Prediction of Seaward Slope Recession in Berm Breakwaters Using M5' Machine Learning Approach

In the design process of berm breakwaters, their front slope recession has an inevitable rule in large number of model tests, and this parameter being studied. This research draws its data from Moghim’s and Shekari’s experiment results. These experiments consist of two different 2D model tests in two wave flumes, in which the berm recession to different sea state and structural parameters have been studied. Irregular waves with a JONSWAP spectrum were used in both test series. A total of 412 test results were used to cover the impact of sea state conditions such as wave height, wave period, storm duration and water depth at the toe of the structure, and structural parameters such as berm elevation from still water level, berm width and stone diameter on berm recession parameters. In this paper, a new set of equations for berm recession is derived using the M5'' model tree as a machine learning approach. A comparison is made between the estimations by the new formula and the formulae recently given by other researchers to show the preference of new M5'' approach.     

Identification of modal parameters of non‐classically damped linear structures under multi‐component earthquake loading

A method for parametric system identification of classically damped linear system in frequency domain is adopted and extended for non‐classically damped linear systems subjected up to six components of earthquake ground motions. This method is able to work in multi‐input/multi‐output (MIMO) case. The response of a two‐degree‐of‐freedom model with non‐classical damping, excited by one‐component earthquake ground motion, is simulated and used to verify the proposed system identification method in the single‐input/multi‐output case. Also, the records of a 10 storey real building during the Northridge earthquake is used to verify the proposed system identification method in the MIMO case. In this case, at first, a single‐input/multi‐output assumption is considered for the system and modal parameters are identified, then other components of earthquake ground motions are added, respectively, and the modal parameters are identified again. This procedure is repeated until all four components of earthquake ground motions which are measured at the base level of the building are included in the identification process. The results of identification of real building show that consideration of non‐classical damping and inclusion of the multi‐components effect of earthquake ground motions can improve the least‐squares match between the finite Fourier transforms of recorded and calculated acceleration responses. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Resource allocation for regional earthquake risk mitigation: a case study of Tehran,Iran

This paper presents a new optimization model to help cities in seismically active developing countries decide (1) How much to spend on pre-earthquake mitigation versus waiting until after an event and paying for reconstruction or simply not rebuilding damaged buildings? (2) Which buildings to mitigate and how? and (3) Which buildings to reconstruct and how? It extends previously developed optimization models to consider the particular issues that arise in such countries. First, the model allows for the possibility that some damaged buildings will not be reconstructed immediately and keeps track of any lost building inventory. Second, buildings can be mitigated to, or when damaged, reconstructed to, any appropriate structural type and seismic design level. Finally, the model objectives include minimizing the chance of an extremely high death toll in any one earthquake and minimizing the average annual death toll across earthquakes. The model is illustrated through a case study analysis for Tehran, Iran.     

Removal of chromium (VI) from aqueous solutions using Lewatit FO36 nano ion exchange resin

The removal of the chromium (VI) ion from aqueous solutions with the Lewatit FO36 ion-exchange resin is described at different conditions. The effects of adsorbent dose, initial metal concentration, contact time and pH on the removal of chromium (VI) were investigated. The batch ion exchange process was relatively fast and it reached equilibrium after about 90 min of contact. The ion exchange process, which is pH dependent showed maximum removal of chromium (VI) in the pH range 5.0–8.0 for an initial chromium (VI) concentration of 0.5 mg/dm³. The equilibrium related to Lewatit FO36 ion- exchange capacity and the amounts of the ion exchange were obtained using the plots of the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. It was observed that the maximum ion exchange capacity of 0.29 mmol of chromium (VLVg for Lewatit FO36 was achieved at optimum pH value of 6.0. The ion exchange of chromium (VI) on this cation-exchange resin followed first-order reversible kinetics.     

