Sensitivity analysis of the hydrological response of the Gaping River basin to radar-raingauge quantitative precipitation estimates

Abstract

The generation of reliable quantitative precipitation estimations (QPEs) through use of raingauge and radar data is an important issue. This study investigates the impacts of radar QPEs with different densities of raingauge networks on rainfall–runoff processes through a semi-distributed parallel-type linear reservoir rainfall–runoff model. The spatial variation structures of the radar QPE, raingauge QPE and radar-gauge residuals are examined to review the current raingauge network, and a compact raingauge network is identified via the kriging method. An analysis of the large-scale spatial characteristics for use with a hydrological model is applied to investigate the impacts of a raingauge network coupled with radar QPEs on the modelled rainfall–runoff processes. Since the precision in locating the storm centre generally represents how well the large-scale variability is reproduced; the results show not only the contribution of kriging to identify a compact network coupled with radar QPE, but also that spatial characteristics of rainfalls do affect the hydrographs.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz; Guest editor R.J. Moore

Citation Pan, T.-Y., Li, M.-Y., Lin, Y.-J., Chang, T.-J., Lai, J.-S., and Tan, Y.-C., 2014. Sensitivity analysis of the hydrological response of the Gaping River basin to radar-raingauge quantitative precipitation estimates. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 59 (7), 1335–1352. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2014.923969     

Comprehensive three dimensional finite element analysis,parametric study and sensitivity analysis on the seismic performance of soil–micropile-superstructure interaction

A comprehensive dynamic three dimensional finite element model, which includes the effect of lots of important parameters on the micropiles seismic performance, has been presented. The validation of the built model has been carried out using remodeling a single degree of freedom shaking table test done by Mc Manus at the University of Canterbury. The gained results proved the accuracy of the constructed model. Then, using the parametric analysis, effects of all the earthquake characteristics, soil properties, superstructure and micropiles' cap and micropiles structure on the seismic performance of micropiles have been investigated by means of presenting internal forces and displacements which occurred as the main result of earthquake. Furthermore, using the data analysis, the most and the least influential parameters on internal forces are obtained based on the Cosine Amplitude Method (CAM).     

A spatial windowing technique to account for finite dimensions in 2.5D dynamic soil–structure interaction problems

The dynamic interaction between a layered halfspace and quasi translationally invariant structures such as roads, railway tracks, tunnels, dams, and lifelines can be modelled using a computationally efficient 2.5D approach, assuming invariance of the geometry in the longitudinal direction. This assumption is not always fulfilled in practice, however. Even for elongated structures, full 3D computations may be required for an accurate solution of the dynamic soil–structure interaction problem. This paper presents a spatial windowing technique for elastodynamic transmission and radiation problems that allows accounting for the finite length of a structure, still maintaining the computational efficiency of a 2.5D formulation. The proposed technique accounts for the diffraction occurring at the structure's edges, but not for its modal behaviour resulting from reflections of waves at its boundaries. Numerical examples of a barrier for vibration transmission and a surface foundation are discussed to demonstrate the accuracy and applicability of the proposed methodology. Full 3D calculations are performed to provide a rigorous validation for each of these examples. It is demonstrated that the proposed technique is appropriate as long as the response is not dominated by the resonant behaviour of individual modes of the structure.     

Simulation of soil–foundation–structure interaction of Hualien large-scale seismic test using dynamic centrifuge test

Understanding the soil–structure interaction (SSI) mechanism is crucial in the seismic design of nuclear power plant (NPP) containment systems. Although the numerical analysis method is generally used in seismic design, there is a need for experimental verification for the reliable estimation of SSI behavior. In this study a dynamic centrifuge test was performed to simulate the SSI behavior of a Hualien large-scale seismic test (LSST) during the Chi-Chi earthquake. To simulate the soil profile and dynamic soil properties of the Hualien site, a series of resonant column (RC) tests was performed to determine the model soil preparation conditions, such as the compaction density and the ratio of soil–gravel contents. The variations in the shear wave velocity (V_S) profiles of the sand, gravel, and backfill layers in the model were estimated using the RC test results. During the centrifuge test, the V_S profiles of the model were evaluated using in-flight bender element tests and compared with the in-situ V_S profile at Hualien. The containment building model was modeled using aluminum and the proper scaling laws. A series of dynamic centrifuge tests was performed with a 1/50 scale model using the base motion recorded during the Chi-Chi-earthquake. In the soil layer and foundation level, the centrifuge test results were similar to the LSST data in both the time and frequency domains, but there were differences in the structure owing to the complex structural response as well as the material damping difference between the concrete in the prototype and aluminum in the model. In addition, as the input base motion amplitude was increased to a maximum value of 0.4g (prototype scale), the responses of the soil and containment model were measured. This study shows the potential of utilizing dynamic centrifuge tests as an experimental modeling tool for site specific SSI analyses of soil–foundation–NPP containment system.     

