Clay—Geotextile interaction in large retaining wall models

Large geotextile reinforced clay wall models were built to investigate the mechanism of clay—geotextile interaction and the effects of the geotextile reinforcement on the load-bearing capacity of the clay. A silty clay soil (CL) with an undrained strength of 25 kPa was used as backfill and a low-cost, non-woven, needle-punched geotextile as the reinforcement. No face panels were used. The wrapped back geotextile reinforcement provided the face of the wall. The wall models were tested under uniformly distributed and discrete strip loads. Vertical and horizontal displacements as well as geotextile strains were monitored. The load-bearing capacity of the clay was increased nearly two times with the geotextile reinforcement. For the interpretation of the test results total stress analysis was carried out on the active failure plane taking into account the tensile forces acting in the geotextiles reinforcing layers intersecting the failure plane. Good agreement was found between the measured and the calculated failure loads. The results of the testing programme are promising and encourage further research into the applicability of cohesive soils in geotextile-reinforced soil structures which might have great economic significance in areas where good-quality granular backfill is not readily available.     

Study on seismic base shear factor in Chinese ＇Code for seismic design of buildings＇

介绍了基底地震剪力的影响因素及美国、新西兰、加拿大及欧洲抗震规范采用振型分解反应谱法进行分析时的基底地震剪力最小需求,并从中美规范剪力系数所考虑因素的对比及高阶振型对长周期结构基底地震剪力影响的分析中发现,剪力系数应满足2个必要条件：剪力系数应与反应谱形状（由场地类型等因素决定）相关;剪力系数应反映高阶振型的影响,即满足单调性条件。根据SEAOC的研究报告,针对我国GB 50011—2010《建筑抗震设计规范》剪力系数计算式存在的不足,提出了修正建议。对比分析表明,修正后的剪力系数计算式更符合基底地震剪力的特性,且工程适用范围更广,可为抗震规范今后的修订提供参考。     

Influence of soilestructure interaction on seismic collapse resistanceof super-tall buildings

Numerous field tests indicate that the soilestructure interaction （SSI） has a significant impact on thedynamic characteristics of super-tall buildings, which may lead to unexpected structural seismic responsesand/or failure. Taking the Shanghai Tower with a total height of 632 m as the research object, thesubstructure approach is used to simulate the SSI effect on the seismic responses of Shanghai Tower. Therefined finite element （FE） model of the superstructure of Shanghai Tower and the simplified analyticalmodel of the foundation and adjacent soil are established. Subsequently, the collapse process of ShanghaiTower taking into account the SSI is predicted, as well as its final collapse mechanism. The influences ofthe SSI on the collapse resistance capacity and failure sequences are discussed. The results indicate that,when considering the SSI, the fundamental period of Shanghai Tower has been extended significantly,and the collapse margin ratio has been improved, with a corresponding decrease of the seismic demand.In addition, the SSI has some impact on the failure sequences of Shanghai Tower subjected to extremeearthquakes, but a negligible impact on the final failure modes.
2014 Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Production and hosting byElsevier B.V. All rights reserved.     

Influence of soil——structure interaction on seismic collapse resistance of super-tall buildings

Numerous field tests indicate that the soilestructure interaction(SSI) has a significant impact on the dynamic characteristics of super-tall buildings,which may lead to unexpected structural seismic responses and/or failure.Taking the Shanghai Tower with a total height of 632 m as the research object,the substructure approach is used to simulate the SSI effect on the seismic responses of Shanghai Tower.The refined finite element(FE) model of the superstructure of Shanghai Tower and the simplified analytical model of the foundation and adjacent soil are established.Subsequently,the collapse process of Shanghai Tower taking into account the SSI is predicted,as well as its final collapse mechanism.The influences of the SSI on the collapse resistance capacity and failure sequences are discussed.The results indicate that,when considering the SSI,the fundamental period of Shanghai Tower has been extended significantly,and the collapse margin ratio has been improved,with a corresponding decrease of the seismic demand.In addition,the SSI has some impact on the failure sequences of Shanghai Tower subjected to extreme earthquakes,but a negligible impact on the final failure modes.     

Experimental and theoretical investigation of effects of wall’s thermophysical properties on time lag and decrement factor

Energy saving policies are necessary to control energy consumption, use energy efficiently and effectively, and reassess available production and consumption systems. In this context, the objectives of this study are to investigate the thermal behaviours of opaque wall materials under solar energy change, and the interaction between thermophysical characteristics of opaque wall materials and solar energy falling onto exterior surface of the wall affects interior environment. Parameters of characteristics used in wall formation, their positions, wall thermal behaviours, and “time lag” and “decrement factor” having effect on the changes of conditions of interior space were investigated experimentally for different wall formations. The experimental findings were compared with the results of equations derived by using an analytic methodology.     

