Correlation between strong motion durations and damage measures of concrete gravity dams

Strong motion duration affects the cumulative damage of structures significantly. There are more than 30 different definitions of strong motion duration. This study describes numerically, the interdependency between several different definitions of strong motion duration and structural accumulated damage indices, and the aim is to determine the definitions of strong motion duration that exhibit the strongest influence on structural damages. For this purpose, 20 as-recorded accelerograms with a wide range of durations, which are modified to match a 5% damped target spectrum, are considered in this study, and several different definitions of strong motion duration, such as significant duration, bracketed duration and uniform duration are proposed for measuring these durations. On the other hand, nonlinear seismic analyses of concrete gravity dams subjected to earthquake motions with different strong motion durations are conducted according to the Concrete Damaged Plasticity (CDP) model including the strain hardening or softening behavior. Peak displacement, local damage index, global damage index and damage energy dissipation are established for characterizing the influence of strong motion duration on the dynamic response of concrete gravity dams. The degree of the interrelationship between strong motion durations and damage measures is provided by correlation coefficients. Comparison of the correlation between the different durations of the ground motion and different damage measures reveals that strong motion durations calculated from different definitions have no significant influence on damage measure based on the peak displacement response of the dam, but are positively correlated to the accumulated damage measures such as the local damage index, global damage index and damage energy dissipation for events with similar response spectrum.     

Can additional abundance indices improve harvest control rules for New Zealand rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) fisheries?

Although New Zealand rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) fisheries can be assessed with a sophisticated Bayesian length‐based model, these assessments are expensive and time consuming; they cannot be conducted for each area every year. Harvest control rules are increasingly important management tools in New Zealand rock lobster fisheries. Recent work has developed and evaluated procedures for rebuilding or maintaining lobster stocks based on criteria agreed by stakeholders. Most management procedures depend on a single abundance index, often catch per unit of effort (CPUE). When management procedures react slowly to changes in vulnerable biomass, allowable catches get out of phase with the stock, causing large oscillations in both catches and CPUE. Lags between data and management actions and “latent years” are features of rules that reduce responsiveness. This study explores ways to improve the responsiveness of harvest control rules by using additional data to predict changes in vulnerable biomass. Four data sets are examined: CPUE trends, pre‐recruit indices, puerulus settlement indices, and size frequencies. Only pre‐recruit indices, which were explored with a simple delay‐difference model based on parameter estimates from recent assessments, appeared to have immediate potential for use in improving management procedures.     

Prediction of risk in submarine tunnel construction by multi-factor analysis: A collapse prediction model

Abstract

Collapse is a major threat in tunnel construction. How to predict collapse risk accurately and timely is a complicated problem. In this paper, a non-linear mathematical model is applied to obtain the potential risk indices for a submarine tunnel using statistical analysis based on previous submarine tunnels, such as the Seikan tunnel and Xiang’an tunnel. Rough set theory is used to screen risk indices, determine each indicator value, and classify risk factors. Traditional weight calculation methods that are overly dependent on expert experience and other subjective factors are optimized and improved. Based on the frequency of each risk factor, the objective weight value of each risk index is determined according to weight back analysis theory. The ideal point method is used to calculate the collapse risk level. Predictions made by this new method are consistent with the actual tunnel collapse risk levels. This new method provides theoretical and technical basis for effectively predicting tunnel collapse.     

Gonadal cycle of the dwarf oyster Ostreola stentina from the south of the Gulf of Hammamet on the eastern coast of Tunisia

The reproductive cycle of the dwarf oyster Ostreola stentina (Payraudeau 1826) at Monastir in the south of the Gulf of Hammamet on the east coast of Tunisia was studied using condition indices and histological techniques. The species was shown to be a protandric hermaphrodite. Whereas males dominated the small shell length categories (12.45–34.99 mm), females (21.00–47.16 mm) and hermaphroditic individuals (30.00–57.95 mm) become more predominant with increasing size, suggesting that individuals may undergo protandric development. The overall male to female ratio was 1.0:1.7. Gametogenic development begins in February–March for females and in September for males, and spawning occurs during April and July for females and December and July for males. There was a clear relationship between the gonadal condition index and gametogenic stage for both sexes. Values increased from zero in their early stage of development and peaked during ripe and spawning stages, before decreasing in the spent stage. However, the meat condition index did not show any statistical differences between gametogenic stages.     

基于TM数据的广州市番禺区土地覆被格局分析

以覆盖番禺区1990年、1995年、2000年、2005年4个时相Landsat-TM影像为主要数据源,借助GIS手段和景观生态学方法生成土地覆被图。在数量化研究LUCC的基础上,借助景观格局指数反映番禺区4个时相土地覆被的变化机制,对土地覆被景观格局生态效应研究提供依据。研究表明:番禺区的土地利用结构在1990~1995年间处于开发调整时期,2000年后土地利用结构调整趋于成熟,土地覆被变化伴随着城市化的进程趋于平缓。研究时期内,番禺区的景观破碎度增加,土地利用结构的复杂程度也在增加,人为因素导致的土地覆被类型变化的影响逐渐替代自然作用下土地覆被类型情况。     

