Reliability assessment of granular filters in embankment dams

Empirical criteria have been used successfully to design filters of most embankment large dam projects throughout the world. However, these empirical rules are only applicable to a particular range of soils tested in laboratory and do not take into account the variability of the base material and filter particle sizes. In addition, it is widely accepted that the safety of fill dams is mainly dependent on the reliability of their filter performance. The work herein presented consists in a new general method for assessing the probability of fulfilling any empirical filter design criteria accounting for base and filter heterogeneity by means of first‐order reliability methods (FORM), so that reliability indexes and probabilities of fulfilling any particular criteria are obtained. This method will allow engineers to estimate the safety of existing filters in terms of probability of fulfilling their design criteria and might also be used as a decision tool on sampling needs and material size tolerances during construction. In addition, sensitivity analysis makes possible to analyse how reliabilities are influenced by different sources of input data. Finally, in case of a portfolio risk assessment, this method will allow engineers to compare the safety of several existing dams in order to prioritize safety investments and it is expected to be a very useful tool to evaluate probabilities of failure due to internal erosion. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reliability assessment of serviceability performance of braced retaining walls using a neural network approach

In urban environments, one major concern with deep excavations in soft clay is the potentially large ground deformations in and around the excavation. Excessive movements can damage adjacent buildings and utilities. There are many uncertainties associated with the calculation of the ultimate or serviceability performance of a braced excavation system. These include the variabilities of the loadings, geotechnical soil properties, and engineering and geometrical properties of the wall. A risk‐based approach to serviceability performance failure is necessary to incorporate systematically the uncertainties associated with the various design parameters. This paper demonstrates the use of an integrated neural network–reliability method to assess the risk of serviceability failure through the calculation of the reliability index. By first performing a series of parametric studies using the finite element method and then approximating the non‐linear limit state surface (the boundary separating the safe and ‘failure’ domains) through a neural network model, the reliability index can be determined with the aid of a spreadsheet. Two illustrative examples are presented to show how the serviceability performance for braced excavation problems can be assessed using the reliability index. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of saddlepoint approximation in reliability analysis of dynamic systems

The application of the saddlepoint approximation to reliability analysis of dynamic systems is investigated. The failure event in reliability problems is formulated as the exceedance of a single performance variable over a prescribed threshold level. The saddlepoint approximation technique provides a choice to estimate the cumulative distribution function (CDF) of the performance variable. The failure probability is obtained as the value of the complement CDF at a specif ied threshold. The method requires computing the saddlepoint from a simple algebraic equation that depends on the cumulant generating function (CGF) of the performance variable. A method for calculating the saddlepoint using random samples of the performance variable is presented. The applicable region of the saddlepoint approximation is discussed in detail. A 10-story shear building model with white noise excitation illustrates the accuracy and effi ciency of the proposed methodology.     

朱集矿首采面观测站高程连接测量与数据处理

结合淮南朱集煤矿首采面地表移动观测站的高程连接测量第一次全面观测,设计了首采面地表移动的三等水准控制网,利用抗差估计模型剔除粗差,结合最小二乘估计模型对观测结果进行了处理,并从精度、可靠性和置信度等三个方面进行分析并得出结论。为以后采集各个阶段的地表移动数据,求出参数并且得出结论提供有效的基础数据,从而为朱集矿的后期采煤提供有效的技术保证。     

可靠性空间分析初探

从工程和生命科学的可靠性概念出发,结合地理信息科学的自身特点,强调空间数据及分析的全过程质量和分析结果的决策可用性。首次给出了可靠性空间分析的概念,分析了可靠性空间分析的特点、面临的主要问题和研究方法,探讨了可靠性空间分析的主要理论、研究方向和应用领域,促进了空间分析从不确定性研究向可靠性空间分析方向的发展。     

GPS对流层延迟模型的比较分析

基于GPS对流层模型,对几种模型进行实际应用的对比,通过GAMIT软件对CORS数据进行处理,分析得出了几种模型在GPS反演大气水汽含量应用中的精度。     

观测有效性的度量方法

基于Hilbert空间理论,通过对观测方程的系数阵实施格拉姆-施密特(Gram-Schmidt,G-S)正交化过程,分析观测的两个特性,从一个新的角度论证了参数估计的必要观测问题,以及多余观测与必要观测的关系;用欧氏范数‖·‖2和Frobenius‖·‖_F范数作为基本度量工具对观测提供参数估计的信息量进行度量分析,研究观测的有效性和参数估计的可靠性。采用观测空间分析方法研究了测绘学科中必要观测、多余观测等基本概念;提出了观测信息量、观测有效性的概念和相应的度量方法;从观测的空间结构出发分析参数估计系统的可靠性,从一个侧面扩展和丰富了测绘学中的可靠性理论;丰富了研究测绘学中一些基本问题的分析方法,也为信息学中的数据挖掘问题提供了一种分析思路。     

野外大长度量值传递稳定性与可靠性分析

因瓦基线尺是国家野外大长度量值传递的法定标准器,本文通过对一组因瓦基线尺多年的检定资料、基线场的多次测量成果以及与维塞拉光波干涉仪测量成果的比较分析,论述我国野外大长度量值传递的稳定性与可靠性.     

GPS网起始数据的误差分析

应用5种GPS控制网起算点坐标误差的分析方法,分析了某地铁二号线西延伸线工程GPS控制网的起算点坐标误差,成功地剔除了误差超限的起算点。     

煤矿采空区控制网起算点的变形分析与选择

大部分控制网建立时采用的起算点为50年代至80年代施测的三角点,起算点的可靠性和兼容性,直接关系到控制网建立的成败。通过大量生产实践数据详细介绍了起算点可靠性和兼容性分析、比较的过程和方法,可在今后生产中借鉴和应用。