Evaluation of digital image processing (DIP) in analysis of magnetic separation fractions from Na-feldspar ore

Combination of flotation and magnetic separation methods is widely used for enrichment of feldspar ores by purifying from dark-colored gangue minerals such as iron and titanium. In this study, the removal of dark-colored minerals from feldspar ore (Aydin Cine region of Turkey) was studied using a dry magnetic separator. The effect of several parameters such as feed particle size, blade angle, and roll speed on the removal efficiency was investigated in detail. In addition, the gangue contents of the magnetic and non-magnetic products were determined by a digital image processing (DIP) method in terms of using color differences between the feldspar sample and gangue minerals. The results obtained from this study clearly indicated that the dry magnetic separation method can be successfully applied in enrichment of feldspar. Meanwhile, the particle size of the sample showed no significant influence on the separation recovery. According to the results obtained from the digital image processing process, the sample with 0.04% cross sectional area of dark-colored minerals can be obtained at roll speed of 100 rpm and 130° of blade angle using the original particle size of 500×106 μm. Additionally, most importantly, these results showed that digital image processing method can be used to determine gangue content (dark-colored minerals) of the magnetic separation products compared to conventional methods as a simple, a reliable, and a repeatable method.     

Landslide susceptibility mapping for Ayvalik (Western Turkey) and its vicinity by multicriteria decision analysis

This paper presents the results of geographical information system (GIS)-based landslide susceptibility mapping in Ayvalık, western Turkey using multi-criteria decision analysis. The methodology followed in the study includes data production, standardization, and analysis stages. A landslide inventory of the study area was compiled from aerial photographs, satellite image interpretations, and detailed field surveys. In total, 45 landslides were recorded and mapped. The areal extent of the landslides is 1.75 km². The identified landslides are mostly shallow-seated, and generally exhibit progressive character. They are mainly classified as rotational, planar, and toppling failures. In all, 51, 45, and 4% of the landslides mapped are rotational, planar, and toppling types, respectively. Morphological, geological, and land-use data were produced using existing topographical and relevant thematic maps in a GIS framework. The considered landslide-conditioning parameters were slope gradient, slope aspect, lithology, weathering state of the rocks, stream power index, topographical wetness index, distance from drainage, lineament density, and land-cover and vegetation density. These landslide parameters were standardized in a common data scale by fuzzy membership functions. Then, the degree to which each parameter contributed to landslides was determined using the analytical hierarchy process method, and the weight values of these parameters were calculated. The weight values obtained were assigned to the corresponding parameters, and then the weighted parameters were combined to produce a landslide susceptibility map. The results obtained from the susceptibility map were evaluated with the landslide location data to assess the reliability of the map. Based on the findings obtained in this study, it was found that 5.19% of the total area was prone to landsliding due to the existence of highly and completely weathered lithologic units and due to the adverse effects of topography and improper land use.     

The short‐period low‐mass binary system CC Com revisited

In this study we determined precise orbital and physical parameters of the very short‐period low‐mass contact binary system CC Com. The parameters are obtained by analysis of new CCD data combined with archival spectroscopic data. The physical parameters of the cool and hot components are derived as M_c = 0.717(14) M_⊙, M_h = 0.378(8) M_⊙, R_c = 0.708(12) R_⊙, R_h = 0.530(10) R_⊙, L_c = 0.138(12) L_⊙, and L_h = 0.085(7) L_⊙, respectively, and the distance of the system is estimated as 64(4) pc. The times of minima obtained in this study and with those published before enable us to calculate the mass transfer rate between the components which is 1.6 × 10^–8 M_⊙ yr^–1. Finally, we discuss the possible evolutionary scenario of CC Com (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Seismic response assessment of a stiff structure

Seismic response of a lightly reinforced stiff shear‐wall structure subjected to ground motions grouped as near‐ or far‐field according to their distance to causative faults is investigated. A model structure that had earlier been studied both experimentally and analytically in the context of a co‐ordinated research project is re‐examined. The structure is a five‐storey lightly reinforced shear‐wall model subjected analytically to 55 ground motion records from firm soil sites. Several response parameters are obtained by linear and non‐linear analyses. Additional analyses are performed to ascertain the validity and range of applicability of current approximate displacement‐based analysis procedures. The procedures considered in this study are found to be inadequate in representing the anticipated response of the structure employed here regardless of the type of excitation, so modifications are suggested for improved results. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of the strong motion data of the 1995 Dinar, Turkey earthquake

Dinar earthquake (M_w=6.0, USGS) occurred on October 1, 1995 causing casualties and physical damage (I_o=VII–VIII MSK). The earthquake was associated with predominantly normal faulting. The PGA in Dinar was 0.33 g. Strong motion data associated with the mainshock and aftershocks of the 1995 Dinar, Turkey earthquake have been analyzed to investigate the source, attenuation and site response parameters. Strong motion data were baseline corrected, local magnitudes were computed and inelastic attenuation parameters, seismic moments and corner frequencies were assessed. A parametric analysis is attempted to understand the correlation of damage distribution with the fault parameters. It is believed that the obtained data will complement the relatively scarce earthquake data associated with extensional regimes.     

