Air pressure law of a reservoir constructed in karst sinkholes

Karst sinkholes with natural negative landform provide favorable conditions for the pumped storage reservoir construction for less excavation work.However,the construction of the reservoir would plug the natural karst channels for water and air,which would cause remarkable air pressure in karst channels when the groundwater level fluctuates.A large laboratory simulation test was carried out to study the air pressure variation of a reservoir built on the karst sinkhole.The air pressure in the karst channel and inside the model was monitored during the groundwater rising and falling process.Result showed that the variation of air pressure in the karst channel and the surrounding rock exhibited a high degree of similarity.The air pressure increased rapidly at the initial stage of water level rising,followed by a slight decrease,then the air pressure increased sharply when the water level approached the top of the karst cave.The initial peak of air pressure and the final peak of air pressure were defined,and both air pressure peaks were linearly increasing with the water level rising rate.The negative air pressure was also analyzed during the drainage process,which was linearly correlated with the water level falling rate.The causes of air pressure variation in karst channels of a pumped storage reservoir built on the karst sinkhole were discussed.The initial rapid increase,then slight decrease and final sudden increase of air pressure were controlled by the combined effects of air compression in karst channel and air seepage into the surrounding rock.For the drainage process,the instant negative air pressure and gradual recovering of air pressure were controlled by the combined effects of negative air pressure induced by water level falling and air supply from surrounding rock.This work could provide valuable reference for the reservoir construction in karst area.

Analysis of wheel-rail adhesion redundancy considering the thirdbody medium on the rail surface

Purpose–In response to the problem of insufficient traction/braking adhesion force caused by the existence of the third-body medium on the rail surface,this study aims to analyze the utilization of wheel-rail adhesion coefficient under different medium conditions and propose relevant measures for reasonable and optimized utilization of adhesion to ensure the traction/braking performance and operation safety of trains.Design/methodology/approach–Based on the PLS-160 wheel-rail adhesion simulation test rig,the study investigates the variation patterns of maximum utilized adhesion characteristics on the rail surface under different conditions of small creepage and large slip.Through statistical analysis of multiple sets of experimental data,the statistical distribution patterns of maximum utilized adhesion on the rail surface are obtained,and a method for analyzing wheel-rail adhesion redundancy based on normal distribution is proposed.The study analyzes the utilization of traction/braking adhesion,as well as adhesion redundancy,for different medium under small creepage and large slip conditions.Based on these findings,relevant measures for the reasonable and optimized utilization of adhesion are derived.Findings–When the third-body medium exists on the rail surface,the train should adopt the low-level service braking to avoid the braking skidding by extending the braking distance.Compared with the current adhesion control strategy of small creepage,adopting appropriate strategies to control the train’s adhesion coefficient near the second peak point of the adhesion coefficient-slip ratio curve in large slip can effectively improve the traction/braking adhesion redundancy and the upper limit of adhesion utilization,thereby ensuring the traction/braking performance and operation safety of the train.Originality/value–Most existing studies focus on the wheel-rail adhesion coefficient values and variation patterns under different medium conditions,without considering whether the rail surface with different medium can provide sufficient traction/braking utilized adhesion coefficient for the train.Therefore,there is a risk of traction overspeeding/braking skidding.This study analyzes whether the rail surface with different medium can provide sufficient traction/braking utilized adhesion coefficient for the train and whether there is redundancy.Based on these findings,relevant measures for the reasonable and optimized utilization of adhesion are derived to further ensure operation safety of the train.

Similar simulation study on the deformation and failure of surrounding rock of a large section chamber group under dynamic loading

Large and super-large section chamber groups in coal mines are frequently affected by dynamic loads resulting from production activities such as roadway driving and blasting.The stability of the surrounding rock is poor,and it is difficult to control.In this paper,a similar simulation test was used to study the deformation and evolution laws of the surrounding rock of a triangle-shaped chamber group under different dynamic loads.The results showed that under dynamic loading,the vertical stress of the surrounding rock of the chamber group increased in an oscillatory form.The maximum stress concentration coefficient reached 4.09.The damage degree of the roof was greater than that of the two sides.The deformation of the roof was approximately 1.2 times that of the two sides.For the chamber closer to the power source,the stress oscillation amplitude of the surrounding rock was larger,and the failure was more serious.The force of the anchorage structure showed a phased increasing characteristic;additionally,the force of the anchorage structure on the adjacent side of the chambers was greater than that on the other side.This study reveals the deformation and failure evolution laws of the surrounding rock of large section chamber groups under dynamic loading.

