Idealisation of soil–structure system to determine inelastic seismic response of mid-rise building frames

In this study, a novel and enhanced soil–structure model is developed adopting the direct analysis method using FLAC 2D software to simulate the complex dynamic soil–structure interaction and treat the behaviour of both soil and structure with equal rigour simultaneously. To have a better judgment on the inelastic structural response, three types of mid-rise moment resisting building frames, including 5, 10, and 15 storey buildings are selected in conjunction with three soil types with the shear wave velocities less than 600 m/s, representing soil classes C_e, D_e and E_e, according to Australian Standards. The above mentioned frames have been analysed under two different boundary conditions: (i) fixed-base (no soil–structure interaction) and (ii) flexible-base (considering soil–structure interaction). The results of the analyses in terms of structural displacements and drifts for the above mentioned boundary conditions have been compared and discussed. It is concluded that considering dynamic soil–structure interaction effects in seismic design of moment resisting building frames resting on soil classes D_e and E_e is essential.     

Dynamic soil–structure interaction analysis of a telescope at the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory

This paper presents the dynamic soil–structure analysis of the main telescope T250 of the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre (OAJ, Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory) on the Pico del Buitre. Vibration control has been of prime concern in the design, since astrophysical observations may be hindered by mechanical vibration of optical equipment due to wind loading. The telescope manufacturer therefore has imposed a minimal natural frequency of 10 Hz for the supporting telescope pier. Dynamic soil–structure interaction may significantly influence the lowest natural frequency of a massive construction as a telescope pier. The structure clamped at its base has a resonance frequency of 14.3 Hz. A coupled finite element–boundary element (FE–BE) model of the telescope pier that accounts for the dynamic interaction of the piled foundation and the soil predicts a resonance frequency of 11.2 Hz, demonstrating the significant effect of dynamic soil–structure interaction. It is further investigated to what extent the coupled FE–BE model can be simplified in order to reduce computation time. The assumption of a rigid pile cap allows us to account for dynamic soil–structure interaction in a simplified way. A coupled FE–BE analysis with a rigid pile cap predicts a resonance frequency of 11.7 Hz, demonstrating a minor effect of the pile cap flexibility on the resonance frequency of the telescope pier. The use of an analytical model for the pile group results in an overestimation of the dynamic soil stiffness. This error is due to the large difference between the actual geometry and the square pile cap model for which the parameters have been tuned.     

Inelastic seismic behavior of soil–pile raft–structure system under bi-directional ground motion

Performance based design of structure requires a reasonably accurate prediction of displacement or ductility demand. Generally, displacement demand of structure is estimated assuming fixity at base and considering base motion in one direction. In reality, ground motions occur in two orthogonal directions simultaneously resulting in bidirectional interaction in inelastic range, and soil–structure interaction (SSI) may change structural response too. Present study is an attempt to develop insight on the influence of bi-directional interaction and soil–pile raft–structure interaction for predicting the inelastic response of soil–pile raft–structure system in a more reasonably accurate manner. A recently developed hysteresis model capable to simulate biaxial interaction between deformations in two principal directions of any structural member under two orthogonal components of ground motion has been used. This study primarily shows that a considerable change may occur in inelastic demand of structures due to the combined effect of such phenomena.     

Assessment of the impact of pore-scale mass-transfer restrictions on microbially-induced stable-isotope fractionation

Stable-isotope fractionation has become an established method for the assessment of contaminant biodegradation in groundwater. At the pore scale however, mass-transfer processes can limit the bioavailability of chemical species and therefore affect the observed fractionation. This can challenge the application of stable-isotope analysis in practice. A linear-exchange model provides a computational link between the microbially-induced isotope fractionation, determined under ideal conditions, and the fractionation observed under conditions of limited bioavailability. This simplifying conceptual approach allows for accurately estimating the mass-transfer limited degradation rates but its applicability for stable-isotope fractionation at the pore scale has not been evaluated yet. In this study, we perform high-resolution numerical simulations of microbial degradation and stable-isotope fractionation of a chemical species in a pore-scale model. The numerical results are compared to theoretical predictions derived from the linear-exchange model. Our results show an overall good agreement between numerical simulations and theoretical predictions, which confirms the applicability of the theoretical approach and of the value for the mass-transfer coefficient previously derived from the geometry of the pore space. In addition we provide a quantitative link between the value of the observable fractionation factor and the effective bioavailability of a biodegradable contaminant.     

