Unraveling the hydraulic properties of loess for landslide prediction:A study on variations in loess landslides in Lanzhou,Dingxi,and Tianshui,China

Loess has distinctive characteristics,leading to frequent landslide disasters and posing serious threats to the lives and properties of local re sidents.The involvement of water repre sents a critical factor in inducing loess landslides.This study focuses on three neighboring cities sequentially situated on the Loess Plateau along the direction of aeolian deposition of loess,namely Lanzhou,Dingxi,and Tianshui,which are densely populated and prone to landslide disasters.The variations in hydraulic properties,including water retention capacity and permeability,are investigated through Soil Water Characteristic Curve(SWCC)test and hydraulic conductivity test.The experimental findings revealed that Tianshui loess exhibited the highest water retention capacity,followed by Dingxi loess,while Lanzhou loess demonstrated the lowest water retention capacity.Contrastingly,the results for the saturated permeability coefficient were found to be the opposite:Tianshui loess showed the lowest permeability,whereas Lanzhou loess displayed the highest permeability.These results are supported and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy(SEM)observation.In addition,the water retention capacity is mathematically expressed using the van Genuchten model and extended to predict unsaturated hydraulic properties of loess.The experimental results exhibit a strong accordance with one another and align with the regional distribution patterns of disasters.

Reliability-based life-cycle cost seismic design optimization of coastal bridge piers with nonuniform corrosion using different materials

Reinforcement corrosion is the main cause of performance deterioration of reinforced concrete(RC)structures.Limited research has been performed to investigate the life-cycle cost(LCC)of coastal bridge piers with nonuniform corrosion using different materials.In this study,a reliability-based design optimization(RBDO)procedure is improved for the design of coastal bridge piers using six groups of commonly used materials,i.e.,normal performance concrete(NPC)with black steel(BS)rebar,high strength steel(HSS)rebar,epoxy coated(EC)rebar,and stainless steel(SS)rebar(named NPC-BS,NPC-HSS,NPC-EC,and NPC-SS,respectively),NPC with BS with silane soakage on the pier surface(named NPC-Silane),and high-performance concrete(HPC)with BS rebar(named HPC-BS).First,the RBDO procedure is improved for the design optimization of coastal bridge piers,and a bridge is selected to illustrate the procedure.Then,reliability analysis of the pier designed with each group of materials is carried out to obtain the time-dependent reliability in terms of the ultimate and serviceability performances.Next,the repair time of the pier is predicted based on the time-dependent reliability indices.Finally,the time-dependent LCCs for the pier are obtained for the selection of the optimal design.

A synthetic differencein-differences model for the influence of CR Express on Chongqing's economy

Purpose-The China-Europe Railway Express(CR Express)in Chongqing has operated regularly and undergone large-scale development.Its impact on Chongqing's economic growth has become increasingly evident,necessitating further research in this field.Design/methodology/approach-This study employs the opening of CR Express as a quasi-natural experiment,designating Chongqing,which inaugurated the CR Express in 2011,as the treatment group.13 provinces and cities that had not yet opened the CR Express until 2017 were selected as the control group.Utilizing panel data from 14 provinces across China spanning from 2006 to 2017,the synthetic control method(SCM)is employed to synthetically construct Chongqing.To quantify the difference in economic development levels between Chongqing with the operation of the CR express and Chongqing without its operation.Key metrics such as gross domestic product(GDP),per capita GDP,total retail sales of consumer goods,import and export value and the proportions of the secondary and tertiary industries are employed to measure urban economic development capabilities.Chongqing is designated as the experimental group,and a double-difference model is constructed to regress the operation of the CR Express against economic development capabilities.Robustness tests are conducted to validate the analytical results.Findings-The results indicate that,compared to provinces without the operation of the CR Express,the initiation of the CR Express in Chongqing significantly enhances the economic development level of the city.The opening of the CR Express exhibits a pronounced positive impact on Chongqing's economic development,and these findings remain robust and effective even after parallel trend tests and placebo tests.Originalitylvalue-The study represents an expansion of the theoretical framework.In contrast to previous studies that relied on a single indicator such as GDP,this study selects six indicators from the dimensions of economy,trade and industry to measure regional economic development capabilities.Furthermore,employing the grey relational analysis method,the study screens these indicators,thereby providing a theoretical basis for the selection of indicators for measuring regional economic development capabilities.