Test particle simulations of resonant interactions between energetic electrons and discrete, multi-frequency artificial whistler waves in the plasmasphere

Modulated high frequency （HF） heating of the ionosphere provides a feasible means of artificially generating ex- tremely low frequency （ELF）/very low frequency （VLF） whistler waves, which can leak into the inner magnetosphere and contribute to resonant interactions with high energy electrons. Combining the ray tracing method and test particle simulations, we evaluate the effects of energetic electron resonant scattering driven by the discrete, multi-frequency arti- ficially generated ELF/VLF waves. The simulation results indicate a stochastic behavior of electrons and a linear profile of pitch angle and kinetic energy variations averaged over all test electrons. These features are similar to those associated with single-frequency waves. The computed local diffusion coefficients show that, although the momentum diffusion of relativistic electrons due to artificial ELF/VLF whistlers with a nominal amplitude of ~ 1 pT is minor, the pitch angle scattering can be notably efficient at low pitch angles near the loss cone, which supports the feasibility of artificial triggering of multi-frequency ELF/VLF whistler waves for the removal of high energy electrons from the magnetosphere. We also investigate the dependences of diffusion coefficients on the frequency interval （△f） of the discrete, multi-frequency waves. We find that there is a threshold value of Af for which the net diffusion coefficient of multi-frequency whistlers is inversely proportional to △f （proportional to the frequency components Nw） when △f is below the threshold value but it remains unchanged with increasing Af when △f is larger than the threshold value. This is explained as being due to the fact that the resonant scattering effect of broadband waves is the sum of the effects of each frequency in the ＇effective frequency band＇. Our results suggest that the modulation frequency of HF heating of the ionosphere can be appropriately selected with reasonable frequency intervals so that better performance of controlled precipitation of high energy electrons in the plasmasphere by artificial ELF/VLF whistler waves can be achieved.

Experiment and numerical simulation on the characteristics of fluid–structure interactions of non-rigid airships

Fluid-structure interaction is an important issue for non-rigid airships with inflated envelopes. In this study, a wind tunnel test is conducted, and a loosely coupled procedure is correspondingly established for numerical simulation based on computational fluid dynamics and nonlinear finite element analysis methods. The typical results of the numerical simulation and wind tunnel experiment, including the overall lift and deformation, are in good agreement with each other. The results obtained indicate that the effect of fluid-structure interaction is noticeable and should be considered for non-rigid airships. Flow- induced deformation can further intensify the upward lift force and pitching moment, which can lead to a large deformation. Under a wind speed of 15 m/s, the lift force of the non-rigid model is increased to approximatelv 60% compared with that of the rigid model under a high angle of attack.

Simulation of the dynamic disturbance characteristics of the soft sediment in the Diexi ancient dammed lake,China

In an earlier study of the Diexi ancient dammed lake along the Minjiang River in Southwest China,10 disturbed layers with envelope and flame structures were found in more than 240 m of lacustrine sediments.In this paper,the soft-sediment disturbances caused by earthquakes in the Diexi ancient dammed lake were studied based on field investigations and laboratory core observations.A two-to three-degree-of-freedom spring-type earthquake simulation vibration table was used to carry out disturbance tests on lacustrine sediments under different dynamic conditions.The results support the following conclusions:(1)The disturbance layers in the lacustrine sediments were caused by strong earthquakes in the region.(2)The characteristics of the disturbance layers are related to the seismic parameters and the degree of sediment consolidation.(3)The greater the earthquake intensity is,the greater the disturbance amplitude is;moreover,the lower the consolidation degree is,the greater the disturbance amplitude.(4)The simulation tests verify that the disturbance layers in the sediments of the Diexi ancient dammed lake correspond to strong earthquakes in the region.These results are valuable for ongoing palaeoseismic research in the region.

