Bond rolling resistance and its effect on yielding of bonded granulates by DEM analyses

A discrete element modelling of bonded granulates and investigation on the bond effect on their behaviour are very important to geomechanics. This paper presents a two‐dimensional (2‐D) discrete element theory for bonded granulates with bond rolling resistance and provides a numerical investigation into the effect of bond rolling resistance on the yielding of bonded granulates. The model consists of mechanical contact models and equations governing the motion of bonded particles. The key point of the theory is that the assumption in the original bond contact model previously proposed by the authors (55th CSCE‐ASCE Conference, Hamilton, Ont., Canada, 2002; 313–320; J. Eng. Mech. (ASCE) 2005; 131 (11):1209–1213) that bonded particles are in contact at discrete points, is here replaced by a more reliable assumption that bonded particles are in contact over a width. By making the idealization that the bond contact width is continuously distributed with the normal/tangential basic elements (BE) (each BE is composed of spring, dashpot, bond, slider or divider), we establish a bond rolling contact model together with bond normal/tangential contact models, and also relate the governing equations to local equilibrium. Only one physical parameter β needs to be introduced in the theory in comparison to the original bond discrete element model. The model has been implemented into a 2‐D distinct element method code, NS2D. Using the NS2D, a total of 86 1‐D, constant stress ratio, and biaxial compressions tests have been carried out on the bonded granular samples of different densities, bonding strengths and rolling resistances. The numerical results show that: (i) the new theory predicts a larger internal friction angle, a larger yielding stress, more brittle behaviour and larger final broken contact ratio than the original bond model; (ii) the yielding stress increases nonlinearly with the increasing value of β, and (iii) the first‐yield curve (initiation of bond breakage), which define a zone of none bond breakage and which shape and size are affected by the material density, is amplified by the bond rolling resistance in analogous to that predicted by the original bond model. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of the Atmospheric Tides on the Earth Rotation

Spectral analysis of the components of the relative atmospheric angular momentum vector is performed based on the series of these components for the 6 h intervals within the period of 1958–2000. These series have been computed in the Subbureau of the Atmospheric Angular Momentum of the International Earth Rotation Service using the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis of atmospheric observations. The basic harmonics of diurnal tides are determined. New results on the fortnight's and week's duration oscillations of the equatorial components of the atmospheric angular momentum are obtained. The zonal tides transformation mechanisms in the atmosphere are discussed. It is shown that the main mechanism of the zonal tides effect on the atmospheric variability is the amplitude modulation of daily oscillations of the relative atmospheric angular momentum. The effects of the atmospheric tides on the Earth rotation are discussed.     

Gravity torques for surface waves

The effects of the gravity torques acting on the angular momentum of surface gravity waves are calculated theoretically. For short crested waves the gravity torque is caused by the force of gravity on the orbiting fluid particles acting down the slopes of the crests and troughs and in the direction parallel to the crests and troughs. The gravity torque tries to rotate the angular momentum vectors, and thus the waves themselves, counterclockwise in the horizontal plane, as viewed from above, in both hemispheres. The amount of rotation per unit time is computed to be significant assuming reasonable values for the along-crest and trough slopes for waves in a storm area. The gravity torque has a frequency which is double the frequency of the waves. For long crested waves the gravity torque acts in the vertical plane of the orbit and tries to decelerate the particles when they rise and accelerate them when they fall. By disrupting the horizontal cyclostrophic balance of forces on the fluid particles (centrifugal force versus pressure force) the gravity torque accounts qualitatively for the three characteristics of breaking waves: that they break at the surface, that they break at the crest, and that the crest breaks in the direction of wave propagation.     

