Finite element limit analysis of load-bearing performance of reinforced slopes using a non-associated flow rule

This paper presents a numerical study on the load-bearing performance of reinforced slopes under footing load using a finite element limit analysis (FELA) method where a non-associated flow rule is assumed in the analysis. The method was validated against results from full-scale model tests and a limit equilibrium (LE) analytical method. A series of parametric analyses was subsequently carried out to examine the influences that the soil dilation angle, footing location, and reinforcement design (i.e. length, tensile strength, and vertical spacing) could have on the load-bearing performance of reinforced slopes. Results indicate that dilation angle has a significant influence on the predicted magnitudes of bearing capacity, slope deformation, and mobilized reinforcement load. The predicted values of bearing capacity using the FELA are smaller than those from the Meyerhof's analytical method for unreinforced semi-infinite foundation, especially for larger friction angle values. Additionally, the ultimate bearing capacity of the slope and its corresponding horizontal deformation increase with the reinforcement tensile strength. Finally, the slip planes under the applied footing load are found to be y-shaped and primarily occur in the upper half of the slope.     

Optimal operation of cogeneration system coordinated by aggregator for providing the demand and supply regulation capacity

Recent growth of renewable energy generations with natural variability, such as photovoltaic generation and wind turbine generation, would make the demand and supply control in a whole power system more difficult, and therefore, alternatives for demand and supply regulation resources would be required. The authors focus on cogeneration system (CGS) as one of regulation resources. In order to procure adequate volume of regulation capability, an aggregator coordinates a number of CGSs efficiently and flexibly considering the wide variety of electricity/thermal demands of CGS owners. This paper proposes a novel optimal operation strategy of CGS coordinated by the aggregator considering the energy balance and operation cost of individual CGS owner. This paper also demonstrates the availability of CGSs for regulation capability by numerical case studies in which the actual consumption profile is employed.     

水电工程下泄生态基流常用计算方法及软件开发

为了分析及确立生态基流,为水电工程环境影响评价提供依据,针对水电工程生态基流估算及决策过程繁复等问题,以2001—2015年水电工程环境影响评价及相关法律法规为基础,分析我国生态基流管理实践中使用最广泛的4种计算方法,即Tennant法、月基本流量法、最小流量法及7Q10法,并编制生态基流决策支持软件,并应用软件在汉江流域进行实例验证。结果表明,该软件能够提供多种计算方法及对比分析功能,可为水电工程下泄生态基流计算及决策提供计算平台。4种计算方法在汉江流域计算结果差异较大。总体而言,干流适合最小流量法及Tennant法,支流适合Tennant法。研究成果具有较大的实际应用和推广价值。     

Supporting SMEs' IP capabilities: Impact study of INPI pre-diagnosis through the use of the AIDA approach

This article aims to evaluate the impact of a regional SME IP support programme in France led by the INPI (National Institute of IP) and the Lorraine regional government. The panel includes 150 regional SMEs. The data were collected through the use of the AIDA approach and a data analysis was carried out, including principal components analysis (PCA) and a hierarchical ascending classification (HAC). The data analysis shows that the INPI pre-diagnosis allowed enterprises to progress in their IP-management. The knowledge of IP and its issues increase very significantly and appear to influence the IP-related management of the companies studied.     

Combining wind farms with concentrating solar plants to provide stable renewable power

We evaluate the extent to which a combination of wind power and concentrating solar power (CSP) may lead to stable and even baseload power by taking advantage of: 1) spatiotemporal balancing of solar and wind energy resources and 2) storage capabilities of CSP plants. A case study is conducted for the region of Andalusia in Spain. To this end, spatiotemporal variability of modeled CSP and wind capacity factors in a 3-km spatial resolution grid were analyzed based on principal component analysis (PCA) and canonical correlation analysis (CCA). Results reveal that renewable baseload power can be obtained in the study region by locating wind farms and CSP plants using balancing patterns derived from CCA and PCA. In addition, the power fluctuation reduction attained from these patterns was substantially higher than those obtained by interconnecting randomly-located wind farms and CSP plants across the study region. Results were particularly meaningful for the winter season. Upon considering storage capability of the CSP plants, results proved better. The main difference was a higher firm capacity value associated with spring and summer seasons. For the other seasons, the contribution of thermal storage capabilities of the CSP plants to stable power proved less relevant.     

