Mode-based equivalent multi-degree-of-freedom system for one-dimensional viscoelastic response analysis of layered soil deposit

Discrete models such as the lumped parameter model and the finite element model are widely used in the solution of soil amplification of earthquakes. However, neither of the models will accurately estimate the natural frequencies of soil deposit, nor simulate a damping of frequency independence. This research develops a new discrete model for onedimensional viscoelastic response analysis of layered soil deposit based on the mode equivalence method. The new discrete model is a one-dimensional equivalent multi-degree-of-freedom（MDOF） system characterized by a series of concentrated masses, springs and dashpots with a special configuration. The dynamic response of the equivalent MDOF system is analytically derived and the physical parameters are formulated in terms of modal properties. The equivalent MDOF system is verified through a comparison of amplification functions with the available theoretical solutions. The appropriate number of degrees of freedom（DOFs） in the equivalent MDOF system is estimated. A comparative study of the equivalent MDOF system with the existing discrete models is performed. It is shown that the proposed equivalent MDOF system can exactly present the natural frequencies and the hysteretic damping of soil deposits and provide more accurate results with fewer DOFs.

Building African Ecosystem Research Network for Sustaining Local Ecosystem Goods and Services

A new form of producing and sharing knowledge has emerged as an international(United States of America,Asia,and Europe) research collaboration,known as the Long-Term Ecological Research(LTER) Network.Although Africa boasts rich biodiversity,including endemic species,it lacks the long-term initiatives to underpin sustainable biodiversity managements.At present,climate change may exacerbate hunger and poverty concerns in addition to resulting in ecosystem degradation,land use change,and other threats in Africa.Therefore,ecosystem monitoring was suggested to understanding the effects of climate change and setting strategies to mitigate these changes.This paper aimed to investigate ecosystem monitoring ground sites and address their coverage gaps in Africa to provide a foundation for optimizing the African Ecosystem Research Network(AERN) ground sites.The geographic coordinates and characteristics of ground sites-based ecosystem monitoring were collected from various networks aligned with the LTER implementation in Africa.Additionally,climatic data and biodiversity distribution maps were retrieved from various sources.These data were used to assess the size of existing ground sites and the gaps in description,ecosystems and biomes.The results reveal that there were 1089 sites established by various networks.Among these sites,30.5%,27.5%,and 28.8% had no information of area,year of establishment,current status,respectively.However,68.0% of them had an area equal to or greater than 1 km2.Sites were created progressively over the course of the years,with 68.9% being created from 2000 to 2005.To date,only 41.5% of the sites were operational.The sites were scattered across Africa,but they were concentrated in Eastern and Southern Africa.The unbalanced distribution pattern of the sites left Central and Northern Africa hardly covered,and many unique ecosystems in Central Africa were not included.To sustain these sites,the AERN should be based on operational sites,seeking secure funding by establishing multiple partnerships.

Large-scale seismic isolation through regulated liquefaction： a feasibility study

Using controlled liquefaction, a seismic isolation technique is introduced by which a large area with dozens of structures can be seismically isolated. The proposed Large Scale Seismic Isolation （LSSI） is in many ways similar to conventional base isolations. The required bearing is provided by a fully undrained pre-saturated liquefiable layer which has substantial vertical stiffness/capacity and minimal lateral stiffness. Moreover, required energy dissipation would be provided through material damping and Biot flow-induced damping within the liquefied layer. LSSI consists of a thick non- liquefiable crust layer and an underlying engineered pre-saturated liquefiable layer bounded by two impermeable thin clay layers. The liquefiable layer should be designed to trigger liquefaction as soon as possible within the early seconds of a design level seismic event. Adopting the energy-based GMP liquefaction theory, optimum gradation of the liquefiable layer is also investigated. It tumed out that LSSI would effectively reduce acceleration response spectrum within short to medium periods. Contribution of the proposed LSSI is more pronounced in the case of stronger ground motions such as near field events as well as ground motions with longer return periods.

A Model of Shield Jack Thrust to Shield Attitude

The attitude of the shield tunneling machine (or "shield" for short) during tunneling is important to tunnel excavation and construction quality, which results from a combination of jack thrust, ground displacement around the shield, and ground mechanics parameters, etc. A shield attitude model involving elements above was proposed. In this model, ground displacement was taken to calculate the load around the shield. Ground mechanics parameters were involved. Based on the shield load model, the needed jack thrust for shield desired attitude was derived. The proposed method is validated using engineering data, and lays reliable foundation for shield attitude control.

A 10 GHz high-efficiency and low phase-noise negative-resistance oscillator optimized with a virtual loop model

A virtual loop model was built by the transmission analysis with virtual ground method to assist the negative-resistance oscillator design, providing more perspectives on output power and phase-noise optimization. In this work, the virtual loop described the original circuit successfully and the optimizations were effective. A 10 GHz high-efficiency low phase-noise oscillator utilizing an InGaP/GaAs HBT was achieved. The 10.028 GHz oscillator delivered an output power of over 15 dBm with a phase-noise of lower than -107 dBc/Hz at 100 kHz offset. The efficiency of DC to RF transformation was 35 %. The results led to a good oscillator figure of merit of-188 dBc/Hz. The measurement results agreed well with those of the simulations.