Laboratory investigations of the role of biofilms on stream-bed surfaces in debris-flow runout

Debris-flow runout is a fascinating process to understand due to its implications for downstream alluvial fans. Based on the propagation-deposition behaviors of the Dongyuege (DYG) debris flow, in Yunnan, the effect of biofilms on channel surfaces on debris-flow runout is investigated in laboratory flumes with two different internal surfaces: surfaces are lined with granite slabs (Model I) and gravel (Model II), respectively. Our results show that biofilms can significantly reduce frictional resistance to flows. They increase flow velocities, slow down the deceleration of the snouts, prolong runout distances, and subsequently extend the areas covered with resulting deposits, thus greatly assisting the propagation of experimental debris flows. Slippery biofilms consisting mainly of diatoms and their extracellular mucus (ECM) reduce the contact friction between the flume-beds and the overlying fluids, and greatly promote the propagation of tested flows. Well-developed biofilms are found on the underwater channel surfaces of the DYG Creek. Acting as lubricating layers, they likely played a key role in the DYG debris-flow runout. Most of the debris transported during the DYG event was deposited on overbanks, and the sediment that caused the disaster was transported to the populated fan region through the stream-bed clad in the thick biofilms. Owing to their impacts on the development and width of the temporary debris dam breach, the stream-bed covered with biofilms became a direct contributor to the debris-flow hazard. Because of the ubiquitous presence of biofilms on mountain stream-bed surfaces, the development of perennial streamflows can be viewed as an indicator of gully susceptibility to debris flows threatening creek fans. The underwater areas of pre-event channel cross-sections should be regarded as slip or low-friction boundaries, and the parts above stream-levels can be viewed as no-slip boundaries. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of the improper modeling of viscous damping on the first-mode and higher-mode dominated responses of base-isolated buildings

In many finite element platforms, a classical global damping matrix based on the elastic stiffness of the system (including isolators) is usually developed as part of the solution to the equations of motion of base-isolated buildings. The conducted analytical and numerical investigations illustrate that this approach can lead to the introduction of unintended damping to the first and higher vibration modes and the spurious suppression of the respective structural responses. A similar shortcoming might be observed even when a nonclassical damping model (ie, an assembly of the superstructure and isolation system damping sub-matrices) is used. For example, the use of Rayleigh damping approach to develop the superstructure damping sub-matrix can lead to the undesired addition of damping to the isolated mode arising from the mass-proportional component of the superstructure damping. On the other hand, the improper use of nonclassical stiffness-proportional damping (eg, determining the proportional damping coefficient, β_k , based on the first mode) can result in assigning significant damping to the higher-modes and the unintended mitigation of the higher-mode responses. Results show that a nonclassical stiffness-proportional model in which β_k is determined based on the second modal period of a base-isolated building can reasonably specify the intended damping to the higher modes without imparting undesirable damping to the first mode. The nonclassical stiffness-proportional damping can be introduced to the numerical model through explicit viscous damper elements attached between adjacent floors. In structural analysis software such as SAP2000®, the desired nonclassical damping can be also modeled through specifying damping solely to the superstructure material.     

Nonlinear dynamic tests of a reinforced concrete frame building at different damage levels

This paper discusses the dynamic tests of a two-story infilled reinforced concrete (RC) frame building using an eccentric-mass shaker. The building, located in El Centro, CA, was substantially damaged prior to the tests due to the seismic activity in the area. During the testing sequence, five infill walls were removed to introduce additional damage states and to investigate the changes in the dynamic properties and the nonlinear response of the building to the induced excitations. The accelerations and displacements of the structure under the forced and ambient vibrations were recorded through an array of sensors, while lidar scans were obtained to document the damage. The test data provide insight into the nonlinear response of an actual building and the change of its resonant frequencies and operational shapes due to varying damage levels and changes of the excitation amplitude, frequency, and orientation.     

Seismic reliability assessment and the nonergodicity in the modelling parameter uncertainties

Modelling uncertainty can significantly affect the structural seismic reliability assessment. However, the limit state excursion due to this type of uncertainty may not be described by a Poisson process as it lacks renewal properties with the occurrence of each earthquake event. Furthermore, considering uncertainties related to ground motion representation by employing recorded ground motions together with modelling uncertainties is not a trivial task. Robust fragility assessment, proposed previously by the authors, employs the structural response to recorded ground motion as data in order to update prescribed seismic fragility models. Robust fragility can be extremely efficient for considering also the structural modelling uncertainties by creating a dataset of one-to-one assignments of structural model realizations and as-recorded ground motions. This can reduce the computational effort by more than 1 order of magnitude. However, it should be kept in mind that the fragility concept itself is based on the underlying assumption of Poisson-type renewal. Using the concept of updated robust reliability, considering both the uncertainty in ground motion representation based on as-recorded ground motion and non ergodic modelling uncertainties, the error introduced through structural reliability assessment by using the robust fragility is quantified. It is shown through specific application to an existing RC frame that this error is quite small when the product of the time interval and the standard deviation of failure rate is small and is on the conservative side.     

