Experimental assessment of dynamic lateral resistance of railway concrete sleeper

The single tie (sleeper) push test (STPT) is a common method to evaluate the lateral resistance of a railway track sleeper. This methodology evaluates the lateral resistance phenomenon in a static manner despite the fact that the majority of the exerted loads on a railway track have a dynamic nature. For this reason, a mass–spring–damper numerical model was created to investigate the dynamic lateral interaction between an isolated sleeper and ballast layer in the presence of various lateral impact loads. On the basis of the model outputs, a pendulum loading test device (PLTD) was designed and developed in the laboratory. In this regard, a cylindrical hammer with modifiable mass and triggering angle was installed on a steel frame for imposing lateral impact load on an instrumented concrete sleeper. The graphs of the sleeper–ballast interaction force versus the sleeper lateral displacement were extracted for different masses and triggering angles of the hammer. Considering a same condition for sleeper, the maximum value of this interaction force was called the dynamic lateral resistance (DLR) and static lateral resistance (SLR) respect to the dynamic and static states of lateral loading. Comparing the values of the sleeper DLRs and SLR indicated that unlike the constant SLR of 6.5 kN, the DLR was in the range 2–10.2 kN in the impact load domain of 3–40 kN. However, as a key finding, the average slopes of the DLR and SLR graphs were equivalent in the dynamic and static tests.     

Nonlinear 3D finite element analysis of soil–pile–structure interaction system subjected to horizontal earthquake excitation

The dynamic response of a seismic soil–pile–structure interaction (SSPSI) system is investigated in this paper by conducting nonlinear 3D finite element numerical simulations. Nonlinear behaviors such as non-reflecting boundary condition and soil–pile–structure interaction modeled by the penalty method have been taken into account. An equivalent linear model developed from the ground response analysis and the modified Drucker–Prager model are separately used for soil ground. A comparison of the two models shows that the equivalent linear soil model results in an underestimated acceleration response of the structure under this ground shaking and the soil behavior should be considered as a fully-nonlinear constitutive model in the design process of the SSPSI system. It was also observed that the dynamic response of the system is greatly affected by the nonlinearity of soil–pile interface and is not sensitive to the dilation angle of the soil. Furthermore, the effect of the presence of pile foundations on SSPSI response is also analyzed and discussed.     

Analysis of the 2012–2013 Torreperogil-Sabiote seismic swarm

This study analyses the temporal clustering, spatial clustering, and statistics of the 2012–2013 Torreperogil-Sabiote (southern Spain) seismic swarm. During the swarm, more than 2200 events were located, mostly at depths of 2–5 km, with magnitude event up to m_bLg 3.9 (M_w 3.7). On the basis of daily activity rate, three main temporal phases are identified and analysed. The analysis combines different seismological relationships to improve our understanding of the physical processes related to the swarm's occurrence. Each temporal phase is characterized by its cumulative seismic moment. Using several different approaches, we estimate a catalog completeness magnitude of m_c≅ 1.5. The maximum likelihood b-value estimates for each swarm phase are 1.11 ± 0.09, 1.04 ± 0.04, and 0.90 ± 0.04, respectively. To test the hypothesis that a b-value decrease is a precursor to a large event, we study temporal variations in b-value using overlapping moving windows. A relationship can be inferred between change in b-value and the regime style of the rupture. b-values are indicators of the stress regime, and influence the size of ruptures. The fractal dimension D₂ is used to perform spatial analysis. Cumulative gamma and beta functions are used to analyse the behaviour of inter-event distances during the earthquake sequence.     

基于微观力学机制的各向异性结构性砂土的本构模型研究

在岩土破损力学基础上,基于微观破损机制,提出了考虑各向异性的结构性砂土本构理论。采用Lade-Duncan强度准则考虑中主应力对抗剪强度的影响;采用考虑颗粒排列组构的各向异性状态变量A反映各向异性对土体强度和变形的影响;通过相似扩大重塑土的屈服面反映结构性对土性的影响;通过引入非相关联流动法则考虑各向异性和结构性对土体塑性变形的影响。同时,将基于微观力学机制的损伤演化规律引入结构性土的硬化规律;该硬化规律同时考虑了塑性体积应变和剪切应变对各向异性结构性土强度的影响。然后将该模型用于模拟室内三轴压缩试验,初步验证了该模型的合理性和适用性。     

Clarifying the distal to proximal tephrochronology of the Millennium (B–Tm) eruption,Changbaishan Volcano,northeast China