Research on visual differences of exits of different grades of tunnels based on machine learning

Tunnels are vital in connecting crucial transportation hubs as transportation infrastructure evolves.Variations in tunnel design standards and driving conditions across different levels directly impact driver visual perception and traffic safety.This study employs a Gaussian hybrid clustering machine learning model to explore driver gaze patterns in highway tunnels and exits.By utilizing contour coefficients,the optimal number of classification clusters is determined.Analysis of driver visual behavior across tunnel levels,focusing on gaze point distribution,gaze duration,and sweep speed,was conducted.Findings indicate freeway tunnel exits exhibit three distinct fixation point categories aligning with Gaussian distribution,while highway tunnels display four such characteristics.Notably,in both tunnel types,65%of driver gaze is concentrated on the near area ahead of their lane.Differences emerge in highway tunnels due to oncoming traffic,leading to 13.47%more fixation points and 0.9%increased fixation time in the right lane compared to regular highway tunnel conditions.Moreover,scanning speeds predominantly fall within the 0.25-0.3 range,accounting for 75.47%and 31.14%of the total sweep speed.

Addressing the Fuel Resistance of Hot Mix Asphalt by an Enhanced Test Method

In areas where hot mix asphalt(HMA)is likely to be exposed by any form of mineral oil the layer has to withstand the attack of these substances in order not to damage the construction.The European Standard EN 12697-43 provides a test procedure to determine the resistance of HMA to fuel.The paper reviews this method thoroughly.A completely revised and simplified test device for the brush test was developed meeting the requirements of the standard and creating results with a high repeatability at the same time.The test conditions given by the standard such as the exposure to fuel,cleaning of the specimen after exposure or the contact pressure of the brush were varied to isolate those test conditions with a substantial influence on the result.The research revealed that in the standard some conditions with a rather small influence are set quite strictly while other conditions with a distinct influence on the result are not defined with the required accuracy to obtain comparable and repeatable results.The paper presents suggestions for the improvement of the test method and the standard itself in respect to the layout of the test device and the definition of important test conditions to enhance the outcome of the EN 12697-43.

Insights and reviews on battery lifetime prediction from research to practice

The rising demand for energy storage solutions,especially in the electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors,highlights the importance of accurately predicting battery health to enhance their longevity and reliability.This article comprehensively examines various methods used to forecast battery health,including physics-based models,empirical models,and equivalent circuit models,among others.It delves into the promise of data-driven prognostics,utilizing both conventional machine learning and cuttingedge deep neural network techniques.The advantages and limitations of hybrid models are thoroughly analyzed,with a focus on the benefits of integrating diverse data sources to improve prognostic precision.Through practical case studies,the article showcases the effectiveness and flexibility of these approaches.It also critically addresses the challenges encountered in applying battery health prognostics in realworld scenarios,such as issues of scalability,complexity,and data anomalies.Despite these challenges,the article underscores the emerging opportunities brought about by recent technological,academic,and research advancements.These include the development of digital twin models for batteries,the use of data-centric AI and standardized benchmarking,the potential integration of blockchain technology for enhanced data security and transparency,and the synergy between edge and cloud computing to boost data analysis and processing.The primary goal of this article is to enrich the understanding of current battery health prognostic techniques and to inspire further research aimed at overcoming existing hurdles and tapping into new opportunities.It concludes with a visionary perspective on future research directions and potential developments in this evolving field,encouraging both researchers and practitioners to explore innovative solutions.

Effects of Freeze–thaw Cycles on Soil Mechanical and Physical Properties in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Extreme freeze-thaw action occurs on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau due to its unique climate resulting from high elevation and cold temperature.This action causes damage to the surface soil structure, as soil erosion in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is dominated by freeze-thaw erosion.In this research,freezing–thawing process of the soil samples collected from the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau was carried out by laboratory experiments to determinate the volume variation of soil as well as physical and mechanical properties, such as porosity, granularity and uniaxial compressive strength, after the soil experiences various freeze–thaw cycles.Results show that cohesion and uniaxial compressive strength decreased as the volume and porosity of the soil increased after experiencing various freeze–thaw cycles, especially in the first six freeze–thaw cycles.Consequently, the physical and mechanical properties of the soil were altered.However, granularity and internal friction angle did not vary significantly with an increase in the freeze–thaw cycle.The structural damage among soil particles due to frozen water expansion was the major cause of changes in soil mechanical behavior in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.

