无界单元在地下水流计算中的应用

在人为选定的模拟无限边界的有限位置处设置无界单元。在该单元上配置带有衰减特征的线性插值函数,进而可建立按有限元法或不规则网格有限差分法解算地下水流问题所需要的单元刚度矩阵。该单元刚度矩阵可很容易地进入总刚度矩阵。无界单元的应用较好地解决了地下水流数值模拟中无限边界不易确定的问题。计算实例表明本方法具有较高的精度。     

基于匹配支持度的一种稳健性影像匹配

提出了一种新的计算匹配支持度数学模型,该模型使影像匹配的稳健性得到增强。首先,利用Harris算子在影像上提取特征点,根据相关系数建立特征点的候选匹配对应关系;然后,根据影像的长度变形、方向变形、灰度变形及双向一致性条件,计算匹配支持度;最后,根据双向一致性较强条件的松弛迭代法,消除候选匹配的模糊性。实践结果表明,该算法能建立一一对应且稳健性较强的匹配结果。     

基于多尺度分析方法的近断层地震动特性分析

近断层长周期地震动是一类较特殊的破坏性地震动.为了深入探讨近断层地震动的低频分量组成及其脉冲特性,基于小波理论中的多尺度分析方法提出了一种地震动分量分解方法,据此可将一条地震动分解成频率各不相同的多条分量.首先从频域、时域以及动态响应三个方面阐述了该分解方法的有效性和精确性.进而采用这种方法对近期12次大地震中的53条典型近断层地震动进行了分解,共获得266条地震动分量.分析了近断层地震动中的长周期分量随场地、断层距等影响因素的变化特征;再以卓越分量作为最大脉冲的简化模型,探讨了速度幅值和脉冲周期随震级、断层距的变化关系.结果表明：近断层长周期地震动主要由周期为0.2~2 s的分量组成;近断层土层场地地震动中的长周期分量比岩石场地多;在0~15 km的近断层区域,随断层距的增加,地震动中长周期分量的比重明显减小;卓越分量的速度幅值PGV_p约为原始地震动速度幅值PGV的0.6倍,且两者之间具有明显的线性关系;PGV_p随断层距的增大而减小,随震级的增大而增大;卓越分量周期T_p随震级的增大呈对数线性增大趋势.     

基于AD598的伸缩仪放大电路设计

伸缩仪多用于地壳形变观测,但其在工程中亦有较大的应用前景.现用的放大电路精度高但电路复杂、成本过高,造成其工程应用方面的局限性.介绍基于单片式线位移差动变压器(LVDT)信号调节器AD598设计的全新伸缩仪放大电路,作为伸缩仪放大电路的补充,体现了其在工程应用中简单可靠、成本低的优势.     

Bias assessment in Incremental Dynamic Analysis due to record scaling

Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA) involves a series of nonlinear response history analyses with a suite of incrementally scaled ground motion records. Although IDA is perhaps the most comprehensive seismic performance assessment method, it receives criticism because several ground motion records are scaled up until the structure collapses. The scaling practice often results to unrealistic multipliers, thus modifying the amplitude of the ground motion and introducing bias on the structural performance estimation. Record scaling is a common practice in earthquake engineering due to the lack of natural records corresponding to large magnitudes and/or small distances from the fault rupture location. In this work we use a large number of ground motion records to compare the predictions of IDA with that of unscaled ground motions and we propose a new methodology in order to quantify the bias introduced in IDA. Apart from natural records, we have conducted broadband ground motion simulations for rupture scenarios of weak, medium and large magnitude events in order to expand our record database. The investigation is performed on a series of inelastic single-degree-of-freedom systems and on two multistory steel moment frame buildings. The results pinpoint both qualitatively and quantitatively, for the full range of limit-states, the bias that IDA introduces on the structural performance estimation.     

Enhancement of real‐time hybrid simulation on a shaking table configuration with implementation of an advanced control method

This paper presents the implementation of Three Variable Control (TVC), an advanced control method, to the existing hybrid simulation (HS) system at the University of California, Berkeley. Motivation, background, and implementation of the TVC are explained together with modifications in the existing HS system. An application, which consists of the real‐time HS of electrical disconnect switches on a shaking table configuration, demonstrates successful implementation of the TVC. The presented application also covers other HS‐related features, namely employment of a three‐dimensional analytical substructure, real‐time HS‐compatible operator‐splitting integration method, and an efficient equation solver for faster computations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Near-contact binaries among short-period Algols: the case of BF Velorum with a pulsating component

A photometric analysis of the short-period Algol eclipsing binary system BF Velorum based for the first time on complete BVRI CCD light curves is presented. The new photometric solution obtained with the Wilson-Devinney program reveals that BF Vel is a near-contact semi-detached system with its secondary component filling its Roche lobe. Moreover, we discovered pulsations of one member of the binary system, the analysis of which shows main frequencies of 44.9386 and 33.6731 cycles/day. Absolute elements of the system were calculated, and the evolutionary status of its members was estimated.      

A Variable Mesh Spacing for Large-Eddy Simulation Models in the Convective Boundary Layer

A variable vertical mesh spacing for large-eddy simulation (LES) models in a convective boundary layer (CBL) is proposed. The argument is based on the fact that in the vertical direction the turbulence near the surface in a CBL is inhomogeneous and therefore the subfilter-scale effects depend on the relative location between the spectral peak of the vertical velocity and the filter cut-off wavelength. From the physical point of view, this lack of homogeneity makes the vertical mesh spacing the principal length scale and, as a consequence, the LES filter cut-off wavenumber is expressed in terms of this characteristic length scale. Assuming that the inertial subrange initial frequency is equal to the LES filter cut-off frequency and employing fitting expressions that describe the observed convective turbulent energy one-dimensional spectra, it is feasible to derive a relation to calculate the variable vertical mesh spacing. The incorporation of this variable vertical grid within a LES model shows that both the mean quantities (and their gradients) and the turbulent statistics quantities are well described near to the ground level, where the LES predictions are known to be a challenging task.     

Measurements and Modelling of the Wind Speed Profile in the Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer

We present measurements from 2006 of the marine wind speed profile at a site located 18 km from the west coast of Denmark in the North Sea. Measurements from mast-mounted cup anemometers up to a height of 45 m are extended to 161 m using LiDAR observations. Atmospheric turbulent flux measurements performed in 2004 with a sonic anemometer are compared to a bulk Richardson number formulation of the atmospheric stability. This is used to classify the LiDAR/cup wind speed profiles into atmospheric stability classes. The observations are compared to a simplified model for the wind speed profile that accounts for the effect of the boundary-layer height. For unstable and neutral atmospheric conditions the boundary-layer height could be neglected, whereas for stable conditions it is comparable to the measuring heights and therefore essential to include. It is interesting to note that, although it is derived from a different physical approach, the simplified wind speed profile conforms to the traditional expressions of the surface layer when the effect of the boundary-layer height is neglected.     

Electro-osmotic consolidation of soil with variable compressibility,hydraulic conductivity and electro-osmosis conductivity

In present study, the non-linear variations of soil compressibility, hydraulic and electro-osmosis conductivities were analyzed through laboratory experiments, and incorporated in a one-dimensional model. The analytical solutions for excess pore water pressure and degree of consolidation were derived, and numerical simulations were performed to verify its effectiveness. The results indicated that both the non-linear variations of hydraulic and electro-osmosis conductivities showed remarkable impacts on the excess pore water pressure and degree of consolidation, especially for soils with relative high compressibility. A further comparison with previous analytical solutions indicated that more accurate predictions could be obtained with the proposed analytical solutions.