Pore-water pressure development in a frozen saline clay under isotropic loading and undrained shearing

Acta Geotechnica - A systematical testing program on frozen Onsøy clay under isotropic loading and undrained shearing at different temperatures...     

New developments with design and construction of a thermal/vacuum qualified photogrammetric system

In the frame of the development of a photogrammetric system to be used in thermal/vacuum chambers at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) of European Space Agency (ESA) and other sites across Europe, the design of a network using micro-cameras was specified by ESA-ESTEC. A thermal/vacuum qualified photogrammetric system, which is able to work and acquire images in vacuum and at cryo-temperatures, was constructed by ESA-ESTEC Test Centre Division. The current system uses four space qualified one-mega pixel cameras and is able to measure large space structures in vacuum and at temperatures down to ?170 ^°C with a global accuracy better than 1 part per 100,000 in object space. Several tests aiming at the qualification of the sensors and system in terms of operation and accuracy have been carried out. Special measures have been developed and special attention has been taken into account specifically for the first application of the photogrammetric system. It is to verify the ESA’s Herschel Telescope Flight Model alignment positioning.     

Extraction of forward-directivity velocity pulses using S-Transform-based signal decomposition technique

Robust methods for time-frequency analysis of time series, which provide local information of signals, allow earthquake engineers to study both the input and output of dynamic time history analysis with more reliability. Moreover, time-frequency representations (TFRs) have a major role in the analysis of non-stationary seismic signals exhibiting significant time variation of frequency content. S-Transform (ST) is a modern TFR, which can measure local characteristics of a signal such as amplitude, frequency, and phase at any time instant. This paper presents a new method for decomposition of ground motion signals. A modified version of ST-based technique, originally employed to decompose signals of gearbox vibration, is introduced and applied to the extraction and characterization of pulse-like part of near-fault velocity records, which is contributed to the directivity effects. In addition, a new definition based on ST analysis is used to identify pulse period. The results of implementation of proposed procedure on a database of pulse-like ground motion recordings belonging to the different ranges of magnitude demonstrate the efficiency of proposed method compared with other available approaches. The results, also, indicate that simple approximation of distinct pulses using single-period waveforms, unlike the extracted pulses, cannot represent the impulsive nature of real records adequately.     

Dominant pulse simulation of near fault ground motions

In this study, a new mathematical model is developed composed of two parts, including harmonic and polynomial expressions for simulating the dominant velocity pulse of near fault ground motions. Based on a proposed velocity function, the corresponding expressions for the ground acceleration and displacement time histories are also derived. The proposed model is then fitted using some selected pulse-like near fault ground motions in the Next Generation Attenuation (NGA) project library. The new model is not only simple in form but also simulates the long-period portion of actual velocity near fault records with a high level of precision. It is shown that the proposed model-based elastic response spectra are compatible with the near fault records in the neighborhood of the prevailing frequency of the pulse. The results indicate that the proposed model adequately simulates the components of the time histories. Finally, the energy of the proposed pulse was compared with the energy of the actual record to confirm the compatibility.     

Resonantly damped oscillations of elliptically shaped stratified emerging coronal loops

The effects of both elliptical shape and stage of emergence of the coronal loop on the resonant absorption of standing kink oscillations are studied. To do so, a typical coronal loop is modeled as a zero-beta longitudinally stratified cylindrical magnetic flux tube. We developed the connection formulae for the resonant absorption of standing transversal oscillations of a coronal loop with an elliptical shape, at various stages of its emergence. Using the connection formulae, the dispersion relation is derived and solved numerically to obtain the frequencies and damping rates of the fundamental and first-overtone kink modes. Our numerical results show that both the elliptical shape and stage of emergence of the loop alter the frequencies and damping rates of the tube as well as the ratio of frequencies of the fundamental and its first-overtone modes. However, the ratio of the oscillation frequency to the damping rate is not affected by the tube shape and stage of its emergence and also is independent of the density stratification parameter.     