大规模群桩基础水平承载力效应系数计算研究

桩基础在水平荷载或地震作用下的承载力计算一直是工程界的一个研究难点,近年来随着建筑、桥梁桩基础的规模大幅增加,基于小规模、小比例尺群桩基础水平承载力试验得出来的结论和计算方法可能会不适应新的计算要求,相关的认识和计算方法需要重新论证和更新。本文针对大规模群桩基础水平承载力效应系数的计算问题,首先对国内外研究进展进行调研,发现现有的规范计算方法可能会高估群桩基础的水平承载力。针对这些问题,对大规模群桩基础的水平承载力效应系数进行有限元数值计算分析,探讨水平承载力效应系数的规律,给出相应的计算方法,并与规范计算方法结果进行对比。本文的研究结果可为相应的工程设计问题提供依据,结果的适用性需要今后进一步的检验。     

基于桩间土滑动特性的合理桩间距研究

为研究抗滑桩合理桩间距以及荷载传递机制,首先以桩侧摩阻力为拱脚时的破裂面推导出以桩身为拱脚时的破裂角计算公式;然后引入对数螺旋线法确定桩间土体的滑移深度,以土拱效应为基础建立计算模型,求解考虑桩间土体滑移深度的合理桩间距表达式;最后对桩间净距的主要影响因素进行分析,包括滑坡推力、黏聚力、桩截面宽度以及高度。研究结果表明：由桩身和桩侧摩阻力同时作为土拱拱脚更符合实际受力状态,同时求得的土拱拱圈厚度和矢高小于以桩身为拱脚条件下相应值而大于以桩侧摩阻力为拱脚条件下的相应值,并且随桩埋深的增加而增大。     

复杂地震激励下隔震结构地震响应研究进展

隔震技术作为当前最有效的结构减震控制技术之一,在世界各国高烈度地区广泛建造。随着隔震技术的大范围推广,建造工况更为复杂的隔震工程随之不断涌现。系统深入研究复杂地震激励下隔震结构地震响应,是隔震工程长期安全服役的重要保障,也是隔震技术能够不断完善和推广的坚实基础。本文从复杂地震激励涵盖的多维地震、近场和近断层地震、行波效应以及土与结构相互作用四个主要方面入手,依据国内外相关文献开展综述,探讨了复杂地震激励下隔震结构研究存在的问题,并对此进行展望。     

软土场地基础隔震建筑减震性能研究

本文研究土与结构相互作用(SSI)对多层及中高层基础隔震建筑地震需求及隔震效率的影响规律,隔震层采用LRB铅芯橡胶与LNR普通橡胶隔震支座组合,就我国现行《建筑抗震设计规范》(GB50011-2010)中软土场地设置隔震层问题做探讨。提出土与基础隔震结构相互作用的简化计算模型,对不同场地及隔震设计目标下的多层及中高层基础隔震结构进行时程分析。研究表明:软土场地基础隔震建筑隔震层的有效隔震效率相对于硬土场地有所下降,必须通过设置具有一定规格的LRB支座来满足隔震目标。本文给出了铅芯橡胶支座极限变形需求随建筑层高及隔震目标变化的规律。     

AP1000核电厂模型基底隔震振动台试验研究

为研究AP1000核电厂基底隔震性能,设计了缩尺比为1/40的AP1000核电厂模型结构,进行了AP1000核电厂模型基底隔震振动台试验。试验中采用铅芯橡胶隔震支座进行隔震,并选取RG1.60人工波、El Centro波和Kobe波作为地震动输入。本文从加速度响应、楼层加速度反应谱、加速度峰值放大系数、减震率等方面对隔震与非隔震核电厂结构的地震响应特性进行了研究。试验结果表明:隔震能明显减小上部结构水平向加速度响应和加速度反应谱峰值,而在隔震频率处隔震模型加速度反应谱有所增加;隔震模型由于摇摆效应在隔震频率处的水平向楼层加速度反应谱随楼层高度的升高先减小后增大;在三向输入地震动作用下,隔震和非隔震AP1000模型各楼层在竖向基频附近的竖向加速度反应谱较竖向输入的地震动放大较为明显。     

基于弹性拉索的超高墩三塔斜拉桥减震效果研究

为探究超高墩三塔斜拉桥在弹性拉索装置下的减震效果,首先利用SAP2000建立了考虑支座非线性和拉索几何非线性的三维有限元模型;其次基于弹性拉索装置,研究了弹性拉索刚度对三塔斜拉桥地震响应的影响;最后基于数值分析结果并结合某三塔斜拉桥实际工程提出3种减震方案。研究表明:在两边塔塔梁结合处设置弹性拉索可显著减小桥梁在地震作用下的内力和位移响应;提出的方案1(两边塔单根弹性索均为50股,单股刚度均为12000kN/m)、方案2(两边塔单根弹性索均为100股,单股刚度均为10000kN/m)和方案3(15#主塔单根弹性拉索100股,单股刚度10000kN/m;17#主塔单根弹性拉索100股,单股刚度为16000kN/m)相较于无弹性索状态,均可有效降低主塔塔底弯矩、塔底剪力、塔顶位移及主梁纵向位移;相较于方案1,方案2和方案3是更优方案。