Numerical Simulation of Bragg Reflection Based on Linear Waves Propagation over A Series of Rectangular Seabed

A numerical model, Evolution Equation of Mild-Slope Equation （EEMSE） developed by Hsu et al. （2003）, was applied to study the Bragg reflection of water waves over a series of rectangular seabed. Three key parameters of the Bragg reflection including the peak coefficient of primary Bragg reflection, its corresponding relative wavelength, and the bandwidth, have shown to be effective in describing the characteristics of the primary Bragg reflection. The characteristics of the Bragg reflection were investigated under the various conditions comprising number, height, and spacing interval of a series of rectangular seabed. The results reveal that the peak of Bragg reflection increases with the increase of rectangular seabed height and number, the bandwidth and the shift value of the Bragg reflection depend on the increase of the rectangular seabed height as well as the decrease of rectangular seabed number, and the relative rectangular seabed spacing in the rang of 3 and 4 could produce higher Bragg reflection. Finally, a correlative and regressive analysis is performed by use of the calculated data. Based on the results of the analysis, empirical equations were established. Our study results can provide an appropriate choice of a series of rectangular seabed field for a practical design.

Bragg Reflection of Waves by Different Shapes of Artificial Bars

Experiments are performed in a wave flume to demonstrate the Bragg reflection of linear gravity waves by artificial bars. Three different artificial bars with rectangular, triangular and rectified cosinoidal shapes are placed discretely on the seabed for measurement of the Bragg reflection. A series of experimental conditions including the number of bars, the periodic bar spacing, the water depth and various wave conditions are tested. Key parameters influencing the Bragg resonances are investigated. The experimental data are compared with the values from both theoretical and numerical models. Some key parameters have proved to be effective in describing the primary resonances. Predictive equations of the characteristics for the Bragg reflection are proposed in this paper.

Deformation properties of chloride saline soil under action of a low-temperature environment and different loads

To find the deformation properties of chloride saline soil under the influence of a low temperature environment and different loads,two types of chloride saline soil were selected and their deformation process was tested in the laboratory and analyzed during the cooling process in the sensitive cryogenic temperature range.The research results show that high-chloride-salt saline soil underwent little volume change under the no-load condition during the cooling process.Under staticload and dynamic-load conditions,different degrees of settlement deformation occurred;throughout the entire cooling process,another chloride saline soil with a high proportion of sulfate salt underwent volume expansion under no-load and static-load conditions.Under the no-load condition,a certain degree of settlement deformation occurred.Deformation properties were evaluated at different time points during the cooling process for two kinds of chloride saline soil.Finally,deformation characteristics of chloride saline soil were analyzed from the perspective of salt type and crystallization variation under the action of a low-temperature environment and different loads.

An experimental study on the relationship between acoustic parameters and mechanical properties of frozen silty clay

To study the influence of temperature and water content on ultrasonic wave velocity and to establish the relationship between ultrasonic wave velocity and frozen silty clay strength, ultrasonic tests were conducted to frozen silty clay by using RSM-SY5（T） nonmetal supersonic test meter, and the tensile strength and compressive strength of silty clay were measured under various negative temperatures. Test and analysis results indicate that, ultrasonic wave velocity rapidly changes in the temperature range of-1 ℃ to -5 ℃. Ultrasonic wave velocity increased with an increase of water content until the water content reached the critical water content, while decreased with an increase of water content after the water content exceeded the critical water content. This study showed that there was strong positive correlation between the ul- trasonic wave velocity and the frozen soil strength. As ultrasonic wave velocity increased, either tensile strength or com- pressive strength increased. Based on the experimental data, the relationship between ultrasonic wave velocity and frozen silty clay strength was obtained through regression analysis. It was found that the ultrasonic test technique can be used to test frozen soils and lay the foundation for the determination of frozen soil strength.

A pseudo-coupled numerical approach for stability analysis of frozen soil slopes based on finite element limit analysis method

To simplify the stability analysis of frozen soil slope, a pseudo-coupled numerical approach is developed. In this approach, the coupled heat transfer and water flow in frozen soils are simulated first, and based on the computed thermal-hydro field, the stability of frozen soil slope is evaluated. Although the shear strength for frozen soil is very complicated and is usually represented by a nonlinear MC failure criterion, a simple linear MC yield criterion is utilized. In this method, the internal friction angle is expressed as a function of volumetric ice content and the cohesion is fitted as a simple bilinear expression of Tand volumetric water content. To assess slope stability, the limit analysis is employed in conjunction with the recently developed a-section search algorithm. A frozen soil slope example is used to examine the proposed pseudo-coupled numerical approach, and numerical studies validate its effectiveness. Based on numerical results, it is seen that slope stability may be remarkably influenced by warming air （or grotmd surface） temperature. With increasing ground surface temperature, slope stability indicated by FOS may reduce to 1.0, implying that wanning air temperature could be a trigger of frozen soil slope failure.

