An In‐Depth Characterization of Urban Aerosols Using Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X‐Ray Analysis

The physical and chemical characterization of aerosols from three large cities, Karachi and Islamabad, Pakistan, and New York City (NYC), USA, was investigated. A scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) was used to determine particle morphology and elemental composition of the samples. A Bruker Spirit system in combination with a Sahara detector provided both computer controlled Automated Chemical Classification (ACC) and digital mapping features for analysis purposes. The use of these two features to characterize the elemental composition, particle size, and to determine specific classes or source types is described in this paper. Filters were analyzed for the following elements; Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Br, Sr, Y, Zr, Mo, Pd, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Ba, La, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, and U. The EDS work was qualitative not quantitative. Seven source types (mobile, cement, soil, steel mill, fossil fuel, sea salt and biological) contributed to particulate matter in the ambient air of both cities in Pakistan, whereas there were eight source types (diesel, road dust, automobile, iron, residual fuel oil, sea salt, ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate) for NYC. For all three urban centers, vehicular traffic emissions were the main contributor to particle number. Diesel emissions from trucks and buses were relatively more prominent in NYC aerosols, while gasoline emission from automotive exhaust was dominant in the two cities of Pakistan. The cement/limestone component from local cement industries was very evident in both particle surface characteristics and number for both Karachi and Islamabad, but not in NYC air. Sea salt aerosols were seen in the two coastal cities, Karachi and NYC. It was also witnessed in Islamabad aerosols and was attributable to the mining of rock salt at the world's richest salt mine, Khewra, situated upwind from the city.     

The selection of corrosion prior distributions for risk based integrity modeling

The deterioration of the condition of process plants assets has a major negative impact on the safety of its operation. Risk based integrity modeling provides a methodology to quantify the risks posed by an aging asset. This provides a means for the protection of human life, financial investment and the environmental damage from the consequences of its failures. This methodology is based on modeling the uncertainty in material degradations using probability distributions, known as priors. Using Bayes theorem, one may improve the prior distribution to obtain a posterior distribution using actual inspection data. Although the choice of priors is often subjective, a rational consensus can be achieved by judgmental studies and analyzing the generic data from the same or similar installations. The first part of this paper presents a framework for a risk based integrity modeling. This includes a methodology to select the prior distributions for the various types of corrosion degradation mechanisms, namely, the uniform, localized and erosion corrosion. Several statistical tests were conducted based on the data extracted from the literature to check which of the prior distributions follows data the best. Once the underlying distribution has been confirmed, one can estimate the parameters of the distributions. In the second part, the selected priors are tested and validated using actual plant inspection data obtained from existing assets in operation. It is found that uniform corrosion can be best described using 3P-Weibull and 3P-Lognormal distributions. Localized corrosion can be best described using Type1 extreme value and 3P-Weibull, while erosion corrosion can best be described using the 3P-Weibull, Type1 extreme value, or 3P-Lognormal distributions.     

VARIATIONS IN KAMILA AMPHIBOLITES FROM SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE KOHISTAN ISLAND-ARC TERRANE,PAKISTAN

VARIATIONS IN KAMILA AMPHIBOLITES FROM SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE KOHISTAN ISLAND-ARC TERRANE,PAKISTAN     

A three-dimensional finite element program for brittle bimodular rock-like materials

The present paper models the behaviour of bimodular materials (materials with different tensile and compressive moduli) by using a three-dimensional finite element method. Since there is no explicit and definite expression for the shear modulus G of bimodular materials, the analysis starts with a 3 × 3 elasticity matrix in the principal stress coordinate system, and then uses a transformation from principal to Cartesian coordinates to obtain the 6 × 6 elasticity matrix. A corresponding iterative technique is proposed, and multiloading sequences in non-proportionate loading—which need more iterations because of the non-linear elastic property—are also discussed. Numerical examples are presented which show good agreement with analytical results.     

Growth and decay of sonic discontinuities in non-equilibrium magnetogasdynamics

The phenomenon associated with sonic discontinuities in non-equilibrium magnetogasdynamics has been studied by the use of singular surface theory. The fundamental differential equations for growth and decay of sonic discontinuities have been formulated for general class of relaxing gas applying compatibility conditions for surface of discontinuity in continuum mechanics. This class of equations have been solved completely and for particular case of plane. We have also obtained the critical time at which sonic wave terminates in shock wave.     

CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WETLAND＇S INFLOW DRY DIFFUSE DUST AND DIRT FROM IMPERVIOUS SURFACE

This paper presented chemical characteristics of wetland inflow diffuse dust and dirt. Single land use impervious areas (parking and roads) were observed and analyzed in commercial and residential areas for organic matters, phosphorus and heavy metals. The buildup data were collected for approximately six months from December to June. The frequency of monitoring was observed daily for the first two months, twice a week for the next two months and once a week for the last two months. The results indicated significant variations in the organic matters and heavy metals strength and total accumulation among the observed areas. High pollutants strength was associated with smaller dust and dirt (DD) particles. Concentrations of phosphorus varied between 5.1 μg/g and 8.3 μg/g in DD particle less than 75 μm and account for 35%-60% of the total phosphorus. The organic matter accumulation rate associated with particles less than 600 μm and greater than 600 μm was 0.1-1 g·(curb-m)-1·d-1 and 0.1-1.5 g·(curb-m)-1·d-1 , respectively. DD particles greater than 600 μm consist of 70%-90% of leaves and other plant residues. The strength of heavy metals was more at road compared to parking areas both in commercial and residential areas. Percentage of Zn, Cu and Pb attached with particles less than 200 μm were in the range of 50%-70% in parking, 45%-90% on smooth roads and 30%-80% on rough roads. All the dust and dirt exhibited rising trend with time. Dust and dirt buildup data follow a non-linear accumulation function and can be presented better either by an exponential or power function.