Performance of a base isolator with shape memory alloy bars

A new and innovative base isolation device is introduced in this paper based on extensive research carried out by the authors and their co-workers. A prototype of the device was built and experimentally tested on the shaking table. The new base isolation device consists of two disks, one vertical cylinder with an upper enlargement sustained by three horizontal cantilevers, and at least three inclined shape memory alloy (SMA) bars. The role of the SMA bars is to limit the relative motion between the base and the superstructure, to dissipate energy by their super-elastic constitutive law and to guarantee the re-centring of the device. To verify the expected performance, a prototype was built and tested under sinusoidal waves of displacement of increasing frequency with different amplitudes. It is shown that the main feature of the proposed base isolation device is that for cyclic loading, the super-elastic behavior of the alloy results in wide load-displacement loops, where a large amount of energy is dissipated.     

主动变刚度-阻尼系统预测最优控制的理论与试验研究

介绍了一种具有自主知识产权的新型开关控制型半主动控制系统——主动变刚度.阻尼(AVS.D)系统的减振控制机理,建立了AVS.D结构振动控制体系的运动方程。为了合理补偿AVS.D系统实时控制过程中不可避免地存在着的控制时滞,本文提出一种预测最优控制算法,推导了其开关控制律。为了检验AVS.D系统的减震控制效果及预测最优控制算法的有效性,我们设计研制出AVS.D装置,编制了AVS.D系统预测最优控制的实时控制软件,在某单层钢框架模型上进行了AVS.D系统的模拟地震振动台试验,比较了不同控制方式时的减震效果。研究结果表明,本文所提出的预测最优控制算法是非常有效的,可推广应用于所有开关控制型半主动控制系统。AVS.D系统具有反应放大功能,经济可靠、安全有效,可望有较好的工程应用前景。     

新型黏弹性阻尼器足尺性能试验研究

黏弹性阻尼器是一种典型的被动控制装置,它可以通过黏弹性材料的剪切滞回耗能起到提高结构阻尼和减小结构地震或风振响应的作用.自主研发了损失系数不小于0.5的黏弹性材料,并基于此材料研发了新型国产黏弹性阻尼器.通过对黏弹性阻尼器足尺试件进行不同应变幅值、加载频率工况下的基本力学性能试验、以及低周疲劳性能试验,研究了不同工况下...     

基于孔压静力触探(CPTU)测试的连云港海相粘土前期固结压力确定方法研究

首先回顾了基于孔压静力触探(CPTU)测试确定前期固结压力的方法,通过连云港海相粘土场地进行的CPTU试验资料,以室内固结试验得到的前期固结压力作为参考值评估了经验方法预测前期固结压力的有效性。最简单的方法是直接建立前期固结压力和净锥尖阻力的关系,同时也是最有效的方法。     

压实粉土非线性应力-应变关系的试验研究

对京九线路基粉土用GDS三轴仪进行固结不排水剪试验,研究不同围压、含水量、压实度下压实粉土样的应力-应变关系。结果表明:压实粉土在低围压下为应变软化,高围压下为应变硬化,存在一个屈服应力;含水量和压实度对粉土强度和应力-应变关系影响显著,随着含水量的减小、压实度的增大,压实粉土样强度增大,应力-应变曲线上升。对围压小于屈服应力的应变软化曲线,用常规的土的软化关系式进行拟和;对围压大于屈服应力的应变硬化曲线,用邓肯-张模型进行拟和;这二者的结合能描述压实粉土的应力-应变关系曲线,效果良好。     

黄土路堑边坡变形破坏机理的三轴试验研究

通过原状黄土的减压三轴压缩试验,研究了黄土边坡不同深度不同含水量土体的应力-应变关系,并与原状黄土的常规三轴试验结果进行了比较,发现减压三轴试验能合理地模拟和解释开挖卸荷作用下黄土边坡土体的变形与破坏过程。试验结果表明:坡脚开挖卸荷时,黄土边坡中浅层非饱和黄土易出现应变软化或塑性流动,强度较低,易产生较大变形,而深层饱和黄土仅在高围压下发生应变硬化,强度增加,在中低围压时均发生应变软化现象。分析认为黄土边坡特殊的工程地质条件,使得黄土边坡的特定部位在开挖卸荷作用下常形成了不利于土体稳定的含水量和围压组合,导致坡体特定部位的土体变形破坏,进而诱发边坡的变形破坏;开挖卸荷作用下黄土边坡变形破坏的力学机制应为蠕滑-压致拉裂或牵引式滑坡。     

Selection of sand models and identification of parameters using an enhanced genetic algorithm

