaking‐table experiments conducted to examine the seismic performance of a full‐scale, one‐story, wood‐framed structure with masonry veneer. The structure was designed and constructed in accordance with current U.S. code provisions. The veneer was attached to the wood backing with two kinds of metal anchors, corrugated ties fastened with 8d nails and rigid ties fastened with #8 screws. The tests have shown that the use of nails to fasten veneer anchors to the wood studs is highly unreliable due to the high variation of the nail extraction capacity, which can be influenced by the moisture content of the wood. Other than this, both the wood frame and the masonry veneer performed well under severe ground motions far exceeding a design level earthquake for Seismic Design Category D. Good performance was observed for the rigid veneer ties, which were attached to the wood studs with screws. The results have shown that the veneer walls parallel to the direction of shaking helped to restrain the motion of the wood structure and therefore should not be simply treated as added mass. The detailing of wood roof diaphragms requires special attention in consideration of the out‐of‐plane inertia force of the veneer that can be transmitted through the top plate of the wood‐stud wall to the rim joist. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

利用地球定向参数确定依巴谷输入星表与射电天球参考架之间的旋转

通过比较地球定向参数（ＥＯＰ）序列和对应的地固参考架，本文得到了依巴谷输入星表（ＨＩＣ）和国际地球自转服务（ＩＥＲＳ）基于甚长基线干涉测量（ＶＬＢＩ）建立的河外天球参考架（ＩＣＲＦ）之间的旋转参数，在Ｊ２０００．０历元，前者至后者的旋转参数为［８．４±１．１ｍａｓ，４６．７±１．１ｍａｓ，４５．５±１．５ｍａｓ］，其时间变率为［－０．１４±０．０５ｍａｓ／ａ，３．２２±０．０５ｍａｓ／ａ，５．７０±０．０７ｍａｓ／ａ］。依巴谷输入星表是完全基于ＦＫ５系统的，本文得到的旋转参数与ＩＣＲＦ和ＦＫ５之间的系统差异情况相符     

Inelastic response of RC frame buildings with seismic isolation

A comprehensive parametric study on the inelastic seismic response of seismically isolated RC frame buildings, designed for gravity loads only, is presented. Four building prototypes, with 23 m × 10 m floor plan dimensions and number of storeys ranging from 2 to 8, are considered. All the buildings present internal resistant frames in one direction only, identified as the strong direction of the building. In the orthogonal weak direction, the buildings present outer resistant frames only, with infilled masonry panels. This structural configuration is typical of many existing RC buildings, realized in Italy and other European countries in the 60s and 70s. The parametric study is based on the results of extensive nonlinear response‐time history analyses of 2‐DOF systems, using a set of seven artificial and natural seismic ground motions. In the parametric study, buildings with strength ratio (F_y/W) ranging from 0.03 to 0.15 and post‐yield stiffness ratio ranging from 0% to 6% are examined. Three different types of isolation systems are considered, that is, high damping rubber bearings, lead rubber bearings and friction pendulum bearings. The isolation systems have been designed accepting the occurrence of plastic hinges in the superstructure during the design earthquake. The nonlinear response‐time history analyses results show that structures with seismic isolation experience fewer inelastic cycles compared with fixed‐base structures. As a consequence, although limited plastic deformations can be accepted, the collapse limit state of seismically isolated structures should be based on the lateral capacity of the superstructure without significant reliance on its inherent hysteretic damping or ductility capacity. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Validation of nonlinear time history analysis models for single‐storey concentrically braced frames using full‐scale shake table tests

