Predicting the displacement of triple pendulum™ bearings in a full‐scale shaking experiment using a three‐dimensional element

The accuracy of a series spring model to predict the peak displacement and displacement history of Triple Pendulum? (TP) bearings in a strongly shaken, full‐scale building is evaluated in this paper. The series spring model was implemented as a self‐contained three‐dimensional TP bearing element in OpenSees and is now available for general use. The TP bearing element contains the option for constant friction or a generalized friction model that accounts for the effect of instantaneous velocity and compression load on the friction coefficient. Comparison between numerical simulation and experimental data of a five‐story steel moment frame building shows that the peak displacement of isolation system can generally be predicted with confidence using a constant friction coefficient model. The friction coefficient model accounting for the effect of axial load and velocity leads to minor improvement over the constant friction coefficient models in some cases. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydrological characteristics of vegetated river flows: a laboratory flume study

Abstract

Laboratory flume experiments were undertaken to measure the vertical profiles of mean flow velocity for three different flow discharges and four different stem densities of Hydrilla verticillata. The data were used to calculate three parameters, namely Manning's roughness coefficient, the Reynolds number and the Froude number. In addition, empirical equations were obtained for the vertical distribution of measured flow velocity within the transitional zone and above the plant canopy. The results show that: (a) the vertical distribution of measured flow velocity exhibits three zone profiles; (b) Manning's roughness coefficient decreases with increasing depth-averaged flow velocity; (c) the relationship between Manning's roughness coefficient and the depth-averaged flow velocity is within the smooth left inverse curve; (d) Manning's roughness coefficient significantly changes with increasing density of Hydrilla; (e) the Froude number is independent of the density of Hydrilla; and (f) both the Reynolds number and the Froude number increase with increasing depth-averaged flow velocity.

Citation Shi, J.Z., Li, Y.-H., Hughes, J.M.R., and Zhao, M., 2013. Hydrological characteristics of vegetated river flows: a laboratory flume study. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58 (5), 1047–1058.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz     

A new approach to assessing the water footprint of hydroelectric power based on allocation of water footprints among reservoir ecosystem services

Hydroelectric power is an important energy source to meet the growing demand for energy, and large amounts of water are consumed to generate this energy. Previous studies often assumed that the water footprint of hydroelectric power equaled the reservoir’s water footprint, but failed to allocate the reservoir water footprint among the many beneficiaries; dealing with this allocation remains a challenge. In this study, we developed a new approach to quantify the water footprint of hydroelectric power (WF_h) by separating it from the reservoir water footprint (WF) using an allocation coefficient (η_h) based on the ratio of the benefits from hydroelectric power to the total ecosystem service benefits. We used this approach in a case study of the Three Gorges Reservoir, the world’s largest reservoir, which provides multiple ecosystem services. We found large differences between the WF_h and the water footprint of per unit of hydroelectric production (PWF_h) calculated using η_h and those calculated without this factor. From 2003 to 2012, η_h decreased sharply (from 0.76 in 2005 to 0.41 in 2012), which was due to the fact that large increases in the value of non-energy ecosystem services, and particularly flood control. In 2009, flood control replaced hydroelectricity as the largest ecosystem service of water from the Three Gorges Reservoir. Using our approach, WF_h and PWF_h averaged 331.0 × 10⁶ m³ and 1.5 m³ GJ⁻¹, respectively. However, these values would almost double without allocating water footprints among different reservoir ecosystem services. Thus, previous studies have overestimated the WF_h and PWF_h of reservoirs, especially for reservoirs that serve multiple purposes. Thus, the allocation coefficient should not be ignored when calculating the WF of a product or service.     

流域管理与权力产权外部性

流域资源具有公共池塘资源的属性,私人在流域资源的开发过程中可能会产生外部性问题,因而要求政府对流域开发、利用进行管理.但由于实际上政府并不是只有单一目标的统一的组织,在分权体制下,不同区域、部门的政府单元掌握着实际权力.由于权力也存在外部性,各管理区域、部门之间存在利益冲突,导致政府的管理失效.解决政府权力外部性的办法一是要转变政府职能,改变政府的激励机制,二是严格界定各政府单元的权力界限,对流域进行统_管理.     

