Field investigation on severely damaged aseismic buildings in 2014 Ludian earthquake

The 2014 magnitude 6.5 Ludian earthquake caused a death toll of 617, many landslides and tens of thousands of collapsed buildings. A field investigation to evaluate the damage to buildings was carried out immediately after the occurrence of the earthquake. Severely damaged aseismic buildings, which were basically observed in the downtown of Longtoushan Town, were carefully examined one by one with the aim to improve design codes. This paper summarizes the damage observed to the investigated aseismic buildings in both the structural and local levels. A common failure mode was observed that most of the aseismic buildings, such as RC frame structures and confined masonry structures, were similarly destroyed by severe damage or complete collapse of the first story. The related strong ground motion, which was recorded at the nearby station, had a short duration of less than 20 s but a very large PGA up to 1.0 g. The RC frames based on the new design codes still failed to achieve the design target for ＂strong column, weak beam＂. Typical local failure details, which were related to the interaction between RC columns and infill walls and between constructional columns and masonry walls, are summarized with preliminary analyses.

Pinpointing Source of Mekong and Measuring Its Length Through Analysis of Satellite Imagery and Field Investigations

For centuries, explorers and scientists from different countries had made their own conclusions on the source of the Mekong. However, the geographic source of the Mekong is still arguable because of the complexity of the Mekong source water system, inaccessible environment and the varied technologies used by those explorers and scientists. The satellite remote sensing technology has been used to pinpoint the source of the Mekong, associated with the on-the-spot investigations made by the authors in June 1999 and September 2002. The actual length of the Mekong has also been calculated.

Coprecipitation of metal ions into calcite: an estimation of partition coefficients based on field investigation

Trace elements(and their isotopes)in carbonates are commonly used to reconstruct paleoenvironment and paleoclimate.Understanding the processes and mechanisms of element incorporation into carbonates is thus crucial for using such geochemical parameters as paleoclimate proxies.In contrast to laboratory-based experimental results,the partitioning of trace metals between solid and solution phases in natural carbonate precipitation systems has rarely been reported.In this study,we investigated the partition coefficients of metal ions between solid and solution in the channel of the natural Baishuitai travertine system,Yunnan,China.Our results show that the partition coefficients of Li+,Na+,Mg2+,Sr2+and Ba2+are<1,that of Ni2+is approximately 1,and those of Co2+,Mn2+,Zn2+and Cu2+are>1,consistent with the results found in previous experimental studies.Although the substitution for Ca2+is likely the main uptake process of these metals into calcite,depending on their ionic radius and charge,trace elements may also be incorporated by adsorption or physical entrapment.Our study shows that unlike laboratory experiments performed under specific conditions,the partitioning of metals between two phases in the natural travertine system could be controlled by several,even multiple,environmental factors(e.g.,carbonate deposition rate,temperature,and pH),which should be taken into account when using trace metals(and their isotopes)in carbonate archives as a paleoclimate proxy.

Off-Shore Sea Surface Electric Field Investigations around the Indian Sub-Continent during 9-20 May 1983

Sea surface electric field observations off the coast from Goa (15°25'N, 73°47'E) to Madras (13°04'N, 80°15'E) around Sri Lanka, in a distance range 25-135 km from coast, during 9-20 May 1983 were taken. In this paper we have examined the diurnal variation of electric field in the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal regions covered during the cruise of the research ship ORV Gaveshani. An aspect of electric field dependence on coastal distance and Aitken Nuclei concentration has also been studied. An attempt to examine the latitude dependence of field was also made. Results obtained in the above studies are presented and compared with those obtained elsewhere.

Numerical Investigation on the Flow and Temperature Fields in an Inductively Coupled Plasma Reactor

This paper gives a numerical study on the flow and temperature fields in an induced plasma reactor, which worked in 0.5 ATM with air as a working gas. We employed a two-dimensional mode of an inductively coupled plasma to calculate the temperature and flow field of the reactor as well as the generator. The algorithm is based on the solutions of the two-dimensional continuity, momentum, and energy equations in term of vorticity, stream function and enthalpy. An upwind finite-difference scheme was adopted to solve those equations with appropriate boundary conditions. The computed results show that there is a flat region with little parameter change in the reactor, that the diameter of the region is not much larger than that of the generator and that a deep change of parameter exists in the outer side of the region.

