Railway deformation detected by DInSAR over active sinkholes in the Ebro Valley evaporite karst, Spain

Subsidence was measured for the first time on railway tracks in the central sector of Ebro Valley (NE Spain) using Differential Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (DInSAR) techniques. This area is affected by evaporite karst and the analysed railway corridors traverse active sinkholes that produce deformations in these infrastructures. One of the railway tracks affected by slight settlements is the Madrid-Barcelona high-speed line, a form of transport infrastructure highly vulnerable to ground deformation processes. Our analysis based on DInSAR measurements and geomorphological surveys indicates that this line shows dissolution-induced subsidence and compaction of anthropogenic deposits (infills and embankments). Significant sinkhole-related subsidence was also measured by DInSAR techniques on the Castejón-Zaragoza conventional railway line. This study demonstrates that DInSAR velocity maps, coupled with detailed geomorphological surveys, may help in the identification of the railway track sections that are affected by active subsidence

Ratio between inbreeding and coancestry rates as a measure of population subdivision. Preliminary results

Ponencia publicada en ITEA, vol. 104Uno de los factores que provocan incrementos de consanguinidad superiores a los que se esperarían en función del tamaño de la población es la subdivisión de las poblaciones. La medida de la subdivisión de poblaciones no resulta sencilla. Se presenta una medida de subdivisión de poblaciones que se obtiene a partir de la información de pedigree. Se basa en la comparación directa de los incrementos de coascendencia en relación a los incrementos de endogamia por generación discreta equivalente, establecidos ambos a partir de la media de valores individuales de esos parámetros. La utilidad del parámetro desde el punto de vista descriptivo se ilustra con la ayuda de una población simulada y de dos poblaciones reales con diferentes escenarios de subdivisión.Subdivision is one of the factors leading to increase in inbreeding higher than those expected regarding population size. Measuring population subdivision is not straightforward given that it is established rather diffuse. A measure of population subdivision from pedigrees is presented. It is based on the direct comparison of the increases in coancestry and the increases in inbreeding computed over equivalent discrete generation. Coancestry and inbreeding rates were established from the average of individual values of those parameters. The usefulness of the new parameter from a descriptive point of view is illustrated using a simulated population and two real populations with an opposed scenario regarding subdivision

Evaluating Quaternary activity versus inactivity on faults and folds using geomorphological mapping and trenching: Seismic hazard implications

The incorporation of active faults in seismic hazard analyses may have a significant impact on the feasibility, design and cost of major engineering projects (e.g., nuclear facilities, dams), especially when located in the site vicinity. The regulatory definition of active versus inactive fault is generally based on whether the fault has ruptured or not after a specific chronological bound (i.e. fault recency). This work presents a methodology, mainly based on geomorphological mapping and trenching, for determining whether specific faults can be considered as active or inactive. The approach is illustrated through the analysis of several faults located in the Spanish Pyrenees (Loiti, Leyre, La Trinidad, Ruesta faults). The 29 km long Loiti Thrust was included in the Neotectonic Map of Spain as a probable neotectonic structure. Previous works, based on geomorphological investigations, incorporated the 28 km long Leyre Thrust as a significant seismic source in a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis, which challenged the seismic design of nearby large dams. The production of detailed geomorphological strip maps along the faults allowed the recognition of specific sites where the faults are covered by Quaternary deposits. The establishment of chronosequences (pediments-terrace sequences)and the available geochronological data helped identifying the most adequate morpho-stratigraphic units for satisfactorily evaluating fault activity vs. inactivity. The excavation of trenches at the selected sites provided unambiguous information on the presence or lack of deformation in the Quaternary cover overlying the fault, and the origin of scarps (tectonic versus erosional). Trenches were also useful for collecting samples and reliably measuring the relative height of terraces overlain by thick colluvium. The evidence gathered by these methods were complemented with the numerical dating of non-deformed slope deposits covering a fault, the analysis of the longitudinal profiles of old pediment surfaces located in the proximity of a fault, the examination of a cave situated next to a fault searching for speleoseismological evidence, and regional geodetic and seismotectonic data (GPS measurements, earthquake focal mechanisms). The integration of all the data, and especially the trenches dug in non-deformed old terrace deposits (>100 ka)truncating the faults, indicates that the analysed faults can be considered inactive and that previous neotectonic postulations were based on non-valid geomorphological interpretations

Diseño optimizado y caracterización de hormigones autocompactantes reforzados con fibra polimérica de alto módulo

Los hormigones autocompactantes suponen una alternativa de ejecución fácil y rápida, que garantiza una puesta en obra de calidad y una mejora de las prestaciones mecánicas a igualdad de contenido de cemento. Por otro lado, los hormigones reforzados con fibra de carácter estructural son cada vez más demandados ya que, en el caso de contar con el tipo y proporción de fibra adecuado, permiten la sustitución total o parcial del armado convencional de acero. Este estudio persigue el diseño optimizado de hormigones autocompactantes reforzados con fibra polimérica de alto módulo para la ejecución de obras de rehabilitación, como las llevadas a cabo en las bóvedas de la catedral de San Cristóbal de la Laguna, de tal manera que, manteniendo la característica de autocompactabilidad y sin perjuicio de la durabilidad, dicho hormigón presente un comportamiento post-fisuración que cumpla con las especificaciones del Anejo 14 de la EHE-08, en lo que se refiere a los valores mínimos de resistencia característica residual a tracción por flexión fR,1,k y fR,3,k , de tal forma que la fibra alcance la consideración de estructural, lo que supondría una alternativa técnica al refuerzo con fibra de acero que permitiría la sustitución parcial o total de la armadura de acero

