Nonlinear analysis of earthquake fault rupture interaction with historic masonry buildings

The response of historic masonry buildings to tectonic ground displacements is studied through analysis of a simple yet representative soil-foundation-masonry wall system. A nonlinear 3D finite element method is developed and employed to reproduce the strong nonlinear response of the rupturing soil, as well as the masonry structure. Following a sensitivity analysis of the effect of the exact location of the structure with respect to the emerging fault, the paper discusses several characteristic mechanisms of soil-structure interaction and evaluates the associated structural distress. The observed failure pattern and the consequent structural damage are shown to depend strongly, varying from minimal to dramatic, on the exact position of the structure relative to the fault. Alleviation of tectonic risk through foundation enhancement/improvement is investigated by considering alternative foundation systems. Results highlight the advantageous performance of rigid embedded and continuous foundations as opposed to more flexible and isolated supports indicating that foundation strengthening may provide important shielding against settlement and structural drift

Capacity of grillage foundations under horizontal loading

Grillage foundations are an alternative to solid surface mudmats for supporting seabed infrastructure, offering improved hydrodynamic performance and savings in foundation material. Recent research has demonstrated that grillages can be designed to have similar vertical bearing capacity to a mudmat with the same footprint. This is extended herein by: (a) determining grillage performance under horizontal loading at constant vertical load (V-H); (b) the application and development of existing plasticity-based models for predicting performance; (c) comparing the V-H behaviour with surface mudmats; and (d) discussing the implications for design. Experimental tests were conducted in sands over a range of densities and in two different modes, representing different installation procedures. In over-penetrated tests, the foundations were installed to achieve a vertical bearing capacity V 0, followed by horizontal loading at a constant vertical load with V &lt; V 0. In normally penetrated tests, foundations were installed to V 0 before horizontal loading at constant vertical load with V = V 0. Both normalised V-H yield surfaces and a plasticity-based simulation model are presented for use in design. Laboratory-scale grillages offer improved horizontal capacity in loose and medium-dense sands and similar horizontal capacity in very dense sand, compared with surface mudmats. Permission is granted by ICE Publishing to print one copy for personal use. Any other use of these PDF files is subject to reprint fees. http://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/content/journals</p

Bridge-Pier Caisson foundations subjected to normal and thrust faulting:physical experiments versus numerical analysis

Surface fault ruptures can inflict serious damage to engineering structures built on or near them. In the earthquakes of Kocaeli, Chi-chi, and Wenchuan a number of bridges were crossed by the emerging normal or thrust faults suffering various degrees of damage. While piles have proved incapable of tolerating large displacements, massive embedded caisson foundations can be advantageous thanks to their rigidity. The paper explores the key mechanisms affecting the response of such bridge foundations subjected to dip-slip (normal or thrust) faulting. A series of physical model experiments are conducted in the National Technical University of Athens, to gain a deeper insight in the mechanics of the problem. The position of the caisson relative to the fault rupture is parametrically investigated. High-resolution images of the deformed physical model is PIV-processed to compute caisson displacements and soil deformation. A novel laser scanning technique, applied after each dislocation increment, reveals the surface topography (the relief) of the deformed ground. 3D finite element analyses accounting for soil strain-softening give results in accord with the physical model tests. It is shown that the caisson offers a kinematic constraint, diverting the fault rupture towards one or both of its sides. Depending on the caisson's exact location relative to the rupture, various interesting interaction mechanisms develop, including bifurcation of the rupture path and diffusion of plastic deformation.</p

Performance of Cotton Varieties Tested in Alabama, 1992

Caption title. Cover title: Performance of Cotton Varieties Tested in Alabama, 1992. "March 1993.

Performance of Ryegrass Varieties in Alabama, 1997-98

Cover title. "July 1998.

1994 Alabama performance comparison of small grain varieties for forage

Title from cover

Insecticide resistance and the future of malaria control in Zambia.

BACKGROUND: In line with the Global trend to improve malaria control efforts a major campaign of insecticide treated net distribution was initiated in 1999 and indoor residual spraying with DDT or pyrethroids was reintroduced in 2000 in Zambia. In 2006, these efforts were strengthened by the President's Malaria Initiative. This manuscript reports on the monitoring and evaluation of these activities and the potential impact of emerging insecticide resistance on disease transmission. METHODS: Mosquitoes were captured daily through a series of 108 window exit traps located at 18 sentinel sites. Specimens were identified to species and analyzed for sporozoites. Adult Anopheles mosquitoes were collected resting indoors and larva collected in breeding sites were reared to F1 and F0 generations in the lab and tested for insecticide resistance following the standard WHO susceptibility assay protocol. Annual cross sectional household parasite surveys were carried out to monitor the impact of the control programme on prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum in children aged 1 to 14 years. RESULTS: A total of 619 Anopheles gambiae s.l. and 228 Anopheles funestus s.l. were captured from window exit traps throughout the period, of which 203 were An. gambiae malaria vectors and 14 An. funestus s.s.. In 2010 resistance to DDT and the pyrethroids deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin and permethrin was detected in both An. gambiae s.s. and An. funestus s.s.. No sporozoites were detected in either species. Prevalence of P. falciparum in the sentinel sites remained below 10% throughout the study period. CONCLUSION: Both An. gambiae s.s. and An. funestus s.s. were controlled effectively with the ITN and IRS programme in Zambia, maintaining a reduced disease transmission and burden. However, the discovery of DDT and pyrethroid resistance in the country threatens the sustainability of the vector control programme

Performance of soybean varieties in Alabama, 1992

Title from cover. "March 1993.

1997 Alabama performance comparison of small grain varieties for forage

Title from cover

Performance of ryegrass varieties in Alabama, 1996-97

Title from cover. "July 1997.