Numerous constitutive models of granular soils have been developed during the last few decades. As a consequence, how to select an appropriate model with the necessary features based on conventional tests and with an easy way of identifying parameters for geotechnical applications has become a major issue. This paper aims to discuss the selection of sand models and parameters identification by using genetic algorithm. A real‐coded genetic algorithm is enhanced for the optimization with high efficiency. Models with gradually varying features (elastic‐perfectly plastic modelling, nonlinear stress–strain hardening, critical state concept and two‐surface concept) are selected from numerous sand models as examples for optimization. Conventional triaxial tests on Hostun sand are selected as the objectives in the optimization. Four key points are then discussed in turn: (i) which features are necessary to be accounted for in constitutive modelling of sand; (ii) which type of tests (drained and/or undrained) should be selected for an optimal identification of parameters; (iii) what is the minimum number of tests that should be selected for parameter identification; and (iv) what is the suitable and least strain level of objective tests to obtain reliable and reasonable parameters. Finally, a useful guide, based on all comparisons, is provided at the end of the discussion. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Flood seasonality across Scandinavia—Evidence of a shifting hydrograph?

Fluvial flood events have substantial impacts on humans, both socially and economically, as well as on ecosystems (e.g., hydroecology and pollutant transport). Concurrent with climate change, the seasonality of flooding in cold environments is expected to shift from a snowmelt‐dominated to a rainfall‐dominated flow regime. This would have profound impacts on water management strategies, that is, flood risk mitigation, drinking water supply, and hydro power. In addition, cold climate hydrological systems exhibit complex interactions with catchment properties and large‐scale climate fluctuations making the manifestation of changes difficult to detect and predict. Understanding a possible change in flood seasonality and defining related key drivers therefore is essential to mitigate risk and to keep management strategies viable under a changing climate. This study explores changes in flood seasonality across near‐natural catchments in Scandinavia using circular statistics and trend tests. Results indicate strong seasonality in flooding for snowmelt‐dominated catchments with a single peak occurring in spring and early summer (March through June), whereas flood peaks are more equally distributed throughout the year for catchments located close to the Atlantic coast and in the south of the study area. Flood seasonality has changed over the past century seen as decreasing trends in summer maximum daily flows and increasing winter and spring maximum daily flows with 5–35% of the catchments showing significant changes at the 5% significance level. Seasonal mean daily flows corroborate those findings with higher percentages (5–60%) of the catchments showing statistically significant changes. Alterations in annual flood occurrence also point towards a shift in flow regime from snowmelt‐dominated to rainfall‐dominated with consistent changes towards earlier timing of the flood peak (significant for 25% of the catchments). Regionally consistent patterns suggest a first‐order climate control as well as a local second‐order catchment control, which causes inter‐seasonal variability in the streamflow response.     

Trend detection in river flow series: 1. Annual maximum flow / Détection de tendance dans des séries de débit fluvial: 1. Débit maximum annuel

Abstract

Results of a study on change detection in hydrological time series of annual maximum river flow are presented. Out of more than a thousand long time series made available by the Global Runoff Data Centre (GRDC) in Koblenz, Germany, a worldwide data set consisting of 195 long series of daily mean flow records was selected, based on such criteria as length of series, currency, lack of gaps and missing values, adequate geographical distribution, and priority to smaller catchments. The analysis of annual maximum flows does not support the hypothesis of ubiquitous growth of high flows. Although 27 cases of strong, statistically significant increase were identified by the Mann-Kendall test, there are 31 decreases as well, and most (137) time series do not show any significant changes (at the 10% level). Caution is advised in interpreting these results as flooding is a complex phenomenon, caused by a number of factors that can be associated with local, regional, and hemispheric climatic processes. Moreover, river flow has strong natural variability and exhibits long-term persistence which can confound the results of trend and significance tests.     

Abrupt behaviours of streamflow and sediment load variations of the Yangtze River basin,China

Monthly sediment load and streamflow series spanning 1963–2004 from four hydrological stations situation in the main stem of the Yangtze River, China, are analysed using scanning t‐test and the simple two‐phase linear regression scheme. Results indicate significant changes in the sediment load and streamflow from the upper reach to the lower reach of the Yangtze River. Relatively consistent positive coherency relations can be detected between streamflow and sediment load in the upper reach and negative coherency in the middle and lower reaches. Interestingly, negative coherency is found mainly for larger time scales. Changes in sediment load are the result mainly of human influence; specifically, the construction of water reservoirs may be the major cause of negative coherency. Accentuating the human influence from the upper to the lower reach results in inconsistent correlations between sediment load and streamflow. Decreasing sediment load being observed in recent years has the potential to alter the topographical properties of the river channel and the consequent development and recession of the Yangtze Delta. Results of this study are of practical significance for river channel management and evaluation of the influence of human activities on the hydrological regimes of large rivers. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.