Simplified discrete systems for dynamic analysis of structures on footings and piles

A simplified discrete system in the form of a simple oscillator is developed to simulate the dynamic behavior of a structure founded through footings or piles on compliant ground, under harmonic excitation. Exact analytical expressions for the fundamental natural period and the corresponding damping coefficients of the above system are derived, as function of geometry and the frequency-dependent foundation impedances. In an effort to quantify the coupling between swaying and rocking oscillations in embedded foundations such as piles, the reference system is translated from the footing–soil interface to the depth where the resultant soil reaction is applied, to ensure a diagonal impedance matrix. The resulting eccentricity is a measure of the coupling effect between the two oscillation modes. The amounts of radiation damping generated from a single pile and a surface footing are evaluated. In order to compare the damping of a structure on a surface footing and a pile, the notion of static and geometric equivalence is introduced. It is shown that a pile may generate significantly higher radiation damping than an equivalent footing, thus acting as an elementary protective system against seismic action.     

气候变暖背景下青藏高原山地灾害及其风险分析

基于青藏高原1930-2010年山地灾害实例,分析了气候变暖对青藏高原山地灾害的影响。结果表明：在气候变暖背景下,冰湖溃决灾害增多,冰川泥石流趋于活跃,特大灾害出现频繁,灾害链生特征明显,表现出时间和空间上的延拓性,巨灾发生概率增大;在藏东南地区表现出雨热同期的气候特征,构成了利于冰川类泥石流形成的条件;波密县城位于两条泥石流危险区的建筑物占地面积由1988年0.014 km²扩展到2012年1.004 km²,人口与经济密集区与灾害高风险区重叠,加之气候变化导致的灾害危险性增加,青藏高原灾害风险显著增大。上述结果提供了气候变化对青藏高原山地灾害影响的证据,初步阐述了其影响特征,有助于山地减灾和进一步认识气候变化对山地灾害的影响机理。     

Environmental Effect Caused by Over-exploitation of Deep Groundwater in North China

Based on the formation and development analysis of the environmental geological disaster of land subsidence, earth fissures and other geological disasters in the North China, it showed these disasters caused a very serious problem in some areas of the North China, such as the deep groundwater exploitation cone, which is accumulated with great damage and loss and is hard to be controlled, therefore, great attention should be paid. It is considered that the formation of the deep groundwater cone is the root of various geological environmental problems, and the groundwater cone recovery is the key to solve other environmental problems     

青藏铁路沙害及其防治研究进展

青藏铁路是中国乃至世界上海拔最高、穿越沙漠冻土的高原铁路。建成以来风沙危害日趋严重,成为危及铁路安全运营的一大隐患,因此,沿线的风沙防治一直备受关注。由于青藏高原风力强劲,沙物质丰富加上人类活动的影响,铁路沙害呈现出分布相对集中,冻融与风力、水力复合侵蚀,不断发展并持续累积,风沙活动稳定性差等特点。沙害分为路基风蚀、道床积沙、磨蚀等类型。累计有轻度、中度、严重沙害路段440 km,主要分布在锡铁山、伏沙梁、红梁河、秀水河-北麓河、沱沱河、通天河、扎加藏布、错那湖等8个路段。目前铁路沙害防治以机械措施为主,在设置初期有一定的防沙效果,但随着时间的推移,最终会被积沙埋没而失效。因此,青藏铁路防沙应以生物措施（恢复植被）为主,机械措施为辅。     

Impact assessment using DEA of coastal hazards on social-economy in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asian countries suffer from severe coastal hazards each year. A large number of these countries are incurring consequential costs that impact their national economies. It is crucial, therefore, to analyze the impact of such hazards on their economic development and provide a solid basis for future development strategies. The purpose of this paper is to assess the relationship between the economic development and the losses from coastal disasters, and to identify both the impact of hazards on the development, as well as the function of such development on the resilience to hazards. The data envelopment analysis (DEA) method is employed to build the assessment models. Data from 1995 to 2005 from eight Southeast countries are analyzed using the DEA models. A set of “resilience index” of these countries are concluded from the results. It is found that the economic development does not contribute to the strengthening of national resilience to coastal hazards. Inappropriate development could even impair the resilience. Additionally, the resilience to coastal hazards is impacted by various factors such as the allocation of resources and external assistance. From the analysis, a clear image is gained of the interaction between economic development and coastal hazards, which provides a basis for future development strategies.

Implications of geomorphological research for recent and prehistoric avalanches and related hazards at Huascaran,Peru

Detailed research of superficial deposits below the northern peak of Huascaran (Cordillera Blanca) provides new information on the limits of a paleo-avalanche originating from this mountain. Geomorphological mapping of the sediments identified glacial deposits, deposits from historical rock-debris avalanches and huge boulders from a paleo-avalanche. Schmidt Hammer rock-hardness tests were used to distinguish between the several generations of rock-debris avalanches, but largely failed to distinguish between the much older moraine and the paleo-avalanche sediments. Thus, only the field geomorphological mapping proved to be reliable for identifying the limits of the paleo-avalanche. The limits identified as granite boulders deposited over volcanic rocks were found to extend 30 m further up the opposite valley slope than previously had been mapped. This larger extent implies a greater volume and/or greater mobility for the prehistoric event.     

