On the fractal dimension of the fallout deposits: A case study of the 79 A.D. Plinian eruption at Mt. Vesuvius

We investigated the existence of a fractal law (power law) distribution of size pyroclastic fragments erupted during the fallout phase of the 79 A.D. Plinian eruption at Mt. Vesuvius. In particular, we performed a particle size distribution analysis on 18 white and grey pumice samples collected in six sites distributed in the SW sector of Mt. Vesuvius. Our measurements show that the fragmentation of samples in the investigated range (from 32 mm to 850 μm) follows a power law, guaranteeing the scale invariance of the process. The relationship frequency-size distribution of the fragments is verified independently from the nature (i.e., pumices and lithics) and stratigraphic height of the considered samples in the pyroclastic deposit. Therefore, the fractal fragmentation theory can be indicated for evaluating the relationship between the intensity of fragmentation (fractal dimension D) and eruption energy. In this way the apparent chaotic distribution of the particles in the fallout deposits hides a self-organized complexity revealed by the retrieved power law distribution. We further remark that a key aspect of our analysis is the founded evidence that the fractal dimension of the lithics is systematically greater than that of the pumices.     

Pseudo‐dynamic test of a full‐scale CFT/BRB frame—Part II: Seismic performance of buckling‐restrained braces and connections

This paper is Part II of a two‐part paper describing a full‐scale 3‐story 3‐bay concrete‐filled tube (CFT)/buckling‐restrained braced frame (BRBF) specimen tested using psuedo‐dynamic testing procedures. The first paper described the specimen design, experiment, and simulation, whereas this paper focuses on the experimental responses of BRBs and BRB‐to‐gusset connections. This paper first evaluates the design of the gusset connections and the effects of the added edge stiffeners in improving the seismic performance of gusset connections. Test results suggest that an effective length factor of 2.0 should be considered for the design of the gusset plate without edge stiffeners. Tests also confirm that the cumulative plastic deformation (CPD) capacity of the BRBs adopted in the CFT/BRBF was lower than that found in typical component tests. The tests performed suggest that the reduction in the BRB CPD capacities observed in this full‐scale frame specimen could be due to the significant rotational demands imposed on the BRB‐to‐gusset joints. A simple method of computing such rotational demands from the frame inter‐story drift response demand is proposed. This paper also discusses other key experimental responses of the BRBs, such as effective stiffness, energy dissipation, and ductility demands. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Walsh列率域中多维分形模型与GIS环境下地球物理信号处理

地球物理信号通常在多个尺度段表现尺度不变性,这些不变性起因于不同的地质、地球物理或成矿过程的自相似性. 利用这种在多个尺度段的尺度不变性可以设计多维分形滤波器,滤波所得信号表征了具尺度不变性的地质地球物理或成矿过程,可以用于成矿预测或环境评价. 本文研究了Walsh变换列率空间地球物理信号的列率功率谱密度与列率之间的分形与多维分形关系, 试验证实了大洋钻探、石油以及煤系地层地球物理测井资料在Walsh域的多维分形性质,提出了用于分解地球物理场,提取有用信号并用于矿产资源勘探或环境评价的多维分形W-A模型. 利用波列率域中的多维分形关系构造了W-A图解(W-A Plot). 借助W-A图解可以确定最小平方误差（LS）意义下Walsh功率谱变化的不同自相似性的频率分界点,从而用于设计W-A分形滤波器. 这种滤波器可将地球物理场分解成具有不同自相似性的局部场,并且保留原场的各向异性结构. 与通常使用的基于Fourier变换的滤波技术相比,W-A模型具有许多优点：W-A适用于检测地球物理信号中的突变、线性、环状、局部与纹理结构等弱信号. 同时,由于Walsh变换中只有简单的变号(加法与减法),其计算速度远快于建立在复数乘法之上的Fourier变换,所以W-A计算速度远快于Fourier域的滤波方法,可以用于地球物理信号的现场实时处理. 用加拿大Nova-cotia省西南地区的布格重力异常进行了W-A方法的试算,处理结果反映了地质、矿产分布规律,能够很好地进行矿产预测.     

