Probabilistic Seismic Design of Pile Foundations in Non Liquefiable Soil by Response Spectrum Approach

The behavior of pile foundations in non liquefiable soil under seismic loading is considerably influenced by the variability in the soil and seismic design parameters. Hence, probabilistic models for the assessment of seismic pile design are necessary. Deformation of pile foundation in non liquefiable soil is dominated by inertial force from superstructure. The present study considers a pseudo-static approach based on code specified design response spectra. The response of the pile is determined by equivalent cantilever approach. The soil medium is modeled as a one-dimensional random field along the depth. The variability associated with undrained shear strength, design response spectrum ordinate, and superstructure mass is taken into consideration. Monte Carlo simulation technique is adopted to determine the probability of failure and reliability indices based on pile failure modes, namely exceedance of lateral displacement limit and moment capacity. A reliability-based design approach for the free head pile under seismic force is suggested that enables a rational choice of pile design parameters.     

Large-Scale Experimental Investigation on Mustafa Pasha Mosque

To evaluate the seismic stability of Mustafa Pasha Mosque in Skopje strengthened by an advanced mixed technology, shaking table tests were carried out on a model in scale 1:6. The investigation was performed within the activities of the Sixth Framework Program PROHITECH – “Earthquake Protection of Historical Buildings by Reversible Mixed Technologies”. To define the effectiveness of the proposed strengthening the testing procedure consisted of two main phases: testing of the original model and testing of the strengthened model. The observed seismic behavior and damage during each phase of the testing program were analyzed on the basis of the obtained experimental results.     

Capacity Evaluation of Typical Stud-Track Screw Connections in Nonstructural Walls

A series of component-level experiments have been conducted aiming to evaluate the force and displacement capacities of typical stud-track screw connections (STCs) in steel-framed partition walls. The variables considered in these experiments included screw-edge distances, loading protocols (monotonic or cyclic), and stud and track thicknesses. The experimental data was then utilized to develop different capacity fragility curves for STCs in terms of displacements. A series of analytical STC hinge models were also proposed and validated using this data. The hinge models can be adopted in future studies to develop a comprehensive analytical model for a typical partition wall assembly.     

A Procedure for the Displacement-Based Seismic Assessment of Infilled RC Frames

The aim of this study was to propose an extension of the displacement-based assessment procedure for infilled reinforced concrete (RC) frames. Two fundamental steps of the displacement-based approach were studied: the determination of the equivalent viscous damping and the definition of the limit-state displacement profile. The proposed criteria were derived by examining the results of two different numerical investigations regarding the nonlinear seismic response of single- and multi-story infilled RC frames. Lastly, the effectiveness of the method was verified through comparisons, in terms of displacement demand, with the results of nonlinear dynamic analyses.     

‘Christ and the soul are like Pyramus and Thisbe’: An Ovidian Story in Fifteenth-Century Sermons

ABSTRACT

The sophisticated ways in which several fifteenth-century preachers used Ovidian stories and their allegorical interpretations prove that late medieval sermons represent a promising but neglected area for classical reception studies. Preachers – whose names are today almost forgotten by scholars but whose sermons circulated at large in early printed books – considered Ovidian allegories as powerful instruments for instructing, entertaining, and moving their audiences. This article begins with a review of the literature on the presence of Ovid in sermons, and discusses the methodology to study the transformation of classical myths in preaching. Then, it focuses on four sermons that incorporated the story of Pyramus and Thisbe, which appears in the sermon collections written by Conrad Grütsch, Johann Meder, and Jacobus de Lenda. The repeated use of this Ovidian myth allows us, therefore, to investigate how different preachers appropriated and re-elaborated this story, and the role that it played in diverse contexts. Finally, the analysis of these texts also sheds light on the use of the Ovidius moralizatus in fifteenth-century sermons.     

Flexural and Shear Damage Models for MRF Structures Excited by Far-Field Horizontal Strong Ground Motions

The unexpected damages in structures during severe earthquakes have been reported frequently so far. In this study, the damage-based inelastic behavior of special moment resisting frame (SMRF) structures designed according to the new versions of general earthquake loading codes (International building code [IBC] 2012 & American Society of Civil Engineers [ASCE] 7-2010) and seismic design references (National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program [NEHRP] 2009 & Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] P-750) has been investigated. The final results presented based on distinctive shear and flexural failure modes show that a non-uniform distribution of severe damage in structural height occurs during design level seismic excitations. Also it is observed that the shear and flexural damages are more critical in short and tall MRF structures, respectively.     

光导纤维反射光谱法及其在文物保护中的应用

光导纤维反射光谱法是一种无损检测方法,其基本原理遵循库贝尔卡·芒克(Ｋｕｂｅｌｋａ－Ｍｕｎｋ)方程式,现已广泛应用于纸张、金属、陶瓷、织物等的直接分析,也适用于文物的无损分析研究,此方法在文物保护工作中的应用虽刚刚起步,但前景广阔。     

古陶瓷完整器元素成分无损分析的实现（一）——方法确认和总体设计

文物的无损检测是文物科学研究中非常重要的一个研究方向,也是文物科学保护研究不可或缺的前期分析工作。上海博物馆文物保护与考古科学实验室计划以古陶瓷的无损分析为先导,陆续扩大研究对象的范围及研究深度,同时也不断完善各类分析手段。在大量文献调研的基础上,报道了古陶瓷完整器元素成分无损分析方法研究的前半部分工作:研究方法的确认和总体设计。     

区域民俗文化旅游资源的定量评价研究——九寨沟藏族民俗文化与江苏吴文化民俗旅游资源比较研究之二

区域民俗文化是旅游地旅游资源的组成因子。有关其专项定量评价目前尚不完善。本文以九寨沟藏族民俗及江苏吴文化民俗旅游资源为例,对民俗文化旅游资源评价进行尝试。针对已有固定结构权重评价模型适应性较弱的现状,本文尝试了具有能够反映主导民俗类型的可变权重的主成分优先法对两个地区的民俗旅游资源进行了评价。同时,本文利用游客态度调查结果,对九寨沟民俗旅游资源进行了公众体验性评价。     

可持续发展——中国理智的选择

本文对可持续发展战略的由来及含义做了详尽的说明,并结合中国的实际,探讨了在中国实行可持续发展战略的必要性及实现途径。提出在中国实现可持续发展是一项长期的、艰苦的任务,首先应转变经济发展模式,确立以保护环境和合理利用资源为核心的经济发展战略;利用市场机制和经济手段,促进市场经济与环境保护的协调配合;同时要采取有效的人口政策,控制人口增长;并通过建设生态农业和完善城市建设,加强农村与城市的环境综合整治。