Optimized Heat Treatment Enhances the Anti-Inflammatory Capacity of Ginger

This study aims to investigate the relationship between constituent contents and anti-inflammatory activities of heat processed gingers, and to optimize heat process to enhance ginger’s anti-inflammatory capacity. After 3 h of heat treatment at 75, 100, and 125°C, the gingerols content was reduced by 6.8, 12.6, and 42.7%, respectively, and the shogaols content was increased by 2.95, 4.85, and 9.34 fold, respectively. After 3 h of heat treatment at 150°C, the gingerols content was dramatically reduced by 89.5% and the increased shogaols content was even lower than treatment at 125°C. The tumor necrosis factor-α-, prostaglandin E2, and nitric oxide-inhibitory capacities of ginger could be increased by heat treatment. However, at high temperature, the enhanced ability would be decreased. The enhanced tumor necrosis factor-α-, prostaglandin E2-, and nitric oxide-inhibitory capacities of ginger was attenuated after 40, 60, and 180 min of heat treatment at 150°C, respectively. The results indicated that the TNF-α-inhibitory capacity of ginger was the most susceptible to heat. Only the prostaglandin E2-inhibitory capacity correlated with the shogaols content, which implies that heat derived shogaols contributed primarily to the prostaglandin E2-inhibitory capacity enhancement. We suggest that the optimal heat process condition is 125°C for 40–60 min for ginger to reach the maximum tumor necrosis factor-α-, prostaglandin E2-, and nitric oxide-inhibitory capacities.     

Closed form solution for predicting the horizontal capacity of masonry portal frames through limit analysis and comparison with experimental test results

The paper deals with the problem of evaluating the in-plane seismic capacity of unreinforced masonry portal frame, which can be considered the basic structural element in historical buildings. In particular, the Limit Analysis approach is used to provide simplified “closed form” expressions of the horizontal collapse multiplier, also taking into account the eventual contribution of steel tie rods. Both sliding shear and shear diagonal cracking are also considered in order to take into account the shear failure modes of the pier walls.The proposed formulations have been used for performing an extensive parametric analysis, with the aim of studying the effect of both geometry and vertical/horizontal loading distributions on the portal horizontal strength. Furthermore, the influence of the steel tie-rods has been addressed in order to understand their effectiveness on the portal seismic capacity.A comparison with the results of experimental tests on full-scale portal frames is also provided in terms of in-plane collapse multiplier and failure mechanism aimed to validate the proposed “closed form” expressions.Major outcome of this study is a simple rule of thumb, which can be used for the straightforward assessment of the horizontal strength of simple masonry structures, and for verifying the results of more complex structural analyses such as the nonlinear static analysis.     

城市河流系统治理策略在鹅颈水生态修复中的应用

在简要介绍城市河流系统治理策略的基础上，详细论述其在鹅颈水生态修复中的应用。鹅颈水治理以流域为空间单位，准确把握河流主要问题，综合考量水资源、水安全、水环境、水生态、水文化，坚持工程和非工程措施并重，分阶段逐步实现洪水风险管理、外源污染控制、河流水质修复、河流生态系统恢复的目标。结果表明，鹅颈水目前已基本消除黑臭，水质逐渐提升至国家地表水Ⅳ类水标准。提出进一步加强河流生态系统恢复、优化管理制度、逐步建立全过程和全指标生态监测评估体系、实施弹性管理等鹅颈水系统治理措施。     

钢筋混凝土拆除爆破炮孔装药量的确定

本文从分析钢筋混凝土爆破破坏形态出发,对钢筋混凝土的配筋情况,如强度、配筋网规格、钢筋层数等对拆除爆破的影响作了量化处理,在前人的基础上大胆提出了钢筋混凝土加强抛掷爆破的炮孔装药量计算公式,并在实际工程中得到了验证。