Damage Survey of Water Supply Systems and Fragility Curve of PVC Water Pipelines in the Chi–Chi Taiwan Earthquake

Substantial damage to water supply systems, including water delivery pipelines, water treatment plants, reservoirs, and water storage tanks, was reported after the 1999 Chi–Chi Taiwan Earthquake. This paper first summarizes the damage survey and then presents the results of seismic fragility analysis for underground pipelines. Construction blueprints of the water delivery pipelines and repair work orders of 11 townships and cities in the disastrous area were digitized into a Geographical Information System (GIS) for analysis and assessment. With the aid of the GIS system, we found that PVC pipes made up 86% of water delivery pipelines while steel, cast iron, ductile iron, PE and others took the rest. Therefore, this paper focuses on the fragility analysis of PVC pipes. Three different methods were applied to derive the fragility relations between the PVC water pipes having nominal diameters (approximately inner diameters) greater than or equal to 65 mm and earthquake intensity parameters such as peak ground acceleration and peak ground velocity. The results were then examined with those of other countries. The discrepancy between our results and the empirical equation used by HAZUS, an earthquake loss estimation software developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency was not significant.     

碟形弹簧竖向减震体系的分析与研究

对碟形弹簧竖向减震体系利用时程分析方法对其进行动力分析，并输入不同场地、不同频谱的地震波考察其减震效果，验证了碟形弹簧在合理控制其刚度的前提下可以起到有效减小竖向地震的作用。     

液化土层对地表加速度反应谱的影响

采用一种改进的有效应力方法研究土层液化对地表加速度反应谱的影响，分析中考虑了砂层的厚度、埋深和输入地震波的幅值和波型等因素。分析结果表明，土层液化使地表加速度反应谱的特征周期至少延长0．1秒以上，使原Ⅱ类场地变为Ⅲ类场地，高烈度时易变成Ⅳ类场地，反应谱中周期0．8秒-1．0秒是液化砂层加震或减震的一个分界点，液化对反应谱短周期分量具有一定的减震作用，而对长周期分量有非常显著的放大作用。     

An attenuation relationship based on Turkish strong motion data and iso-acceleration map of Turkey

This paper presents an attenuation relationship of peak ground acceleration (PGA) derived from Turkish strong motion data for rock, soil and soft soil sites and an iso-acceleration map of Turkey based on this relationship. For the purpose, among all the three-component accessible records, 221 records from 122 earthquakes that occurred in Turkey between 1976 and November 2003 were selected. The database was compiled for earthquakes with moment magnitudes (M_w) and PGA values ranging between 4.1 and 7.5, and 20 and 806 gal, and distances to epicenter considered in the database were between 5 and 100 km. From the regression analysis of the data, an attenuation equation of PGA considering rock, soil and soft soil conditions was developed. The PGA values predicted from the equation suggested in this study and those both from a few domestic equations and some imported equations were compared. In addition, an iso-acceleration map of Turkey was constructed using the suggested attenuation equation and considering both known active faults and epicenter locations of the earthquakes that have occurred in Turkey.     

由地球自转的年际变化预测El Nino事件

分析了地球自转、大气角动量和太阳黑子相对数的年际变化与Ｅｌ Ｎｉｏ的关系。结果表明：当地球自转速率的年际变化由快向慢转变,即表示年际变化的△ＬＯＤ１的数值由极小逐渐增加并转变为正值约半年后,Ｅｌ Ｎｉｏ的初期开始出现。此期间大气角动量的年际变化也呈现从小到大的过程。通过分析新的地球自转变化测值,预测２００１年将出现Ｅｌ Ｎｉｏ。结果还表明Ｅｌ Ｎｉｏ可能与太阳活动有一定的关系。     

地震作用下含软弱夹层顺层岩质边坡表面放大效应研究

为了研究地震作用下含软弱夹层顺层岩质边坡表面的放大效应,借用FLAC3D软件,建立了含软弱夹层顺层岩质边坡动力分析数值模型;在合理考虑地震动输入、边界条件、网格划分与模型参数的基础上,分析了地震动峰值、频率、持时以及初动方向等因素影响下的边坡表面放大效应。研究结果表明：①地震动峰值、频率和初动方向对边坡表面放大效应的影响较显著,而地震动持时对边坡表面放大效应的影响微小;②随着地震动峰值的增加,放大效应由软弱夹层之上的坡面及坡顶面向坡肩点逐渐增大,坡肩点的放大效应最大;③当输入地震动频率小于边坡的自振频率时,边坡表面加速度放大倍数较小,且频率越小,放大倍数越小,当输入地震动频率大于边坡的自振频率时,边坡表面加速度放大倍数较大,且频率越大,放大倍数亦越大。