汶川地震(MS8.0)前的地磁低频峰值变化

以2008年5月12日发生的汶川地震(M_S8.0)为研究对象,选取震前2007年7月—2008年6月成都地磁台的观测数据每月计算一个低频段功率谱峰值,并对2011年7月—2012年6月和2012年7月—2013年6月两个时间段的资料作同样的数据处理。结果表明,成都台2007年7月—2008年6月的低频段功率谱峰值震前出现一些幅度较大的变化,而另外两个时段则显示较为平稳的低频段功率谱峰值。作为对照,对西昌台同时段资料也作相同的处理,其结果显示震前未出现和成都台类似的异常结果。结合其他研究结果,初步认为这种现象可能与汶川地震(M_S8.0)有关联,且这种现象的出现可能与震中距有关,但其发生机理尚需进一步研究。这一结果对于震磁关系的研究具有参考意义。     

Sorption-desorption kinetics and toxic cell concentration in marine phytoplankton microalgae exposed to Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate

Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonates (LAS) are ubiquitous surfactants. Traces can be found in coastal environments. Sorption and toxicity of C₁₂-LAS congeners were studied in controlled conditions (2-3500 μg C₁₂LAS/L) in five marine phytoplanktonic species, using standardized methods. IC₅₀ values ranged from 0.5 to 2 mg LAS/L. Sorption of ¹⁴C₁₂-6 LAS isomer was measured at environmentally relevant trace levels (4 μg/L) using liquid scintillation counting. Steady-state sorption on algae was reached within 5 h in the order dinoflagellate > diatoms > green algae. The sorption data, fitted a L-type Freundlich isotherm, indicating saturation. Desorption was rapid but a low LAS fraction was still sorbed after 24 h. Toxic cell concentration was 0.38 ± 0.09 mg/g for the studied species. LAS toxicity results from sorption on biological membranes leading to non-specific disturbance of algal growth. Results indicate that LAS concentrations in coastal environments do not represent a risk for these organisms.     

盆地基底岩性的综合地球物理预测方法——以松辽盆地滨北地区基底岩性预测为例

预测盆地基岩岩性不仅对于研究盆地的深部地质结构及盆地的形成演化具有重要的意义,而且也对基岩风化壳油气藏的勘探具有一定的指导作用.本文通过对盆地重、磁异常成因的综合分析,提出了一系列盆地基底岩性综合预测研究的综合地球物理资料处理解释方法技术.指出在地震构造界面的约束下采用重力剥皮技术可以较为可靠地获取基底岩性重力异常并分析了界面密度差对剥皮后基底岩性重力异常的影响,给出了等效密度差的求取方法.分析了基底起伏对基岩岩性磁异常的影响,指出采用"平化曲"将磁异常归化到与基底同一高度,可以有效地提高对基底岩性体的刻画能力.通过综合分析认为:应用基底的相对视密度、相对视磁化率及两者的相关系数可以有效地刻画基底岩性的特征.神经网络是基底岩性判别与分类的有效方法技术.通过对松辽盆地北部滨北地区的基底岩性的综合预测显示了本文系列预测基底岩性方法的有效性,预测结果反映了松辽盆地基底岩性的分布特征.该系列方法技术可为其他盆地的基底地质填图提供了可借鉴的综合预测方法技术.     

Application of snowmelt runoff model for water resource management

Snow‐covered areas (SCAs) are the fundamental source of water for the hydrological cycle for some region. Accurate measurements of river discharge from snowmelt can help manage much needed water required for hydropower generation and irrigation purposes. This study aims to apply the snowmelt runoff model (SRM) in the Upper Indus basin by the Astore River in northern Pakistan for the years 2000 to 2006. The Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) data are used to generate the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the region. Various variables (snow cover depletion curves (SCDCs), temperature and precipitation) and parameters (degree‐day factor, recession coefficient, runoff coefficients, time lag, critical temperature and temperature lapse rate) are used as input in the SRM. However, snow cover data are direct and an important input to the SRM. Satellite data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) are used to estimate the SCA. Normalized difference snow index (NDSI) algorithm is applied for snow cover mapping and to differentiate snow from other land features. Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient of determination (R²) and volume difference (D_V) are used for quality assessment of the SRM. The results of the current research show that for the study years (2000–2006), the average value of R² is 0·87 and average volume difference D_V is 1·18%. The correlation coefficient between measured and computed runoff is 0·95. The results of the study further show that a high level of accuracy can be achieved during the snowmelt season. The simulation results endorse that the SRM in conjunction with MODIS snow cover product is very useful for water resource management in the Astore River and can be used for runoff forecasts in the Indus River basin in northern Pakistan. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crop evapotranspiration in the Nile Delta under different irrigation methods

Eddy correlation measurements within the Nile Delta allowed the determination of evapotranspiration (E) for seven crops (rice, maize, cotton, sugar beet, berseem, wheat and fava beans) using basin irrigation (BI), furrow irrigation (FI), BI with increased intervals (BI_i), FI with increased intervals (FI_i), strip irrigation (SI) and drip irrigation (DI). Total E values over the cropping season for rice (BI, BI_i) were the highest (>600 mm), while those for sugar beet (DI), maize (SI and DI) and berseem (BI_i) were the lowest (<250 mm). The differences were due to a combination of atmospheric demand, soil moisture, the presence of surface standing water, root depth, and the length and timing of the cropping season. The DI and SI methods had the advantage for water saving, while the FI_i and BI_i methods were effective for crops with shallow root lengths. Estimated annual E was 566–828 mm/year (water-saving irrigation) and 875–1225 mm/year (conventional irrigation).