3-D shell analysis of cylindrical underground structures under seismic shear (S) wave action

The 3-D shell theory is employed in order to provide a new perspective to earthquake-induced strains in long cylindrical underground structures, when soil-structure interaction can be ignored. In this way, it is possible to derive analytical expressions for the distribution along the cross-section of axial, hoop and shear strains and also proceed to their consistent superposition in order to obtain the corresponding principal and von Mises strains. The resulting analytical solutions are verified against the results of 3-D dynamic FEM analyses. Seismic design strains are consequently established after optimization of the analytical solutions against the random angles which define the direction of wave propagation relative to the longitudinal structure axis, the direction of particle motion and the location on the structure cross-section. The basic approach is demonstrated herein for harmonic shear (S) waves with plane front, propagating in a homogeneous half-space or in a two layer profile, where soft soil overlays the bedrock.     

SEDIMENT TRANSPORT OF LOW CONCENTRATION IN PIPES

The study of Sediment transport of low concentration in pipes bas been applied in the design of a self-cleansing storm sewer. An alternative criterion is suggested as op- posed to the widely used single flow velocity approach. A conceptual model which simu- lates the condition in a storm sewer is developed and tested against experimental data. The results proved that the volumetric sediment concentration, pipe diameter and sedi- ment size have to be taken into consideration to produce a self-cleansing storm sewer. It also shows that the slope obtained by this alternative criterion is lower than the single flow velocity approach.     

Parametric analysis of single pile response in laterally spreading ground

Extensive damage to pile-supported structures has been witnessed in several recent earthquakes (Chi-Chi, 1999; Kobe, 1995, etc.), as a result of liquefaction-induced lateral spreading of slightly sloping ground or free-face topographic irregularities. This paper presents a parametric analysis of the basic pile and soil parameters, as well as the pile-soil interaction mechanisms affecting the response of single piles subjected to such lateral spreading, based on numerical simulation with the nonlinear P-y method. In parallel, a set of design charts and analytical relations is established, for approximate computation of maximum pile deflections and bending moments, using a “theory guided” multi-variable statistical analysis of the numerical predictions. Three different combinations (design cases) of pile head constraints and soil conditions were considered, which are commonly encountered in practice. The overall accuracy of the proposed analytical relations is evaluated against experimental results from seven centrifuge and five large shaking table experiments.     

欧美的小规模建筑设计事务所

2006年是我国承诺对WTO成员国实行全面开放的最后一年。为提升竞争力，国内上万家中小型建筑设计单位面临着改制的任务。未来的设计机构应以什么模式为主导，值得大家探讨。本文提供欧美一些小规模设计事务所的运作模式和经营状况，供参考。     

Seismic rotational displacement of gravity walls by pseudo-dynamic method: Passive case

Prediction of the seismic rotational displacements of retaining wall under passive condition is an important aspect of design in earthquake prone region. In this paper, the pseudo-dynamic method is used to compute the rotational displacements of rigid retaining wall supporting cohesionless backfill under seismic loading for the passive earth pressure condition. The proposed method considers time, phase difference and effect of amplification in shear and primary waves propagating through both the backfill and the retaining wall. The influence of ground motion characteristics on rotational displacement of the wall is evaluated. Also the effects of variation of parameters like wall friction angle, soil friction angle, amplification factor, shear wave velocity, primary wave velocity, period of lateral shaking, horizontal and vertical seismic accelerations on the rotational displacements are studied. The rotational displacement of the wall increases substantially with increase in amplification of both shear and primary waves, time of input motion, period of lateral shaking and decreases with increase in soil friction angle, wall friction angle. The rotational displacements of the wall also increase when the effect of wall inertia is taken into account. Results are provided in graphical form.     

水库设计的三维可视化研究

为了提高水库设计的自动化水平,实现模型的三维可视化,本文研究了三维地形的建模方法及其在水库设计中的应用。采用了地性特征点和地性线参与三维建模的方法,提高了数字高程模型DEM的地形逼真度。在此基础上通过一种综合了水平线和覆盖消隐算法的合成消隐算法实现了彻底的消隐以及图像的快速生成。通过三维水库模型,不仅可以得到水库的容量、库水的淹没边界和淹没面积,而且还可以生成地形剖面图。如果地形剖面图与地质图、水文图、构造图等进行叠加,可以形成综合剖面图。文章最后采用三维可视化方法模拟了某水库的部分设计工作,结果表明,通过水库的三维地形模型可以简单直观的完成坝址的选择、水库容量以及蓄水的水位线的确定等方面的工作。     

Direct scantling assessment of propeller blades

Traditionally, propeller design has been focused on all activities necessary to obtain a propeller featuring a high efficiency, avoiding erosive cavitation for given operating conditions and having adequate structural strength. In recent years, more and more challenging requirements have been imposed, such as the reduction of radiated noise and pressures pulses, requiring more precise analyses and methods in the optimization of the propeller performance. On the other hand, the evaluation of the propeller strength still relies on simplified methods, which basically consider the blade as a cantilever beam subjected to characteristic static forces. Since the loads acting on a blade are variable in the blade revolution and in different operating conditions throughout the ship life, a procedure to account for the influence of fatigue phenomena is proposed. The fatigue assessment could reduce the safety factor in the propeller scantling rules and allow improving the quality of propeller design (e.g. obtaining higher efficiency, margin on cavitation phenomena, less noise).     

GIS在轨道交通建设中的应用

介绍了GIS在城市轨道交通建设中的应用，分析了轨道交通建设的评价要素和对GIS系统的建设要求提出了系统设计的总体思路和框架及应用前景。