Vehicle effects on seismic response of a simple‐span bridge during shake tests

Presence of vehicles on a bridge has been observed many times during past earthquakes. Although in practice, the engineers may or may not include the live load contribution to seismic weight in design, current bridge design codes do not specify a certain guideline. A very limited research has been conducted to address this issue from design point of view. The focus of this research is to experimentally assess the effect of a vehicle on the seismic response of a bridge through a large‐scale model. In this scope, a 12‐meter long bridge, having a one lane deck with concrete slab on steel girders, has been shaken under five different ground motions obtained from recent earthquakes that occurred in Turkey, in its transverse direction, both with and without a vehicle on top of the deck. The measured results have indicated that top slab transverse acceleration and bearing displacements can reduce up to 18.7% in presence of a vehicle during seismic tests, which is an indication of reduction in substructure forces. The main reason for the reduction in seismic response of the bridge in the presence of live load can be ascribed to the increase in damping of the system due to mass damper‐like action induced by the vehicle. This beneficial effect cannot be observed in vertical seismic response. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment for Izmir, Turkey

Izmir, the third largest city and one of the major economic centers in Turkey, has more than three million residents and one-half million buildings. The city, located in a seismically active region in western Anatolia, was a subject of the 1997 RADIUS (Risk Assessment Tools for Diagnosis of Urban Areas against Seismic Disaster) project. In this paper, the seismic hazard of Izmir is investigated through probabilistic seismic hazard assessment. First, the seismic setting of Izmir is presented. Considering the statistics of earthquakes that took place in the region during the period 1900–2005, a simple seismic hazard model is used to facilitate the assessment. To account for modeling uncertainties associated with the values of seismicity parameters, a logic tree procedure is employed in carrying out the seismic hazard computations. The resulting weighted average seismic hazard, presented in terms of peak ground acceleration and associated probability of exceedence, could be considered the “best estimate” of seismic hazard for Izmir. Accordingly, for a return period of 475 years, for rock sites, a PGA value of 0.34 g is calculated. This PGA hazard estimate is close to the current code-recommended design acceleration level for Izmir.     

The 1 October 1995 Dinar earthquake, SW Turkey

The Dinar earthquake (M_s= 6.1, USGS-PDE) of 1 October 1995 occurred on the NWSE-trending Dinar Fault. The earthquake is associated with a 10-km-long surface rupture with predominantly normal faulting. The mainshock was preceded by a series of foreshocks that started 6 days before the mainshock and included two M_d = 4.5 events. The mainshock source mechanism derived from the inversion of broad-band P waves revealed that two sub-events occurred on a NW-SE trending normal fault with a small strike-slip component. According to the source model estimated in this study, the first rupture started at a depth of about 8 km and reached to a depth of about 12 km propagating north-west. The total seismic moment found from the inversion of P waveforms is 2.0 times 10 ¹⁸ Nm. The seismic moment of the second sub-event was about four times larger than the first one. Field observations, GPS measurements and slip vector obtained from the inversion of broad-band P waveforms suggest that the NW-SE trending Dinar Fault is due to the internal deformation of SW Anatolia moving south-westwards.     

The Erzincan earthquake of 13 March 1992 in Eastern Turkey

The 13 March 1992 Erzincan earthquake, M=6.8, occurred in the eastern half of the Erzincan basin. The largest aftershock took place near Pülümür on 15 March 1992. No clear surface breaks were observed, although teleseismic studies suggested that it was a strike-slip earthquake striking parallel to the North Anatolian fault, with a focus of approximately 10±2 km depth, 30 km rupture length, 95 cm of slip, and a 1.16×10²⁶ dyn.cm seismic moment. The aftershock distribution concentrated at an area of the intersection between the North Anatolian fault and the Ovacik fault. These results indicate that the previously suggested seismic gap along the North Anatolian fault, east of Erzincan, still remains unruptured.