Seismic fragility methodology for highway bridges using a component level approach

Bridge fragility curves, which express the probability of a bridge reaching a certain damage state for a given ground motion parameter, play an important role in the overall seismic risk assessment of a transportation network. Current analytical methodologies for generating bridge fragility curves do not adequately account for all major contributing bridge components. Studies have shown that for some bridge types, neglecting to account for all of these components can lead to a misrepresentation of the bridges' overall fragilities. In this study, an expanded methodology for the generation of analytical fragility curves for highway bridges is presented. This methodology considers the contribution of the major components of the bridge, such as the columns, bearings and abutments, to its overall bridge system fragility. In particular, this methodology utilizes probability tools to directly estimate the bridge system fragility from the individual component fragilities. This is illustrated using a bridge whose construction and configuration are typical to the Central and Southeastern United States and the results are presented and discussed herein. This study shows that the bridge as a system is more fragile than any one of the individual components. Assuming that the columns represent the entire bridge system can result in errors as large as 50% at higher damage states. This provides support to the assertion that multiple bridge components should be considered in the development of bridge fragility curves. The findings also show that estimation of the bridge fragilities by their first‐order bounds could result in errors of up to 40%. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Acceleration response modification factors for nonstructural components attached to inelastic moment‐resisting frame structures

A statistical analysis of the peak acceleration demands for nonstructural components (NSCs) supported on a variety of stiff and flexible inelastic regular moment‐resisting frame structures with periods from 0.3 to 3.0 s exposed to 40 far‐field ground motions is presented. Peak component acceleration (PCA) demands were quantified based on the floor response spectrum (FRS) method without considering dynamic interaction effects. This study evaluated the main factors that influence the amplification or decrease of FRS values caused by inelasticity in the primary structure in three distinct spectral regions namely long‐period, fundamental‐period, and short‐period region. The amplification or decrease of peak elastic acceleration demands depends on the location of the NSC in the supporting structure, periods of the component and building, damping ratio of the component, and level of inelasticity of the supporting structure. While FRS values at the initial modal periods of the supporting structure are reduced due to inelastic action in the primary structure, the region between the modal periods experiences an increase in PCA demands. A parameter denoted as acceleration response modification factor (R_acc) was proposed to quantify this reduction/increase in PCA demands. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatial organization of decadal and bidecadal rainfall fluctuations in southern North America and southern South America

The spatial organization of decadal and bidecadal components (fluctuations) of annual rainfall is identified in this research for two regions: (1) southern South America, and (2) southern North America (conterminous USA, southeastern Canada and northern and central Mexico). Findings indicate that these decadal and bidecadal components have highly coherent wave-like spatial organization. Two types of organization of decadal and bidecadal components of annual rainfall were identified: a train of propagating fluctuations and quasi-standing fluctuations. For decadal components, such patterns alternate in time. A widespread change in the spatial organization of decadal component of annual rainfall took place simultaneously in both continents in 1932. The bidecadal component is organized as standing fluctuations in southern North America and as travelling fluctuations in southern South America, The spatial pattern of decadal fluctuations of annual rainfall has 12- and 13-year cycles, and the spatial pattern of bidecadal fluctuations has predominantly 21- and 22-year cycles.     

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。     

东营凹陷下第三系深部碎屑岩储层次生孔隙垂向分布及成因分析

东营凹陷下第三系埋深大于 30 0 0 m的深部碎屑岩储层普遍发育 2～ 4个次生孔隙带 ,Φ=10 %～ 30 % ,K=0 .1× 10 - 3μm2～ 30× 10 - 3μm2 ,为中孔低渗低孔低渗油气储层。综合有机质热演化过程、成岩作用和构造断裂等分析 ,认为东营凹陷埋深大于 30 0 0m碎屑岩地层中 ,第一、二个次生孔隙带埋深在 30 0 0 m～ 390 0 m之间 ,其形成主要与有机质成熟过程释放有机酸对长石等颗粒的溶解有密切关系 ,在深大断裂附近储层同时受到大气淡水的影响 ,而深陷带包裹于暗色泥岩中的浊积砂岩的次生孔隙发育情况还与泥质岩异常压力带有关 ;第三个次生孔隙带埋深一般为 390 0 m～ 430 0 m,主要成因于粘土矿物转化造成的还原环境 ,同时受到硫酸盐热化学氧化还原反应的影响。这三个次生孔隙发育带对储集油气有效。第四个孔隙发育带埋深在 470 0 m以下 ,主要是构造成因的微裂缝 ,较难成为有效的油气储层。     

A note on the useable dynamic range of accelerographs recording translation

Since the late 1970s, the dynamic range and resolution of strong motion digital recorders have leaped from 65 to 135 dB, opening new possibilities for advanced data processing and interpretation. One of these new possibilities is the calculation of permanent displacement of the ground or of structures, associated with faulting or with non-linear response. Proposals on how permanent displacements could be recovered from recorded strong motion have been published since 1976. The analysis in this paper concludes that permanent displacements of the ground and of structures in the near-field can be calculated provided all six components of strong motion (three translations and three rotations) have been recorded, and the records are corrected for transducer rotation, misalignment and cross-axis sensitivity.     

GPS网可靠性强度分析

本文对GPS基线向量网的可靠性进行了探讨,提出了作为相关观测值的单个基线向量的可靠性指标和粗差检验方法,并通过对实测网和模拟网的计算与分析,得出了一些有关GPS基线向量网可靠性设计的建议和结论。     

南极中山站附近麦氏贼鸥食性研究

对东南极中山站附近麦氏贼鸥巢区和无巢贼鸥群栖地的贼鸥回吐渣团及其他食物残物进行收集、分析和鉴定 ,结果表明 ,本区麦氏贼鸥主要捕食雪　 ,其残物在食物项中的平均出现率为 6 7～ 80 %;同时贼鸥从本区几个考察站觅取人类遗弃的垃圾食物作为其重要的食物补充 ,垃圾食物的平均出现率为 6 .8～ 1 1 .6 %。不同巢区贼鸥对雪　的捕杀量和垃圾的需求差异较大 ,其主要与营巢地域的雪　分布密度以及摄食区的占有与否有关。     

方差-协方差分量估计公式等价性的进一步证明

通过附有条件的间接平差模型进一步证明各类方差-协方差分量估计公式之间的等价性。     

Water balance components estimation under scenarios of land cover change in the Vea catchment,West Africa

ABSTRACT

The need for a detailed investigation of the Vea catchment water balance components cannot be overemphasized due to its accelerated land-cover dynamics and the associated impacts on the hydrological processes. This study assessed the possible consequences of land-use change scenarios (i.e. business as usual, BAU, and afforestation for the year 2025) compared to the 2016 baseline on the Vea catchment’s water balance components using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The data used include daily climate and discharge, soil and land use/land cover maps. The results indicate that the mean annual water yield may increase by 9.1% under the BAU scenario but decrease by 2.7% under the afforestation scenario; actual evapotranspiration would decrease under BAU but increase under afforestation; and groundwater recharge may increase under both scenarios but would be more pronounced under the afforestation scenario. These outcomes highlight the significance of land-cover dynamics in water resource management and planning at the catchment.