Modeling the connectivity and intersection of hydraulically loaded cracks with in situ fractures in rock

The interaction of an advancing hydraulically loaded crack and in situ fracture network can yield highly complex patterns. We model the connectivity of cells in a finite element domain and in a fracture network by a simplicial complex data structure. The complete adjacency information between cells is determined by one level down facet and one level up cofacet neighborhood information. Combined with a disjoint set data structure, explicit algorithms are derived to efficiently track network connectivity and load transfer between independent fracture sets. We also propose an approach to regularize the application of hydraulic load to newly intersected in situ cracks to smoothen the transition of pressure on intersected cracks from ambient to hydraulic pressure and to avoid the sudden loading of the entire length of these cracks. Numerical results demonstrate the performance of crack connectivity and load transfer models and the effect of regularization model. The results show that as the angle between an incoming hydraulically loaded crack and an in situ crack increases, the effect of in situ crack shifts from slight realignment to diversion/offsetting of the loaded crack. As the angle difference approaches the normal angle, the loaded crack tends to penetrate through the in situ crack. The proposed schemes are also used for transient simulation of 2D reservoirs with multiple perforations surrounded by in situ cracks with and without a bias in the distribution of their orientation. It was shown that from 2 perforations with angles closer to in situ cracks at low loading rates to all perforations at higher loading rates can result in active hydraulic crack propagation. The h‐adaptive method of asynchronous space‐time discontinuous Galerkin method is used to exactly track complex fracture patterns in these dynamic fracture simulations.     

Distributed empirical algorithms to estimate catchment scale sediment connectivity and yield in a subtropical region

The intensity of soil loss and sediment delivery, representing hydrologic and geomorphic processes within a catchment, accelerates with rapid changes in land cover and rainfall events. An underlying component of sustainable management of water resources is an understanding of spatial and temporal variability and the adverse influences of regional parameters involved in generating sediment following widespread changes in land cover. A calibrated algorithm of soil loss coupled with a sediment delivery ratio (SDR) was applied in raster data layers to improve the capability of a combined model to estimate annual variability in sediment yields related to changes in vegetation cover identified by analyses of SPOT imagery. Four catchments in Kangaroo River State forest were assessed for annual changes in sediment yields. Two catchments were selectively logged in 2007, while the two other sites remained undisturbed. Results of SDR estimates indicated that only a small proportion of total eroded sediment from hillslopes is transported to catchment outlets. Larger SDR values were estimated in regions close to catchment outlets, and the SDR reduced sharply on hillslopes further than 200–300 m from these areas. Estimated sediment yield increased by up to 30% two years after land cover change (logging) in 2009 when more storm events were recorded, despite the moderate density of vegetation cover in 2009 having almost recovered to its initial pre‐logging (2005) condition. Rainfall had the most significant influence on streamflow and sediment delivery in all catchments, with steeply sloping areas contributing large amounts of sediment during moderate and high rainfall years in 2007 and 2009. It is concluded that the current scenario of single‐tree selection logging utilized in the study area is an acceptable and environmentally sound land management strategy for preservation of soil and water resources. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Compilation simulation of surface water and groundwater resources using the SWAT-MODFLOW model for a karstic basin in Iran

Modeling of karstic basins can provide a better understanding of the interactions between surface water and groundwater, a more accurate estimation of infiltrated water amount, and a more reliable water balance calculation. In this study, the hydrological simulation of a karstic basin in a semiarid region in Iran was performed in three different stages. In the first stage, the original SWAT model was used to simulate surface-water flow. Then, the SWAT-MODFLOW conjunctive model was implemented according to the groundwater characteristics of the study area. Finally, due to the karstic characteristics of the region and using the CrackFlow (CF) package, the SWAT-MODFLOW-CF conjunctive model was developed to improve the simulation results. The coefficient of determination (R²) and the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NSE) as error evaluation criteria were calculated for the models, and their average values were 0.63 and 0.57 for SWAT, 0.68 and 0.61 for SWAT-MODFLOW, 0.73 and 0.7 for SWAT-MODFLOW-CF, respectively. Moreover, the mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean squared error (RMSE) of the calibration for groundwater simulation using the SWAT-MODFLOW model were 1.23 and 1.77 m, respectively. These values were 1.01 and 1.33 m after the calibration of the SWAT-MODFLOW-CF model. After modifying the CF code and keeping the seams and cracks open in both dry and wet conditions, the amount of infiltrated water increased and the aquifer water level rose. Therefore, the SWAT-MODFLOW-CF conjunctive model can be proposed for use in karstic areas containing a considerable amount of both surface water and groundwater resources.

