Strength matters: Resisting erosion across upland landscapes

Soil-covered upland landscapes comprise a critical part of the habitable world and our understanding of their evolution as a function of different climatic, tectonic, and geologic regimes is important across a wide range of disciplines. Soil production and transport play essential roles in controlling the spatial variation of soil depth and therefore hillslope hydrological processes, distribution of vegetation, and soil biological activity. Field-based confirmation of the hypothesized relationship between soil thickness and soil production is relatively recent, however, and here we quantify a direct, material strength-based influence on variable soil production across landscapes. We report clear empirical linkages between the shear strength of the parent material (its erodibility) and the overlying soil thickness. Specifically, we use a cone penetrometer and a shear vane to determine saprolite resistance to shear. We find that saprolite shear strength increases systematically with overlying soil thickness across three very different field sites where we previously quantified soil production rates. At these sites, soil production rates, determined from in situ produced beryllium-10 (¹⁰Be) and aluminum-26 (²⁶Al), decrease with overlying soil thickness and we therefore infer that the efficiency of soil production must decrease with increasing parent material shear strength. We use our field-based data to help explain the linkages between biogenic processes, chemical weathering, hillslope hydrology, and the evolution of the Earth's surface. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Flow resistance and hydraulic geometry in bedrock rivers with multiple roughness length scales

Many models of incision by bedrock rivers predict water depth and shear stress from discharge; conversely, palaeoflood discharge is sometimes reconstructed from flow depth markers in rock gorges. In both cases, assumptions are made about flow resistance. The depth–discharge relation in a bedrock river must depend on at least two roughness length scales (exposed rock and sediment cover) and possibly a third (sidewalls). A conceptually attractive way to model the depth–discharge relation in such situations is to partition the total shear stress and friction factor, but it is not obvious how to quantify the friction factor for rough walls in a way that can be used in incision process models. We show that a single flow resistance calculation using a spatially averaged roughness length scale closely approximates the partitioning of stress between sediment and rock, and between bed and walls, in idealized scenarios. Both approaches give closer fits to the measured depth–discharge relations in two small bedrock reaches than can be achieved using a fixed value of Manning's n or the Chézy friction factor. Sidewalls that are substantially rougher or smoother than the bed have a significant effect on the partitioning of shear stress between bed and sidewalls. More research is needed on how best to estimate roughness length scales from observable or measurable channel characteristics. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

考虑力组合效应的钢框架端板连接力学行为

为研究不同力组合效应对平齐端板连接力学行为的影响,采用ABAQUS程序建立不同受力情况下连接的非线性简化有限元模型,通过与国内外典型试验结果对比分析,验证了有限元模型的可靠性。基于此通过考虑8种力组合因素的影响,分析了2种不同钢等级的梁柱节点力学行为,进一步讨论了EC3 Part 1-8规范的适用性。结果表明:简化有限元模型在弯矩-转角曲线、破坏形态、初始刚度和塑性抗力等方面与试验结果吻合良好。框架梁轴力对节点的力学行为影响显著,当轴拉力为20%的框架梁轴向塑性抗力N_pl时,高强钢节点的刚度和强度分别降低68%和52%;当轴压力为-20%N_pl时,刚度和强度分别增加89%和42%。此外节点的滞回耗能能力、破坏模式以及分类属性与梁轴力水平密切相关。对于高强钢梁柱平齐端板节点,EC3规范对框架梁轴压力的限值仍过于保守。研究结果对于提高结构的抗倒塌能力和组合力作用下的理论研究具有重要参考价值。     

