Approximate modal decomposition of inelastic dynamic responses of wall buildings

Two approximate methods for decomposing complicated inelastic dynamic responses of wall buildings into simple modal responses are presented. Both methods are based on the equivalent linear concept, where a non‐linear structure is represented by a set of equivalent linear models. One linear model is used for representing only one vibration mode of the non‐linear structure, and its equivalent linear parameters are identified from the inelastic response time histories by using a numerical optimizer. Several theoretical relations essential for the modal decomposition are derived under the framework of complex modal analysis. Various numerical examinations have been carried out to check the validity of the proposed modal decomposition methods, and the results are quite satisfactory in all cases. Fluctuating bending moment and shear at any location along the wall height contributed by each individual vibration mode can be obtained. Modal contributions to shear and flexural strength demands, as well as the corresponding modal properties, under various seismic loading conditions can also be identified and examined in detail. Furthermore, the effects of higher vibration modes on seismic demands of wall buildings are investigated by using the modal decomposition methods. Several new insights into the complicated inelastic dynamics of multi‐story wall buildings are presented. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of Blast Vibration Characteristics Across a Trench and a Pre-Split Plane

This paper presents the influence of various discontinuities, natural or artificial, on magnitude and frequencies of blast induced ground vibrations. These discontinuities were geological faults, a pond, a shaft incline, a trench and a pre-split plane interposed in the path of vibration propagation. In the post-trench region, ground vibrations in terms of peak particle velocity were significantly reduced and dominant frequencies in higher bands were consequently observed. Depth of trench with respect to blastholes were varied and consequent vibration characteristics were analyzed. The techniques of creating a trench and pre-split plane were successfully implemented in controlling vibration and in increasing the explosives charge to meet the scheduled production target of an opencast mine. Comparisons of ground vibration characteristics affected by a trench and a pre-split plane of the same depth are described in the text. The findings lead to the conclusion that such experimental data are necessary for production blasting in open cast mines under constrained conditions.     

Efficient analysis of pile-group effect on seismic stiffness and strength design of buildings

A new efficient method is developed for the analysis of pile-group effects on the seismic stiffness and strength design of buildings with pile foundations. An efficient continuum model consisting of a dynamic Winkler-type soil element and a pile is used to express the dynamic behavior of the structure-pile-soil system with only a small numerical error. The pile-group effect is taken into account through the influence coefficients among piles which are defined for interstory drifts and pile-head bending moments. It is shown that, while the pile-group effect reduces the interstory drift of buildings in general, it may increase the bending moment of piles at the head. This means that the treatment without the pile-group effect results in the conservative design for super-structures and requires a revised member design for piles.     

Exploration of remotely sensed forest structure and ultrasonic range sensor metrics to improve empirical snow models

Current methods to estimate snow accumulation and ablation at the plot and watershed levels can be improved as new technologies offer alternative approaches to more accurately monitor snow dynamics and their drivers. Here we conduct a meta‐analysis of snow and vegetation data collected in British Columbia to explore the relationships between a wide range of forest structure variables – obtained from Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), hemispherical photography (HP) and Landsat Thematic Mapper – and several indicators of snow accumulation and ablation estimated from manual snow surveys and ultrasonic range sensors. By merging and standardizing all the ground plot information available in the study area, we demonstrate how LiDAR‐derived forest cover above 0.5 m was the variable explaining the highest percentage of absolute peak snow water equivalent (SWE) (33%), while HP‐derived leaf area index and gap fraction (45° angle of view) were the best potential predictors of snow ablation rate (explaining 57% of variance). This study reveals how continuous SWE data from ultrasonic sensors are fundamental to obtain statistically significant relationships between snow indicators and structural metrics by increasing mean r² by 20% when compared to manual surveys. The relationships between vegetation and spectral indices from Landsat and snow indicators, not explored before, were almost as high as those shown by LiDAR or HP and thus point towards a new line of research with important practical implications. While the use of different data sources from two snow seasons prevented us from developing models with predictive capacity, a large sample size helped to identify outliers that weakened the relationships and suggest improvements for future research. A concise overview of the limitations of this and previous studies is provided along with propositions to consistently improve experimental designs to take advantage of remote sensing technologies, and better represent spatial and temporal variations of snow. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Torsional dynamic response of a large‐diameter pipe pile in viscoelastic saturated soil

