Astrometric Solution of the Multiple System Xy Leo

An astrometric solution, together with time of minimum analysis, has been made for the multiple system XY Leonis (HIP 49136) to identify the properties of the remote companion to the eclipsing pair (AB). From this solution, we derive the inclination of the wide orbit (AB-cd) as 94.4^∘± 0.2^∘, angle of nodes as 247.3^∘± 0.2^∘, and the mass of the wide component (the dwarf binary cd) as 0.98 ± 0.2 M_⊙. This study confirms that the light travel time effect can explain the sinusoidal O−C variation of the eclipsing system.     

Crustal Seismicity In and Around Turkey

Vertical and horizontal variations of the frequency of crustal earthquakes (h ≤ 35 km) that have occurred in and around Turkey are analyzed, using data from the Global Hypocenter Data Base and the IRIS data for the period 1964–1998. Fits of various magnitude scales to the observations have been used to construct a homogeneous catalogue. Depth distribution of the parameters derived from the Gutenberg–Richter relationship reveals that there is a depth dependence in the a- and b-values of the frequency distribution. It is observed that unknown focal depths (0, 10, 33 km) are dominant in the total seismicity reported, and give rise to substantial changes to the vertical distribution of these parameters. It is also observed that the parameters of either a or b alone may not be used as a measure of regional seismicity of the study area in which high and low seismic activity observed over short distances. In contrast, distribution of modal (a/b) values provides detailed images of the local areas presented by high and low seismic zones. This study presents evidence that low b-values are associated with major strike-slip faults, particularly exhibiting high apparent stresses. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A short cut numerical method for determination of periods of free oscillations for basins with irregular geometry and bathymetry

A short cut numerical method for evaluation of the modes of free oscillations of the basins which have irregular geometry and bathymetry is presented in this paper. In the method, a single wave is inputted to the basin as an initial impulse. The respective agitation in the basin is computed by using the numerical method solving the nonlinear form of long wave equations. The time histories of water surface fluctuations at different locations due to propagation of the waves in relation to the initial impulse are stored and analyzed by the fast Fourier transform technique (FFT) and energy spectrum curves for each location are obtained. The frequencies of each mode of free oscillations are determined from the peaks of the spectrum curves. The method is tested by using regular shaped flat bottom basins with different depths. The computed periods of free oscillations are compared with the theoretical values. The accuracy and performance of the method are discussed. As a case study for the application to the basins of irregular shape and bathymetry, the periods of free oscillations of the sea of Marmara is determined and discussed.     

A Review of Research and Development of Wind Energy in Turkey

During the end of the 20^th and the beginning of the 21^st centuries, interest has risen in new and renewable energy sources, and especially wind energy for electricity generation. In a short time, wind energy has been welcomed by society, industry and politicians as a clean, practical, economical and environmentally friendly alternative to existing fossil fuels. As a result of extensive studies on this topic, wind energy has recently been applied in various industries, and has started to compete with other energy resources. Wind energy applications and turbine installations at different scales have increased since the beginning of this millennium. Technically installed wind turbines capacity factors have high values in most areas of Turkey. It is seen that, in general, the modeling of wind speed and its parameters have been studied and researched rather than wind power technological development in Turkey. Wind investors had doubts about uncertainties in the renewable energy policies. After May 2007, an energy efficiency law was accepted and 10 years of electricity generation by renewable sources is considered as guaranteed by the Turkish government. The installed wind power has reached 131.35 MW in Turkey and it is expected that this value will be increased to 808.81 MW by the end of 2008. The dependence of strong technological and economical development on Turkey's energy needs have increased and new national or international sources have to be taken into account for the energy sector of the country. It is clear that this source gap could be filled by using the high potential of wind power, which is estimated at 58 GW. It is expected that installed wind power to supply up to 5% of electricity consumption by 2015 and for the end of 2008 this ratio will increase to 2% (it is currently ca. 1.0%). However, unexpected and unpredicted wind power applications have occurred on November 1^st, 2007 in Turkey. It has been announced that 78,000.00 MW wind power investments have been applied by the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA). This is a new era for the Turkish energy sector and there is no model for this new situation. Therefore, in this paper, wind energy in Turkey is reviewed and opened up for further discussion.     