RESEARCH ON PASSIVE SERVO SEISMIC ROTATIONAL ACCELERATION SENSOR WITH LARGE DAMPING

Many strong motion records show that under the strong seismic vibration of, the torsional disfigurement of building structures is a common and serious damage. At present, there are no special sensors for measuring seismic rotation in the world. Most of the experts obtain rotational components through observing deformation, theoretical analysis and calculation. The theory of elastic wave and source dynamics also prove the conclusion that the surface of the earth will rotate when an earthquake occurs. Based on a large number of investigations and experiments, a rotational acceleration sensor was developed for the observation of the rotational component of strong ground motions. This acceleration sensor is a double-pendulum passive servo large-damped seismic rotational acceleration sensor with the moving coil transducer. When an earthquake occurs, the seismic rotational acceleration acts on the bottom plate at the same time. The magnetic circuit system and the middle shaft fixedly connected to the bottom plate follow the bottom plate synchronous vibration, and the moving part composed of the mass ring, the swing frame and the moving ring produces relative corners to the central axis. The two working coils mounted on the two pendulums produce the same relative motion with respect to the magnetic gaps of the two magnetic circuits. Both working coils at this time generate an induced electromotive force by cutting magnetic lines of force in the respective magnetic gaps. The generated electromotive forces are respectively input to respective passive servo large damper dynamic ring transducer circuits and angular acceleration adjusting circuits, and the signals are simultaneously input to the synthesizing circuit after conditioning. Finally, the composite circuit outputs a voltage signal proportional to the seismic rotational acceleration to form a seismic rotational acceleration sensor. The paper presents the basic principles of the rotational acceleration sensor, including its mechanical structure diagram, circuit schematic diagram and mathematical models. The differential equation of motion and its circuit equation are derived to obtain the expressions of the main technical specifications, such as the damping ratio and sensitivity. The calculation shows that when the damping ratio is much larger than 1, the output voltage of the passive servo large damping dynamic coil transducer circuit is proportional to the ground rotation acceleration, and the frequency characteristic of bandpass is wider when the damping ratio is larger. Based on the calibration test, the dynamic range is greater than or equal to 100dB and the linearity error is less than 0.05%. The amplitude-frequency characteristics, the phase-frequency characteristics and their corresponding curves of the passive servo rotational acceleration sensor are acquired through the calculations. Based on the accurate measurement of the micro-vibration of the precision rotating vibration equipment, the desired result is obtained. The measured data are presented in the paper, which verify the correctness of the calculation result. The passive servo large damping rotational acceleration sensor has simple circuit design, convenient operation and high resolution, and can be widely applied to seismic acceleration measurement of earthquake or structure.     

基于非全张量卫星重力梯度数据的张量不变量法

在非全张量卫星重力梯度观测数据的处理过程中,由于卫星姿态角误差、梯度观测数据误差和非全张量观测等原因,重力梯度值从卫星重力梯度仪系转换到地固系后,精度损失严重.本文研究了张量不变量法以解决上述问题.首先在重力梯度张量不变量线性化的基础上,建立了基于卫星轨道面的不变量观测模型,完整地推导了两类重力梯度张量不变量的球近似和顾及地球扁率影响的球面边值问题的求解公式.针对GOCE卫星任务非全张量观测数据类型,分析了张量不变量的计算误差;结果表明,重力梯度观测误差在不变量的计算中并没有被放大.最后运用广义轮胎调和分析方法进行了模拟试验,数值试验证明,在卫星姿态误差较大时,处理张量不变量比处理张量分量更具优势,并且张量不变量法能有效地解决非全张量观测的问题.     

地震面波产生的地震动转动分量研究

本文利用弹性波动理论对地面转动分量，即瑞利（Rayleigh)波和乐夫（Love)波产生的转动分量进行了研究，给出了相应的计算公式和计算方法，特别注意到面波的散射效应对转动分量的影响，并将这一特性引入到转动分量的求取中，使问题的解决更切合于实际，最后选取实际地震记录，利用得到的公式计算出地震面波产生的转动分量。     

Adiabatic invariants for the nonconservative Kepler's problem

This paper considers adiabatic invariants for the classical Kepler problem with resisting forces. The analysis is based on the theory of integrating factors and theory of adiabatic invariants in the Krylov-Bogoliubov-Mitropolski variables. The adiabatic invariants are series with respect to a small parameter. Also, for every particular case of nonconservative forces, it is shown that, with a complete set of adiabatic invariants, an approximate solution of the problem can be obtained. Four problems are analyzed in detail where approximate solutions are compared with numerical.     

Stability Regions and Quasi-Periodic Motion in the Vicinity of Triangular Equilibrium Points

The regions of quasi-periodic motion around non-symmetric periodic orbits in the vicinity of the triangular equilibrium points are studied numerically. First, for a value of the mass parameter less than Routh's critical value, the stability regions determined by quasi-periodic motion are examined around the existing families of short (L^s ₄) and long (L^l ₄) period solutions. Then, for two values of μ greater than the Routh value, the unified family L^sl ₄, to which, in these cases, L^s ₄ and L^l ₄ merge, is considered. It is found that such regions surround in general the linearly stable segments of the corresponding families and become smaller as the mass ratio increases. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Invariant rotational curves in Sitnikov's Problem

The Sitnikov's Problem is a Restricted Three-Body Problem of Celestial Mechanics depending on a parameter, the eccentricity,e. The Hamiltonian,H(z, v, t, e), does not depend ont ife=0 and we have an integrable system; ife is small the KAM Theory proves the existence of invariant rotational curves, IRC. For larger eccentricities, we show that there exist two complementary sequences of intervals of values ofe that accumulate to the maximum admissible value of the eccentricity, 1, and such that, for one of the sequences IRC around a fixed point persist. Moreover, they shrink to the planez=0 ase tends to 1.