Characterizing impulsive wave-in-deck loads on coastal bridges by probabilistic models of impact maxima and rise times

When waves impact a seawall, a vertical breakwater, an exposed jetty, a pier or a coastal bridge, they abruptly transfer their momentum into the structure. This energy transfer can be very violent and its duration exceptionally short. In the case of coastal bridges, whose spans are designed to have very short vibration period, wave impacts might have duration comparable to the natural period of oscillation of the structure, which therefore becomes prone to damage and failure. Previous forensic studies have documented the relative importance of impulsive loads on deck suspended structure, demonstrating the need to assess the effect of wave impacts on both the stability and the integrity of structural members since the early stages of the design. This requires the estimation of the dynamic characteristics of the loading pattern, and in particular the wave impulse and corresponding impact maxima and rise times. Based on the conservation of momentum, functional relationships between these parameters have been identified since pioneering work dating back to the late '30s of the 20th century. The complexity of the loading process, however, results in a significantly large variability of wave impact maxima and rise times even under similar conditions, suggesting the need for a probabilistic approach to the definition of the relationship between these two variables, to be applied when estimating the dynamic properties of wave for use in structural analysis of coastal structures. In the recent past, some effort has been made to identify functional relationships between such quantities; these require the assessment of the conditional quantiles (or similarly the conditional distribution) of wave impact maxima given the rise times. In this paper, we compare three different statistical methods proposed in the literature to accomplish this task, in order to assess the reliability of the approach and suggest guidelines for practical applications. A copula-based method, Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale and Shape (GAMLSS), and quantile regression are applied to measurements from large-scale 3-dimensional physical model tests. The investigation suggests that quantile regression gives the simplest results to be used in practice; copula approach and GAMLSS are possible alternative when semi-parametric or fully parametric modeling is needed.     

Study on topographic compensation model of the Okinawa Trough I. Calculation of theoretical isostatic response function

INTRODUCTIONTo study the compensation model of sea topography and isostatic states by using toPOgraphicand gravity data, is an imPOrtant mean for further researching deep structures as elastic structure,stress state of lithosphere, and so on. Since Airy and Pratt proPOsed local isostatic model in the1850' s, greater development on the theoretical study has been attained. Veining Meinesz (1941 )introduced regional compensation mechanism by considering it as floating crust in elastic fie…     

冲绳海槽海底地形的补偿模式研究Ⅱ.冲绳海槽均衡响应函数的地质解释

本文从区域补偿模式和实验均衡理论出发,利用重力和地形资料计算了冲绳海槽的均衡响应函数.结果表明,冲绳海槽南段弹性板有效厚度和补偿深度明显大于中段.结合其他地质地球物理资料解释认为,产生这种差异的原因主要是南、中两段岩石圈温度和补偿机制的不同所致.     

粉质粘土中的刚性桩在横向载荷作用下失稳的模型试验研究

为解释横向载荷作用下刚性桩的失稳机理,针对桩头自由的刚性桩做了一系列横向加载试验。基础土为粉质粘土,含水量介于9.85 %～13.85 %之间。由载荷-位移全过程曲线发现,刚性桩在横向载荷达到一定值时会失稳;由试验录像及土体剖面发现,由于土体的软化破坏,在桩后土体内会出现贯穿的局部破坏并形成一楔体,同时在土面伴随一不完全的椭圆形鼓包及一条平行于加载方向的拉伸裂缝,而在桩前土中,由于桩的挤压会形成一条侵彻沟。分析认为,对大位移刚性桩桩后土体的破坏是桩失稳的根本原因。     

SHORT COMMUNICATIONS FLEXURAL CAPACITY OF EDGE LOADED ANNULAR FOUNDATIONS

Edge loaded annular foundations have been analysed assuming the soil pressure at the contact to be non-uniform using the lower bound approach of Limit Analysis. Variable fixity at the edges has been allowed and the foundation slab is made to follow the Square yield criterion. Results presented in the form of curves can be readily used to obtain the locations of the yield hinge circles for the given slab and the corresponding collapse load. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Aerodynamic Characteristics of the Crest with Membrane Attachment on Cretaceous Pterodactyloid Nyctosaurus