     

Developing the Rule of Thumb for Evaluating Penetration Rate of TBM,Using Binary Classification

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering - Using the tunnel boring machine (TBM) in tunneling projects contributes significantly to increased efficiency and reducing the time of project...     

Appraisal of Anchor Arrangement and Size on Sand-Geogrid Interaction in Direct Shear

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering - Soil–reinforcement interaction is a major factor in the analysis and design of reinforced earth structures. In current research the effects of...     

Optimization of Gravity Concrete Dams Using the Grasshopper Algorithm (Case Study: Koyna Dam)

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering - The aim of this study is to optimize the geometric dimensions of the Koyna concrete weight dam with and without seismic forces using the grasshopper...     

Effect of Pile Driving on Ground Vibration in Clay Soil: Numerical and Experimental Study

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering - In this study, peak particle velocity (PPV) values for driving three piles with diameters of 40 cm, 50 cm, and 70 cm in a clayey...     

Water and sediment quality parameters in the Chalan Beel,the largest wetland of Bangladesh

A study was conducted to investigate the status of the water and sediment quality in the Chalan Beel——a major fresh water fish reservoir of the country for a period of one year from July 2007 to June 2008. The mean values of water quality parameters(depth: 214.73±152.22 cm, temperature 27.68±4.26℃, transparency 123±82 cm, p H 9.7±0.47, total alkalinity 137±42 mg/L, conductivity 307±147 μs/cm, total dissolved solids 183±89 mg/L, ammonia-N 0.27±0.39 mg/L, nitrate-N 0.09±0.07 mg/L, phosphate-P 2.01±2.53 mg/L) and sediment quality parameters(p H 7.21±0.35, organic matter 2.59±0.52%, total nitrogen 0.09±0.04%, available phosphorus 5.4±3.6 Meq./100 g and exchangeable potassium 0.43±0.14 Meq./100 g) were within the range recommended for most of the inland fishes of Bangladesh. Although the water and sediment quality parameters except ammonia and phosphate are in the suitable range, the overall results suggest that better management techniques should be practiced in order to overcome the declining trend of associated aquatic life(fauna and flora) of this important fresh water body of Bangladesh.     

An integrated assessment of soil erosion dynamics with special emphasis on gully erosion in the Mazayjan basin,southwestern Iran

Soil erosion by water is a significant problem in arid and semi-arid areas of large parts of Iran. Water erosion is one of the most effective phenomena that leads to decreasing soil productivity and pollution of water resources; especially, in the Mazayjan watershed in the southwest of Fars Province gully erosion contributes to the sediment dynamics in a significant way. Consequently, the intention of this research is to identify the different types of soil erosion processes acting in the area and to assess the process dynamics in an integrative way. Therefore, we applied GIS and satellite image analysis techniques to derive input information for the numeric models. For sheet and rill erosion the Unit Stream Power-based Erosion Deposition Model (USPED) was utilized. The spatial distribution of gully erosion was assessed using a statistical approach, which used three variables (stream power index, slope, and flow accumulation) to predict the spatial distribution of gullies in the study area. The eroded gully volumes were estimated for a 7-year period by fieldwork and Google Earth high-resolution images. Finally the gully retreat rates were integrated into the USPED model. The results show that the integration of the SPI approach to quantify gully erosion with the USPED model is a suitable method to qualitatively and quantitatively assess water erosion processes. The application of GIS and stochastic model approaches to spatialize the USPED model input yields valuable results for the prediction of soil erosion in the Mazayjan catchment. The results of this research help to develop an appropriate management of soil and water resources in the southwestern parts of Iran.