Geochemical distribution and removal of As,Fe, Mn and Al in a surface water system affected by acid mine drainage at a coalfield in Southwestern China

The chemical characteristics, formation and natural attenuation of pollutants in the coal acid mine drainage (AMD) at Xingren coalfield, Southwest China, are discussed in this paper based on the results of a geochemical investigation as well as geological and hydrogeological background information. The chemical composition of the AMD is controlled by the dissolution of sulfide minerals in the coal seam, the initial composition of the groundwater and the water–rock interaction. The AMD is characterized by high sulfate concentrations, high levels of dissolved metals (Fe, Al, Mn, etc.) and low pH values. Ca²⁺ and SO₄ ²⁻ are the dominant cation and anion in the AMD, respectively, while Ca²⁺ and HCO₃ ⁻ are present at significant levels in background water and surface water after the drainage leaves the mine site. The pH and alkalinity increase asymptotically with the distance along the flow path, while concentrations of sulfate, ferrous iron, aluminum and manganese are typically controlled by the deposition of secondary minerals. Low concentrations of As and other pollutants in the surface waters of the Xingren coalfield could be due to relatively low quantities being released from coal seams, to adsorption and coprecipitation on secondary minerals in stream sediments, and to dilution by unpolluted surface recharge. Although As is not the most serious water quality problem in the Xingren region at present, it is still a potential environmental problem. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Natural background levels and threshold values for groundwater in fluvial Pleistocene and Tertiary marine aquifers in Flanders,Belgium

Aquifers from the same typology can have strongly different groundwater chemistry. Deducing the groundwater quality of less well-characterized aquifers from well-documented aquifers belonging to the same typology should be done with great reserve, and can only be considered as a preliminary approach. In the EU’s 6th FP BRIDGE project “Background cRiteria for the IDentification of Groundwater thrEsholds”, a methodology for the derivation of threshold values (TV) for groundwater bodies is proposed. This methodology is tested on four aquifers in Flanders of the sand and gravel typology. The methodology works well for all but the Ledo-Paniselian aquifer, where the subdivision into a fresh and saline part is disproved, as a gradual natural transition from fresh to saline conditions in the aquifer is observed. The 90 percentile is proposed as natural background level (NBL) for the unconfined Pleistocene deposits, ascribing the outliers to possible influence of pollution. For the Tertiary aquifers, high values for different parameters have a natural origin and the 97.7 percentile is preferred as NBL. The methodology leads to high TVs for parameters presenting low NBL, when compared to the standard used as a reference. This would allow for substantial anthropogenic inputs of these parameters.     

Co‐seismic Faults and Geological Hazards and Incidence of Active Fault of Wenchuan Ms 8.0 Earthquake,Sichuan, China

Abstract: There are two co-seismic faults which developed when the Wenchuan earthquake happened. One occurred along the active fault zone in the central Longmen Mts. and the other in the front of Longmen Mts. The length of which is more than 270 km and about 80 km respectively. The co-seismic fault shows a reverse flexure belt with strike of N45°–60°E in the ground, which caused uplift at its northwest side and subsidence at the southeast. The fault face dips to the northwest with a dip angle ranging from 50° to 60°. The vertical offset of the co-seismic fault ranges 2.5–3.0 m along the Yingxiu-Beichuan co-seismic fault, and 1.5–1.1 m along the Doujiangyan-Hanwang fault. Movement of the co-seismic fault presents obvious segmented features along the active fault zone in central Longmen Mts. For instance, in the section from Yingxiu to Leigu town, thrust without evident slip occurred; while from Beichuan to Qingchuan, thrust and dextral strike-slip take place. Main movement along the front Longmen Mts. shows thrust without slip and segmented features. The area of earthquake intensity more than IX degree and the distribution of secondary geological hazards occurred along the hanging wall of co-seismic faults, and were consistent with the area of aftershock, and its width is less than 40km from co-seismic faults in the hanging wall. The secondary geological hazards, collapses, landslides, debris flows et al., concentrated in the hanging wall of co-seismic fault within 0–20 km from co-seismic fault.     

控制论与人工影响天气II.工程控制论在人工增雨作业中的应用与建模

人工增雨已有60余年历史,虽已取得很多成绩,仍存在很多亟待解决的科学技术问题,典型问题如作业具有一定的主观性及其与效果检验有脱节.控制论研究如何对系统施加控制作用使其表现出预定行为.作者研究工程控制论在人工增雨作业中的应用与建模问题,将工程控制论引入人工增雨作业,称作“局部控制”方法.以冷云的人工催化过程为例,以单容加延迟的过程来简化单块冷云催化核化过程,建立了有反馈的冷云催化框架模型.根据效果调整催化剂的播撒率以实施控制作用,使作业后的雨云关键参数达到预期值.这种“局部控制”方法,可使现有作业更科学化和客观定量化,只在作业设备中增加一通讯单元和作为传感/变送器以及控制器的一套专业软件即可.“局部控制”方案也可嵌入以自然控制论为框架的大范围全面全程控制问题中,简化作业的方案.