Calculation of periodic roof weighting interval in longwall mining using finite element method

The state of periodic loading and the interval of periodic roof weighting have an important role in geomechanical stability and, hence, in the continuity of longwall mining operations. In this paper, the mechanism of roof caving in longwall mining—together with the effect of engineering and geomechanical properties of surrounding rock masses on the magnitude and timing of periodic loading—is studied. For this purpose, a longwall mine is first modeled using Phase2 software, and then, by simulating the roof caving process, the periodic roof weighting intervals is calculated. Based on the numerical modeling, the first roof weighting interval and the periodic roof weighting interval are calculated as 27.2 and 12.1 m, respectively. Sensitivity analysis is then applied to determine the effect of changes in the mechanical properties of the rock mass, especially in the main roof and immediate roof. The results of the analysis show that as GSI and quality of the immediate roof increases, the periodic roof weighting interval also increases. Hence, the applied algorithm in this research study can effectively be utilized to calculate the periodic roof weighting interval in the longwall mining method.     

A nine-step approach for developing and implementing an “agricultural drought risk management plan”; case study: Alamut River basin in Qazvin,Iran

Occurrence of drought, as an inevitable natural climate feature, cannot be ceased while happening. However, costs of the consequences could be alleviated using mature scientific integrated approaches. To reduce the amount of damage, it is required to provide “Contingency” and “Mitigation” action plans. For this reason, development of efficient operating instructions for various regions based on weather conditions and field studies is needed as well as having a sophisticated understanding of socioeconomic situations. This paper describes an approach to provide the first national agricultural drought risk management plan for a river basin in Iran country as a pilot. The study lasted for 3 years as a national technical research project for the “soil conservation and watershed management research institute.” To reach the objectives, besides holding workshops and specialized think-tank meetings, field researches were done. Based on the socioeconomic data sources in the basin and the results of meetings by participation of local managers and residents, the final plan was developed. Moreover, in order to carry out this research, different climatic, agricultural and local information were collected in the watershed. In the next steps, potential risks and vulnerabilities of various agricultural sectors due to the hazard were evaluated. In this study, a nine-step approach to develop an agricultural drought risk management plan proposing different scientific–managerial phases based on the latest experts’ opinions, released international scientific best practices, and existing conditions governing the region was followed. With respect to the average income of US$ one million from agriculture and animal husbandry in the river basin, total drought loss varies from US$ 86,000 to US$ 258,000 for a range of light to very intense drought conditions, respectively. The setup of these nine executive phases defined monitoring, forecasting, and warning steps in working teams and managed the subprograms in partnership with stakeholders and decision-makers to mitigate the rate of drought damage from 30 to 47% (depending on the severity of the drought condition).

     

Spatiotemporal relation of RADAR-derived land subsidence with groundwater and seismicity in Semnan—Iran

Natural Hazards - Due to excessive harvesting of underground water resources in many important aquifers inside Iran, ground subsidence is occurring at different speeds. In present study, InSAR...     

Spatially-Weighted Factor Analysis for Extraction of Source-Oriented Mineralization Feature in 3D Coordinates of Surface Geochemical Signal

Natural Resources Research - This contribution proposes a spatially weighted factor analysis (SWFA) to recognize effectively the underlying mineralization-related feature(s) in geochemical signals....     

Cu (II) removal intensification using Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanoparticles under inert gas and magnetic field in a microchannel

In the present study, Cu (II) ions removal from aqueous solution was intensified by exciting magnetic nanoparticles under inert gas, magnetic field and combination of these two mixing methods in a T-type microchannel. The flow patterns and liquid–liquid two-phase mass transfer were studied in three different magnet distances from mixing channel (3, 6 and 10 mm) and also in the presence of different inert gas flow rates (1, 3 and 5 mL/min). Depending on the mixing method and the flow rate of both phases, several distinct flow patterns were observed including slugs, droplet, parallel and dispersed flows. The performances of mixing techniques for mass transfer enhancement based on relative removal efficiency ratio (λ) and mass transfer coefficient ratio (γ) were compared with simple layout (without nanoparticles, magnetic field and inert gas). The results showed that simultaneous using of inert gas and magnetic field can drive the nanoparticles as mixer. Liquid–liquid mass transfer with 27–62% enhancement in E and 235–285% in K _L a compared with plain one was observed.