Nonlinear dynamic finite element simulation of Alibey earth dam

In this study, dynamic behavior and earthquake resistance of Alibey earth dam was investigated. The dam was modeled with four node plane-strain finite elements (FE) and displacement-pore pressure coupled FE analyses were performed. Nonlinear material models such as pressure dependent and independent multi yield materials were implemented during the analyses. Transient dynamic FE analyses were performed with Newmark method. The Newton-Raphson solution scheme was adopted to solve the equations. Liquefaction and/or cyclic mobility effects were considered during the analysis. For the FE analyses, OpenSees (Open System for Earthquake Engineering Simulation) framework was adopted.     

Variations in elastic thickness and flexure of the Maracaibo block

We estimate the lateral variations of the elastic thickness of the Maracaibo block with a 3D numerical approach by using centered finite differences. The calculation is based on solving the fourth-order partial differential equation that governs the bending of a thin plate fixed on its boundaries (zero displacement) with variable thickness (or elastic thickness for this particular case). An initial plate-load model is built and is iteratively modified to fit the general basement configuration and gravity data. The final result is an elastic thickness map that covers the Maracaibo block and the surrounding sections of the South American plate. It shows that the elastic thickness ranges from 30 km to 18 km with a mean value of 23.6 km and a mode of 26 km. The largest elastic thickness values are associated with the location of the Santa Marta Mountains and the Barinas Apure Basin, while the smallest ones with the Mérida Andes-Maracaibo Basin flexural system. The current basement configuration within the Maracaibo basin, formed as a result of its geodynamic evolution, has affected the mechanical properties of the Maracaibo block near the current Mérida Andes position. The load of the Perijá Range is compensated by a complex stress tensor, and that of the Santa Marta Mountains does not have an isostatic root as it is held by a relatively strong lithosphere.     

支持向量回归机在滑坡安全可靠度评价中的应用研究

探讨支持向量机的参数优化方法,将学习能力较强的支持向量机引入滑坡可靠度评价当中,并根据数理统计的理论,对滑坡稳定性敏感性因素作数据处理,并证明其合理性,在此基础上提出一种改进的可靠度指标的计算方法。为便于对比,分别选取49个学习样本和121个学习样本两种计算模型,计算实例表明,这两种计算模型与蒙特卡洛模型计算结果非常接近,充分体现了在小样本的情形下支持向量机的优势,说明将其应用于滑坡安全可靠度评价中是可行的。     

应用SVM方法进行沉积微相识别

作者针对目前沉积微相中的特征提取问题,提出了应用ＳＶＭ（支持向量机）方法进行沉积微相识别的方案。该方法不是象传统方法那样首先试图将原输入空间降维（即特征选择变换）,而是设法将输入空间升维,以求在高维空间中问题变得线性可分（或接近线性可分）。因为升维后只是改变了内积运算,并没有使算法复杂性随着维数的增加而增加,因此这种方法才是可行的。所以。利用该方法更能胜任实际情况。实际处理表明该方法在小样本情况下     

Paleoproterozoic volcanic rocks in the southern margin of the North China Craton,central China:Implications for the Columbia supercontinent

The volcanic rocks of the Xiong'er Group are situated in the southern margin of the North China Craton(NCC).Research on the Xiong er Group is important to understand the tectonic evolution of the NCC and the Columbia supercontinent during the Paleoproterozoic.In this study,to constrain the age of the Xiong'er volcanic rocks and identify its tectonic environment,we report zircon LA-ICP-MS data with Hf isotope,whole-rock major and trace element compositions and Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopes of the volcanic rocks of the Xiong'er Group.The Xiong'er volcanic rocks mainly consist of basaltic andesite,andesite.dacite and rhyolite,with minor basalt.Our new sets of data combined with those from previous studies indicate that Xiong'er volcanism should have lasted from 1827 Ma to 1746 Ma as the major phase of the volcanism.These volcanics have extremely low MgO.Cr and Ni contents,are enriched in LREEs and LILEs but depleted in HFSEs(Nb,Ta,and Ti),similar to arc-related volcanic rocks.They are characterized by negative zircon ε_(Hf)_(t) values of-17.4 to 8.8,whole-rock initial ~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr values of 0.7023 to 0.7177 andε_(Nd)(t) values of-10.9 to 6.4.and Pb isotopes(~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb =14.366-16.431,~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb =15.106-15.371,~(208)Pb/~(204)Pb= 32.455-37.422).The available elemental and Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotope data suggest that the Xiong'er volcanic rocks were sourced from a mantle contaminated by continental crust.The volcanic rocks of the Xiong'er Group might have been generated by high-degree partial melting of a lithospheric mantle that was originally modified by oceanic subduction in the Archean.Thus,we suggest that the subduction-modified lithospheric mantle occurred in an extensional setting during the breakup of the Columbia supercontinent in the Late Paleoproterozoic,rather than in an arc setting.     

