Seismic Design of Earth Retaining Structures

Recent experiments, field observations and theoretical numerical studies are summarized: Where the simple conditions assumed by the Mononobe-Okabe theory are reproduced. ln tests, predictions and observations agree well. However, a retaining structure and surrounding soil are a complex dynamic system and behavior is far from simple. Emphasis has shifted somewhat away from dynamic stresses toward evaluation of residual displacements. With a good understanding of actual behavior, traditional methods may still be used except for large and unusual structures. The largest unknowns concern the behavior of cohesive soils and moderately dense to dense saturated sands

Centrifuge Modeling of a Tilting Wall with Liquefiable Backfill

A series of dynamic centrifuge tests was carried out to simulate the seismic behaviors of an idealized model retaining wall and the liquefiable backfill supported by the wall. The wall is hinged at the base and is supported near the top by an anchor with finite strength. Eighteen tests with various peak accelerations were applied to six saturated sand models prepared at two relative densities and with two pore fluid viscosities. Permanent tilt in the wall as a result of temporary failure of the anchor occurred in some tests. Results from tests without anchor failures were used to form a model for estimating the amount of permanent tilt in the wall

Failures of Quay Walls During Chilean Earthquake of March 1985

Extensive damage took place in the quay walls in the Ports of Valparaíso and San Antonio during the Chilean earthquake of March 1985. Different types of retaining structures such as gravity retaining walls built with concrete blocks, sheetpiles and decks on vertical piles were subjected to large shaking ranging from 0.3 - 0.45g at Valparaíso Port to more than 0.6g at San Antonio. Some of the retaining structures collapsed and others behave quite well. In addition, some liquefaction and settlements in the sandy fill below the yards did occur at San Antonio, along with permanent displacements in the fill slope behind some of the decks supported by piles. The behavior of 7 berths at Valparaíso and 7 berths at San Antonio is discussed taking into account soil characteristics and field measurements performed after the earthquake

Comparison Between Finite Element Predictions and Results from Dynamic Centrifuge Tests on Tilting Gravity Wall Retaining Dry Sand

An analytical model is developed to analyze the seismic response of gravity walls retaining and founded on dry sand, with special emphasis on tilting behavior. A well verified two-dimensional finite element code is used for this purpose. The analytical model is verified comparing predictions to results from three dynamic centrifuge tests, with satisfactory agreement. Moreover, sensitivity analyses are carried out for one of the centrifuge test conditions to understand how the results would change if the boundary conditions and rotational stiffness of the wall were changed

Initial Results from a Stacked Ring Apparatus for Simulation of a Soil Profile

A stack of 48 rings, lined with a latex membrane, is used to confine a column of soil 12 inches high by 12 inches in diameter (300 mm x 300 mm). Both dry and saturated columns of fine sand are shaken at their base, at a centrifugal acceleration of 35.5 g. Measurements of the settlement of the surface, horizontal displacement and pore pressures show that the columns of soil are behaving essentially (although not exactly) as one-dimensional shear beams

A Richness Study of 14 Distant X-ray Clusters From the 160 Square Degree Survey

We have measured the surface density of galaxies toward 14 X-ray-selected cluster candidates at redshifts greater than z=0.46, and we show that they are associated with rich galaxy concentrations. We find that the clusters range between Abell richness classes 0-2, and have a most probable richness class of one. We compare the richness distribution of our distant clusters to those for three samples of nearby clusters with similar X-ray luminosities. We find that the nearby and distant samples have similar richness distributions, which shows that clusters have apparently not evolved substantially in richness since redshift z =0.5. We compare the distribution of distant X-ray clusters in the L_x--richness plane to the distribution of optically-selected clusters from the Palomar Distant Cluster Survey. The optically-selected clusters appear overly rich for their X-ray luminosities when compared to X-ray-selected clusters. Apparently, X-ray and optical surveys do not necessarily sample identical mass concentrations at large redshifts. This may indicate the existence of a population of optically rich clusters with anomalously low X-ray emission. More likely, however, it reflects the tendency for optical surveys to select unvirialized mass concentrations, as might be expected when peering along large-scale filaments.Comment: The abstract has been abridged. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Axisymmetric Stationary Solutions as Harmonic Maps

We present a method for generating exact solutions of Einstein equations in vacuum using harmonic maps, when the spacetime possesses two commutating Killing vectors. This method consists in writing the axisymmetric stationry Einstein equations in vacuum as a harmonic map which belongs to the group SL(2,R), and decomposing it in its harmonic "submaps". This method provides a natural classification of the solutions in classes (Weil's class, Lewis' class etc).Comment: 17 TeX pages, one table,( CINVESTAV- preprint 12/93

Finitely generated free Heyting algebras via Birkhoff duality and coalgebra

Algebras axiomatized entirely by rank 1 axioms are algebras for a functor and thus the free algebras can be obtained by a direct limit process. Dually, the final coalgebras can be obtained by an inverse limit process. In order to explore the limits of this method we look at Heyting algebras which have mixed rank 0-1 axiomatizations. We will see that Heyting algebras are special in that they are almost rank 1 axiomatized and can be handled by a slight variant of the rank 1 coalgebraic methods

Asymptotic Structure of Symmetry Reduced General Relativity

Gravitational waves with a space-translation Killing field are considered. In this case, the 4-dimensional Einstein vacuum equations are equivalent to the 3-dimensional Einstein equations with certain matter sources. This interplay between 4- and 3- dimensional general relativity can be exploited effectively to analyze issues pertaining to 4 dimensions in terms of the 3-dimensional structures. An example is provided by the asymptotic structure at null infinity: While these space-times fail to be asymptotically flat in 4 dimensions, they can admit a regular completion at null infinity in 3 dimensions. This completion is used to analyze the asymptotic symmetries, introduce the analog of the 4-dimensional Bondi energy-momentum and write down a flux formula. The analysis is also of interest from a purely 3-dimensional perspective because it pertains to a diffeomorphism invariant 3-dimensional field theory with {\it local} degrees of freedom, i.e., to a midi-superspace. Furthermore, due to certain peculiarities of 3 dimensions, the description of null infinity does have a number of features that are quite surprising because they do not arise in the Bondi-Penrose description in 4 dimensions.Comment: 39 Pages, REVTEX, CGPG-96/5-