Numerical investigation of tsunami bore effects on structures,part I: drag coefficients

Natural Hazards - Recent tsunami disasters caused devastating damage to non-engineered as well as engineered coastal infrastructure. In fact, previous design guidelines containing provisions for...     

Large eddy simulation of extreme hydrodynamic forces on structures with mitigation walls using OpenFOAM

The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of a large eddy simulation (LES) numerical model to assess the influence of mitigation walls with various cross sections on the tsunami-induced loading exerted on a freestanding structure. The validation of the model was performed using laboratory experiment results previously conducted by the second author. The employed experiments simulated a tsunami-like bore at two different impoundment depths, including 55 and 85 cm. The results showed that the one-equation subgrid-scale energy transport LES approach performs better than RANS models such as k-ε, k-ω and LRR and can accurately reproduce experimental data obtained for a wide range of experimental conditions.     

The application of geochemical pattern recognition to regional prospecting: A case study of the Sanandaj–Sirjan metallogenic zone,Iran

In regional exploration programs, the distribution of elements in known mineral deposits can be used as a guide for the classification of deposits, search for new prospects and modeling ore deposit patterns. The Sanandaj–Sirjan Zone (SSZ) is a major metallogenic zone in Iran, containing lead and zinc, iron, gold, copper deposits. In the central part of the SSZ, lead and zinc mineralization is widespread and hitherto exploration has been based on geological criteria. In this study, we used clustering techniques applied to element distribution for classification lead and zinc deposits in the central part of the SSZ. The hierarchical clustering technique was used to characterize the elemental pattern. Elements associated with lead and zinc deposits were separated into four clusters, encompassing both ore elements and their host rock-forming elements. It is shown that lead and zinc deposits in the central SSZ belong to two genetic groups: a MVT type hosted by limestone and dolomites and a SEDEX type hosted by shale, volcanic rocks and sandstone. The results of elemental clustering were used for pattern recognition by the K-means method and the respective deposits were classified into four distinct categories. K-means clustering also reveals that the elemental associations and spatial distribution of the lead and zinc deposits exhibit zoning in the central part of the SSZ. The ratios of ore-forming elements (Sb, Cd, and Zn) vs. (Pb and Ag) show zoning along an E–W trend, while host rock-forming elements (Mn, Ca, and Mg) vs. (Ba and Sr) show a zoning along a SE–NW trend. Large and medium deposits occur mainly in the center of the studied area, which justify further exploration around occurrences and abandoned mines in this area. The application of a pattern recognition method based on geochemical data from known mineralization in the central SSZ, and the classification derived from it, uncover elemental zoning, identify key elemental associations for further geochemical exploration and the potential to discover possible target areas for large to medium size ore deposits. This methodology can be applied in a similar way to search for new ore deposits in a wide range of known metallogenic zones.     

The hazard potential of the western segment of the Makran subduction zone, northern Arabian Sea

Evaluating the hazard potential of the Makran subduction zone requires understanding the previous records of the large earthquakes and tsunamis. We address this problem by searching for earthquake and tectonic proxies along the Makran Coast and linking those observations with the available constraints on historical seismicity and the tell-tale characteristics of sea floor morphology. The earthquake of Mw 8.1 of 1945 and the consequent tsunami that originated on the eastern part of the Makran are the only historically known hazardous events in this region. The seismic status of the western part of the subduction zone outside the rupture area of the 1945 earthquake remains an enigma. The near-shore shallow stratigraphy of the central part of Makran near Chabahar shows evidence of seismically induced liquefaction that we attribute to the distant effects of the 1945 earthquake. The coastal sites further westward around Jask are remarkable for the absence of liquefaction features, at least at the shallow level. Although a negative evidence, this possibly implies that the western part of Makran Coast region may not have been impacted by near-field large earthquakes in the recent past??a fact also supported by the analysis of historical data. On the other hand, the elevated marine terraces on the western Makran and their uplift rates are indicative of comparable degree of long-term tectonic activity, at least around Chabahar. The offshore data suggest occurrences of recently active submarine slumps on the eastern part of the Makran, reflective of shaking events, owing to the great 1945 earthquake. The ocean floor morphologic features on the western segment, on the contrary, are much subdued and the prograding delta lobes on the shelf edge also remain intact. The coast on the western Makran, in general, shows indications of progradation and uplift. The various lines of evidence thus suggest that although the western segment is potentially seismogenic, large earthquakes have not occurred there in the recent past, at least during the last 600?years. The recurrence period of earthquakes may range up to 1,000?years or more, an assessment based on the age of the youngest dated coastal ridge. The long elapsed time points to the fact that the western segment may have accumulated sufficient slip to produce a major earthquake.     

Numerical modeling of local scour at a submerged weir with a downstream slope using a coupled moving-mesh and maskedelement approach

This paper presents a model for local scour at submerged weirs with downstream slopes that uses a coupled moving-mesh and masked-element approach.In the developed model,the fluid-sediment interface is tracked using a moving-mesh technique,and the effects of the structure on the hydrodynamics and bed morphology are resolved using a masked-element technique.Compared to traditional sediment scour models,based on the moving-mesh technique,the present model has the advantage of allowing for a simpler setup of the computational grids and a larger-amplitude deformation.Laboratory experiments on local scour at a submerged weir with a downstream slope were conducted,which provided bed profiles at different time instants.The results obtained by the present model are compared to the experimental data.The comparisons demonstrate the performance of the model in satisfactorily predicting local scour at a submerged weir with a downstream slope.The model was further modified and employed to carry out additional computations to investigate the influence of various parameters and sub-models.     