The concentrically braced frame (CBF) structure is one of the most efficient steel structural systems to resist earthquakes. This system can dissipate energy during earthquakes through braces, which are expected to yield in tension and buckle in compression, while all other elements such as columns, beams and connections are expected to behave elastically. In this paper, the performance of single‐storey CBFs is assessed with nonlinear time‐history analysis, where a robust numerical model that simulates the behaviour of shake table tests is developed. The numerical model of the brace element used in the analysis was calibrated using data measured in physical tests on brace members subjected to cyclic loading. The model is then validated by comparing predictions from nonlinear time‐history analysis to measured performance of brace members in full scale shake table tests. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the performance of the CBF to different earthquake ground motions is investigated by subjecting the CBF to eight ground motions that have been scaled to have similar displacement response spectra. The comparative assessments presented in this work indicate that these developed numerical models can accurately capture the salient features related to the seismic behaviour of CBFs. A good agreement is found between the performance of the numerical and physical models in terms of maximum displacement, base shear force, energy dissipated and the equivalent viscous damping. The energy dissipated and, more particular, the equivalent viscous damping, are important parameters required when developing an accurate displacement‐based design methodology for CBFs subjected to earthquake loading. In this study, a relatively good prediction of the equivalent viscous damping is obtained from the numerical model when compared with data measured during the shake table tests. However, it was found that already established equations to determine the equivalent viscous damping of CBFs may give closer values to those obtained from the physical tests. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mechanisms to limit higher mode effects in a controlled rocking steel frame. 1: Concept,modelling, and low‐amplitude shake table testing

Controlled rocking steel frames have been proposed as an efficient way to avoid the structural damage and residual deformations that are expected in conventional seismic force resisting systems. Although the base rocking response is intended to limit the force demands, higher mode effects can amplify member design forces, reducing the viability of the system. This paper suggests that seismic forces may be limited more effectively by providing multiple force‐limiting mechanisms. Two techniques are proposed: detailing one or more rocking joints above the base rocking joint and providing a self‐centring energy dissipative (SCED) brace at one or more levels. These concepts are applied to the design of an eight‐storey prototype structure and a shake table model at 30% scale. A simple numerical model that was used as a design tool is in good agreement with frequency characterization and low‐amplitude seismic tests of the shake table model, particularly when multiple force‐limiting mechanisms are active. These results suggest that the proposed mechanisms can enable better capacity design by reducing the variability of peak seismic force demands without causing excessive displacements. Similar results are expected for other systems that rely on a single location of concentrated nonlinearity to limit peak seismic loads. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

漾濞6.4级地震穿斗木房屋震害特征及其原因简析

基于漾濞6.4级地震现场震害调查的结果,简要介绍了穿斗木构架民居的结构布置形式,对穿斗木结构的破坏现象进行分类和归纳,并得出穿斗木结构的整体破坏程度重于砌体结构与混凝土框架结构的结论。对比芦山7.0级地震中穿斗木结构震害较砌体结构和混凝土框架结构轻的现象,从地震动差异及围护墙差异两个方面给出了初步解释。结合现有的研究成果,对穿斗木结构的改进与加固提出了建议。     

一种无人机视频帧自动拼接方法

无人机视频帧具有低对比度和色彩可读性差等缺点,为了解决这些问题并从视频中自动获取视频帧,本文提出一种无人机视频帧自动拼接方法。首先介绍相位相关理论,并推导出指定重叠度视频帧提取公式,在此基础上进行指定重叠度视频帧的自动提取;最后利用改进的SURF算法完成视频帧的匹配和拼接。实验结果表明本文采用的方法能实现视频帧的自动提取和快速拼接。     

Seismic reliability of steel moment resisting framed buildings retrofitted with buckling restrained braces

The present paper investigates the seismic reliability of the application of buckling restrained braces (BRBs) for seismic retrofitting of steel moment resisting framed buildings through fragility analysis. Samples of regular three‐storey and eight‐storey steel moment resisting frames were designed with lateral stiffness insufficient to comply with the code drift limitations imposed for steel moment resisting frame systems in earthquake‐prone regions. The frames were then retrofitted with concentrically chevron conventional braces and BRBs. To obtain robust estimators of the seismic reliability, a database including a wide range of natural earthquake ground motion records with markedly different characteristics was used in the fragility analysis. Nonlinear time history analyses were utilized to analyze the structures subjected to these earthquake records. The improvement of seismic reliability achieved through the use of conventional braces and BRBs was evaluated by comparing the fragility curves of the three‐storey and eight‐storey model frames before and after retrofits, considering the probabilities of four distinct damage states. Moreover, the feasibility of mitigating the seismic response of moment resisting steel structures by using conventional braces and BRBs was determined through seismic risk analysis. The results obtained indicate that both conventional braces and especially BRBs improve significantly the seismic behavior of the original building by increasing the median values of the structural fragility curves and reducing the probabilities of exceedance of each damage state. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.