Species Investigation and Population Dynamic of Spiders in Tea Gardens in Northern Guangxi

A systematic investigation on spiders in a tea garden of Guilin Institute of Tea Sciences was conducted. The results showed that totally 687 specimens were collected, belonging to 34 species, 27genera, 14 families, 2 suborders, and a new record species Trochosa suiningensis in Guangxi was found. Spider is a ma- jor developing natural enemy group of insect pests in tea garden, with features of wide distribution, large quantity, long duration, strong predatory and stress resist- ance, which has strong predation on adults and nymphs of Empoasca vitis and young larvae of Ectropis oblique. The population of spiders in tea garden significantly increases after middle June, and reaches the peak in July and August every year.

Disaster Investigation for August 20^th,2019 Sanya M4.2 Earthquake in Hainan,China

On August 20th,2019,a M4.2 earthquake occurred near Zhanan and Lixin Village,Tianya District,Sanya City,Hainan Province. We conduct field investigations in the vicinity of the epicenter which includes 25 natural villages based on the data provided by local government and finally complete the map of the earthquake intensity.Through the analysis of the houses and cracks in the earthquake area,the structure types and crack characteristics of the houses are basically unveiled. Furthermore,suggestions for earthquake disaster reduction in study area are obtained from the investigation.

From Text to Field:Study on the Intercultural Communication of Music in Collection of Chinese Works and Translations by Matteo Ricci from the Perspective of Maritime Silk Road

In this paper,with Collection of Chinese Works by Matteo Ricci written by Zhu Weizheng and A summary Interpretation of Chinese literature of Matteo Ricci in Ming and Qing Dynasties written by Tang Kaijian as major research texts and historical basis,as well as intercultural communication as the major research method,the aesthetic adaptation of native music of traditional Chinese music,etiquette,sacrifice and religious customs under the description of Matteo Ricci is discussed and interpreted from the perspective of the spread of musical culture of the Maritime Silk Road,four stages of field investigation are planned,and related musical activities and local musical phenomena appearing in his literature have an on-site visit.In this way,the vital position and historical significance of Matteo Ricci’s cultural missionary activities in the music communication on the Maritime Silk Road are obtained.

An open-accessed inventory of landslides triggered by the M_(S)6.8 Luding earthquake,China on September 5,2022

This study constructs a preliminary inventory of landslides triggered by the M_(S) 6.8 Luding earthquake based on field investigation and human-computer interaction visual interpretation on optical satellite images.The results show that this earthquake triggered at least 5007 landslides,with a total landslide area of 17.36 km^(2),of which the smallest landslide area is 65 m^(2)and the largest landslide area reaches 120747 m^(2),with an average landslide area of about 3500 m^(2).The obtained landslides are concentrated in the IX intensity zone and the northeast side of the seismogenic fault,and the area density and point density of landslides are 13.8%,and 35.73 km^(-2) peaks with 2 km as the search radius.It should be noted that the number of landslides obtained in this paper will be lower than the actual situation because some areas are covered by clouds and there are no available post-earthquake remote sensing images.Based on the available post-earthquake remote sensing images,the number of landslides triggered by this earthquake is roughly estimated to be up to 10000.This study can be used to support further research on the distribution pattern and risk evaluation of the coseismic landslides in the region,and the prevention and control of landslide hazards in the seismic area.

Seismic damage of highway bridges during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake

Many highway bridges were severely damaged or completely collapsed during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. A field investigation was carried out in the strongly affected areas and over 320 bridges were examined. Damage to some representative highway bridges is briefly described and a preliminary analysis of the probable causes of the damage is presented in this paper. The most common damage included shear-flexural failure of the pier columns, expansion joint failure, shear key failure, and girder sliding in the transversal or longitudinal directions due to weak connections between girder and bearings. Lessons learned from this earthquake are described and recommendations related to the design of curved and skewed bridges, design of bearings and devices to prevent girder collapse, and ductility of bridge piers are presented. Suggestions for future seismic design and retrofitting techniques for bridges in moderate to severe earthquake areas are also proposed.

A preliminary report on the Great Wenchuan Earthquake

The May 12, 2008 Great Wenchuan Earthquake has resulted in more than 68,858 deaths and losses in the hundreds of billions RMB as of May 30, 2008, and these numbers will undoubtedly increase as more information becomes available on the extent of the event. Immediately after the earthquake, the China Earthquake Administration （CEA） responded quickly by sending teams of experts to the affected region, eventually including over 60 staff members from the Institute of Engineering Mechanics （IEM）. This paper reports preliminary information that has been gathered in the first 18 days after the event, covering seismicity, search and rescue efforts, observed ground motions, and damage and loss estimates. The extensive field investigation has revealed a number of valuable findings that could be useful in improving research in earthquake engineering in the future. Once again, this earthquake has shown that the vertical component of ground motion is as significant as horizontal ground motions in the near-source area. Finally, note that as more information is gathered, the numbers reported in this paper will need to be adjusted accordingly.

