Probabilistic assessment of soil liquefaction considering spatial variability of CPT measurements

The conventional liquefaction potential assessment methods (also known as simplified methods) profoundly rely on empirical correlations based on observations from case histories. A probabilistic framework is developed to incorporate uncertainties in the earthquake ground motion prediction, the cyclic resistance prediction, and the cyclic demand prediction. The results of a probabilistic seismic hazard assessment, site response analyses, and liquefaction potential analyses are convolved to derive a relationship for the annual probability and return period of liquefaction. The random field spatial model is employed to quantify the spatial uncertainty associated with the in-situ measurements of geotechnical material.     

The need for judgement in geotechnical reliability studies

ABSTRACT

A core principle of geotechnical engineering practice is the need to exercise judgement in evaluating soil and site conditions and in performing analyses. The requirement for considering judgement applies equally to performing deterministic or probabilistic analyses. In addition, for probabilistic analyses, choices must be made among the possible methods of analysis and the method of characterising variables. Consequently, geotechnical reliability studies inevitably involve significant uncertainties, and judgement is needed to perform reliability analyses and to evaluate the results. Two case histories, briefly described here, show that judgement and experience are essential prerequisites for meaningful assessment of geotechnical reliability.     

海域天然气水合物资源勘查工程进展

近年来,由中国地质调查局组织实施的“海域天然气水合物资源勘查”工程,按照工程总体部署,主要开展了我国南海北部海域的天然气水合物勘查、环境监测与评价,以及成矿理论、勘查与试采关键技术、实验模拟等研究工作,获取了海量基础数据,取得了一系列突破性进展和原创性成果,初步摸清了我国海域天然气水合物资源家底,为试采工程的实施提供了有力支撑。该工程全力支撑了中国地质调查局天然气水合物工程技术中心、国土资源部海底矿产资源重点实验室、国土资源部天然气水合物重点实验室建设,推动了科技创新与地质调查深度融合,促进了水合物学科的发展。     

基于挤喷流效应的Russell流体因子推广及应用

在油气勘探与开发过程中,寻求能够从地震资料中直接识别储层油气的流体指示因子至关重要.由于现存多数流体指示因子都是在Biot理论假设前提下建立起来的,因此在双相孔隙介质条件下不能有效地识别流体.为此,本文基于前人提出的双孔介质统一波动理论,考虑岩石裂缝间挤喷流效应,在经典流体指示因子基础上构建了一种新的流体指示因子.该流体因子能够较好地反映岩石内孔隙流体的变化对波传播产生的影响.在实际资料的应用中,采用多种方法分析、对比该流体识别因子与以Biot理论为基础的传统流体因子的优劣,理论分析与实际资料的验证表明该流体因子对于储层中油气的检测有较高的精度和灵敏度.     

2015年尼泊尔M_S8.1地震的地壳重力均衡背景与地表形变响应特征

对2015年尼泊尔MS8.1地震的地壳均衡背景及其引起的地表形变特征进行了研究,结果表明:(1)尼泊尔MS8.1地震震中以南的印度板块岩石圈有效弹性厚度大约为9km,加载主要来自地幔;地震以北的拉萨地块岩石圈有效弹性厚度大约为2km,加载主要来自地表.(2)尼泊尔MS8.1地震震中以南地区的地壳均衡异常大约为-100mGal(10-5 m·s-2),但其北部的地壳均衡异常则为300~400mGal,尼泊尔MS8.1地震发生在地壳均衡负异常向正异常过渡的高梯度带上.(3)尼泊尔MS8.1地震使震中周围地区的地壳整体向南运动,最大水平位移超过1.5m,分布在震中东南.震中以北的同震垂向位移总体为负值,最大下降幅度超过0.5m,同震重力变化总体为正值,最大超过60μGal(10-8 m·s-2);震中以南的垂向位移总体为正值,最大升幅超过0.7m,同震重力变化总体为负值,最大降幅超过-120μGal.(4)尼泊尔MS8.1地震使"世界屋脊"喜马拉雅山脉产生沉降,最大同震降幅超过120mm,震后松弛效应将使"世界屋脊"持续缓慢下降.该强震使世界最高峰珠穆朗玛峰降低了2~3mm,有可能被GPS、InSAR等现代大地测量工具检测到.     

Comparison of P‐wave attenuation models of wave‐induced flow

Wave‐induced oscillatory fluid flow in the vicinity of inclusions embedded in porous rocks is one of the main causes for P‐wave dispersion and attenuation at seismic frequencies. Hence, the P‐wave velocity depends on wave frequency, porosity, saturation, and other rock parameters. Several analytical models quantify this wave‐induced flow attenuation and result in characteristic velocity–saturation relations. Here, we compare some of these models by analyzing their low‐ and high‐frequency asymptotic behaviours and by applying them to measured velocity–saturation relations. Specifically, the Biot–Rayleigh model considering spherical inclusions embedded in an isotropic rock matrix is compared with White's and Johnson's models of patchy saturation. The modeling of laboratory data for tight sandstone and limestone indicates that, by selecting appropriate inclusion size, the Biot‐Rayleigh predictions are close to the measured values, particularly for intermediate and high water saturations.     

