Paleotemperature record in late pleistocene clastic sediments at Divje babe 1 cave (Slovenia)

A new sedimentary morphogenic analysis was carried out at the Divje babe I Paleolithic site to determine paleotemperatures for Late Pleistocene deposits (around 80,000–40,000 BP) and to discover hiatuses in the sedimentary sequence. The Divje babe I paleotemperature record is based on the relative abundance of congelifracts in a 280 cm thick sedimentary sequence. Congelifracts are clasts whose morphogenesis is directly associated with post-depositional frost wedging. The Divje babe I paleotemperature record compares well with global GRIP (Summit) and other regional paleotemperature records for the Late Pleistocene. Comparisons are supported by ESR dates from the Divje babe I site. Two significantly cool climate phases were identified in the Divje babe I record. The older cool phase was placed between 67,000 BP and 62,000 BP and the second, younger cool phase was placed between 61,000 BP and 58,000 BP (both Middle Würmian) according to correlations with the GRIP record. The main disadvantage with the Divje babe I paleotemperature record is missing data. The sequence of cave sediments is not complete in Divje babe I due to breaks in sedimentation. Two reliable and two assumed hiatuses were identified in the studied sedimentary sequence.     

Simulation of Shake Table Tests on Out-of-Plane Masonry Buildings. Part (III): Two-Step FEM Approach

ABSTRACT

This article presents numerical simulations of two full-scale masonry structures which were tested on the shaking table within the scope of the workshop “Methods and challenges on the out-of-plane assessment of existing masonry buildings”. The numerical models have been developed on the basis of the blind-prediction models which have been improved after the publication of the test results. The solution procedure is divided into two steps with separate numerical simulations for each one. In the first step the collapse mechanism of the structure is determined by means of pushover analysis using a continuum, plasticity-based model. In the second step the dynamic response of the structure is simulated using a multibody model approach and frictional contacts. Results of the tests show reasonable, yet far from perfect predictive capabilities of the used numerical methods.