On the role of transition region on the Alfvén wave phase mixing in solar spicules

Alfvénic waves are thought to play an important role in coronal heating and solar wind acceleration. Here we investigate the dissipation of standing Alfvén waves due to phase mixing at the presence of steady flow and sheared magnetic field in the stratified atmosphere of solar spicules. The transition region between chromosphere and corona has also been considered. The initial flow is assumed to be directed along spicule axis, and the equilibrium magnetic field is taken 2-dimensional and divergence-free. It is determined that in contrast to propagating Alfvén waves, standing Alfvén waves dissipate in time rather than in space. Density gradients and sheared magnetic fields can enhance damping due to phase mixing. Damping times deduced from our numerical calculations are in good agreement with spicule lifetimes. Since spicules are short living and transient structures, such a fast dissipation mechanism is needed to transport their energy to the corona.     

Geodynamic Evolution of Northeastern Tunisia During the Maastrichtian–Paleocene Time: Insights from Integrated Seismic Stratigraphic Analysis

The Maastrichtian–Paleocene El Haria formation was studied and defined in Tunisia on the basis of outcrops and borehole data; few studies were interested in its three-dimensional extent. In this paper, the El Haria formation is reviewed in the context of a tectono-stratigraphic interval using an integrated seismic stratigraphic analysis based on borehole lithology logs, electrical well logging, well shots, vertical seismic profiles and post-stack surface data. Seismic analysis benefits from appropriate calibration with borehole data, conventional interpretation, velocity mapping, seismic attributes and post-stack model-based inversion. The applied methodology proved to be powerful for charactering the marly Maastrichtian–Paleocene interval of the El Haria formation. Migrated seismic sections together with borehole measurements are used to detail the three-dimensional changes in thickness, facies and depositional environment in the Cap Bon and Gulf of Hammamet regions during the Maastrichtian–Paleocene time. Furthermore, dating based on their microfossil content divulges local and multiple internal hiatuses within the El Haria formation which are related to the geodynamic evolution of the depositional floor since the Campanian stage. Interpreted seismic sections display concordance, unconformities, pinchouts, sedimentary gaps, incised valleys and syn-sedimentary normal faulting. Based on the seismic reflection geometry and terminations, seven sequences are delineated. These sequences are related to base-level changes as the combination of depositional floor paleo-topography, tectonic forces, subsidence and the developed accommodation space. These factors controlled the occurrence of the various parts of the Maastrichtian–Paleocene interval. Detailed examinations of these deposits together with the analysis of the structural deformation at different time periods allowed us to obtain a better understanding of the sediment architecture in depth and the delineation of the geodynamic evolution of the region.     

Chloride transfer in cement‐based materials. Part 1. Theoretical basis and modelling

In this first part of the work, we develop macroscopic models for migration and diffusion–migration of ionic species in saturated porous media, based on periodic homogenization. The prior application is chloride transport in cementitious materials. The dimensional analysis of Nernst–Planck equation lets appear to dimensionless numbers characterizing the ionic transfer in the porous medium. Using experimental data obtained from electrodiffusion tests on cement‐based materials (Part II), these dimensionless numbers are linked to the perturbation parameter ?. For a strong imposed electrical field, the asymptotic expansion of Nernst–Planck equation leads to a macroscopic model where the migration is predominant. For a weak imposed electrical field or in natural diffusion, we obtain a macroscopic model coupling diffusion and migration at the same order. In both models, the expression of the homogenized diffusion tensor is identical and only involves the geometric properties of the material microstructure. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Nutritive Value of Iranian Mangrove Ecosystems,Northern Part of the Persian Gulf

Exploitation of mangrove leaves and branches as fodder for domestic animals by rural populations was the main reason for undertaking this study on nutritive values of Avicennia merina as a forage species for feeding domestic animals. The objective of this research was to determine the forage quality of leaves, branches, and roots of A. merina from the Bordekhoon, northern part of the Persian Gulf. Samples (leaf, root, and branch) of plants were selected using the randomized sampling method in the A. merina area. Samples were dried and analyzed at the laboratory by standard methods to determine the following parameters: dry matter, nitrogen, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, dry matter digestibility, dry matter intake, metabolizable energy, and relative forage quality index. Statistical methods, including analysis of variance and principal component analysis, were used for analyzing forage quality data. The results showed that different parts of the plant had significantly different forage qualities (P < 0.05). The leaves and branches of A. merina species had relatively high nutritive values.