Optimum design and application of non‐traditional tuned mass damper toward seismic response control with experimental test verification

A variant type of tuned mass damper (TMD) termed as ‘non‐traditional TMD (NTTMD)’ is recently proposed. Mainly focusing on the employment of TMD for seismic response control, especially for base‐isolated or high‐rise structures, this paper aims to derive design formulae of NTTMDs based on two methodologies with different targets. One is the fixed points theory with the performance index set as the maximum magnitude of the frequency response function of the relative displacement of the primary structure with respect to the ground acceleration, and the other is the stability maximization criterion (SMC) to make the free vibration of the primary structure decay in the minimum duration. Such optimally designed NTTMDs are compared with traditional TMDs by conducting both numerical simulations and experiments. The optimum‐designed NTTMDs are demonstrated to be more effective than the optimum‐designed traditional TMDs, with smaller stroke length required. In particular, the effectiveness of the TMDs combined with a base‐isolated structure is investigated by small‐scale model experimental tests subjected to a time scaled long period impulsive excitation, and it is demonstrated that the SMC‐based NTTMD can suppress structural free vibration responses in the minimum duration and requires much smaller accommodation space. Additionally, a small‐scale shaking table experiment on a high‐rise bending model attached with a SMC‐based NTTMD is conducted. This study indicates that NTTMD has a high potential to apply to seismic response control or retrofit of structures such as base‐isolated or central column‐integrated high‐rise structures even if only a limited space is available for accommodating TMDs. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

地基半空间等效集总体系的比拟法与实测分析

先略述莱斯默比拟法的形成;再由半空间理论等效为质弹体系,得出辐射阻尼比、刚度及参振土质量,并论述两体系的结合;最后经实测、分析和使用,考虑土体非匀质性折减阻尼比以作修正,使其更为实用。这有助于消除在我国长期认为阻尼比大而不安全、不便使用的疑虑,以便推动半空间理论在我国的实用化。     

多重孔岩石微分等效介质模型及其干燥情形下的解析近似式

经典的微分等效介质(DEM)理论可用于确定多孔介质的弹性性质,但由于缺乏多重孔DEM方程,其估计的多重孔岩石的等效弹性模量依赖于包裹体(即不同孔隙纵横比的孔或缝)的添加顺序.本文首先从Kuster-Toksöz理论出发建立了Zimmermann和Norris两种形式的多重孔DEM方程.Norris形式的多重孔DEM方程预测的等效弹性模量总是位于Hashin-Shtrikman上下限内,而Zimmermann形式的多重孔DEM方程有时会越界.然后,通过使用干燥岩石模量比的解析近似式,对两个相互耦合的Norris形式DEM方程进行解耦得到干燥多重孔岩石的体积和剪切模量解析式.用全DEM方程的数值解对解析近似式的有效性进行了测试,解析公式的计算结果在整个孔隙度分布区间与数值解吻合良好.对实验室测量数据在假设岩石含有双重孔隙的情形下用双重孔DEM解析公式对岩石的弹性模量进行了预测,结果表明,解析式准确地预测了弹性模量随孔隙度的变化.双重孔(即软、硬孔)DEM解析模型可用来反演各孔隙类型的孔隙体积比,它可以通过实验室测量与理论预测之间的平方误差最小反演得到.砂岩样品的反演结果揭示,软孔的孔隙体积百分比与粘土含量没有明显的相关性.     

Evaluation of a recently proposed record selection and scaling procedure for low‐rise to mid‐rise reinforced concrete buildings and its use for probabilistic risk assessment studies

This paper evaluates a recent record selection and scaling procedure of the authors that can determine the probabilistic structural response of buildings behaving either in the elastic or post‐elastic range. This feature marks a significant strength on the procedure as the probabilistic structural response distribution conveys important information on probability‐based damage assessment. The paper presents case studies that show the utilization of the proposed record selection and scaling procedure as a tool for the estimation of damage states and derivation of site‐specific and region‐specific fragility functions. The method can be used to describe exceedance probabilities of damage limits under a certain target hazard level with known annual exceedance rate (via probabilistic seismic hazard assessment). Thus, the resulting fragility models can relate the seismicity of the region (or a site) with the resulting building performance in a more accurate manner. Under this context, this simple and computationally efficient record selection and scaling procedure can be benefitted significantly by probability‐based risk assessment methods that have started to be considered as indispensable for developing robust earthquake loss models. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.