Study on Liquefying Simulation Test of Retaining Structure Ground of Kobe Port

In order to clarify the deformation and failure mechanism of retaining structure ground under liquefying, a series of shaking table tests was performed. The test results suggest that the strength decrease and local liquefaction of subsoil are the leading factors in the deformation and failure of retaining structures. The movement of the ground mainly manifests the lateral displacement under liquefaction. At the backfill layer, liquefaction will be rapidly reached in far field whereas the excess pore pressure is slowly increased nearby the wall under shaking.

Seismic performance evaluation of VCFPB isolated storage tank using real-time hybrid simulation

Variable curvature friction pendulum bearings(VCFPB)effectively reduce the dynamic response of storage tanks induced by earthquakes.Shaking table testing is used to assess the seismic performance of VCFPB isolated storage tanks.However,the vertical pressure and friction coefficient of the scaled VCFPB in the shaking table tests cannot match the equivalent values of these parameters in the prototype.To avoid this drawback,a real-time hybrid simulation(RTHS)test was developed.Using RTHS testing,a 1/8 scaled tank isolated by VCFPB was tested.The experimental results showed that the displacement dynamic magnification factor of VCFPB,peak reduction factors of the acceleration,shear force,and overturning moment at bottom of the tank,were negative exponential functions of the ratio of peak ground acceleration(PGA)and friction coefficient.The peak reduction factors of displacement,acceleration,force and overturning moment,which were obtained from the experimental results,are compared with those calculated by the Housner model.It can be concluded that the Housner model is applicable in estimation of the acceleration,shear force,and overturning moment of liquid storage tank,but not for the sliding displacement of VCFPBs.

A Matlab-Based Simulation for Hybrid Electric Motorcycle

This paper presents a simulation and modeling package based on Matlab for a parallel hybrid electric motorcycle (HEM). The package consists of several main detailed models: internal combustion engine (ICE), motor, continuously variable transmission (CVT), battery, energy management system (EMS) etc . Each component is built as a library, and can be connected together according to the parallel HEM's topology. Simulation results, such as ICE power demand, motor power demand, battery instantaneous state of charge (SOC), pollution emissions etc. are given and discussed. Lastly experimental data verify our simulation results.

Study on electron stochastic motions in the magnetosonic wave field: Test particle simulations

Using the test particle simulation method, we investigate the stochastic motion of electrons with energy of 300 keV in a monochromatic magnetosonic(MS) wave field. This study is motivated by the violation of the quasi-linear theory assumption, when strong MS waves(amplitude up to ~1 nT) are present in the Earth's magnetosphere. First, electron motion can become stochastic when the wave amplitude exceeds a certain threshold. If an electron initially resonates with the MS wave via bounce resonance, as the bounce resonance order increases, the amplitude threshold of electron stochastic motion increases until it reaches the peak at about the 11 th order in our study, then the amplitude threshold slowly declines. Further, we find that the coexistence of bounce and Landau resonances between electrons and MS waves will significantly reduce the amplitude threshold. In some cases, the electron motion can become stochastic in the field of an MS wave with amplitudes below 1 nT. Regardless, if neither the bounce nor Landau resonance condition is satisfied initially, then the amplitude threshold of stochastic motion shows an increasing trend for lower frequencies and a decreasing trend for higher frequencies, even though the amplitude threshold is always very large(> 5 nT). Our study suggests that electron stochastic motion should also be considered when modeling electron dynamics regulated by intense MS waves in the Earth's magnetosphere.

A Portable Multi-functional Real-time Digital Simulator Dedicated to Protective Relay Testing

The paper intfoduces a PC-DSP based real-time digital simulator which is portable in size and aimed at the closed-loop testing of various types of protective relays for their design and application. The simulator can be widely used in not only concerning utilities but also manufacturers and research / certification institutes because of its many functions. The hardware architecture and software implementation of the simulator are described. The main features and functions of the simulator are also

Design and Validation of a Hardware-In-The-Loop Based Automated Driving Simulation Test Platform

With the iterative development of autonomous driving technology,selfdriving cars will be one of the most competitive areas in the future.In order to provide students with a better understanding and more comprehensive grasp of autonomous driving technology,a hardware-in-the-loop based autonomous driving simulation test platform has been built.The hardware-in-the-loop system integrates MATLAB/Simulink to build the core control algorithm model,CarMaker simulation software to provide a virtual display interface and vehicle dynamics model,and NVIDIA Jetson to deploy the ECU(Electronic Control Unit)to improve the algorithm power and Logitech G29 series driving simulators providing signal input.It provides a simulation test platform for the development and testing of advanced driver assistance systems,the development and testing of upper layer control algorithms and underlying actuators for autonomous driving,and can provide a teaching and experimental platform for undergraduate students and a development foundation for postgraduate practice.

