Performance spectra based method for the seismic design of structures equipped with passive supplemental damping systems

A new direct performance‐based design method utilizing design tools called performance‐spectra (P‐Spectra) for low‐rise to medium‐rise frame structures incorporating supplemental damping devices is presented. P‐Spectra are graphic tools that relate the responses of nonlinear SDOF systems with supplemental dampers to various damping parameters and dynamic system properties that structural designers can control. These tools integrate multiple response quantities that are important to the performance of a structure into a single compact graphical format to facilitate direct comparison of different potential solutions that satisfy a set of predetermined performance objectives under various levels of seismic hazard. An SDOF to MDOF transformation procedure that defines the required supplemental damping properties for the MDOF structure to achieve the response defined by the target SDOF system is also presented for hysteretic, linear viscous and viscoelastic damping devices. Using nonlinear time‐history analyses of idealized shear structures, the accuracy of the transformation procedure is verified. A seismic performance upgrade design example is presented to demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed method for achieving design performance goals using supplemental damping devices. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reconstruction of a flash flood with large wood transport and its influence on hazard patterns in an ungauged mountain basin

The reconstruction of past flash floods in ungauged basins leads to a high level of uncertainty, which increases if other processes are involved such as the transport of large wood material. An important flash flood occurred in 1997 in Venero Claro (Central Spain), causing significant economic losses. The wood material clogged bridge sections, raising the water level upstream. The aim of this study was to reconstruct this event, analysing the influence of woody debris transport on the flood hazard pattern. Because the reach in question was affected by backwater effects due to bridge clogging, using only high water mark or palaeostage indicators may overestimate discharges, and so other methods are required to estimate peak flows. Therefore, the peak discharge was estimated (123 ± 18 m³ s^–1) using indirect methods, but one‐dimensional hydraulic simulation was also used to validate these indirect estimates through an iterative process (127 ± 33 m³ s^–1) and reconstruct the bridge obstruction to obtain the blockage ratio during the 1997 event (~48%) and the bridge clogging curves. Rainfall–Runoff modelling with stochastic simulation of different rainfall field configurations also helped to confirm that a peak discharge greater than 150 m³ s^–1 is very unlikely to occur and that the estimated discharge range is consistent with the estimated rainfall amount (233 ± 27 mm). It was observed that the backwater effect due to the obstruction (water level ~7 m) made the 1997 flood (~35‐year return period) equivalent to the 50‐year flood. This allowed the equivalent return period to be defined as the recurrence interval of an event of specified magnitude, which, where large woody debris is present, is equivalent in water depth and extent of flooded area to a more extreme event of greater magnitude. These results highlight the need to include obstruction phenomena in flood hazard analysis. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Measurements of physical characteristics of summer snow cover on sea ice during the Third Chinese Arctic Expedition

The spatial distribution of snow cover on the central Arctic sea ice is investigated here based on the observations made during the Third Chinese Arctic Expedition. Six types of snow were observed during the expedition: new/recent snow, melt-freeze crust, icy layer, depth hoar, coarse-grained, and chains of depth hoar. Across most measurement areas, the snow surface was covered by a melt-freeze crust 2-3 cm thick, which was produced by alternate strong solar radiation and the sharp temperature decrease over the summer Arctic Ocean. There was an intermittent layer of snow and ice at the base of the snow pack. The mean bulk density of the snow was 304.01±29.00 kg/m3 along the expedition line, and the surface values were generally smaller than those of the subsurface, confirming the principle of snow densification. In addition, the thicknesses and water equivalents of the new/recent and total-layer snow showed a decreasing trend with latitude, suggesting that the amount of snow cover and its spatial variations were mainly determined by precipitation. Snow temperature also presented significant variations in the vertical profile, and ablation and evaporation were not the primary factors in the snow assessment in late summer. The mean temperature of the surface snow was 2.01±0.96°C, which was much higher than that observed in theinterface of snow and sea ice.     

