• Wind and Structures
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.177-188
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• 2012

The meteorological events that cause most strong winds in Brazil are extra-tropical cyclones, downbursts and tornadoes. However, one hurricane formed off the coastline of southern Brazil in 2005, a tropical storm formed in 2010 and there are predictions that others may form again. Events such as those described in the paper and which have occurred before 1987, generate data for the wind map presented in the Brazilian wind loading code NBR-6123. This wind map presents the reference wind speeds based on 3-second gust wind speed at 10 m height in open terrain, with 50-year return period, varying from 30 m/s (north half of country) to 50 m/s (extreme south). There is not a separation of the type of climatological event which generated each registered velocity. Therefore, a thunderstorm (TS), an extra-tropical pressure system (EPS) or even a tropical cyclone (TC) are treated the same and its resulting velocities absorbed without differentiation. Since the flow fields generated by each type of meteorological event may be distinct, the indiscriminate combination of the highest wind velocities with aerodynamic coefficients from boundary layer wind tunnels may lead to erroneous loading in buildings.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.111-129
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• 2012

Codes for structural design usually assume that the incident mean wind velocity is parallel to the ground, which constitutes a valid simplification for frequent winds caused by sypnoptic events. Wind effects due to other phenomena, such as thunderstorm downbursts, are simply neglected. In this paper, results of recent and ongoing research on this topic in Brazil are presented. The model of the three-dimensional wind velocity field originated from a downburst in a thunderstorm (TS), proposed by Ponte and Riera for engineering applications, is first described. This model allows the generation of a spatially and temporally variable velocity field, which also includes a fluctuating component of the velocity. All parameters are related to meteorological variables, which are susceptible of statistical assessment. An application of the model in the simulation of the wind climate in a region sujected to both EPS and TS winds is discussed next. It is shown that, once the relevant meteorological variables are known, the simulation of the wind excitation for purposes of design of transmission lines, long-span crossings and similar structures is feasible. Complementing the theoretical studies, wind velocity records during a recent TS event in southern Brazil are presented and preliminary conclusions on the validity of the proposed models discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.37-48
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• 2000

In order to investigate in-line ground motions caused by earthquakes, we examine the multicomponent complex trace analysis method (MCTAM) for the synthetic data and apply it to real earthquake data. An experimental result for synthetic data gives correct information on the arrival times, duration of individual phases, and approaching angles for body waves. Rayleigh waves are also easily identified with the MCTAM. A deep earthquake with magnitude of 7.3 was chosen to test various polarization attributes of ground motions. For P waves, instantaneous phase difference between the vertical and the in-line horizontal components ${\phi}(t)$, instantaneous reciprocal ellipticity ${\rho}(t)$, and approaching angle ${\tau}(t)$ are computed to be ${\pm}180^{\circ},\;0{\sim}0.25,\;and\;-30^{\circ}{\sim}-45^{\circ}$, respectively. For S waves, ${\phi}(t)$ tends to vary while ${\rho}(t)$ have values of $0{\sim}0.3\;and\;{\tau}(t)$ remains near vertical, respectively. A relatively low frequency signal registered just prior to the S wave event is interpreted as a P-wave phase based on its polarization characteristics. Velocities of P and S waves are computed to be 8.633 km/s and 4.762 km/s, and their raypath parameters 0.074 s/km and 0.197 s/km. Dynamic Poisson's ratio is obtained as 0.281 from the velocities of P and S waves.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.133-144
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• 2001

An effective seismic reflection technique for mapping the cavities and bedrock surface in carbonate rocks is described. The high resolution seismic reflection images were successfully registered by using the hydrophones employed in the stream-water driven trench, and were effectively focused by applying optimal data processing sequences. The strategy included enhancement of the signal interfered with the large-amplitude scattering noise, through pre- and post stack processing such as time-variant filtering, bad-trace editing, residual statics, velocity analysis, and careful muting after NMO (normal moveout) correction. The major reflections including the bedrock surface were mapped with the desired resolution and were correlated to the seismic crosshole tomographic data. Shallow major reflectors could be identified and analyzed on the AGC (auto gain control)-applied field records. Three subhorizontal layers were identified with their distinct velocities; overburden (<3000 m/s), sediments (3000-4000 m/s), limestone bedrock (>4000 m/s). Taking into account of no diffraction effects in the field records, gravel-rich overburdens and sediments are considered to be well sorted. Based on the images mapped consistently on the whole survey line and seismic velocity increasing with depth, this area probably lacks in sizable cavities (if any, no air-filled cavities).