Acoustic wave scattering from a rough seabed over a sediment layer with generalized-exponential density and inverse-square sound speed profiles

This paper considers acoustic plane wave scattering from a rough seabed on a transition sediment layer overlying an elastic sea basement. The transition sediment layer is assumed to be fluid-like, with density and sound speed distributions behaving as generalized-exponential and inverse-square functions, respectively. This specific class of density and sound speed profiles deserves special attentions not only because it is geologically realistic, but also renders analytical solutions to the Helmholtz equation, making it particularly useful in the study of ocean and seabed acoustics. Based upon a boundary perturbation approach, the computational algorithm for the spatial spectrum in terms of the power spectral density of the scattered field has been developed and implemented. The results have shown that, while the coherent field mainly depends upon the gross structure of the seabed roughness, e.g., RMS roughness, the scattered field is significantly affected by the details of the roughness distributions specialized by the roughness power spectrum and the spatial correlation length of the rough surface. The dependence of the power spectral density of the scattered field on the various types of sediment stratifications, including the constant and the k²-linear sound speed distributions, is also included in the analysis.     

Displacement controlled rocking behaviour of rigid objects

The capacity of a gravity structure to counter seismically induced overturning can only be estimated with good accuracy using a dynamic analysis of the rotational (rocking) motion involving large displacement theory. Seismic assessment employing quasi‐static analysis can be overly conservative if the reserve capacity of this type of rocking structure to displace without overturning is not taken into account. It was revealed through dynamic testing on a shaking table that the overturning hazards of ground shaking are best represented by the peak displacement demand (PDD) parameter and that the vulnerability to overturning instability decreases with the increasing size of the object when the aspect ratio is held constant. This finding has important implications on the engineering of structures for countering moderate ground shaking in regions of low and moderate seismicity. Experimental data were validated and supplemented by computer simulations that involved generating artificial accelerograms of designated earthquake scenarios and non‐linear time‐history analyses of the overturning motions. Based on these simulations, fragility curves were constructed for estimating the probability of overturning for given levels of PDD and for different specimen dimensions. An expression was developed for estimating the level of PDD required to overturn rectangular objects of given dimensions for 5% probability of exceedance. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

CLYJ饱水石灰岩骨架和流体弹性参数估算

文章结合CLYJ饱水石灰岩数据案例,开展以反演为主的数值计算分析研究.运用样品测试的整体密度和纵横波速度数据,采用合理有效的反演方法,求取骨架和流体组分弹性参数的估计数据.在完成样品数据准备和模型方程选定后,进行组分弹性参数估计.方法包含样品分组、回归分析、统计分析和结果对比评估.首先是样品分组,分组方式可分为整体和个...     

Progressive failure analysis of shallow foundations on soils with strain-softening behaviour

This paper presents a finite element approach to analyse the response of shallow foundations on soils with strain-softening behaviour. In these soils, a progressive failure can occur owing to a reduction of strength with increasing the plastic strains induced by loading. The present approach allows this failure process to be properly simulated by using a non-local elasto-viscoplastic constitutive model in conjunction with a Mohr–Coulomb yield function in which the shear strength parameters are reduced with the accumulated deviatoric plastic strain. Another significant advantage of the method is that it requires few material parameters as input data, with most of these parameters that can be readily obtained from conventional geotechnical tests. To assess the reliability of the proposed approach, some comparisons with experimental results from physical model tests are shown. A fairly good agreement is found between simulated and observed results. Finally, the progressive failure process that occurs in a dense sand layer owing to loading is analysed in details, and the main aspects concerning the associated failure mechanism are highlighted.     

Undrained behaviour of Changi sand in triaxial and plane-strain compression

The results of an experimental study of the undrained behaviour of Changi sand under axisymmetric and plane-strain conditions are presented. K₀ consolidated undrained plane-strain tests and K₀ or isotropically consolidated triaxial tests on very loose and medium dense specimens were conducted. The undrained behaviour of sand at very loose and medium dense states under plane-strain conditions was characterised and compared with that under axisymmetric conditions. It was observed that the undrained behaviour of very loose and medium dense sand under plane strain is similar to that under axisymmetric conditions. However, because of the formation of shear bands in plane-strain tests, the post-peak behaviour of medium dense sand in plane strain is different from that in triaxial tests. It was also established that an instability line for plane-strain conditions can be defined in a way similar to that for axisymmetric conditions. Using the state parameter, a unified relationship between the normalised slope of instability line and the state parameters can be established for both axisymmetric and plane-strain conditions. Using this relationship, the instability conditions established under axisymmetric conditions can be used for plane-strain conditions.     