Simulation of particle deposition in ventilation duct with a particle–wall impact model

Particle deposition velocities and locations in horizontal ventilation ducts are investigated by incorporating the effect of particle–wall collision. Particle deposition onto two types of surfaces, stainless steel surface and tedlar surface, are simulated and compared. The RNG k–? model is employed to predict the air turbulence, and the Lagrangian particle tracking method integrated with particle–wall impact model is used to reveal particle physical behaviors. Turbulent dispersion of the particles is taken into account by adopting the discrete random walk (DRW) model. Particle deposition velocities and distributions onto the wall, ceiling and floor are simulated and analyzed. For both stainless steel and tedlar ducts, reasonable agreements are achieved between the simulation data and experimental data for particles with larger relaxation time. Particle deposition velocity is related to particle relaxation time and surface materials. The particle–wall impact model affects the prediction of deposition velocity and distribution. As the effects of Brownian diffusion and turbulent fluctuation on particle deposition are not considered, the presented model applies better to the particles with relatively large relaxation time.     

壁式基础（wall foundation）

壁式基础为以连续壁单元或其组合作为结构体支承之基础构造，其功能与大口径钻掘基桩相当，但在造形上则有别于传统钻掘式基桩之圆柱形，一般使用于高楼之壁式基础形式多为一字形、十字形、T形或H形之柱状结构（如图1（a）），应用于桥梁工程之壁式基础，则多为单室、双室或多室型之矩形箱状结构（如图1（b）），基本上均系配合上部结构物形态、载重特征以及连续壁施工机械之特性而设计。由于壁式基础断面较传统基桩更具弹性，配合上部载重特性，基础断面可做最有效之配置，因此可提供更经济之设计，有效节省工程经费。     

Stochastic seismic analysis of Kömürhan Highway Bridge with varying material properties

Stochastic seismic finite element analyses of the Kömürhan Bridge, the material properties of which are described by random fields, are presented in this paper. The stochastic perturbation technique and Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) method are used in the analyses. A summary of MCS and perturbation-based stochastic finite element dynamic analysis formulation of the structural system is given. The Kömürhan Bridge, located on the 51st km of Elaz??-Malatya highway in the east of Turkey, was chosen as a numerical example. The Erzincan earthquake in 1992 was considered a ground motion, since it took place in the vicinity of the bridge. The material properties were considered to be random variables. During the stochastic analysis, displacements and internal forces of the bridge under consideration were obtained using the perturbation-based stochastic finite element method (SFEM), as well as the MCS method. The selected random variables were elastic modulus and mass density. The efficiency and accuracy of the proposed SFEM algorithm were validated through comparison with results of the MCS method.     

Seismic earth pressures on flexible cantilever retaining walls with deformable inclusions

In this study, the results of 1-g shaking table tests performed on small-scale flexible cantilever wallmodels retaining composite backfill made of a deformable geofoam inclusion and granular cohesionlessmaterial were presented. Two different polystyrene materials were utilized as deformable inclusions.Lateral dynamic earth pressures and wall displacements at different elevations of the retaining wallmodel were monitored during the tests. The earth pressures and displacements of the retaining wallswith deformable inclusions were compared with those of the models without geofoam inclusions.Comparisons indicated that geofoam panels of low stiffness installed against the retaining wall modelaffect displacement and dynamic lateral pressure profile along the wall height. Depending on the inclusioncharacteristics and the wall flexibility, up to 50% reduction in dynamic earth pressures wasobserved. The efficiency of load and displacement reduction decreased as the flexibility ratio of the wallmodel increased. On the other hand, dynamic load reduction efficiency of the deformable inclusionincreased as the amplitude and frequency ratio of the seismic excitation increased. Relative flexibility ofthe deformable layer （the thickness and the elastic stiffness of the polystyrene material） played animportant role in the amount of load reduction. Dynamic earth pressure coefficients were compared withthose calculated with an analytical approach. Pressure coefficients calculated with this method werefound to be in good agreement with the results of the tests performed on the wall model having lowflexibility ratio. It was observed that deformable inclusions reduce residual wall stresses observed at theend of seismic excitation thus contributing to the post-earthquake stability of the retaining wall. Thegraphs presented within this paper regarding the dynamic earth pressure coefficients versus the wallflexibility and inclusion characteristics may serve for the seismic design of full-scale retaining walls withdeformable polystyren     