A model for the seismic analysis of a periodic viaduct when considering the pile–soil–structure interaction

In this study, a new model is developed for the aseismic design of a periodic viaduct when the pile–soil–structure interaction is considered. To account for the influence of the pile–soil–structure interaction, a wavenumber domain boundary element method (WDBEM) model for the periodic pile row supporting the viaduct is developed using the sequence Fourier transform as well as the boundary element method for the elastic medium. By using the WDBEM model for the pile row, the transfer matrices for the beams and piers, the joint conditions at the beam–beam–pier (BBP) junction as well as the periodicity condition for the viaduct, the wavenumber domain response of the periodic viaduct to spatially harmonic waves is determined. Based on the wavenumber domain response of the viaduct, the space-domain response of the viaduct to an arbitrary seismic wave can be obtained by invoking the inverse sequence Fourier transform method. Numerical results show that when the periodic viaduct is exposed to the spatially harmonic wave, resonances may occur at the bounding frequencies of the passbands of the characteristic waves of the viaduct. Also, it is found that the coincidence between the traveling seismic wave and characteristic waves of the viaduct will generate additional resonant frequencies located in passbands of the characteristic waves.     

Effects of soil–structure interaction on seismic base isolation

The effects of soil–structure interaction on the performance of a nonlinear seismic base isolation system for a simple elastic structure are examined. The steady-state response of the system to harmonic excitation is obtained by use of the equivalent linearization method. Simple analytical expressions for the deformation of the base isolation system and of the superstructure at resonance are obtained in terms of an effective replacement oscillator characterized by amplitude-dependent frequency, damping ratio, and excitation. Numerical results suggest that the seismic response of a structure resting on an inelastic base isolation system may be larger when the flexibility of the soil is considered than the corresponding response obtained by ignoring the effects of soil–structure interaction. It is shown that, in the undamped case and in the absence of soil–structure interaction effects, a critical harmonic excitation exists beyond which the steady-state resonant response of the isolators and structure become unbounded.     

非稳态地震稀疏约束反褶积研究（英文）

传统Robinson褶积模型主要受缚于三种不合理的假设,即白噪反射系数、最小相位地震子波与稳态假设,而现代反射系数反演方法（如稀疏约束反褶积等）均在前两个假设上寻求突破的同时却忽视了一个重要事实：实际地震信号具有典型的非稳态特征,这直接冲击着反射系数反演中地震子波不随时间变化的这一基础性假设。本文首先通过实际反射系数测试证实,非稳态效应造成重要信息无法得到有效展现,且对深层影响尤为严重。为校正非稳态影响,本文从描述非稳态方面具有普适性的非稳态褶积模型出发,借助对数域的衰减曲线指导检测非稳态影响并以此实现对非稳态均衡与校正。与常规不同,本文利用对数域Gabor反褶积仅移除非稳态影响,而将分离震源子波和反射系数的任务交给具有更符合实际条件的稀疏约束反褶积处理,因此结合两种反褶积技术即可有效解决非稳态特征影响,又能避免反射系数和地震子波理想化假设的不利影响。海上地震资料的应用实际表明,校正非稳态影响有助于恢复更丰富的反射系数信息,使得与地质沉积和构造相关的细节特征得到更加清晰的展现。     

Luminescence dating of scoria fall and lahar deposits from Somma–Vesuvius,Italy

Luminescence dating has been applied to scoria and lahar deposits from Somma–Vesuvius, Italy. Samples include scoria from the AD472 and 512 (or 536) eruptions and lahar deposits. In order to find a stable luminescence signal which is less affected by anomalous fading, infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) signals at elevated temperatures after bleaching with IR at 50 °C (termed post-IR IRSL; pIRIR) were tested at different preheat and elevated stimulation temperatures. The fading rates of both IRSL and pIRIR signals reduced dramatically with increasing preheat and pIRIR stimulation temperatures. A pIRIR signal measured at 290 °C after a preheat at 320 °C (60 s) and an IR stimulation at 50 °C (100 s) was selected to calculate the equivalent dose (D_e). The gamma spectrometry results indicate that the U-series nuclides are not in equilibrium and there is a large ²²⁶Ra excess. The dose rates and ages were calculated by assuming a ²²⁶Ra excess (over its parent ²³⁰Th) at deposition, and that this unsupported excess then decayed to the present level. The resulting luminescence ages of the two scoria samples agreed with the expected ages, and the ages of the lahar deposits indicate that they are associated with the AD1631 eruption.