Further insight into the behaviour of Pleistocene Osaka clays at KIA Phase 1 island

The behaviour of the Pleistocene Osaka clays at Kansai International Airport Phase 1 island is investigated by FEM analyses using an elasto-viscoplastic constitutive model which replicates the destruction processes occurring in the microstructure of the clay. Excellent predictions are obtained by 2D analyses carried out using the actual soil profile and the characteristic values of soil parameters, confirming the validity of the methods proposed for characterizing and modelling structured clays. Unlike 1D analyses, where partially effective drainage layers occur, 2D analyses do not require arbitrary pre-definition of the model drainage scenario and of the ‘equivalent’ permeability of interlayered clays to account for macrostructure. In these conditions, 1D analyses must be validated with reference to 2D or 3D prototype analyses and/or well documented experience of comparable work. Once thus validated, 1D analyses are used to investigate the relative merits of possible measures (relief wells, preloading, lightweight fill) aimed at reducing in-service settlement. For future reclamation works at sites where structured clays extend to great depth, filling with lightweight material shows the greatest promise, but it is unlikely to remove the need for designing the superstructure to accommodate the inevitable settlement, which requires accurate prediction.     

Neurophysiological control of swimming behaviour,attachment and metamorphosis in black-footed abalone (Haliotis iris) larvae

Experiments were conducted to test the effect of a range of chemicals on larval responses in swimming behaviour, attachment and metamorphosis of the black-footed abalone (Haliotis iris). The effect of antibiotics on larval survival was first tested within negative (filtered seawater) and positive (GABA at 10^?5, 10^?4 and 10^?3 mol L^?1) control assays over 3 days. This experiment corroborated the effectiveness of using antibiotics to improve survival of larvae without obvious synergistic interactions with the GABA inducer or confounding effects of potential bacterial interactions. Chemical treatments (acetylcholine, potassium chloride, dopamine and glutamine) were then tested at various concentrations for their ability to modulate swimming behaviour and induce larval attachment and metamorphosis over 14 days. Generally, larval state shifted from swimming to attached, and from attached to metamorphosed, in the control and treatments over time. However, the peak percentage of attached and metamorphosed larvae varied in time among chemicals and concentrations. While overall percent metamorphosis was minimally enhanced after 14 days of exposure to some chemical treatments at certain concentrations, all treatments displayed significant capacities to down-regulate larval swimming and induce early attachment and metamorphosis. Mortality was recorded throughout the duration of the experiment, and was generally low (<20%) across controls and most treatments for exposures of less than 12 days. Interpretations of specific results from this study are used to elucidate neurophysiological control of larval activities for this abalone species. Comparisons with other marine invertebrates highlight the specificities of chemical cues and endogenous regulatory mechanisms across relatively closely related taxa.     

六种不同变质程度煤的最大镜质组反射率与弹性参数的关系

煤镜质组反射率是评价煤阶、区分煤种的重要参数之一,在煤层气勘探与开发、采煤、化工和冶金中有着重要的应用.以往煤阶的评价单纯通过巷道和钻孔取芯的煤样实验室测试分析获得,受取样点有限限制.本文通过6种不同变质程度煤的挥发分和镜质组最大反射率的测试,配合煤样的超声弹性测量,探讨了镜质组最大反射率与地震属性参数-波速、密度和弹性模量之间的相关性.研究发现:煤镜质组最大反射率与地震属性参数均存在较好的线性正相关,其中以密度与纵波速度的相关程度最高.从而为利用煤田地震预测镜质组最大反射率,进而预测煤阶的三维立体分布提供了试验与物理依据.     

针对深层流体识别的两项弹性阻抗反演与Russell流体因子直接估算方法研究

Russell流体因子是判识深层储层含流体特征的敏感指示参数.针对深层地震资料缺失大角度入射信息以及信噪比普遍较低的特点,开展了基于贝叶斯理论框架的两项弹性阻抗反演与Russell流体因子直接估算方法研究.首先,在饱和孔隙弹性介质理论的指导下,推导了包含Russell流体因子和纵波阻抗参数的两项反射系数近似公式,并且进一步得到了新的两项弹性阻抗方程.其次通过模型的近似精度分析,验证了新弹性阻抗方程满足小角度近似精度要求.最后提出了贝叶斯弹性阻抗反演和Russell流体因子的直接估算方法,通过模型试算表明直接估算方法不仅充分利用了弹性阻抗反演的高抗噪性与实用性,并且有效的避免了间接累计误差对流体因子计算精度的影响,实际应用则进一步验证了直接估算的Russell流体因子可以提高深层储层流体识别的可靠性.     

Rainfall downscaling in time: theoretical and empirical comparison between multifractal and Hurst-Kolmogorov discrete random cascades

Abstract

During recent decades, intensive research has focused on techniques capable of generating rainfall time series at a fine time scale that are (fully or partially) consistent with a given series at a coarser time scale. Here we theoretically investigate the consequences on the ensemble statistical behaviour caused by the structure of a simple and widely-used approach of stochastic downscaling for rainfall time series, the discrete Multiplicative Random Cascade. We show that synthetic rainfall time series generated by these cascade models correspond to a stochastic process which is non-stationary, because its temporal autocorrelation structure depends on the position in time in an undesirable manner. Then, we propose and theoretically analyse an alternative downscaling approach based on the Hurst-Kolmogorov process, which is equally simple but is stationary. Finally, we provide Monte Carlo experiments which validate our theoretical results.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz

Citation Lombardo, F., Volpi, E., and Koutsoyiannis, D., 2012. Rainfall downscaling in time: theoretical and empirical comparison between multifractal and Hurst-Kolmogorov discrete random cascades. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (6), 1052–1066.