Effects of the configuration of a baffle–avalanche wall system on rock avalanches in Tibet Zhangmu: discrete element analysis

Rock avalanches with a high mobility and kinetic energy pose a potential geological risk to surrounding buildings. Baffles and avalanche walls are effective ways to protect these buildings. However, the primary focus of previous studies has been on baffles or avalanche walls alone, and there have been very few studies investigating the effectiveness of a combination of baffles and avalanche walls as a countermeasure against rock avalanches. In addition, previous studies on lab-scale tests and numerical analyses often did not take the actual topography effects into consideration. In this study we adopted a numerical simulation approach based on an actual project in the town of Zhangmu, Tibet, with the aim to investigate the effect of different configurations of a combined baffle–avalanche wall system on impeding the kinetic energy of rock avalanches. A series of numerical analyses with discrete element methods (DEM) were conducted. First, the effect of three different pile groups on the reduction of the effect of the rock avalanche was studied using the numerical modeling study. Secondly, the influence of the size of the retaining wall on the maximum impact force of the rock avalanche was studied. Finally, a DEM modeling study on the energy dissipation capacity of the baffle–avalanche wall system was conducted. The results demonstrate that an arrangement of different baffle–avalanche wall systems will produce different results in terms of dissipating the energy of rock avalanches: when the wall is long enough to block all rock masses, enhancing baffle density will decrease the maximum impact force exerted on the avalanche wall; however, if the wall is just long enough to protect the target region, reducing baffle density will decrease the maximum impact force exerted on the avalanche wall. The results of this study are significant in terms of providing guidelines for the design of baffle–avalanche wall systems for protection against rock avalanches.

     

Determination of potential landslide shear plane depth using seismic refraction—a case study in Rheinhessen, Germany

Landslides on the Rheinhessen cuesta are not only a natural component of slope evolution but also have been influenced by anthropogenic activities such as viniculture. Single landslides as well as the regional occurrence of hundreds of mass movements have a direct and indirect effect on the environment and cause high economic loss.This study analyses a regionally characteristic landslide, DROM 9, to establish the potential for the use of seismic refraction to determine the change of substrate below the ground surface. In Rheinhessen, landslides commonly occur as shallow translational features in depressions that were probably created as Pleistocene valleys. Seismic field data have been analysed using the intercept technique and the generalised reciprocal method. The depth of the substrate and the divisions within it were confirmed by boreholes. With this information, it is possible to develop a structural model of the subsurface, which leads to a better understanding of landslide kinematics.     

Active static and seismic earth pressure for c–φ soils

Rankine classic earth pressure solution has been expanded to predict the seismic active earth pressure behind rigid walls supporting c–φ backfill considering both wall inclination and backfill slope. The proposed formulation is based on Rankine's conjugate stress concept, without employing any additional assumptions. The developed expressions can be used for the static and pseudo-static seismic analyses of c–φ backfill. The results based on the proposed formulations are found to be identical to those computed with the Mononobe–Okabe method for cohesionless soils, provided the same wall friction angle is employed. For c–φ soils, the formulation yields comparable results to available solutions for cases where a comparison is feasible. Design charts are presented for calculating the net active horizontal thrust behind a rigid wall for a variety of horizontal pseudo-static accelerations, values of cohesion, soil internal friction angles, wall inclinations, and backfill slope combinations. The effects of the vertical pseudo-static acceleration on the active earth pressure and the depth of tension cracks have also been explored. In addition, examples are provided to illustrate the application of the proposed method.     

Improved k-ε model and wall function formulation for the RANS simulation of ABL flows

The simulation of Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) flows is usually performed using the commercial CFD codes with RANS turbulence modelling and standard sand-grain rough wall functions. Such approach generally results in the undesired decay of the velocity and turbulent profiles specified at the domain inlet, before they reach the section of interest within the computational domain. This behaviour is a direct consequence of the inconsistency between the fully developed ABL inlet profiles and the wall function formulation.The present paper addresses the aforementioned issue and proposes a solution to it. A modified formulation of the Richards and Hoxey wall function for turbulence production is presented to avoid the well-documented over-prediction of the turbulent kinetic energy at the wall. Moreover, a modification of the standard k-ε turbulence model is proposed to allow specific arbitrary sets of fully developed profiles at the inlet section of the computational domain.The methodology is implemented and tested in the commercial code FLUENT v6.3 by means of the User Defined Functions (UDF). Results are presented for two neutral boundary layers over flat terrain, at wind tunnel and full scale, and for the flow around a bluff-body immersed into a wind-tunnel ABL. The potential of the proposed methodology in ensuring the homogeneity of velocity and turbulence quantities throughout the computational domain is demonstrated.     