Polypropylene fiber-reinforced self-compacting concrete for the reconstruction of the cathedral of La Laguna, Canary Island, Spain

High performance materials are needed for the reconstruction of such a singular building as a cathedral, since in addition to special mechanical properties, high self compact ability, high durability and high surface quality, are specified. Because of the project’s specifications, the use of polypropylene fiber-reinforced, self-compacting concrete was selected by the engineering office. The low quality of local materials and the lack of experience in applying macro polypropylene fiber for structural reinforcement with these components materials required the development of a pretesting program. To optimize the mix design, performance was evaluated following technical, economical and constructability criteria. Since the addition of fibers reduces concrete self-compactability, many trials were run to determine the optimal mix proportions. The variables introduced were paste volume; the aggregate skeleton of two or three fractions plus limestone filler; fiber type and dosage. Two mix designs were selected from the preliminary results. The first one was used as reference for self-compactability and mechanical properties. The second one was an optimized mix with a reduction in cement content of 20 kg/m3and fiber dosage of 1 kg/m3. For these mix designs, extended testing was carried out to measure the compression and flexural strength, modulus of elasticity, toughness, and water permeability resistanc

Genetic differentiation between two geographic subpopulations of Bermeya goat

Ponencia publicada en ITEA, vol.104Este trabajo es un análisis preliminar de la diversidad y grado de diferenciación genética entre las subpoblaciones Oriental y Occidental de la cabra de raza Bermeya de Asturias. Se han genotipado 27 microsatélites en 122 individuos pertenecientes a las poblaciones de cabra Bermeya Oriental, Bermeya Occidental, del Guadarrama, Alpine y Saanen. Las poblaciones de raza Bermeya presentaron heterocigosis esperadas menores de 0,6 y coascendencias moleculares dentro de población de 0,419, reflejando una alta identidad genética entre individuos. Asimismo, el número medio de alelos por locus, ajustado por el tamaño muestral, de las poblaciones Bermeya Oriental y Occidental fueron los menores encontrados (3,8 y 3,9, respectivamente). La mayor coascendencia molecular se encontró entre las poblaciones Bermeya Oriental-Guadarrama (0,388 ± 0,006), como consecuencia de la introgresión, en el Oriente asturiano de individuos de tipo Pirenáico. Este parámetro entre las poblaciones de Bermeya Oriental y Occidental fue de 0,371 ± 0,007. Puede ser necesario establecer estrategias de conservación diferenciadas para las dos poblaciones geográficas de cabra Bermeya.Two geographic subpopulations (Eastern and Western) of the Asturian Bermeya goat were analysed using 27 microsatellites. A total of 122 individuals of Bermeya, Guadarrama, Alpine and Saanen goat breeds were genotyped. The Eastern and Western Bermeya subpopulations had expected heterozygosity values lower than 0.6 and within-subpopulations molecular coancestry values of 0.419, thus illustrating a high between individuals genetic identity. The rarefacted average number of alleles per locus found in both the Eastern and the Western Bermeya subpopulations were the lowest in the dataset (3.8 and 3.9, respectively). The higher between-populations molecular coancestry values was found for the pair Eastern Bermeya-Guadarrama (0.388 ± 0.006), thus reflecting the introgression of the Pyrenean-type goat into Eastern Asturias. This parameter between the two Bermeya subpopulations was of 0.371 ± 0.007. It could be recommended the implementation of different conservation strategies for each of the geographic subpopulations of Bermeya goat

Sedimentological and palaeohydrological characterization of Late Pleistocene and Holocene tufa mound palaeolakes using trenching methods in the Spanish Pyrenees

Lakes developed in the inner depressions of tufa mounds are rare geomorphic features and still poorly understood. Sedimentation in this unusual type of endorheic lake with a very restricted catchment area is highly sensitive to environmental and hydrological changes. The Isona tufa mound complex, north-eastern Iberian Peninsula, is associated with the discharge zone of a confined artesian aquifer and comprises 11 tufa mounds consisting of an annular rimstone enclosing a central depression filled with lake deposits. Data gathered from trenches excavated in four palaeolakes located within three different morphostratigraphic units permitted a precise analysis of the geometrical characteristics and stratigraphic relationships of the deposits and provided a sedimentation model for the Late Quaternary infilling of the spring-fed lakes. The work illustrates that trenches allow a precise characterization of the stratigraphic arrangements, lateral facies changes and deformation structures, which are not apparent in studies relying solely on borehole records, and facilitate sampling for dating and geochemical analyses. The five sedimentary facies described represent different evolutionary stages of the lakes, including: (i) carbonate-rich palustrine deposits probably related to periods with strong hydrological seasonality; (ii) massive highly bioturbated organic ooze; (iii) banded organic carbonate-rich facies associated with an increase in the regional effective moisture; (iv) finegrained quartz-rich aeolian/slope-wash sediments; and (v) colluvial facies deposited following the desiccation of the lakes located at higher altitudes. Geochemical and sedimentological analyses of the lacustrine sequences provided information on the palaeohydrological evolution of the Isona tufa mound complex and the palaeoenvironmental conditions of the area over the last 28 ka. Radiometric dating suggests that deposition occurred simultaneously at ca 22 ka in palaeolakes situated at different elevations. A drop in the piezometric level prompted by the opening of springs at lower altitudes probably caused the deactivation of the upper springs and the desiccation of the lakes. Arid conditions prevailed in the area during the Late Glacial and the early Holocene (28·0 to 8·5 ka BP). More humid conditions recorded from 8·5 to 4·2 ka and again since 1·7 ka are in accordance with palaeoenvironmental reconstructions available in the Western Mediterranean since the Last Glacial Maximum