The Nyctosaurus specimen KJ1 was reconstructed under the hypothesis that there is a membrane attached to the crest; the so-called headsail crest. The aerodynamic forces and moment acting on the headsail crest were analyzed. It was shown that KJ1 might adjust the angle of the headsail crest relative to the air current as one way to generate thrust (one of the aerodynamic forces, used to overcome body drag in forward flight) and that the magnitude of the thrust and moment could vary with the gesture angle and the relative location between the aerodynamic center of the headsail crest and body’s center of gravity. Three scenarios were tested for comparison: the crest with membrane attachment, the crest without membrane attachment and the absence of a cranial crest. It was shown that the aerodynamic characteristics (increasing, maintaining and decreasing thrusts and moment) would have almost disappear in flight for the crest without membrane attachment and was non-existent without the cranial crest. It is suggested from aerodynamics evidence alone that Nyctosaurus specimen KJ1 had a membrane attached to the crest and used this reconstructed form for auxiliary flight control.     

Analysis of rectangular piles subjected to lateral loads in nonhomogeneous soil using a Winkler model approach

An analytical approach using a Winkler model based on two lateral soil displacement components in a three‐dimensional soil is investigated to provide analytical solutions of horizontal response of a rectangular pile subjected to lateral loads in nonhomogeneous soil. The two lateral displacement components of a soil surrounding the rectangular pile are represented by the Fourier series of displacement potential functions in the elastic three‐dimensional analysis. The lateral stiffness coefficient of the rectangular pile shaft in nonhomogeneous soil is derived from the rocking stiffness coefficient taking into account rocking rotation of a rigid pile shaft. The relationship between horizontal displacement, rotation, moment, and shear force for the rectangular pile subjected to horizontal loads in nonhomogeneous soil is obtainable in the form of the recurrence equation. The formulation of lateral displacement and rotation for a rectangular pile subjected to lateral loads on the pile base in nonhomogeneous soil is proposed by taking into account Mindlin's equation and the equivalent thickness for soil layers in the equivalent elastic method. The difference of lateral behavior between square and circular piles subjected to lateral loads is insignificant. The effect of aspect ratio of the rectangular pile on the lateral behavior is great for the lower stiffness ratio between pile and soil and the larger length–equivalent diameter ratio. The effect of the value of Poisson's ratio of soil on lateral stiffness coefficient is relatively small except Poisson's ratio close to 0.5. The comparison of the results calculated by the current method for a rectangular pile subjected to lateral loads in nonhomogeneous soil has shown good agreement with those obtained from the analytical methods and the finite element method. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reduction of ground vibration by means of barriers or soil improvement along a railway track

Trains running in built-up areas are a source to ground-borne noise. A careful design of the track may be one way of minimizing the vibrations in the surroundings. For example, open or infilled trenches may be constructed along the track, or the soil underneath the track may be improved. In this work, the influence of the track design and properties on the level of ground vibration due to a vehicle moving with subsonic speed is examined. A coupled finite element-boundary element model of the track and subsoil is employed, adopting a formulation in the moving frame of reference following the vehicle. The computations are carried out in the frequency domain for various combinations of the vehicle speed and the excitation frequency. The analyses indicate that open trenches are more efficient than infilled trenches or soil stiffening–even at low frequencies. However, the direction of the load is of paramount importance. For example, the response outside a shallow open trench may change dramatically when horizontal load is applied instead of vertical load.     

The value ofC efor the Arabian Sea during summer monsoon

We estimate, from the moisture budget the bulk aerodynamic coefficient for latent heat flux (C _e) during the monsoon season over the central Arabian Sea. The average value ofC _eunder active monsoon conditions was found to be 2.25 × 10⁻³ which is nearly 60% higher than those previously used.     

Building vibrations and dynamic pavement loads induced by transit buses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of bus suspension systems on building vibrations and dynamic pavement loads. Building vibrations and pavement loads induced by two instrumented buses having different characteristics were measured simultaneously under controlled field conditions. Field tests were performed at several vehicle speeds, normal and reduced tire pressures, and with roads having good surface condition as well as abrupt surface irregularities. Tests were carried out at two vibration complaint sites in Montréal. The level and frequency content of vibrations and loads induced by the two buses were evaluated and compared. The results show that the dynamic component of pavement loads induced by the two buses were significantly different but the difference in building vibration levels was not as significant.