Verification and validation of a seismic response analysis code for framed structures using the ASI‐Gauss technique

In this report, the capabilities of the adaptively shifted integration (ASI)‐Gauss code in the analysis of the seismic responses of framed structures are verified and validated by comparing the results with detailed numerical simulations performed by the parallel finite element analysis code, E‐Simulator, and with experimental results obtained by E‐Defense. The numerical results obtained by both codes showed good agreement with the experimental results obtained by E‐Defense. Furthermore, seismic waves with unnaturally large magnitudes are applied to a high‐rise building model to demonstrate the ability of the ASI‐Gauss code to analyze the collapse behaviors of building frames. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of pore size and geometry on peat unsaturated hydraulic conductivity computed from 3D computed tomography image analysis

In organic soils, hydraulic conductivity is related to the degree of decomposition and soil compression, which reduce the effective pore diameter and consequently restrict water flow. This study investigates how the size distribution and geometry of air‐filled pores control the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of peat soils using high‐resolution (45 µm) three‐dimensional (3D) X‐ray computed tomography (CT) and digital image processing of four peat sub‐samples from varying depths under a constant soil water pressure head. Pore structure and configuration in peat were found to be irregular, with volume and cross‐sectional area showing fractal behaviour that suggests pores having smaller values of the fractal dimension in deeper, more decomposed peat, have higher tortuosity and lower connectivity, which influences hydraulic conductivity. The image analysis showed that the large reduction of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity with depth is essentially controlled by air‐filled pore hydraulic radius, tortuosity, air‐filled pore density and the fractal dimension due to degree of decomposition and compression of the organic matter. The comparisons between unsaturated hydraulic conductivity computed from the air‐filled pore size and geometric distribution showed satisfactory agreement with direct measurements using the permeameter method. This understanding is important in characterizing peat properties and its heterogeneity for monitoring the progress of complex flow processes at the field scale in peatlands. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Elastic fields in two joined transversely isotropic media of infinite extent as a result of rectangular loading

This paper presents the closed‐form solutions for the elastic fields in two bonded rocks induced by rectangular loadings. Each of the two bonded rocks behaves as a transversely isotropic linear elastic solid of semi‐infinite extent. They are completely bonded together at a horizontal surface. The rectangular loadings are body forces along either vertical or horizontal directions and are uniformly applied on a rectangular area. The rectangular area is embedded in the two bonded rocks and is parallel to the horizontal interface. The classical integral transforms are used in the solution formulation, and the elastic solutions are expressed in the forms of elementary harmonic functions for the rectangular loadings. The stresses and displacements in the rocks induced by both the horizontal and vertical body forces are also presented. The numerical results illustrate the important effect of the anisotropic bimaterial properties on the stress and displacement fields. The solutions can be easily implemented for numerical calculations and applied to problems encountered in rock mechanics and engineering. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geological evidence for neotectonic activity during deglaciation of the southern Sperrin Mountains,Northern Ireland

In the southern Sperrin Mountains, Northern Ireland, stacked glacigenic sequences that accumulated during deglaciation (ca. 17000–13000 yr BP) overlie a basement of jointed and mascerated bedrock. The glacigenic sequences comprise interbedded glaciotectonic shears, diamictic breccias and rock rafts. At one site a normal fault with a metre‐scale vertical displacement cuts through part of the sequence and is overlain by a glacial diamict. Sediments at an adjacent site show that faulting and associated hydrothermal activity was related to neotectonic reactivation of pre‐existing Caledonian lineaments caused by ice unloading. From stratigraphical and directional evidence, fault reactivation occurred early in the deglaciation after north central Ireland ice had retreated southwards into lowland areas, but before Sperrin Mountain ice readvanced from the north. This relationship provides evidence for the relative timing of neotectonic activity in Northern Ireland, and demonstrates the effects of glacio‐isostatic unloading near ice‐sheet centres. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

East Asia winter monsoon variations on a millennial time‐scale before the last glacial–interglacial cycle

Grain size and magnetic susceptibility measurements on samples from a typical loess–palaeosol sequence on the central Chinese Loess Plateau are used to reconstruct the Pleistocene East Asian monsoon climate. The coarse‐grained fraction, i.e. the weight percentage > 30 μm of the bulk grain‐size distribution, is used as a sensitive proxy index of the East Asia winter monsoon strength. On the basis of an absolute time‐scale, time‐series variations of this proxy show that winter monsoon strengths varied on millennial time‐scales during the periods 145–165, 240–280, 320–350, 390–440, 600–640, 860–890, 900–930 and 1330–1400 kyr BP. The wavelength of these climatic oscillations varied between 1.89 and 4.0 kyr, as is shown by spectral analysis using the multitaper method. Although numerical simulation experiments show that high frequencies also can arise from measurement errors in the grain‐size analysis, the frequencies prove to be sufficiently stable when the spectral analysis is repeated with a different number of tapers. For the time being, we do not correlate these climatic oscillations with palaeoclimatic records in the North Atlantic deep‐sea sediments because both time‐scales need to be further improved. Our data, however, certainly demonstrate that millennial‐scale East Asian winter monsoon variations in the last 1.4 million years can be detected from terrestrial loess records. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