Late glacial and early Holocene hydroclimate variability in northwest Iran (Talesh Mountains) inferred from chironomid and pollen analysis

We reconstructed the paleohydrologic and climatic history of the Lake Neor region, NW Iran, from the end of the late glacial to the middle Holocene (15,500–7500 cal yr BP). Subfossil chironomid and pollen assemblages in a sediment core from a peatland located south of Lake Neor enabled identification of four main hydrologic phases. The period 15,500–12,700 cal yr BP was characterized by a relatively dry climate with an open landscape, suggested by the abundance of Irano-Turanian steppe plants (e.g. Amaranthaceae, Artemisia and Cousinia). Dominance of several shallow-water and semi-terrestrial chironomid taxa (e.g. Pseudosmittia, Smittia/Parasmittia and Paraphaenocladius/Parametriocnemus) during this period is indicative of lower water tables in the wetland. Between 12,700 and 11,300 cal yr BP, chironomid taxa indicate higher wetland water tables, as suggested by the presence of Zavrelia, Chironomus anthracinus/plumosus-type and Micropsectra, which are inhabitants of open-water, lacustrine areas. The open-steppe vegetation remained dominant in the watershed during this time. Increasing wetland moisture could be explained by: (1) cool summers that reduced the evaporation rate; and/or (2) a decrease in duration of the summer dry season. The period 11,300–8700 cal yr BP was characterized by lower wetland moisture, contemporaneous with a delay in the expansion of deciduous forest, suggesting persistent dry climate conditions throughout the beginning of the Holocene, which may have been related to the intensified seasonality of precipitation. Around 8700 cal yr BP, higher wetland water levels, inferred from chironomids, occurred simultaneously with the onset of regional deciduous forest expansion, probably caused by a shortening of the summer dry period. We concluded that chironomids are appropriate paleoecological proxies to investigate global and local hydrologic variability in the Middle East.     

Isolation and submerged culture biomass production of the arid land cyanobacteria <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microcoleus</Emphasis> spp., an investigation on its utilization for biological soil crust restoration

Biological soil crust (BSC) restoration could effectively contribute in reducing several adverse environmental impacts such as soil erodibility. The usefulness of the microorganism constituent of the arid land (e.g., desert land cyanobacteria Microcoleus) for the BSC restoration has already been introduced, not only by laboratory studies but also by many other field investigations. In order to isolate the soil cyanobacteria with a potential to support BSC succession, soil samples from the southwestern dry lands in Iran were taken, soils serial dilution was prepared and submerged, and streaking-plate methods were applied. The newly isolated native cyanobacterium was identified as the Microcoleus on the genus level following the standard references. The isolated cyanobacterium was cultured phototrophically using five different media consisting of BBM, BG-11, F/2, Jourdan, and artificial wastewater submerged batch. Microcoleus spp. was found in all sites soil samples. The maximum biomass was achieved in the Jourdan submerged culture medium with an amount of 0.88 g/L. The cell density in this culture medium was increased up to 20 times of the initial cell density during 7 days of the cultivation. The specific biomass growth rate was calculated to be in a range of 0.03–0.057 per day. The preliminary experiments and reported restoration activities of Microcoleus submerged cultures were shown to have the potential for providing the soil with the inoculant for the restoration of the degraded arid lands such as Middle East region.     

Numerical investigation of tsunami bore effects on structures,part II: effects of bed condition on loading onto circular structures

In this paper, a multiphase three-dimensional numerical reproduction of a large-scale laboratory experiment of tsunami-like bore interaction with a surface-piercing circular column is presented. The numerical simulation is conducted using OpenFOAM. A dam-break mechanism is implemented in order to generate tsunami-like bores. The numerical model is validated using the results of experiments performed at the Canadian Hydraulics Center of the National Research Council in Ottawa, Canada. Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes equations are used in order to treat the turbulence effects. The Shear Stress Transport k–ω turbulence model showed a high level of accuracy in replicating the bore–structure interactions. A scaled-up domain is used to investigate the influence of bed condition in terms of various downstream depths and roughnesses. Finally, a broad investigation on bore propagation characteristics is performed. The stream-wise forces exerted on the structural column as well as the bore velocity are compared and analyzed for smooth, rough, dry and wet beds with varying depths.

     

Numerical investigation of the influence of extreme hydrodynamic forces on the geometry of structures using OpenFOAM

The main focus of the present study is to numerically examine the effects of tsunami-like-induced hydrodynamic loading applied to free-standing structures with various architectural geometries. To accomplish these goals, the authors employed a multi-phase numerical model utilizing the volume of fluid method in the three-dimensional space. The second objective of the present study is to improve the understanding of hydrodynamic loads on structural components in order to develop practical guidelines for the engineering design of structures located in areas with a high risk of tsunami hazards. In order to evaluate the performance of the numerical model, the results of the simulation are compared with various available experimental data and physical modeling studies. The tsunami-like wave was reproduced via a sudden release of water located in an impounding reservoir located at the upstream part of a flume in the form of a dambreak wave. The shear force exerted by the hydrodynamic force on the square and round structures in the downstream area is estimated to obtain the value of tsunami loading. Finally, the validated numerical model is employed to examine the influence of the structure’s geometry on the hydrodynamic loads exerted on it.