宝兰客专天水市王家墩滑坡地震稳定性分析

天水市秦安县王家墩滑坡为宝兰客专沿线巨型古滑坡群,宝兰客运专线秦安隧道穿其而过。以王家墩滑坡为研究对象,围绕工程中静、动力抗滑稳定性问题,通过室内试验、现场调查对影响王家墩古滑坡稳定性的地质构造、场地工程条件等内在因素进行分析评价,在此基础上通过有限元动力分析,对王家墩古滑坡在地震载荷下的动力响应进行分析,明确地震荷载作用下,王家墩古滑坡失稳影响因素、地震荷载与滑坡失稳破坏间的关系。采用动力有限元法和强度折减法相结合的方法,开展动力抗滑稳定性分析方法研究;采用位移突变的方法来确定边坡动力失稳及动力安全系数,分析结果表明：地震作用时的水平推力对王家墩古滑坡的稳定性有很大影响,表现为上部坡体的整体滑移和隧道入口段黄土堆积层局部失稳滑塌;在天然状态下坡体处于稳定状态,在遭遇未来该区域中强地震作用时,该斜坡会发生失稳,黄土斜坡的整体滑动最容易出现在第三阶坡体,沿着塑性应变最大的滑移面整体滑移;给出了坡体动力稳定性安全系数F_s=0.92。     

Variation in the vertical zonality of erodibility and critical shear stress of rill erosion in China's Hengduan Mountains

Soil erodibility is an essential parameter used in soil erosion prediction. This study selected the Liangshan town watershed to quantify variation in the vertical zonality of rill erodibility (k_r) in China's ecologically fragile Hengduan Mountains. Soil types comprised of yellow–brown (soil A), purple (soil B), and dry-red (soil C) in a descending order of occurrence from the summit to the valley, which roughly corresponds to the vertical climate zone (i.e. cool-high mountain, warm-low mountain, and dry-hot valley sections) of the study area. With elevation, vertical soil zonality varied in both soil organic matter (SOM) content and soil particle-size fractions. A series of rill erosion-based scour experiments were conducted, using water discharge rates of 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 mL min^-1. Additionally, detachment rates (Dr) were measured under three hydrological conditions (the drainage, saturation, and seepage treatments). Results show that both Dr and flow shear stress (Ʈ) values increased as discharge increased. As elevation increased, the k_r values decreased, while the vertical zonality of critical shear stress (Ʈ_c) values showed no obvious variation. The highest k_r values were observed during the seepage treatment, followed by the saturation treatment then drainage treatment, indicating that variation in vertical hydraulic gradients could significantly alter k_r values. This study also found that land-use types could also alter k_r and Ʈ_c values. Further research, however, is necessary to better quantify the effects of subsurface hydrological conditions and land-use types on k_r under different soil zonalities in China's Hengduan Mountains. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Test and analysis of reinforced concrete (RC) precast shear wall assembled using steel shear key (SSK)

Reinforced concrete (RC) precast shear walls are extensively applied in practical engineering, owing to their fast construction speed. However, because of the transport conditions, RC precast shear walls have to be separated into small wall segments during the factory prefabrication procedure before being assembled on site. Typically, wet-type jointing methods are adopted to link the segments, which is time-consuming and results in unreliable post-pouring area strength. To overcome this problem, the novel scheme of the steel shear key (SSK) featuring steel shear panels and combined fillet and plug welding is proposed. Three RC precast shear wall specimens with different linking strength, termed as weakened SSK wall, standard SSK wall, and strengthened SSK wall, respectively, and an integrated shear wall specimen were designed. Quasi-static cyclic loading was applied to investigate the specimens' dynamic properties. The test results suggest the prefabricated wall segments equipped with SSKs showed reliable stiffness and bearing capacity and were improved in energy dissipation ability, compared with conventional shear walls. As the shear stiffness and number of equipped SSKs increased, the specimens exhibited higher strength, but their ductility and energy dissipation were slightly decreased. Most importantly, the standard SSK wall specimen could achieve satisfactory bearing capacity and deformability and is thus recommended for precast building structures. Finite element method (FEM) models were established to validate the test results, and parametric study analysis was conducted based on the coupling ratio of the SSK walls. Finally, an appropriate coupling ratio range is recommended for practical engineering applications.     

