Replaceable links with direct brace attachments for eccentrically braced frames

This paper reports findings of an experimental study conducted on replaceable links for steel eccentrically braced frames (EBFs). A replaceable link detail which is based on splicing the directly connected braces and the beam outside the link is proposed. This detail eliminates the need to use hydraulic jacks and flame cutting operations for replacement purposes. Performance of this proposed replaceable link was studied by conducting eight nearly full‐scale EBF tests under quasi‐static cyclic loading. The link length ratio, stiffening of the link, loading protocol, connection type, bolt pretension, gap size of splice connections, and demand‐to‐capacity ratios of members were considered as the prime variables. The specimens primarily showed two types of failure modes: link web fracture and fracture of the flange at the link‐to‐brace connection. No failures were observed at the splice connections indicating that the proposed replaceable link detail provides an excellent response. The inelastic rotation capacity provided by the replaceable links satisfied the requirements of the AISC Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings (AISC341–10). The overstrength factor of the links exceeded 2.0, which is larger than the value assumed for EBF links by design provisions. The high level of overstrength resulted in brace buckling in one of the specimens demonstrating the importance of overstrength factor used for EBF links. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Grain size along two gravel-bed rivers: statistical variation,spatial pattern and sedimentary links

A new set of field data facilitates a detailed analysis of variations in bed material grain size within two confluent gravel-bed rivers in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. A preliminary assessment of grain-size variability establishes a basis for examination of the spatial pattern of grain-size change. Standard ANOVA techniques are inappropriate because individual samples have unequal variances and are not normally distributed. Alternative tests for homoscedasticity and comparison of means are therefore utilized. Within-site, between-sample variability is not significant. The grain-size distributions that were obtained at individual sites are therefore representative of the depositional environments that were sampled. In both rivers mean grain size does vary significantly between sites and there is therefore a basis for examining the data for spatial patterns such as downstream fining. Textural variations along the two rivers studied here are complex and show negligible overall fining (in over 100 km). This is the consequence of a large number of tributary inputs and non-alluvial sediment sources which are the legacy of Late Pleistocene glaciation. The identification of lateral sources like these is fundamental for understanding textural changes within rivers. The sedimentary link (a channel reach between significant lateral sediment inputs) provides a means of isolating fluvial maturation processes (abrasion and sorting) from contingent lateral inputs. Strong fining trends are apparent in most links and classification of grain-size measurements according to their location within particular links greatly improves the statistical explanation of textural variation. Identification of sedimentary links provides a means of applying models of fluvial fining processes, so isolation of link networks will aid the development of basin-scale models of textural variation. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of detachable replaceable links for eccentrically braced frames

Eccentrically braced frames (EBFs) can be repaired after a major earthquake by replacing the links. The link replacement is not a straightforward process and is influenced by the type of the link and the amount of residual frame deformations. The past decade has witnessed the development of different types of replaceable links such as end-plated links, web connected links, bolted flange and web spliced links, and collector beam and brace spliced links. All of the developed replaceable link details, except the web connected links, are not suitable for link replacement under residual frame drift. In this paper, a detachable replaceable link detail which is based on splicing the link at its mid-length is proposed. The detail is well suited for installation under residual frame drifts. In addition, the weight and size of the members to be transported and erected are reduced significantly, thereby facilitating the replacement procedure. Performance of this proposed replaceable link is studied by conducting six nearly full scale EBF tests under quasi-static cyclic loading. The link length ratio, type of end-plated mid-splice connection, and the amount of residual drift are considered as test variables. The test results revealed that the inelastic rotation capacity of the detachable replaceable links exceeds the requirements of the AISC Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings. No failures are observed in the end-plated mid-splice connections demonstrating the potential of the proposed details. The detachable replaceable links are investigated by numerical analysis as well to further validate their applicability and to develop design recommendations.     

扩孔螺栓连接型消能梁段的力学模型及参数研究

当前国家对建筑结构的抗震性能和震后功能恢复能力提出了更高要求。基于短剪切型消能梁段的受剪屈服特性和剪切扩孔型螺栓连接的受剪滑移性能,提出一种新型扩孔螺栓连接型消能梁段,可有效增大消能梁段的延性和耗能能力并同时减小消能梁段的损伤,使带扩孔螺栓连接型消能梁段的新型Y形偏心支撑结构更好地适应当前要求。采用有限元方法详细分析扩孔螺栓连接型消能梁段的滞回性能、破坏模式和耗能机理,由此得到其骨架曲线和力学模型,并阐述其力学模型的影响参数,为相应偏心支撑结构的设计和分析提供理论依据。     

Assistance networks in seafood trade – A means to assess benefit distribution in small-scale fisheries

This article addresses the connections between value chain actors in the tropical-marine small-scale fisheries of Zanzibar, Tanzania, to contribute to a better understanding of the fisher-trader link and how connections in general might feed into livelihood security. A sample of 168 fishers and 130 traders was taken across 8 sites through questionnaires and observations. The small-scale fishery system is mapped using a value chain framework both traditionally and from a less economic point of view where the assistance-exchange networks between fishery actors add another layer of complexity. Auxiliary actors previously disregarded emerge from the latter method thus shedding light on the poorly understood distribution of benefits from seafood trade. Female actors participate quite differently, relative to males in the market system, detached from high-value links such as the tourist industry, and access to predetermined or secured sales deals. Data shows that the fisher-trader link is not as one-sided as previously presented. In fact it has a more symbiotic exchange deeply nested in a broader trading and social system. Expanding the analysis from this link by taking a further step downstream highlights traders’ own sales arrangements and the social pressures they are under in realizing them. A complex picture, inclusive of diversified perspectives, on interactions in the market place is presented, as well as a reflection on the remaining critical question: how to integrate this type of data into decisions about future fisheries governance.     