Test Investigation on Liquefied Deformation Structure in Saturated Lime-Mud Composites Triggered by Strong Earthquakes

Three identical model boxes were made from transparent plexiglass and angle iron. Using the method of sinking water and according to the sedimentary rhythm of saturated calcium carbonate （lime-mud） intercalated with cohesive soil, calcites with particle sizes diameters of ≤ 5 μm, 10–15 μm and 23–30 μm as well as cohesive soil were sunk alternatively in water of three boxes to build three test models, each of which has a specific size of calcite. Pore water pressure gauges were buried in lime-mud layers at different depths in each model, and connected with a computer system to collect pore water pressures. By means of soil tests, physical property parameters and plasticity indices （Ip） were obtained for various grain-sized saturated lime-muds. The lime-muds with Ip ranging from 6.3 to 8.5 （lower than 10） are similar to liquid saturated silt in the physical nature, indicating that saturated silt can be liquefied once induced by a strong earthquake. One model cart was pushed quickly along the length direction of the model so that its rigid wheels collided violently with the stone stair, thus generating an artificial earthquake with seismic wave magnitude greater than VI degree. When unidirectional cyclic seismic load of horizontal compression-tension-shear was imposed on the soil layers in the model, enough great pore water pressure has been accumulated within pores of lime-mud, resulting in liquefaction of lime-mud layers. Meanwhile, micro-fractures formed in each soil layer provided channels for liquefaction dewatering, resulting in formation of macroscopic liquefaction deformation, such as liquefied lime-mud volcanoes, liquefied diapir structures, vein-like liquefied structures and liquefied curls, etc. Splendid liquefied lime-mud eruption lasted for two to three hours, which is similar to the sand volcano eruption induced by strong earthquake. However, under the same artificial seismic conditions, development of macroscopic liquefied structures in three experimental models varied in shape, depth and quantity, indicating that excess pore water pressure ratios at initial liquefaction stage and complete liquefaction varied with depth. With size increasing of calcite particle in lime-mud, liquefied depth and deformation extent increase accordingly. The simulation test verifies for the first time that strong earthquakes may cause violent liquefaction of saturated lime-mud composed of micron-size calcite particles, uncovering the puzzled issue whether seafloor lime-mud can be liquefied under strong earthquake. This study not only provides the latest simulation data for explaining the earthquake-induced liquefied deformations of saturated lime-mud and seismic sedimentary events, but also is of great significance for analysis of foundation stability in marine engineering built on the soft calcium carbonate layers in neritic environment.

Experimental research on coal seam similar material proportion and its application

In this paper, the optimization design of the low strength mechanical test and orthogonal test have been analyzed in order to simulate the mechanical properties of thick and extra-thick coal seam accurately in a similar material simulation test. The results show that the specimen can reach a wider range of strength when cement has been used compared to that of gypsum, suggesting that cement is more suitable for making coal seam in similar material simulation tests. The uniaxial compressive strength is more sensitive to cement than coal or sand. The proportion of coal and sand do not play a decisive role in uniaxial compressive strength. The uniaxial compressive strength and specimen density decrease as the mass percent of coal and aggregate–binder ratio rise. There is a positive correlation between uniaxial compressive strength and density. The No. 5 proportion(cement: sand: water: activated carbon: coal = 6:6:7:1.1:79.9)was chosen to be used in the similar material simulation test of steeply dipping and extra-thick coal seam with a density of 0.913 g/cm^3 and an uniaxial compressive strength of 0.076 MPa which are in accordance with the similarity theory. The phenomenon of overburden stratum movement, fracture development and floor pressure relief were obtained during the similar material simulation test by using the proportion.