景观建筑挡土墙优化设计后抗震性能的实验测试研究

目前的景观建筑设计中往往更注重建筑的景观性,而忽略了建筑的安全稳定性,导致景观建筑的整体抗震效果较差,在景观建筑设计中加入挡土墙设计可以有效提高其抗震性。为此,设计一种具有一定抗震性能的景观建筑挡土墙,利用建筑施工过程中保留的复合纤维材料、建筑垃圾以及纤维绳等作为土墙填充物,并加入具有一定抗拉能力的拉筋材料,以保持土墙内部的稳定性。考虑景观建筑通常注重外观视觉效果,使用"平改坡"设计,在墙体表面种植具有一定视觉冲击的植物,增加土墙自重,促进土墙整体结构的稳定性。分析挡土墙后面无限倾斜填土受力状态,选取菱形微小单元体作为研究对象,计算景观建筑的挡土墙土压力强度。实验证明,优化设计的景观建筑挡土墙结构可以有效增强景观建筑的整体抗震能力。     

固结时间对软土动力特性影响的试验研究

固结试验是研究软土动力特性的重要环节,固结时间是影响软土动力特征参数的重要因素。围绕岩土工程及科研工作中对动三轴试验中固结时间影响规律的认识较为模糊的问题,拟对天津滨海软土开展动三轴平行试验,分别采用8h、12h、24h、48h进行固结,针对软土的最大动剪切模量G_max、最大阻尼比λ_max及动剪切模量比G_d/G_max和阻尼比λ随动剪切应变γ_d的变化规律,分析固结时间对软土动力特性参数的影响。试验结果表明:G_max、λ_max、G_d/G_max-γ_d曲线、λ-γ_d曲线受固结时间的影响较为显著。G_d/G_max-γ_d曲线随着固结时间的增加而减小。阻尼比试验结果表明动剪切应变存在明显的分界点,分界点以下,中长期固结时间所得阻尼比较大,而分界点以上,短期固结时间所得阻尼比较大。     

陕西铜川新区典型滑坡在不同强度地震作用下的稳定性——以铜川玉皇阁水库滑坡为例

采用极限平衡法和有限元强度折减法,对地震作用下的陕西铜川新区玉皇阁水库滑坡的稳定性进行计算分析,对比分析2种方法在天然、中震、大震3个工况下的安全系数,结果基本吻合,且随着地震动峰值加速度的增大边坡稳定性逐渐降低,安全系数最大降低幅度可达18%;根据计算结果进行稳定性评价,玉皇阁水库滑坡在大震作用下处于不稳定状态,中震作用下其稳定性也较低。该结果为该滑坡风险评价和防控提供参考,为铜川新区地震地质灾害评价提供基础性参考。     

应变率效应对600 MPa级高强钢筋混凝土框架结构抗震性能影响研究

为了更真实地进行钢筋混凝土结构抗震性能评估,应该考虑材料的应变率效应影响。600 MPa级高强钢筋作为新一代建筑钢材,尚无考虑应变率效应影响的600 MPa级高强钢筋混凝土框架结构抗震性能研究。首先进行了不同应变率下600 MPa级高强钢筋拉伸力学性能试验,利用试验数据拟合得到600 MPa级高强钢筋在不同应变率下的强度提高系数表达式,并利用OpenSees软件进行了配置600 MPa级高强钢筋混凝土框架结构抗震性能模拟分析,研究了应变率效应对框架结构抗震性能的影响。研究结果表明:随着应变率的增大,钢筋的屈服强度和极限强度均得到提高,屈服强度最大提高11.5%,极限强度最大提高8.9%;随着所考虑的材料应变率增加,配置600 MPa级高强钢筋框架结构最大顶点位移总体上呈减小趋势,地震波强度越强,应变率效应影响越大,而层间位移角减小幅值相差不大。研究成果可作为600MPa级高强钢筋混凝土框架结构抗震评估的依据。