An analytical solution is developed in this paper to investigate the dynamic response of a large‐diameter end‐bearing pipe pile subjected to torsional loading in viscoelastic saturated soil. The wave propagation in saturated soil and pile are simulated by Biot's two‐phased linear theory and one‐dimensional elastic theory, respectively. The dynamic equilibrium equations of the outer soil, inner soil, and pile are established. The solutions for the outer and inner soils in frequency domain are obtained by Laplace transform technique and the separation of variables method. Then, the dynamic response of the pile is obtained on the basis of the perfect contacts between the pile and the outer soil as well as the inner soil. The results in this paper are compared with that of a solid pile in elastic saturated soil to verify the validity of the solution. Furthermore, the solution in this paper is compared with the classic plane strain solution to verify the solution further and check the accuracy of the plane strain solution. Numerical results are presented to analyze the vibration characteristics and illustrate the effect of the soil parameters and the geometry size of the pile on the complex impedance and velocity admittance of the pile head. Finally, the displacement of the soil at different depth and frequency is analyzed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

厚碳酸盐岩覆盖区RVSP三维地震勘探应用效果分析

该文以中国南方一厚碳酸盐岩覆盖区的RVSP三维地震勘探实例,对RVSP三维地震勘探观测系统和数据采集参数的确定、地面等效处理和波场分离等关键处理技术及地质效果进行了阐述和分析,说明了RVSP在克服表浅层复杂地质条件及环境条件对资料的影响及提高地震资料的分辨率有其特定的优势,同时也提出了RVSP三维地震在采集和处理过程中的难点。     

Soil‐pile interaction in the pile vertical vibration considering true three‐dimensional wave effect of soil

The dynamic response of an end bearing pile embedded in a linear visco‐elastic soil layer with hysteretic type damping is theoretically investigated when the pile is subjected to a time‐harmonic vertical loading at the pile top. The soil is modeled as a three‐dimensional axisymmetric continuum in which both its radial and vertical displacements are taken into account. The pile is assumed to be vertical, elastic and of uniform circular cross section. By using two potential functions to decompose the displacements of the soil layer and utilizing the separation of variables technique, the dynamic equilibrium equation is uncoupled and solved. At the interface of soil‐pile system, the boundary conditions of displacement continuity and force equilibrium are invoked to derive a closed‐form solution of the vertical dynamic response of the pile in frequency domain. The corresponding inverted solutions in time domain for the velocity response of a pile subjected to a semi‐sine excitation force applied at the pile top are obtained by means of inverse Fourier transform and the convolution theorem. A comparison with two other simplified solutions has been performed to verify the more rigorous solutions presented in this paper. Using the developed solutions, a parametric study has also been conducted to investigate the influence of the major parameters of the soil‐pile system on the vertical vibration characteristics of the pile. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于等价权抗差估计和线性规划的天线曲面拟合算法

现有天线曲面拟合算法均基于最小二乘法,难以消除多个粗差对拟合结果的影响。本文基于等价权抗差估计思想,利用线性规划计算残差初值,再进行选权迭代计算。通过算例,证明本文方法能较好地探查多个粗差,且计算结果精度更高。     

Bounding surface model for soil resistance to cyclic lateral pile displacements with arbitrary direction

The development of a two-surface elastic–plastic bounding surface P–Y model for cyclic lateral pile motions is described. The kinematic-hardening model is applicable to the analysis of pile foundations subjected to loading with arbitrary azimuths relative to the pile axis. The model realistically captures the hysteretic energy damping associated with dynamic loading of subsea foundations through physically correct plastic mechanisms and provides results consistent with those observed in physical tests including cyclic loading. Its performance is demonstrated in element states of stress and in pile foundation analyses. The development based on the incremental theory of plasticity results in more robust solutions than may be obtained using alternative elastic, variable moduli and deformation plasticity formulations.     

SAR图像海岸线检测的区域距离正则化几何主动轮廓模型

合成孔径雷达(SAR)卫星遥感图像可以极大地提高全国海岸线覆盖频率,然而受到海洋波浪所引起的随机海水表面粗糙度的影响,海岸目标与海水背景边界易混淆不清,因此本文提出了基于区域距离正则化几何主动轮廓模型(RDRGAC),引入距离正则项,解决重复初始化水平集函数为符号距离函数的问题,提高了算法收敛速度。此外,将区域面积项系数与SAR图像等效视数(ENL)建立非线性拟合关系,实现RDRGAC模型根据不同SAR遥感图像的自适应调整,改善海岸线自动提取精度。通过河北省北戴河和大连市金州湾SAR数据海岸线提取对比试验,验证了所提方法的有效性。