A coupled hydro-mechanical model for subsurface erosion with analyses of soil piping and void formation

Acta Geotechnica - A coupled hydro-mechanical erosion model is presented that is used for studying soil piping and erosion void formation under practical, in-situ conditions. The continuum model...     

TEC measurements and modelling over Southern Africa during magnetic storms; a comparative analysis

This paper presents the results from a study designed to investigate the ability of a newly developed neural network (NN) based model to follow total electron content (TEC) dynamics over the Southern African region. The investigation is carried out by comparing results from the NN model with actual TEC data derived from Global Positioning System (GPS) observations and TEC values predicted by the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-2007) model during magnetic storm periods over Southern Africa. The magnetic storm conditions chosen for the study presented in this paper occurred during the periods 16–21 April 2002, 1–6 October 2002, and 28 October–01 November 2003. A total of six South African GPS stations were used for the validation of the two models during these periods. A statistical analysis of the comparison between the actual TEC behaviour and that predicted by the two models is shown. In addition, ionosonde measurements from the South African Louisvale (28.5°S, 21.2°E) station, located close to one of the validation GPS stations used, are also considered during the Halloween storm period of 28–31 October 2003. The generalisation of TEC behaviour by the NN model is demonstrated by producing predicted TEC maps during magnetic storm periods over South Africa. Presented results demonstrate the ability of NNs in predicting TEC variability over South Africa during magnetically disturbed conditions, and highlight areas for improvement.     

The essential contribution of indigenous knowledge to understanding natural hazards and disaster risk: historical evidence from the Rwenzori (Uganda)

Natural Hazards - The integration of indigenous knowledge into understanding disasters from natural hazards is hitherto hampered by the limited conceptualization of the process that shapes...     

Seismic retrofitting of braced frame buildings by RC rocking walls and viscous dampers

A design procedure for seismic retrofitting of concentrically and eccentrically braced frame buildings is proposed and validated in this paper. Rocking walls are added to the existing system to ensure an almost uniform distribution of the interstorey displacement in elevation. To achieve direct and efficient control over the seismic performance, the design procedure is founded on the displacement‐based approach and makes use of overdamped elastic response spectra. The top displacement capacity of the building is evaluated based on a rigid lateral deformed configuration of the structure and on the ductility capacity of the dissipative members of the braced frames. The equivalent viscous damping ratio of the braced structure with rocking walls is calculated based on semi‐empirical relationships specifically calibrated in this paper for concentrically and eccentrically braced frames. If the equivalent viscous damping ratio of the structure is lower than the required equivalent viscous damping ratio, viscous dampers are added and arranged between the rocking walls and adjacent reaction columns. The design internal forces of the rocking walls are evaluated considering the contributions of more than one mode of vibration. The proposed design procedure is applied to a large set of archetype braced frame buildings and its effectiveness verified by nonlinear dynamic analysis.     

An analytical method for the evaluation of the in-plan irregularity of non-regularly asymmetric buildings

This paper describes a new method for the evaluation of the static eccentricity $e_{s}$ and the ratio $\Omega _{\uptheta } $ of uncoupled torsional to lateral frequencies in real multi-storey buildings. The above-mentioned parameters greatly affect the lateral-to-torsional coupling of the response of asymmetric systems and thus are of paramount importance in the assessment of the in-plan irregularity of buildings. The proposed method, which is a generalization of that suggested by Calderoni et al. (Earthq Spectra 18(2):219–231, 2002), allows the calculation of the static eccentricity $e_{s}$ and the ratio $\Omega _{\uptheta } $ from the structural response to arbitrary distributions of forces and torsional couples. The effectiveness of the method is validated on some regularly and non-regularly asymmetric buildings characterised by different in-plan irregularity. The analyses demonstrate that the results of the method are rigorous in the case of regularly asymmetric systems and only slightly depend upon the heightwise distribution of the forces in the case of non-regularly asymmetric systems. Finally, the values of the static eccentricity $e_{s}$ and the ratio $\Omega _{\uptheta } $ resulting from the proposed method are compared to those obtained by means of the procedure suggested by Makarios and Anastassiadis in (Struct Des Tall Spec Build 7(1):33–55, 1998a; Struct Des Tall Spec Build 7(1):57–71, 1998b) .     