Variations of suction and suction stress of unsaturated loess due to changes in lignin content and sample preparation method

Unsaturated loess in natural sites loses stability as the overburden load continuously increases.Traditional soil modifiers such as cement and fly ash affect the surrounding environment.A new type of material,i.e.,lignin,is environmentally friendly and able to increase the strength of loess.However,the engineering characteristics of the improved loess under unsaturated conditions are not yet clear.In this study,the soil-water characteristic curves(SWCCs)of lignin-improved loess samples were determined from 0 kPa to 700 kPa using a pressure plate instrument,and then,they were fitted using the van Genuchten(VG)model and the Fredlund and Xing(FX)model.In addition,the effects of the lignin content and sample preparation methods on the SWCCs were investigated to determine the optimal lignin content and a suitable sample preparation method for loess foundations.As the lignin content increases,the matric suction and residual water content of the improved loess increase.The suction stress increases with the increasing lignin contents of 1%–2%.At lignin contents of 3%–4%,the suction stress begins to decrease and the samples prepared using the slurry method has a lower suction stress than that prepared using the wet mixing method.The air entry value(AEV)increases with increasing lignin content.In addition,scanning electron microscopy(SEM)was used to investigate the microstructural variations.It was found that after the addition of lignin,the entrapment of the loess particles by the lignin fibers created some larger particles and smaller pore diameters,which in turn led to poor connectivity of the loess pores.These changes cause the matric suction of the modified loess to increase.

In-situ testing study on convection and temperature characteristics of a new crushed-rock slope embankment design in a permafrost region

For the purpose of enhancing air convection and controlling solar radiation, a new crushed-rock slope embankment design combined with a sun-shade measure is proposed. A newly designed embankment was constructed in the Tuotuohe section of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and a field-testing experiment was carried out to determine its convection and temperature characteristics. The results show that distinct air convection occurred in the crushed-rock layer of the new embankment, especially in cold seasons, which was enhanced when it flowed upwards along the slope. This preliminarily indicated that the new design of the embankment slope was good for reinforcing air convection in the crushed-rock layer. The frequent fluctuations of the convection speed and the environmental wind speed were in good agreement, suggesting that the convection in the crushed rock primarily came from the ambient wind. It was also preliminarily determined that the new embankment had a better cooling effect and sun-shade effect for decreasing the temperature of the embankment slope compared with a traditional crushed-rock slope embankment, and the mean temperature difference between them was up to 1.7 °C. The mean annual temperature at the bottom boundary of the crushed-rock layer was obviously lower than that at the top boundary, and heat flux calculation showed that the shallow soil beneath the embankment slope was weakly releasing heat, all of which indicated that the new embankment slope design was beneficial to the thermal stability of the embankment. This study is helpful in providing some references for improved engineering design and maintenance of roadbeds in permafrost regions.

Simulated circulations off the Changjiang (Yangtze) River mouth in spring and autumn

The circulations off the Changjiang mouth in May and November were simulated by a three dimension numerical model with monthly averaged parameters of dynamic factors in this paper. The area covers the East China Sea (ECS), Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea. Simulated results show that the circulation off the Changjiang mouth in spring and autumn is mainly the Changjiang runoff and Taiwan Warm Current (TWC). The Changjiang discharge is much larger in May than in November, and the wind is westward in May, and southward in November off the Changjiang mouth. The runoff in May branches in three parts, one eastward flows, the other two flow northward and southward along the Subei and Zhejiang coast respectively. The Changjiang diluted water expands eastward off the mouth, and forms a strong salinity front near the mouth. Surface circulation in autumn is similar to that in winter, the runoff southward flows along the coast, and the northward flowing TWC becomes weaker compared to that in spring and summer. The bottom circulations in May and November are mainly the runoffnear the mouth and the TWC offthe mouth, and the runoff and TWC are greater in May than in November.