冻土中几类力学试验方法的探讨

获取寒区工程设计中冻土的物理力学指标及冻土本构模型中的模型参数都离不开冻土的力学试验.随着对冻土力学性质研究的深入,需要考察更多加载路径下冻土的力学行为,这也是检验已有冻土本构模型的有效途径.因此,精确的冻土力学试验是认识冻土力学性质的基本手段.为进一步考察冻土的力学性质,提高冻土力学试验的精度,应用MTS-810低温...     

Application of the third medium method for frictionless contact problems in geomechanics

Traditional approaches in contact mechanics demand complicated search algorithms at the interface between the contacting bodies. Recently, a new contact method based on the concept of a third medium has been developed, which overcomes the drawbacks of conventional contact mechanics techniques. This new scheme is based on a space filling mesh, in which the contacting bodies can move and interact. The ability and accuracy of this method in predicting displacements, as well as the contact forces, is validated by solving selected numerical examples. The potential merits of this method for analysing geotechnical problems by the finite element method are addressed.     

Gully erosion spatial modelling: Role of machine learning algorithms in selection of the best controlling factors and modelling process

This investigation assessed the efficacy of 10 widely used machine learning algorithms (MLA) comprising the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), generalized linear model (GLM), stepwise generalized linear model (SGLM), elastic net (ENET), partial least square (PLS), ridge regression, support vector machine (SVM), classification and regression trees (CART), bagged CART, and random forest (RF) for gully erosion susceptibility mapping (GESM) in Iran. The location of 462 previously existing gully erosion sites were mapped through widespread field investigations, of which 70% (323) and 30% (139) of observations were arbitrarily divided for algorithm calibration and validation. Twelve controlling factors for gully erosion, namely, soil texture, annual mean rainfall, digital elevation model (DEM), drainage density, slope, lithology, topographic wetness index (TWI), distance from rivers, aspect, distance from roads, plan curvature, and profile curvature were ranked in terms of their importance using each MLA. The MLA were compared using a training dataset for gully erosion and statistical measures such as RMSE (root mean square error), MAE (mean absolute error), and R-squared. Based on the comparisons among MLA, the RF algorithm exhibited the minimum RMSE and MAE and the maximum value of R-squared, and was therefore selected as the best model. The variable importance evaluation using the RF model revealed that distance from rivers had the highest significance in influencing the occurrence of gully erosion whereas plan curvature had the least importance. According to the GESM generated using RF, most of the study area is predicted to have a low (53.72%) or moderate (29.65%) susceptibility to gully erosion, whereas only a small area is identified to have a high (12.56%) or very high (4.07%) susceptibility. The outcome generated by RF model is validated using the ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristics) curve approach, which returned an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.985, proving the excellent forecasting ability of the model. The GESM prepared using the RF algorithm can aid decision-makers in targeting remedial actions for minimizing the damage caused by gully erosion.     

Coupled discrete element and finite volume solution of two classical soil mechanics problems

One dimensional solutions for the classic critical upward seepage gradient/quick condition and the time rate of consolidation problems are obtained using coupled routines for the finite volume method (FVM) and discrete element method (DEM), and the results compared with the analytical solutions. The two phase flow in a system composed of fluid and solid is simulated with the fluid phase modeled by solving the averaged Navier–Stokes equation using the FVM and the solid phase is modeled using the DEM. A framework is described for the coupling of two open source computer codes: YADE-OpenDEM for the discrete element method and OpenFOAM for the computational fluid dynamics. The particle–fluid interaction is quantified using a semi-empirical relationship proposed by Ergun [12]. The two classical verification problems are used to explore issues encountered when using coupled flow DEM codes, namely, the appropriate time step size for both the fluid and mechanical solution processes, the choice of the viscous damping coefficient, and the number of solid particles per finite fluid volume.