Incremental dynamic analysis of concrete gravity dams including base and lift joints

The growth in computer processing power has made it possible to use time-consuming analysis methods such as incremental dynamic analysis（IDA） with higher accuracy in less time.In an IDA study,a series of earthquake records are applied to a structure at successively increasing intensity levels,which causes the structure to shift from the elastic state into the inelastic state and finally into collapse.In this way,the limit-states and capacity of a structure can be determined.In the present research,the IDA of a concrete gravity dam considering a nonlinear concrete behavior,and sliding planes within the dam body and at the dam-foundation interface,is performed.The influence of the friction angle and lift joint slope on the response parameters are investigated and the various limit-states of the dam are recognized.It is observed that by introducing a lift joint,the tensile damage can be avoided for the dam structure.The lift joint sliding is essentially independent of the base joint friction angle and the upper ligament over the inclined lift joint slides into the upstream direction in strong earthquakes.

Energy conservation in China's coal-fired power industry by installing advanced units and organized phasing out backward production

Coal-fired power is the main power source and the biggest contributor to energy conservation in the past several decades in China.It is generally believed that advanced technology should be counted on for energy conservation.However,a review of the decline in the national average net coal consumption rate(NCCR)of China's coal-fired power industry along with its development over the past few decades indicates that the upgradation of the national unit capacity structure(including installing advanced production and phasing out backward production)plays a more important role.A quantitative study on the effect of the unit capacity structure upgradation on the decline in the national average NCCR suggests that phasing out backward production is the leading factor for the decline in the NCCR in the past decade,followed by the new installation,whose sum contributes to approximately 80%of the decline in the national average NCCR.The new installation has an effective affecting period of about 8 years,during which it would gradually decline from a relatively high value.Since the effect of phasing out backward production may remain at a certain degree given a continual action of phasing out backward capacity,it is suggested that the organized action of phasing out backward production should be insisted on.