红砂根系构型对干旱的生态适应

 对西北干旱、半干旱区不同生境条件下红砂（Reaumuria soongorica）根系构型参数进行了分析,以探讨红砂根系构型对干旱的生态适应性。结果表明:①不同生境条件下红砂根系的拓扑指数均较小,根系分支模式接近叉状分支模式,但在干旱的河西走廊风沙区和戈壁区红砂根系拓扑指数均逐渐增加,表明干旱有使红砂根系分支向鱼尾分支模式发展。②干旱的河西走廊风沙区和戈壁区红砂根系分形维数均较小,分别为1.1778、1.1169,分形特征不是很明显;而半干旱的黄土丘陵沟壑区分形维数较大,根系具有很好的分形特征。③干旱的河西走廊红砂根系总分支率均比半干旱的黄土丘陵沟壑区要小,表明在半干旱的黄土丘陵沟壑区红砂根系分支能力相对较强,随着干旱的增加其分支能力有所减弱。④不同生境条件下红砂根系的连接长度都较大,但不同生境却表现出明显差异,其中干旱风沙区根系平均连接长度最长。红砂为适应干旱的环境通过减少根系次级分支和根系的重叠、增加根系连接长度,使其根系的分支模式向鱼尾分支模式发展以降低根系内部对营养物质的竞争,提高根系对营养物质的吸收效率,保证植物有效的营养空间,从而在资源贫瘠的环境中吸收足够的水分和营养来保证其正常生理需求。     

Circulation Indices of the Aleutian Low Pressure System: Definitions and Relationships to Climate Anomalies in the Northern Hemisphere

In this study, a group of indices were defined regarding intensity (P), area (S) and central position (λ^c, Φ^c) of the Aleutian low (AL) in the Northern Hemisphere in winter, using seasonal and monthly mean height field at 1000-hPa. These indices were calculated over 60 winter seasons from 1948/1949 to 2007/2008 using reanalysis data. Climatic and anomalous characteristics of the AL were analyzed based on these indices and relationships between the AL, and general circulations were explored using correlations between indices P, λ^c, and Pacific SST, as well as Northern Hemisphere temperature and precipitation. The main results are these: (1) AL is the strongest in January, when the center shifts to the south and west of its climatological position, and it is the weakest in December when the center shifts to the north and east. (2) AL intensity (P) is negatively correlated with its longitude (λ^c): a deeper low occurs toward the east and a shallower low occurs toward the west. On a decadal scale, the AL has been persistently strong and has shifted eastward since the 1970s, but reversal signs have been observed in recent years. (3) The AL is stronger and is located toward the east during strong El Nino winters and vice versa during strong La Nina years; this tendency is particularly evident after 1975. The AL is also strongly correlated with SST in the North Pacific. It intensifies and moves eastward with negative SST anomalies, and it weakens and moves westward with positive SST anomalies. (4) Maps of significance correlation between AL intensity and Northern Hemisphere temperature and rainfall resemble the PNA teleconnection pattern in mid-latitudes in the North Pacific and across North America. The AL and the Mongolian High are two permanent atmospheric pressure systems adjacent to each other during boreal winter over the middle and high latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, but their relationships with the El Nino/La Nina events and with temperature and precipitation in the Northern Hemisphere are significantly different.     

Geochemical assessment of groundwater around Macherla-Karempudi area,Guntur district,Andhra Pradesh

Groundwater in Palnad sub-basin is alkaline in nature and Na⁺-Cl⁻-HCO₃⁻ type around Macherla-Karempudi area in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. Total dissolved solids (TDS) show strong positive correlation with Cl⁻, Na⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, and positive correlation with SO₄²⁻, K⁺ and HCO₃⁻. Calcareous Narji Formation is the dominant aquifer lithology, and water-rock interaction controls the groundwater chemistry of the area. Chloro-alkaline indices (CAI) are positive at Miriyala, Adigopula, Mutukuru, Macherla and Durgi suggesting replacement of Na⁺ and K⁺ ions from water by Mg⁺⁺ and Ca⁺⁺ ions from country rock through base exchange reactions. Negative CAI values are recorded at Terala, Rayavaram and Nehrunagar, which indicate exchange of Na⁺ and K⁺ from the rock as cation-anion exchange reaction (chloro-alkaline disequilibrium). TDS range from 91 to 7100 ppm (Avg. 835 ppm) and exceed the prescribed limit of drinking water around Mutukuru, Durgi, Rayavaram, Khambampadu and Ammanizamalmadaka areas. Scanty rainfall and insufficient groundwater recharge are the prime factors responsible for high salinity in the area. Fluoride content ranges from <1 to 3.8 ppm and contaminated areas were identified around Macherla (1 sq km; 3.8ppm), Mandadi (1 sq km, 2.1ppm) and Adigopula (2 sq km, <1 to 3.7 ppm). The % Na⁺ content varies from 17 to 85 with the mean value of 57, and eighty (80) samples showed higher %Na⁺ in comparison to the prescribed limit of 60 for irrigation water. Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) and % Na⁺ in relation to total salt concentration indicate that groundwater (51%) mostly falls under doubtful to poor quality for irrigation purpose. Groundwater of Adigopula village is fluoride contaminated and remedial measures are suggested to improve the water quality.