Reinforcement effects of ground treatment with dynamic compaction replacement in cold and saline soil regions

The mechanical property of saline soils varies with moisture and climate in the cold and salt lake region of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which influences project construction. In order to improve foundation reinforcement effect of the QarharvaTrolmud Highway, Qinghai Province, China, dynamic compaction replacement （DCR） composite foundation was applied in saline soils. A field experiment was conducted in this area, where strength and working mechanism of pier-soil and deformation modulus of the composite foundation was analyzed after reinforcement. This paper presents methods for determining the coefficient on the bearing capacity evaluation and deformation modulus of composite foundation with DC1L Reinforcement case of DCR is highly effective in saline soils of the salt lake regions, which helps the mi-tion of water and salt in saline soils.

Experimental research on physical properties of saline soil subgrade filler in Chaerhan region

In order to improve the engineering stability of saline soil of high chloride content in the Chaerhan salt lake region, six typical characteristics saline soil samples were selected, and tests on their primary physical properties （total salt content, specific gravity of soil, liquid limit, plastic limit, maximum dry density, and optimal water content） were conducted. The relationships among them were analyzed, a series of variation laws between salt content and these basic physical parameters were determined, and regression equations were derived. This research can improve future engineering design and construction in saline soils and can also help prevent subgrade filler from undermining subgrade stability and producing disease.

Analysis of Phase Transition in Traffic Flow based on a New Model of Driving Decision

Different driving decisions will cause different processes of phase transition in traffic flow. To reveal the inner mechanism, this paper built a new cellular automaton （CA） model, based on the driving decision （DD）. In the DD model, a driver＇s decision is divided into three stages： decision-making, action, and result. The acceleration is taken as a decision variable and three core factors, i.e. distance between adjacent vehicles, their own velocity, and the preceding vehicle＇s velocity, are considered. Simulation results show that the DD model can simulate the synchronized flow effectively and describe the phase transition in traffic flow well. Further analyses illustrate that various density will cause the phase transition and the random probability will impact the process. Compared with the traditional NaSch model, the DD model considered the preceding vehicle＇s velocity, the deceleration limitation, and a safe distance, so it can depict closer to the driver preferences on pursuing safety, stability and fuel-saving and has strong theoretical innovation for future studies.

Modeling the Parking Pricing of Multiple Parking Facilities under Different Operation Regimes

To explore the parking pricing of multiple parking facilities, this paper proposes a bi-level programming model, in which the interactions between parking operators and travelers are explicitly considered. The upper-level sub-model simulates the price decision-making behaviors of the parking operators whose objectives may vary under different operation regimes, such as monopoly market, oligopoly competition, and social optimum. The lower level represents a network equilibrium model that simulates how travelers choose modes, routes, and parking facilities. The proposed model is solved by a sensitivity based algorithm, and applied to a numerical experiment, in which three types of parking facilities are studied, i.e., the off-road parking lot, the curb parking lot, and the parking-and-ride (P&R) facility. The results show in oligopoly market that the level of parking price reaches the lowest point, nonetheless the social welfare decreases to the lowest simultaneously;and the share of P&R mode goes to the highest value, however the total network costs rise also to the highest. While the monopoly market and the social optimum regimes result in solutions of which P&R facilities suffer negative profits and have to be subsidized.

Experimental study on moisture migration of remodeled clay under different overburden pressure and temperature gradients

Unidirectional freezing experiments under overburden pressure were carried out, in order to study the driving force of mois- ture migration of remodeled clay during freezing, through improving the indoor moisture migration test device. Overburden pressure and cooling temperature with the same circumstance were changed to determine the influence on water migration of a single factor. Results show that water content increases above the location of the final ice lenses and decreases below the loca- tion. When the overburden pressure increases, water intake gradually decreases and the time starting to absorb water is delayed. The location of the final ice lens is not sensitive to overburden pressure but influenced by the temperature boundary. The im- pact of overburden pressure and maximum temperature is not obvious. Freezing rate is not sensitive to overburden pressure but influenced by temperature, and it increases when the cold temperature decreases. Frost heave and water intake flow in- creases with increasing time and rises up to a peak value, and then decreases. During the freezing process, water intake flow increases when freezing rate decreases. Water intake flow decreases when the overburden pressure increases when the cold temperature decreases. Finally, we expanded the segregation theory, and proposed a model to describe the relationship between water intake flow and freezing rate.