Effects of soil–structure interaction on the dynamic properties and seismic response of piled structures

This paper presents a simple and stable procedure for the estimation of periods and dampings of piled shear buildings taking soil–structure interaction into account. A substructuring methodology that includes the three-dimensional character of the foundations is used. The structure is analyzed as founded on an elastic homogeneous half-space and excited by vertically incident S waves. The strategies proposed in the literature to estimate the period and damping are revised, and a modified strategy is proposed including crossed impedances and all damping terms. Ready-to-use graphs are presented for the estimation of flexible-base period and damping in terms of their fixed-base values and the system configuration. Maximum shear forces together with base displacement and rocking peak response are also provided. It is shown that cross-coupled impedances and kinematic interaction factors need to be taken into account to obtain accurate results for piled buildings.     

Crustal structure and tectonic setting of the south central Andes from gravimetric analysis

Based on terrestrial gravity data, in this paper we prepared a map of Bouguer anomalies, which was filtered to separate shallow and deep gravity sources. Based on a density model and gravimetric inversion techniques, the discontinuous crust-mantle boundary and the top of crystalline basement were modeled. Subsequently, the equivalent elastic thickness (Te) was evaluated, considering information from the crust-mantle discontinuity and topographic load, finding high Te values in the eastern Andean foothills and west of the Velasco range. These results are consistent with the positive isostatic and residual Bouguer anomaly values, which suggest the presence of high-density rocks in the mid-to upper crust. In addition, petrographic and geochemical analysis conducted in surface outcrops suggest a mantle origin.     

Optimization of land use structure based on ecological GREEN equivalent

Optimization of land use structure consists of economic and social and ecological optimization. Applying the minds of system engineering and principles of ecology, this paper presents such thoughts: the optimal forest-coverage rate calculated according to the reality of a district is set as main standard of ecological rationality in the district; through considering the value of ecosystem services of the land with GREEN equivalent (mainly cultivated land and grassland) and based on the rule, GREEN equivalent, this paper introduces the area conversion between woodland and cultivated land, also between woodland and grassland; this paper establishes a multi-dimension controlling model of optimization of land use structure. In addition, a multi-objective linear programming model for optimization of land use structure is designed. In the end, this paper tests and verifies this theory of ecological optimization, taking Qionghai city in Hainan Province as an example.     

高充填率开采地表下沉系数研究

为解决"三下"压煤问题,本文以邯矿集团亨健煤矿2515工作面为研究对象,对现场进行实测,计算地表实测下沉系数;采用文克儿地基假设方法,对比分析了不同开采方法采空区上覆岩层破断规律.结果表明:采用全部垮落法开采,推进距离等于直接顶的极限跨距(l=25.7 m)时极限挠度约为1.057 m,随着工作面推进,直接顶出现破碎;...     

基于等效单自由度体系的结构地震输入能量的研究

通过对多自由度体系结构在地震作用下的能量分析,考虑地震动因素和结构自身特性,提出一种框架结构地震总输入能量的简化求解方法.实例计算结果表明:基于等效单自由度体系来估计多自由度体系的地震总输入能,是一种计算简便且较为准确的方法.     

速度传感反馈地震计的参数稳定性分析

从理论上定量分析机械摆和环路滤波等开环诸参数变化对速度传感反馈地震计闭环参数的影响.研究指出,在环路设计中可半自由选取的开环阻尼取值对参数稳定性有重要影响.过大或过小的开环阻尼取值均可能造成参数稳定性急剧变差,影响地震计在只标不调的状况下长期连续稳定工作.     

地层温度对科学超深井井壁稳定的影响

井壁稳定问题包括井壁坍塌和地层破裂2种基本类型,科学超深井钻探的目的层是处于高地应力、高地温和高地层压力的深部岩层,井壁稳定问题更加突出。以12000 m科学超深井为例,从地层温度入手,分析钻井液循环温度变化所引起的当量静态钻井液密度和环空压力当量密度的变化,以及温梯应力、温差应力对井壁稳定的影响。