计算机图像处理在增强华县地震构造遥感信息中的应用

由于地震构造的许多重要信息在卫片上显示往往比较隐晦，必须对其进行增强处理，以取得最佳的解译效果。本文以历史上曾发生过八级地震的华县地震构造带为例，讨论辐射增强、多波段频谱变换、空间变换假彩色增强、分类等计算机图象处理方法的若干功能，以及这些功能在不同背景条件下的处理效果，为分析该地区活动断裂、地质构造等提供了有意义的信息，也为这种处理手段在地震构造信息分析等方面的推广应用提供参考。     

Occurrence and Chemical Compositions of Amphiboles in Altered Dioritic Rocks of Laiwu Skarn‐Type Iron Deposit in West Shandong Area,China

The Laiwu Fe deposit is the largest skarn‐type deposit in West Shandong in China, with an estimated reserve of 290 Mt of iron ore. Here, we investigate the occurrence and chemical composition of amphiboles in altered dioritic rocks of this deposit. Three generations of amphibole group minerals were identified in these rocks. The first type (Type 1) is a hornblende with a generally euhedral crystal shape, 150–500 μm in size, and dominantly occurs in the host monzonite. The second type (Type 2) of hornblende occurs as fine grains (<100 μm) or concentric rims, less than 50 μm in thickness, around the Type 1 hornblende. The third type (Type 3) of amphibole is anhedral actinolite occurring along the boundary or the cracks of the Type 1 or 2 hornblende grains. The Type 1 hornblende has higher FeO (12.5–15.6 wt.%) and lower MgO contents (11.2–14.6 wt.%) than the Type 2 hornblende, which has an FeO content ranging from 8.8 to 10.5 wt.% and MgO content ranging from 14.2 to 17.1 wt.%. The Type 3 actinolite shows the lowest FeO (4.6–6.4 wt.%) and highest MgO (19.8–21.2 wt.%) contents. We infer that the Type 2 hornblende formed from Fe‐rich hydrothermal fluids released during rapid upwelling of the crystallizing magma. The fluids were relatively reduced and enriched in Fe. The Type 3 actinolite formed by coupled dissolution and reprecipitation, and its formation is one of the features denoting Fe‐enrichment events. Our study of these types of amphibole provides insights into the ore formation process.     

Ethnic Place Identity Within A Parisian Neighborhood

The Goutte d'Or neighborhood of Paris has long been seen as an impoverished yet colorful quarter of the city. In recent years, it has also developed a reputation as a center for immigrants. Three populations now share the neighborhood: the European French, the Maghrebi immigrant population and their children, and the newest population of migrants from former Francophone colonies. This paper examines how the Goutte d'Or's social and ethnic identity is revealed in the built environment and in its social and economic activity. This neighborhood demonstrates how different communities and place identities coexist. It also shows how global networks of migration, exchange, and visits infuse local places. The Goutte d'Or distills many aspects of French immigrant identities, providing an example for increasing numbers of immigrant neighborhoods in France and across the world.     

基于Landsat 8劈窗算法与混合光谱分解的城市热岛空间格局分析——以兰州市中心城区为例

在ENVI和GIS支持下,提出了基于Landsat 8遥感影像的地温反演劈窗算法,提取兰州市中心城区地表温度。利用FNEA和混合光谱分解法确定了兰州市中心城区的城市热岛中心、不透水面和植被盖度,分析了城市热岛空间分布格局以及地表温度与下垫面之间的关系。结果显示:基于Landsat 8数据地温反演的劈窗算法是可行的。兰州中心城区的高温区分布较集中,地表温度与植被呈较强的负相关,与不透水面呈不显著的正相关,与其他非光合物质呈正相关。     

Modelling peak accelerations from earthquakes

This paper deals with the prediction of peak horizontal accelerations with emphasis on seismic risk and insurance concerns. Non‐linear mixed effects models are used to analyse well‐known earthquake data and the consequences of mis‐specifying assumptions on the error term are quantified. A robust fit of the usual model, using recently developed robust weighted maximum likelihood estimators, is presented. Outlying data are automatically identified and subsequently investigated. A more appropriate model accounting for the extreme value nature of the responses, is also developed and implemented. The implication on acceleration predictions is demonstrated. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.