Feasibility of pre-earthquake strengthening of buildings based on cost-benefit and life-cycle cost analysis, with the aid of fragility curves

There are two fundamental questions this article aims to deal with. First, whether a pre-earthquake strengthening of a large and heterogeneous building stock (the emphasis here is on building types common in S. Europe), is economically feasible or not, and second what is the optimal retrofit level for mitigating the seismic risk. To this purpose contemporary decision making tools, namely cost-benefit and life-cycle cost analyses, are tailored to the needs of the present study, and implemented with the aid of an ad-hoc developed new software application (COBE06). A method for estimating the reduction in structural vulnerability due to retrofit is proposed, as well as a methodology to determine the optimum retrofit level using the fragility curve approach. Finally, the proposed methodology is used in a pilot application that concerns the city of Thessaloniki, and results are drawn for the feasibility of strengthening the reinforced concrete building stock in this city.     

Glass inclusions in volcanic rocks in the Okinawa Trough back-arc basin:constraints on magma genesis and evolution

INTROOUcr1ONThe Okinawa Trough is a typical marginal back-arc basin, where its oPening began in rela-tively recent years* There is a great controversy about the origin of its initial magYna. haltand acid volcanic pumice make up the bimedal volcanism in the Okinawa Trough. MOSt of geol-ogists believed that the acid pumice was the preduct of extremely crystal fractionation of baseltInagTna, but the others argued that it should com from the melting of lower-crust. Som de-tailed petrolOgic…     

Full-range nonlinear analysis of fatigue behaviors of reinforced concrete structures by finite element method

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考虑轴向变形、双轴弯曲耦合效应的钢筋混凝土柱的弹塑性分析

在实际地震作用下，高层，特别是高宽比较大的高层结构中，由于倾覆力矩的作用、柱子、特别是外边柱所受轴力的变化将不可忽略。轴向变形与双轴弯曲的耦合作用，将是柱子塑性变形的显著特征。基于材料本构关系的“纤维模型”，能较精确地反映轴向变形，双轴弯曲三者之间的耦合作用。一组钢筋混凝土柱子双轴压弯的计算结果与试验结果的比较，证明了“纤维模型”的有效性和精确性。     

三峡库区巫山新城超高加筋挡墙变形破坏及修复研究

结合三峡库区弃渣灾害的防治和回填增地,以巫山新城加筋土挡墙等实际工程为典型进行剖析,对加筋土挡墙,特别是超高加筋土挡墙变形破坏机制和过程进行了系统深入的研究。从加筋土挡墙填土物理力学性质室内试验研究入手,采用FLAC等数值计算方法,系统地研究了加筋土挡墙的应力状况和变形破坏特性。将离心模拟技术应用于超高多级加筋土挡墙(H=57m)的研究中,进行了三级加筋土挡墙的离心模型试验,对加筋土挡墙墙背土压力分布规律、挡墙面板和填土的沉降情况以及拉筋的拉力分布规律进行了详细而系统的研究。特别是精心设计出离心模型试验中三级挡墙的面板与拉筋的联结,较真实地反映了实际工程中加筋土挡墙整体复合结构的力学特性。根据研究结果,提出了巫山新城加筋土挡墙修复加固方案,编制了设计报告,并加以实施。目前,修复加固工程效果良好。　对库区,乃至全国超高加筋土挡墙的建设均有指导和示范作用。     

将EPSW与MAPGIS集成进行管线测量和管理的探讨——EPSW和MAPGIS在沙钢管网信息系统中的应用

随着测量和地理信息技术的发展,管网信息系统的应用越来越广泛,并日趋受到人们的重视。数据采集和管理的分离,无疑会浪费大量的人力、物力和财力。本文以张家港市沙钢集团管网建设为例,介绍了EPSW(Electronic plane-table Surveying and Mapping System for Windows)电子平板测绘软件和MAPGIS结合进行管网的数据采集和管理的设想。     

Comparison of llama fiber obtained from two production regions of Argentina

The Puna is an arid region running along the Andes mountains, more than 3600 m above sea level. Overgrazing has severely degraded much of this ecosystem, and this has dramatically reduced agricultural production and resulted in poverty for human inhabitants. Llamas are native to the Puna and are well suited to live there. Their grazing habits and digestive system make efficient use of native forages, and their padded feet keep soil disturbance to a minimum, thereby reducing erosion. Uncontrolled llama breeding over the last 500 years has degraded the quality of the fiber they produce, so today it is generally of low quality. Analysis of llama fibers obtained from two production regions of Argentina showed that some llamas possess sufficiently fine mean fiber diameters (less than 23 μm if guard hairs are excluded) to allow their fleeces to be sold at a premium. A higher price would make llamas more attractive to raise than the goats and sheep commonly found in the Puna today. Switching to llama production would increase grower income and sustainability of agriculture in the region.     

Material selection for the gas containment system of a compressed natural gas carrier fleet

In this work, the possible exploitation of fiber-reinforced composites in the context of maritime transportation of compressed natural gas (CNG) is investigated. In addition to a more conventional steel configuration, two different fiber materials, carbon and glass, are considered as construction materials for pressure vessels (PVs) to be stored on board ships, with thickness optimized by FEM analysis.The considered scenario is represented by the transportation of CNG from an offshore well to a terminal on shore. Fleets of ships carrying CNG in pressure vessels manufactured with the investigated materials are generated by means of a ship synthesis model (SSM) software and compared on the basis of technical and economical indicators.The choice of the construction material influences considerably the weight of the PVs, which represent a major item of total ship weight and reflects directly on the general transport performances in terms of resistance, seakeeping and reliability in the service. On the other hand, capital as well as operating expenditures are considerably affected by the choice. When exploring the design space, the ship synthesis model is able, at a preliminary stage of the design, to account for the various technical and economical aspects, their implications and relationships. Results are presented of computations carried out in a specific case, identified by the annual gas production and other characteristics of the well terminal and a cruising route for the ships. The comparison is carried out on the basis of the cost per transported unit of gas and of the percentage of success in the transportation process. The computations show that the choice of the PV material has a key influence on the results in terms of optimal number, dimensions and speed of the ships.     

Mesh-free analysis applied in reinforced soil slopes

One of the most applicable geotechnical structures whose analysis is carried out through iterative procedures is the reinforced soil slope. In this regard, the most successful method for the reinforced slope analysis through numerical methods is the finite element method whose updating mesh may result in some difficulties. In this study, the Natural Element Method (NEM), which is a mesh-free method, in conjunction with conventional limit equilibrium is implemented to find the slip surface in the reinforced slopes. Results demonstrate the convergence and preciseness of the present method in comparison with the other numerical methods and conventional limit equilibrium method.     

Recognition features of felsic pyroclastics of Serra do Tombo formation,Minas Gerais,Brazil

In this contribution we report a study of poorly exposed, rhyodacitic welded-ignimbrite deposit from Minas Gerais. A petrographic study of textures indicate high temperature of emplacement. Key features include eutaxitic texture, flattened and agglutinated lapilli and glass menisci. Most of the feldspar minerals and glass are extensively altered to clay minerals, which pseudomorph the original volcanic textures. Glass menisci and spherules suggest a possible process of liquid immiscibility. Immobile trace element distribution indicates a possible link with other post-Palaeozoic felsic volcanic rocks in Brazil, a magmatism interpreted as due to basaltic underplating and partial melting of a hydrous continental crust. A peculiar feature is a high Light REE/Heavy REE ratio. Depletion in heavy rare earth elements is possibly due to a residual HREE-bearing phase in the source. The geologic context of these rocks suggests a Lower Cretaceous age and a tectonic relationship with a continental rifting event.