Brittleness Effect on Rock Fatigue Damage Evolution

The damage evolution mechanism of rocks is one of the most important aspects in studying of rock fatigue behavior. Fatigue damage evolution of three rock types (onyx marble, sandstone and soft limestone) with different brittleness were considered in the present study. Intensive experimental tests were conducted on the chosen rock samples and acoustic emission (AE) sensors were used in some of them to monitor the fracturing process. Experimental tests indicated that brittleness strongly influences damage evolution of rocks in the course of static and dynamic loading. AE monitoring revealed that micro-crack density induced by the applied loads during different stages of the failure processes increases as rock brittleness increases. Also, results of fatigue tests on the three rock types indicated that the rock with the most induced micro-cracks during loading cycles has the least fatigue life. Furthermore, the condition of failure surfaces of the studied rocks samples, subjected to dynamic and static loading, were evaluated and it was concluded that the roughness of failure surfaces is influenced by loading types and rock brittleness. Dynamic failure surfaces were rougher than static ones and low brittle rock demonstrate a smoother failure surface compared to high brittle rock.     

Investigation of SVM and Level Set Interactive Methods for Road Extraction from Google Earth Images

Currently, methods of extracting spatial information from satellite images are mainly based on visual interpretations and drawing the consequences by human factor, which is both costly and time consuming. A large volume of data collected by satellite sensors, and significant improvement in spatial and spectral resolution of these images require the development of new methods for optimal use of these data in order to produce rapid economic and updating road maps. In this study, a new automatic method is proposed for road extraction by integrating the SVM and Level Set methods. The estimated probability of classification by SVM is used as input in Level Set Method. The average of completeness, correctness, and quality was 84.19, 88.69 and 76.06% respectively indicate high performance of proposed method for road extraction from Google Earth images.     

Peculiar motions of galaxy clusters: correlation function approach

The correlation function theory on the basis of prescribed boundary conditions provides a deeper understanding in studying the dynamical parameters of galaxy clusters. The approach approximates that the moderate dense systems discussed by a two point correlation function is helpful for describing the dynamical nature of galaxy clusters. The projected theory of two point correlation function for point mass and extended mass structures can be used an alternative tool in measuring the average peculiar motion and temperature profile of galaxy clusters.     

Fourier analysis of the light curves of eclipsing variables. XIXA:

The radiation of a charge rotating in a circle with the constant velocity (in the external magnetic field) in the isotropic plasma with random inhomogeneities of the electron density has been considered. A general expression is obtained for the radiation intensity at thenth harmonic, which is a generalization of the known Shott formula. In the ultra-relativistic case the conditions are clarified under which the inhomogeneity effect on the form of the spectrum of radiation from a particle is essential. An asymptotic formula is derived for the spectral intensity in the region of sufficiently low frequencies. The mechanism of transient radiation in this case is shown to prevail over the synchrotron one.     

Spatial Distribution of Fractures in the Asmari Formation of Iran in Subsurface Environment: Effect of Lithology and Petrophysical Properties

The distribution of fractures and its dependence on lithology and petrophysical properties of rock in the Asmari Formation were examined using three wells data of one of the largest oil fields of southwestern Iran. Fractures were measured on cut cores. Mineral content and petrophysical data were obtained through thin section study and core plug measurement respectively. Influence of mineral composition and petrophysical property of rocks on fracture density was explored statistically. Increasing quartz (sand) and anhydrite content of rocks decrease and dolomite increases the threshold of fracture densities, however no significant relation was observed between calcite content of rock and fracture density. Increasing porosity and permeability of rock decrease the threshold of fracture density in some of the defined lithology groups. There are significant differences between the lithology groups in terms of fracture density, although the results in the three wells are not the same. In whole data, the highest fracture density can be observed in dolostone. Limestone and impure carbonates hold broader spaced fractures and sandstones display the least fracture density. The average fracture densities in the wells are strictly different. These differences are the result of the structural position of the wells and also the trend of the well and fractures. The distribution of fractures in most lithology groups can be explained by the function: , where F is relative frequency, D is fracture density and a, b, and c are constants.     

Very Low Frequency Remote Sensing Measurements of the Lower Ionosphere at Site of the United Arab Emirates

The proposed research project is aiming for providing basic data for quantitative comparison of lightning-induced disturbances of the ionosphere and the radiation belts in the American, European and Asia sectors. Most of the current data on such phenomena has so far been obtained in the western hemisphere, and the weight of scientific information indicates that lightning-induced effects at high altitudes and in the radiation belts may dominate other processes on a global scale. The proposed research project will facilitate the establishment and conduct of Very Low Frequency observations in the United Arab Emirates as a part of the Asia sector, thus providing a basis for comparison to facilitate global extrapolations and conclusions. Under the proposed project, Stanford University partners with Sharjah University, deploying one of their Very Low Frequency receivers at Sharjah University campus. Sharjah University provides the data digitization and recording equipment to facilitate continuous acquisition of the data. All data from the proposed project will be available for analysis over the Internet, and a series of annual visits are planned to maximize interactions and information exchange between the two universities.     

Cylindrical and spherical electron acoustic solitary waves in the presence of superthermal hot electrons

Propagation of cylindrical and spherical electron-acoustic solitary waves in unmagnetized plasmas consisting of cold electron fluid, hot electrons obeying a superthermal distribution and stationary ions are investigated. The standard reductive perturbation method is employed to derive the cylindrical/spherical Korteweg-de-Vries equation which governs the dynamics of electron-acoustic solitons. The effects of nonplanar geometry and superthermal hot electrons on the behavior of cylindrical and spherical electron acoustic soliton and its structure are also studied using numerical simulations.