Comparison of nonlinear static methods for the assessment of asymmetric buildings

Traditional nonlinear static methods, e.g. the original version of the N2 method implemented in Eurocode 8, are not always effective in the assessment of asymmetric structures because of the errors committed in the evaluation of the torsional response. To overcome this shortcoming, two methods have recently been suggested by Kreslin and Fajfar (Bull Earthquake Eng 10(2):695–715, 2012) and Bosco et al. (Earthq Eng Struct Dyn 41:1751–1773, 2012). In particular, the method proposed by Kreslin and Fajfar adjusts the results of the nonlinear static analysis by means of those of a standard modal response spectrum analysis. In the method proposed by Bosco et al., the researchers suggested the use of two nonlinear static analyses characterized by lateral forces applied to different points of the deck. In this paper, the two improved nonlinear static methods and the original N2 method are applied to predict the maximum dynamic response of single- and multi-storey systems subjected to artificial and recorded accelerograms. The results highlight that the improved nonlinear static methods provide estimates which are more accurate than those of the original N2 method. Further, the comparison of the results identifies the range of the structural properties within which the original N2 method is still reliable and the range within which one of the two improved methods should be preferred.     

Corrective eccentricities for assessment by the nonlinear static method of 3D structures subjected to bidirectional ground motions

Nonlinear static methods are reliable in the evaluation of the seismic response of planar structural schemes, but they are not very effective in the assessment of three-dimensional building structures. The authors of this paper have recently proposed a nonlinear static approach for asymmetric structures, which is an improvement on that stipulated by seismic codes. This method is based on the observation that the distribution of the maximum dynamic displacements of the deck can be enveloped by two pushover analyses performed by applying the lateral force with two eccentricities with respect to the center of mass of the deck. These eccentricities, named “corrective eccentricities”, are defined so that the two corresponding pushover analyses provide displacements that are equal to those evaluated by nonlinear dynamic analysis at the two sides of the deck. In this paper, the corrective eccentricities are determined for a wide set of single-story systems. The equations for their analytical evaluation are determined and their reliability is demonstrated. Finally, the analysis of a multi-story structure is conducted to show how the method can be applied to real buildings. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the evaluation of seismic response of structures by nonlinear static methods

In the most recent seismic codes, the assessment of the seismic response of structures may be carried out by comparing the displacement capacity, provided by nonlinear static analysis, with the displacement demand. In many cases the code approach is based on the N2 method proposed by Fajfar, which evaluates the displacement demand by defining, as an intermediate step, a single degree‐of‐freedom (SDOF) system equivalent to the examined structure. Other codes suggest simpler approaches, which do not require equivalent SDOF systems, but they give slightly different estimation of the seismic displacement demand. The paper points out the differences between the methods and suggests an operative approach that provides the same accuracy as the N2 method without requiring the evaluation of an equivalent SDOF system. A wide parametric investigation allows an accurate comparison of the different methods and demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed operative approach. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Becoming Reading Group: reflections on assembling a collegiate,caring collective

ABSTRACT

In neoliberalising universities, collegial and collective practices such as reading groups are often positioned by students, staff and managers as less important than meeting individual KPIs (such as producing research publications, seeking research grants, or meeting the increasing demands of producing quality teaching outcomes.) However, reading groups can be vital for cultivating caring collectives and spaces of collegiality. In this paper we use assemblage thinking to explore 25 years of a Geography reading group at the University of Newcastle. The paper addresses two questions: what does reading together do and make possible; and how might we think about the labours of reading together as a way of building caring collectives. The paper draws on reflections from 24 past and present members of reading group to explore how these kinds of academic practices nourish our working lives.     

Geotechnical and machinery properties influencing the offshore pile drillability

Foundations of offshore oil and gas production platforms or wind parks are in the majority of cases piled-based. Piles are mainly driven to a certain design depth using hammers. However, there are many situations were driven piles cannot be properly installed. Plug formation or presence of rock layers and/or boulders preclude the correct installation. Since time is a key factor in offshore operations, offshore drilled piles are not very common. Their high level of uncertainty is mainly due to the complexity to assess a pile drillability analysis. For these reasons, assessing the drilling time needed to overcome the problems is very important. The following research compared first of all several well-known equations used for estimating the tunnel boring machine (TBM) excavation rate. Second, a novel approach has been used, which is based on the estimation of the specific energy. After having performed continuous automatic diagraphy tests in Turin subsoils (Italy), values of friction angles and compressive strength were obtained. Specific energy was calculated at the scale of the continuous automatic diagraphy test as a function of ξ, which is a coefficient depending on the geotechnical parameters assumed by Nishimatsu. It is therefore possible to estimate the drilling rate for different values of friction angle and cohesion.