Range expansion of the invasive cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley: An increasing threat to agricultural and horticultural crops in China

The globally invasive cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley,has recently invaded several Chinese regions,and continues to expand its range.This mealybug is a polyphagous insect pest,with at least 200 host plants from 63 families,including cotton,food crops,fruits,ornamental plants,tobacco,and vegetables.Here,we describe the first finding of P.solenopsis in Shandong Province,and investigate the abundances of its natural enemies(predator Coccinella septempunctata L.and parasitoid Aenasius bambawalei Hayat).All three species were detected from ornamental and weed species in Linyi,Shandong,in September 2018,and were positively identified using DNA barcoding.BLAST analysis revealed significant identity(99.38-100%) between sequences of P.solenopsis obtained in this study and those published in the past.This invasive pest represents a major potential threat to agri-horticulture in Shandong,which is a key province of China for production and export of many vegetables,flowers,fruits,and other crops.This mealybug species has a wide range of potential distribution in Shandong and is easily dispersed with agricultural and horticultural transport products.Further monitoring and management strategies are required to limit the spread of this pest species.

SYSTEM FOR TORQUE CONVERTER DESIGN AND ANALYSIS BASED ON CAD/CFD INTEGRATED PLATFORM

A 3D torque converter design system is developed based on numerical investigation into flow field and CAD technology. The 3D steady-state flow field simulation is undertaken by using time averaged Reynolds equation and k-epsilon turbulence model, with mixing-plane boundary conditions at three section interfaces. The blades are designed according to the flow field characteristics by using a reverse design method in the system. The accurateness of numerical analysis and the validity of design system are verified by the fluid field experiment of desingn example of the torque converter. This kind of design and analysis system for torque converter based on integration of comput ationol fluid dynamics （CFD） and CAD is a powerful tool for torque converter manufacturing, but also a prettg important significance for research and development.

Effects of site conditions on earthquake ground motion and their applications in seismic design in loess region

The Loess Plateau is an earthquake prone region of China, where the effects of loess deposit on ground motion were discovered during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake(Ms8.0) and the 2013 Minxian-Zhangxian earthquake(Ms6.6). The field investigations, observations, and analyses indicated that large number of casualties and tremendous economic losses were caused not only by collapse and damage of houses with poor seismic performance, landslides, but also amplification effects of site conditions, topography and thickness of loess deposit, on ground motion. In this paper, we chose Dazhai Village and Majiagou Village as the typical loess site affected by the two earthquakes for intensity evaluation, borehole exploration, temporary strong motion array, micro tremor survey, and numerical analysis. The aim is to explore the relations between amplification factors and site conditions in terms of topography and thickness of loess deposit. We also developed site amplification factors of ground motion for engineering design consideration at loess sites. The results showed that the amplification effects are more predominant with increase in thickness of loess deposit and slope height. The amplification mayincrease seismic intensity by 1 degree, PGA and predominant period by 2 times, respectively.

Debris Flow in Metropolitan Area - 2011 Seoul Debris Flow

A large number of debris flows occurred simultaneously at around 8:30 to 8:50 a.m.on July 27,2011,at the center of Seoul,Korea.This area is located in the southern part of Seoul and is a densely populated district.As a result of the debris flow event,16 people were killed,30 houses were buried,and 116 houses were damaged around Umyeon Mountain,a relatively small mountain with a height of 312.6 m.Since the debris flow event,field investigations on the initiation and transportation zones of debris flows have been carried out.Rainfall data were collected from the automatic weather stations(AWSs) which are operated by the Korea Meteorological Administration(KMA).Video files recorded by residents were also acquired and used to analyze the flow characteristics of the debris flow.Field investigation shows that about 40 debris flows occurred around Umyeon Mountain and most of the debris flows were initiated by small slope failures.The effects of the precipitation that triggered the debris flows were analyzed as well.A landslide hazard map which considers slope gradient and aspect,strength of soil,hazard record,rainfall conditions,and vegetation,was constructed and compared with the initiation zones of debris flows.