Earthquake simulator tests and associated study of an 1/6-scale nine-story RC model

Earthquake simulator tests of a 1/6-scale nine-story reinforced concrete frame-wall model are described in the paper. The test results and associated numerical simulation are summarized and discussed. Based on the test data, a relationship between maximum inter-story drift and damage state is established. Equations of variation of structural characteristics （natural frequency and equivalent stiffness） with overall drifts are derived by data fitting, which can be used to estimate structural damage state if structural characteristics can be measured. A comparison of the analytical and experimental results show that both the commonly used equivalent beam and fiber element models can simulate the nonlinear seismic response of structures very well. Finally, conclusions associated with seismic design and damage evaluation of RC structures are presented.

A Refined Method for Estimating the Annual Extreme Wave Heights at A Project Site

This paper presents a refined method for estimating the annual extreme wave heights at a coastal or offshore project site on the basis of the data acquired at some nearby routine hydrographic stations. This method is based on the orthogonality principle in linear mean square estimation of stochastic processes. The error of the method is analyzed and compared with that of the conventional method. It is found that the method is able to effectively reduce the error so long as some feasible measures are adopted. A simulated test of the method has been conducted in a large scale wind wave flume. The test results are in good agreement with those given by theoretical error analysis. A scheme to implement the method is proposed on the basis of error analysis. The scheme is so designed as to reduce the estimation error as far as possible. This method is also suitable to utilizing satellite wave data for the estimation.

Different discretization method used in coupled water and heat transport mode for soil under freezing conditions

A coupled water and heat transport mode is established based on the Richards equation to study water flow and heat transport in soil during freezing process. Both the finite difference and finite element method are used in the discretization, respectively. Two different computer programs are written and used to simulate an indoor unidirectional frozen test. The freezing depth, freezing rate and temperature variation are compared among lab tests, finite difference calculation simulation and finite element calculation simulation. Result shows that： the finite difference method has a better performance in freezing depth simulation while the finite element method has a better performance in numerical stability in one-dimensional freezing simulation.

Research on seismic performance and design method of combined steel lead energy dissipation structure(Ⅰ)

A new combined steel lead damper (NCSLD) was presented. Construction and working mechanism of NCSLD were introduced,pseudo-static tests of the small size dampers which would be used in the subsequent shaking table tests were carried out for the study of mechanical properties of NCSLD using electro-hydraulic servo press-shear machine. Processing technology of the damper was improved. Shaking table tests under two-dimensional excitation on structural aseismic control of a one-story structure model were carried out using the small size NCSLD; parameters of the structure and shaking table were also introduced. Results indicate that process improvement is beneficial to the implementation of working mechanism of the damper,NCSLD has full hysteresis loop which takes on bilinearity,NCSLD has obvious energy dissipation effect and it can control structural seismic response effectively.

Identifying Smartphone Based Intelligent Messages for Worker’s Crossing in Work Zones

A smartphone warning system is a feasible option to notify motorists about a safety threat and/or pedestrian crossings ahead. In this paper, a smartphone-based warning system was proposed to enhance workers’ safety in work zones. Three different warning message systems, including sound, male voice and female voice, were designed to alert drivers. Twenty-four subjects were recruited for a total of ninety-six rounds driving simulator test in a work zone to investigate the impacts of smartphone-based warning messages on subjects’ driving performance, in terms of driving speed, speed variation, acceleration, and brake reaction distance. The outcome showed that, with the assistance of the sound and voice (either female or male) warning messages, drivers could effectively reduce their accelerations and speeds. Meanwhile, such a warning system can induce subjects to shorten their brake reaction distances for worker crossings. All participants found that this warning system is applicable to enhance their defensive driving behaviors while driving through a work zone.

High-temperature performance study of chromium-containing stuffing sand for ladles

High-temperature performance tests of chromium-containing stuffing sand for a steel ladle w ith different ratios w ere performed. A high-temperature simulation test furnace w as used to analyze the influence of the composition ratio of ladle filler sand and sintering time on the high-temperature compression resistance of chromium-containing stuffing sand in the temperature range of 1 500- 1 600 ℃. The results show that the refractoriness of ladle filler sand w as the low est（ only 1 610 ℃） w hen the composition ratio of chromite sand and silica sand w as 6∶ 4. M oreover,the high-temperature compression resistance w as high w hen the content of chromite sand w as at 70%; the resistance increased w ith increasing sintering time. When the sintering time w as extended at a temperature of 1 600 ℃,the high-temperature compression resistance of ladle filler sand first increased and then decreased after being overburnt.