Near-Real–Time GPS-Based Orbit Determination and Sea Surface Height Observations from the Jason-1 Mission Special Issue: Jason-1 Calibration/Validation

The Jason-1 Operational Sensor Data Record (OSDR) is intended as a wind and wave product that is aimed towards near-real–time (NRT) meteorological applications. However, the OSDR provides most of the information that is required to determine altimetric sea surface heights in NRT. The exceptions include a sufficiently accurate orbit altitude, and pressure fields to determine the dry troposphere path delay correction. An orbit altitude field is provided on the OSDR but has accuracies that range between 8–25 cm (RMS). However, tracking data from the on-board BlackJack GPS receiver are available with sufficiently short latency for use in the computation of NRT GPS-based orbit solutions. The orbit altitudes from these NRT orbit solutions have typical accuracies of < 3.0 cm (RMS) with a latency of 1–3 h, and < 2.5 cm (RMS) with a latency of 3–5 h. Meanwhile, forecast global pressure fields from the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) are available for the NRT computation of the dry troposphere correction. In combination, the Jason-1 OSDR, the NRT GPS-based orbit solutions, and the NCEP pressure fields can be used to compute sea surface height observations from the Jason-1 mission with typical latencies of 3–5 h, and have differences with those from the 2–3 day latency Interim Geophysical Data Records of < 5 cm (RMS). The NRT altimetric sea surface height observations are potentially of benefit to forecasting, tactical oceanography, and natural hazard monitoring.     

Nonlocal period parameters of frequency content characterization for near-fault ground motions

This paper focuses on the frequency property analysis of near-fault ground motions with and without distinct pulses, separately from the Chi-Chi and Northridge earthquakes. Ten scalar period parameters of ground motions, especially several nonlocal period parameters, are considered. Two new nonlocal parameters, namely the mean period of Hilbert marginal spectrum (T_mh) and the improved characteristic period (T_gi), are suggested. Moreover, comprehensive comparison and analysis indicate that T_mh, T_gi and T_avg (average spectral period) can distinguish the low-frequency components of near-fault ground motions; T_m (mean period of Fourier amplitude spectrum) and T_o (smoothed spectral predominant period) represent the moderate- and high-frequency components, respectively. The variance coefficient of predominant instantaneous frequency of Hilbert spectrum (H_cov) can be regarded as an alternative index to measure the non-stationary degree of near-fault ground motions. Finally, the velocity pulses and earthquake magnitude remarkably affect the frequency parameters of near-fault ground motions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nonlinear seismic behaviour of wall-frame dual systems accounting for soil–structure interaction

The aim of this paper is to study the effects of soil–structure interaction on the seismic response of coupled wall-frame structures on pile foundations designed according to modern seismic provisions. The analysis methodology based on the substructure method is recalled focusing on the modelling of pile group foundations. The nonlinear inertial interaction analysis is performed in the time domain by using a finite element model of the superstructure. Suitable lumped parameter models are implemented to reproduce the frequency-dependent compliance of the soil-foundation systems. The effects of soil–structure interaction are evaluated by considering a realistic case study consisting of a 6-storey 4-bay wall-frame structure founded on piles. Different two-layered soil deposits are investigated by varying the layer thicknesses and properties. Artificial earthquakes are employed to simulate the earthquake input. Comparisons of the results obtained considering compliant base and fixed base models are presented by addressing the effects of soil–structure interaction on displacements, base shears, and ductility demand. The evolution of dissipative mechanisms and the relevant redistribution of shear between the wall and the frame are investigated by considering earthquakes with increasing intensity. Effects on the foundations are also shown by pointing out the importance of both kinematic and inertial interaction. Finally, the response of the structure to some real near-fault records is studied. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An experiment on temperature variations in sandstone during biaxial loading

The temperature response to stress–strain variations in rock is useful in developing an understanding of the thermodynamic property of crust. In this study, the temperature of sandstone during loading was investigated using laboratory biaxial testing. By changing the loading patterns, the deformation of a specimen was controlled to produce two distinct modes of strain: volume strain only and shear strain only. These strain modes were produced separately such that the temperature variation associated with the different deformation modes could be analysed. Experimental results indicate that temperature, as a scalar quantity, is notably sensitive to rock deformation. In the case of the volume strain, the temperature variation is positively correlated with the variation in the bulk stress. The temperature rises with the increase in hydrostatic pressure, and vice versa. In the case of the shear strain, experimental results repeatedly show two characteristics: firstly, there appears obvious increase in temperature in the area of pure shear strain, which is most likely related to local plastic deformation; secondly, the temperature drops in the area of tension during loading, whereas the temperature rises within the area of compression. This is to say, the state of crustal stress–strain should be obtained through the measurement of rock temperature.     

Evaluation of active and passive seismic earth pressures considering internal friction and cohesion

The Log-Spiral-Rankine (LSR) model, which is a generalized formulation for assessing the active and passive seismic earth pressures considering the internal friction and cohesion of backfill soil, is reviewed and improved in this study. System inconsistencies in the LSR model are identified, which result from an inaccurate assumption on the vertical normal stress field (σ_z=γz) in a general c–ϕ soil medium, and from omitting the effect of soil cohesion when solving for the stress states along the failure surface. The remedies to the said inconsistencies are presented, and local and global iteration schemes are introduced to solve the resulting highly coupled multivariate nonlinear system of equations. The modified LSR model provides a more complete and accurate solution for earth retaining systems, including the geometry of the mobilized soil body, the stress state along the failure surface, as well as the magnitude and the point of application of the resultant earth thrust.