A computational investigation of particle distribution and deposition in a 90° bend incorporating a particle–wall model

This paper investigates the particle flow movement and deposition in a 90° bend after a straight duct, utilizing the Lagrangian particle-tracking model incorporated with a particle–wall collision model. Particle turbulent dispersion is introduced by employing the ‘eddy lifetime’ model, and particle deposition velocity in the bend is proposed by counting the number of deposited trajectories in a time period. The developed models are validated for both airflow and particle flow by previous experimental data. Particle distribution and deposition behavior at five size groups (1, 3, 5, 9, and 16 μm) are investigated. The simulation results show that, compared with traditional ‘Trap’ model, the particle–wall collision model postpones the emergence and slows the increase of the ‘particle free zone’ as the particle diameter increases. Particle deposition velocity in the duct bend is also generally predicted by the proposed estimation equation under the simulated conditions. This reveals that adopting the particle–wall collision model obtains a reasonable prediction of particle distribution and deposition in the duct bend. This work will benefit the understanding and application of microparticle flow in curved duct systems.     

Confined masonry as practical seismic construction alternative–the experience from the 2014 Cephalonia Earthquake

During August 1953 three strong earthquakes of magnitude ranging from 6.3 to 7.2 shook the Ionian Island of Cephalonia (Kefalonia), Greece, and destroyed almost the entire building stock of the Island which consisted primarily of traditional unreinforced masonry (URM) houses. The authorities went on to restructuring of the building stock, using a structural system that is most like what is known today as confined masonry. They designed about 14 types of one- to two-storey buildings providing the engineers with detailed construction plans. These buildings are known as “Arogi” buildings (Arogi in Greek meaning Aid). On the 24th of January and 3rd of February 2014, two earthquakes of magnitude 6.1 and 6.0 struck the island, causing significant soil damages, developing excessively high ground accelerations. Surprisingly, no damage was reported in the “Arogi” buildings. The seismic behavior of the buildings is examined by FEM linear analysis and it is compared to that of URM structures. Computed results illustrate that the displacements of identical URM buildings would be about twice the magnitudes observed in the corresponding “Arogi” ones, with the implication that the earthquake sequence of 2014 would have caused critical damage should the type of structure be of the URM type. Furthermore, it is illustrated that this low cost alternative method of construction is a very effective means of producing earthquake resilient structures, whereas further reduction of seismic displacement may be achieved in the order of 50% with commensurate effects on damage potential, when reinforced slabs are used to replace the timber roofs.     

Use of Geophysical Techniques for the Localization of the Restricting Zones of Permeability in the Bottom of Basin： Forecasting the Zones of Clogging

Measurements of dielectric parameters followed by permeability tests are performed on soil samples of infiltration basin. The dielectric parameters are obtained by TDR （time domain reflectrometry） measurements from which it is found that the measurement of the permittivity, the electrical conductivity and the relaxation time of compacted soil allows the mapping of the values of the coefficient of permeability at the surface of an infiltration basin. With the distribution of the coefficient of permeability, the areas of water stagnation can be detected before the basin filling. The study proves that the TDR measurements for the detection of these zones can be used for the management of infiltration basins for sustainable working and their remediation can be undertaken before the rainy seasons.     

Review of Urban Planning of Beijing(1949 – 1960): A Masterpiece of Planning History Study of Beijing at the Early Stage of the People's Republic of China

<正>Urban Planning of Beijing(1949 – 1960)Author: Li Hao Year: 2022Publisher: China Architecture & Building Press ISBN: 9787112281725(447 pages, in Chinese)The 1950s is an important period in terms of the urban planning history study of China. It is not only the initial and foundation stage of China’s modern urban planning, with profound influence on contemporary urban planning,     

City Model of Guilin and Object of Protection

The city model of Guilin,characterized by the unique integration of hills,rivers and city,is being sabotaged dur-ing the urbanization process.This article makes an analysis of problems facing Guilin and proposes measures fromthe planning point of view.These measures,including regional macrocontrol and microcontrol of the developmentareas,intend to protect the city's integrity,to propose development controls and to retain the local characteristics.     

Role of microorganisms in water purification of compounds of iron and manganese in a dense layer of sorbent–catalyst

The article contains assessment and contains experimental substantiation of the involvement of iron- and manganese-oxidizing microorganisms in the removal of manganese compounds from model solutions. Defined and identified are cultures of such microorganisms. The article has shown the efficiency of removing manganese compounds by the layer of a sorbent–catalyst under conditions of changing the temperature conditions for a long time.