A statistical assessment on global drift ratio demands of mid-rise RC buildings using code-compatible real ground motion records

Over the past 20 years, significant socio-economic losses have been encountered in Turkey due to several moderate to large earthquakes. The studies published after the earthquakes concurringly emphasized that multistory reinforced concrete (RC) buildings, mostly 3–7 story ones, collapsed or were heavily damaged as a result of inadequate seismic performance. Global drift ratio demands are mostly used as a representative quantity for determining the behavior of structures when subjected to earthquakes. In this study, three representative mid-rise RC buildings are analyzed by nonlinear time history analysis using code-compatible real ground motion record sets and the calculated global drift ratio demands of these buildings are statistically evaluated. Ground motion record sets compatible with the design spectrum defined for local soil classes in the Turkish Earthquake Code (TEC-2007) are used for the analyses. In order to evaluate the effect of the number of ground motions on drift ratio demands, five different ground motion record sets with 7, 11 and 15 ground motion records are used separately for each local soil class. Results of this study indicate that (1) the dispersion of global drift ratio demands calculated for individual ground motion records in record sets is high, (2) local soil class has no significant effect on dispersion. However, dispersion increases in a direct proportion to the number of ground motion records in a record set, (3) the mean of global drift ratio demands calculated for different ground motion record sets may differ although they are compatible with the same design spectrum, (4) the mean of the drift demands obtained from different ground motion record sets compatible with a particular design spectrum can be accepted as simply random samples of the same population at 95% confidence level.     

Modeling Aeration Efficiency of Stepped Cascades by Using ANFIS

The physical process of oxygen transfer or oxygen absorption from the atmosphere acts to replenish the used oxygen, a process termed re‐aeration or aeration. Aeration enhancement by macro‐roughness is well‐known in water treatment and one form is the aeration cascade. The macro‐roughness of the steps significantly reduces the flow velocities and leads to flow aeration along the stepped cascade. In this paper, the aeration efficiency in stepped cascade aerators was modeled by using the Adaptive Network Based Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS). The obtained model was tested with experimental data. Test results showed that ANFIS can be used to estimate the aeration efficiency in stepped cascade aerators.     

Performance improvement studies of masonry houses using elastic post‐tensioning straps

Unreinforced masonry houses are composed of building blocks with weak inter‐binding action between them which commonly possess low tensile strength. The principal tensile stresses generated by out‐of‐plane bending and in‐plane shear forces cannot be tolerated well and leads to heavy structural damage and brittle collapse beyond linear capacity of the material. Remedies such as externally applied mesh reinforcement and post‐tensioning improves post and pre‐cracking performances; however, yielding of reinforcement material or shortening of walls due to cracking causes loss of integrity and post‐tensioning force. This paper discusses a research programme on earthquake strengthening of masonry houses using post‐tensioning by elastomeric straps and related shaking table tests on 1/10 scale single storey rural dwelling models. The aim of the study is to assess the use and effectiveness of post‐tensioning rubber straps at several different configurations especially for houses with heavy earth roofs supported on wooden logs. Full‐scale application can be conducted using scrap automobile tyres, which might be implemented as an economic and environment friendly alternative strengthening technique for poor residents of low‐cost dwellings. The performance and validity of the proposed strengthening techniques were tested on 1/10 scale models using a simplistic shaking table. The structural performance of the reinforced models with vertical post‐tensioning rubber straps was significantly improved as compared to the original specimen; the results were even better when vertical and horizontal straps were used. Obtained results show promise for seismic strengthening using rubber straps for post‐tensioning. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Vertical spatial correlation length based on standard penetration tests

The spatial correlation length (SCL), or the scale of fluctuation, is a parameter for describing the spatial variability of soil and one of the important parameters used in random field theory. Studies reporting the spatial correlation length based on real field data of offshore/nearshore sea bottom soils are rather limited in the literature, so in this study, the vertical spatial correlation length is determined using site investigation data from two sites of the southern coast of Turkey. Based on quite extensive data, the vertical spatial correlation length is estimated using four different autocovariance functions. The values are within typical ranges reported in the literature for similar soil groups, both onshore and offshore. It is also noted that the widely-used exponential function almost always gives the lowest value of spatial correlation length. The results of this study add to the database of spatial correlation lengths based on real data and could be useful for future studies on reliability assessment of offshore foundations using random finite element method.