Tephra dispersed during the Millennium eruption (ME), Changbaishan Volcano, NE China provides one of the key stratigraphic links between Asia and Greenland for the synchronization of palaeoenvironmental records. However, controversy surrounds proximal-distal tephra correlations because (a) the proposed proximal correlatives of the distal ME tephra (i.e. B–Tm) lack an unequivocal chronostratigraphic context, and (b) the ME tephra deposits have not been chemically characterized for a full spectrum of element using grain-specific techniques. Here we present grain-specific glass chemistry, including for the first time, single grain trace element data, for a composite proximal sequence and a distal tephra from Lake Kushu, northern Japan (ca. 1100 km away from Changbaishan). We demonstrate a robust proximal-distal correlation and that the Kushu tephra is chemically associated with the ME/B–Tm. We propose that three of the proximal pyroclastic fall units were erupted as part of the ME. The radiocarbon chronology of the Kushu sedimentary record has been utilised to generate a Bayesian age-depth model, providing an age for the Kushu tephra which is consistent with high resolution ages determined for the eruption and therefore supports our geochemical correlation. Two further Bayesian age-depth models were independently constructed each incorporating one of two ice-core derived ages for the B–Tm tephra, providing Bayesian modelled ages of 933–949 and 944–947 cal AD (95.4%) for the Kushu tephra. The high resolution ice-core tephra ages imported into the deposition models help test and ultimately constrain the radiocarbon chronology in this interval of the Lake Kushu sedimentary record. The observed geochemical diversity between proximal and distal ME tephra deposits clearly evidences the interaction of two compositionally distinct magma batches during this caldera forming eruption.     

北山花岗岩深部节理间距分布多重分形研究

岩体节理几何特征定量描述是岩体力学性质和渗透性研究的基础,更是核废料处置库场址筛选和评价过程的主要内容。基于甘肃北山高放废物深地质处置库预选区BS17、BS18和BS19钻孔岩芯节理数量修正数据,针对节理间距建立了类负指数分布数学统计模型,进一步应用于RQD体系定量评价深部岩体完整性,通过与RID体系对比验证了概率模型的可靠性。指出节理数量-间距关系具有明显的分段线性特征,分维数随着间距增大而增大。确定了节理间距-数量关系符合尺度律,得出了数量与间距关系的多重分形特征。进一步分析了数量与埋深的多重分形特征,初步实现了岩芯节理的定量描述。验证了多重分形谱可以很好地统计分形维特征,尤其是节理几何形状及分布特征。该研究结果可为实现基于钻孔岩芯节理几何特征数据的深部岩体节理三维网格模拟提供参考。     

Early Detection of Terrorism Outbreaks Using Prospective Space–Time Scan Statistics

Terrorism is a complex phenomenon with high uncertainty involving a myriad of dynamic known and unknown factors. It is and will remain a challenge to predict or detect terrorism outbreaks at an early stage. This research presents an alternative approach for modeling terrorism activity, one that monitors and detects space–time clusters of terrorist incidents using prospective space–time scan statistics. Such clusters provide indicators of potential outbreaks of terrorist incidents. To evaluate the effectiveness of the approach, we analyze the terrorist incidents in the Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism's (START) Global Terrorism Database (GTD) from 1998 to 2004. Clusters of terrorist events are detected at each time stamp and life trajectories of these clusters are constructed based on their space–time relationship to each other. Through the life trajectories and trends of clusters, we demonstrate how space–time scan statistics detect terrorism outbreaks at an early stage.     

The Myth of Location Privacy in the United States: Surveyed Attitude Versus Current Practices

In the United States, legal steps have been taken to protect personal privacy, which is viewed as an individual's fundamental right. Location privacy (i.e., protection of personal and location information), however, has not received equal attention in the legal system. Given the recent popularity of location-based services (e.g., cell phones), it is possible to obtain an individual's location information easily and precisely. An investigation of public perception of privacy in the United States indicated that survey responders (1) were unaware of legal implications of location privacy violation and (2) believed that there should be location privacy protection similar to that provided by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.     

Twenty years of land use and livelihood changes in SE-Niger: Obsolete and short-sighted adaptation to climatic and demographic pressures?

This paper explores the evolution of land use and natural resource management strategies over the past twenty to fifty years in a remote Sahelian region. The empirical example is Karagou village in SE Niger. Building on an in-depth survey from 1992 and a targeted, follow-up analysis of contemporary land use strategies in 2011, the change process is scrutinized.The analysis uses the conceptual lenses of land systems science, human–environmental timelines, and the notion of multiple exposures. Enabling and constraining conditions for local livelihoods in terms of the resource base (landscape, water, and population) are described. Results characterize how land use strategies have developed and how local people opportunistically use different landscape elements such as dune landscapes, valley bottoms (bas-fonds) and oases (cuvettes). Major concerns are rainfall variability, saturation of cropland, and perceived dwindling groundwater resources. It is concluded that the land use and livelihood strategies have remained remarkably stable in the face of the changing socio-ecological fringe conditions, but that this situation may hamper a sustainable transformation.