Rock borehole shear tests in dam foundation of Xiangjiaba hydropower station

Xiangjiaba hydropowcr station is one of the complicated geological conditions of its dam foundation, parameters of rock masses are very important issues. To cascade power stations on the Jinsha River, China. Due to the evaluating the rock mass quality and determining the mechanical address these issues, several groups of rock borehole shear tests （RBSTs） were conducted on the black mudstone in the dam foundation of Xiangjiaba hydropower station in the second construction phase. Forty three groups of shear strengths of black mudstone samples were obtained from RBSTs, and the shear strength parameters （c and f） were calculated using the least squares method. In addition, the limitations and merits of RBST employed in the Xiangjiaba hydropower station were discussed. Test results indicate that the shear strength parameters obtained from RBST have a good correlation with the results from sotmd wave test in borehole. It is believed that RBST has a good adaptability and applicability in geotechnical engineering.

Proposition of a New Type of Jointless System For Existing Concrete Bridges

Since 1990s, the use of deicing salts （i.e., chlorides） has dramatically increased in areas with heavy snowfall in Japan. As a result, the water mixed with salts has accelerated the damage of the reinforced concrete （hereafter, RC） structures. Recently conducted inspection results of RC bridges have reported that many of the damages or deteriorations are observed at the girder ends and abutments This is caused from the water leakage due to the aged expansion joints. In general, the cost for repairing the damaged RC structures is much higher than that for renewing the expansion joints. Therefore, to prevent these damages, we developed a new highly durable jointless system, named RC plug joint, for existing RC bridges with a bridge length less than 40 meters. The RC plug joint connects the abutment＇s backwall to the superstructure＇s deck using reinforcing steel bars and fiber reinforced concrete. The newly developed RC plug joint system can prevent water leakage and allow for a smooth ride of vehicles at the joint. This paper will explore and discuss the development of the RC plug joint, analysis of conducted investigations, and future installation methods.

Reconstruction of earthquake hazard in regions of sparse seismic monitoring

Studying strong motion records and the spatial distribution of ground shaking is of great importance in understanding the underlying causes of damage in earthquakes. Many regions in the world are either not instrumented or are sparsely instrumented. As such, significant opportunities for motion-damage correlations are lost. Two recent and damaging earthquakes belong to the class of lost opportunities, namely the Kashmir （Pakistan） earthquake of October 2005 and the Yogyakarta （Indonesia） earthquake of May 2006. In this paper, an overview of the importance of supply and demand studies in earthquake-stricken regions is given, followed by two examples of investigative engineering seismology aimed at reconstructing the hazard from sparse data. The paper closes with a plea for responsible authorities to invest in seismic monitoring networks in the very near future.

Directional arrangement of phyllite fragments in phyllite talus slopeat the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau

Phyllite fragments are essential for accumulating and generating talus slope at the toes of hillslopes,however,how they are linked to slope failure remains unknown.This paper reports the directional arrangement of phyllite fragments(DAPF)in phyllite talus slope at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.Field investigation,mathematical statistics and model experiments were performed in order to systematically understand the influencing factors,which include fragment shape,flat ratio,dip angle(α),and fine particle content(c).The results show that the quadrilateral fragmentgenerates a similar imbricate structure more easily than the triangular and rod fragments in the phyllite talus slope.Additionally,the flat phyllite fragments easily accumulate as imbricated structures on the phyllitetalus slope.When the dip angle(α)is in the range of 20°–30°,the minimum orientation ratio(P)is more than 50%,which means thatthe DAPF phenomenon is more obviousin the phyllite talus slope.For the fine particle content(c)at the same dip angle(α),the minimum orientation ratio(P)is 54%,and the minimum orientation ratio(P)correlates positively with the fine particle content(c).Therefore,compared with the homogeneous talusslope,the phyllite talusslopedisplays a special DAPF phenomenon.This study provides a valuable reference and presents novel knowledgefor risk assessment and engineering design against the phyllite talus slope failure mechanism.

Importance of Bemisia tabaci Forecasting Technology: A Review

Bemisia tabaci has a wide range of host plants. Due to its short-distance solid migratory ability, there is a phenomenon of migration and damage among plants in different seasons. Through the study of the population growth and decline rules of B. tabaci on different host plants and the prediction and forecast technology explores its sustainable prevention control technology. This article mainly discusses the research progress of B. tabaci forecasting, realizing the timely prevention and control of B. tabaci and comprehensive regional management, which can effectively reduce the population base of B. tabaci and reduce the number of pesticides used, which has a protective effect on the ecological environment.