Displacement amplification factors for steel eccentrically braced frames

Inelastic deformation capacity of links is a factor that significantly influences design of steel eccentrically braced frames (EBFs). The link rotation angle is used to describe inelastic link deformation. The link rotation angle is generally calculated by making use of design story drifts that in turn are calculated by modifying the elastic displacements by a displacement amplification factor. This paper presents a numerical study undertaken to evaluate the displacement amplification factor given in ASCE7‐10 for EBFs and the rigid‐plastic mechanism used for calculating link rotation angles. A total of 72 EBFs were designed by considering the number of stories, the bay width, the link length to bay width ratio, and the seismic hazard level as the prime variables. All structures were analyzed using elastic and inelastic time history analyses. The results indicated that the displacement amplification factor given in ASCE7‐10 provides unconservative estimates of the story drifts. On the other hand, the rigid‐plastic mechanism provides conservative estimates of link rotations. Based on the results of the numerical study, a new set of displacement amplification factors that vary along the height of the structure and modifications to the rigid‐plastic mechanism were developed. In light of the proposed modifications, the EBFs were redesigned and analyzed using inelastic time history analysis. The results indicated that the proposed modifications provide improvements for the displacement amplification factor and link rotation angle calculation procedures. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

天津市典型老旧民居抗震能力分析

本文对天津市典型老旧民居进行了抗震能力分析,介绍了它们的结构形式,抗震性能。并根据相应的规范和标准,对其中一幢民居楼进行了抗震能力分析和鉴定。研究表明,在遭受Ⅶ度小震时,顶层中等破坏;Ⅷ度中震时,顶层严重破坏;Ⅸ度大震时,顶层倒塌。建议尽快进行抗震加固。本文指出了抗震薄弱环节,并给出了抗震加固措施。本文可为天津市典型老旧民居的抗震加固提供科学依据和技术支持。     

Radial Basis Functional Link Nets Used as a Prospectivity Mapping Tool for Orogenic Gold Deposits Within the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt, Northern Fennoscandian Shield

Among the more popular spatial modeling techniques, artificial neural networks (ANN) are tools that can deal with non-linear relationships, can classify unknown data into categories by using known examples for training, and can deal with uncertainty; characteristics that provide new possibilities for data exploration. Radial basis functional link nets (RBFLN), a form of ANN, are applied to generate a series of prospectivity maps for orogenic gold deposits within the Paleoproterozoic Central Lapland Greenstone Belt, Northern Fennoscandian Shield, Finland, which is considered highly prospective yet clearly under explored. The supervised RBFLN performs better than previously applied statistical weights-of-evidence or conceptual fuzzy logic methods, and equal to logistic regression method, when applied to the same geophysical and geochemical data layers that are proxies for conceptual geological controls. By weighting the training feature vectors in terms of the size of the gold deposits, the classification of the neural network results provides an improved prediction of the distribution of the more important deposits/occurrences. Thus, ANN, more specifically RBFLN, potentially provide a better tool to other methodologies in the development of prospectivity maps for mineral deposits, hence aiding conceptual exploration.     

Analysis on accuracy of Engineering Star RTK in cadastral survey based on SOUTH-CORS

Currently,with the fast development of GPS technique,GPS RTK is rapidly being applied to the cadastral survey.GPS RTK technique not only improves efficiency and accelerates the rate of mapping,but also increases economic efficiency.The authors introduced a method for GPS RTK rapid positioning,which uses continuous operational reference system (CORS) as a base station to change the method of previous map drawing by obtaining real-time three-dimensional coordinates of boundary points and statistically analyzing with the three-dimensional coordinates obtained by Total Station to get the accuracy of GPS RTK real-time coordinates.The application of GPS RTK in practical measurement was discussed when the data link had been lost especially.The results show that the three-dimensional coordinates measured by total station can be replaced by real-time three-dimensional coordinates measured by Engineering Star RTK in the CORS.     

Seismic analysis of diagrid structural frames with shear-link fuse devices

This paper presents a new concept for enhancing the seismic ductility and damping capacity of diagrid structural frames by using shear-link fuse devices and its seismic performance is assessed through nonlinear static and dynamic analysis.The architectural elegancy of the diagrid structure attributed to its triangular leaning member configuration and high structural redundancy make this system a desirable choice for tall building design.However,forming a stable energy dissipation mechanism in diagrid framing remains to be investigated to expand its use in regions with high seismicity.To address this issue,a diagrid framing design is proposed here which provides a competitive design option in highly seismic regions through its increased ductility and improved energy dissipation capacity provided by replaceable shear links interconnecting the diagonal members at their ends.The structural characteristics and seismic behavior(capacity,stiffness,energy dissipation,ductility) of the diagrid structural frame are demonstrated with a 21-story building diagrid frame subjected to nonlinear static and dynamic analysis.The findings from the nonlinear time history analysis verify that satisfactory seismic performance can be achieved by the proposed diagrid frame subjected to design basis earthquakes in California.In particular,one appealing feature of the proposed diagrid building is its reduced residual displacement after strong earthquakes.