Evaluation of Recharge and Groundwater Dynamics of a Shallow Alluvial Aquifer in Central Ganga Basin,Kanpur (India)

Evaluation of recharge and groundwater dynamics of an aquifer is an important step for finding a proper groundwater management scenario. This has been performed on the basis of statistical Kendall Tau test to find a relationship between groundwater levels and hydro-meteorological parameters (e.g., precipitation, temperature, evaporation). Recharge to the aquifer was estimated for identification of critical areas/locations based on the analytical Soil and Water Assessment Tool. Moreover, spatiotemporal variability of groundwater levels has been quantified using space–time variogram. The overall characterization method has been applied to the shallow alluvial aquifer of Kanpur city in India. The analysis was performed using groundwater level data from 56 monitoring piezometer locations in Kanpur from March 2006 to June 2011. Groundwater level shows relatively higher correlation with temperature. Performance of the geostatistical model was evaluated by comparing with the observed values of groundwater level from January 2011 to June 2011 for two scenarios: “with limited spatiotemporal data” and “without spatiotemporal data.” It is evident that spatiotemporal prediction of groundwater level can be performed even for the unmonitored/missing data. This analysis demonstrates the potential applicability of the method for a general aquifer system.     

Soil resource appraisal towards land use planning using satellite remote sensing and gis a case study in patloinala micro-watershed, district puruliya, west bengal

Visual interpretation of IRS ID LISS-III fused with PAN data (1:12,500 scale) ofPatloinala micro-watershed of Puruliya district, West Bengal was carried out for delineating the physiographic units based on the variations in image characteristics. The major physiographic units identified were upland(Tanr), medium land(Baid), and low land(Bahal andKanali). The satellite remote sensing data coupled with ground truth were translated in terms of soils using composite interpretation map as base. The abstraction level attained was phases of soil series based on Soil Taxonomy. On the basis of physiographic variation and soil or soil site characteristics such as texture, depth, slope, erosion etc. the problem areas were identified and land use plan has been suggested for the overall development of the micro-watershed.     

Scanning sky monitor (SSM) onboard AstroSat

Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM) onboard AstroSat is an Xray sky monitor in the soft X-ray band designed with a large field of view to detect and locate transient X-ray sources and alert the astronomical community about interesting phenomena in the X-ray sky. SSM comprises position sensitive proportional counters with 1D coded mask for imaging. There are three detector units mounted on a platform capable of rotation which helps covering about 50% of the sky in one full rotation. This paper discusses the elaborate details of the instrument and few immediate results from the instrument after launch.     

Anisotropic string cosmological models in Lyra’s geometry

In this paper, we constructed some five dimensional LRS Bianchi type-I string cosmological models based on Lyra geometry and studied some physical and geometrical properties of the models.     

Mesonic stiff fluid distribution in five dimensional Bianchi type space time

In this paper, we have constructed mesonic stiff fluid cosmological models in five dimensional LRS Bianchi type-I and Bianchi type-VI₀ space times in general theory of relativity. Some physical and geometrical properties of the models are discussed.     

‘Indicator’ carbonaceous phyllite/graphitic schist in the Archean Kundarkocha gold deposit,Singhbhum orogenic belt,eastern India: Implications for gold mineralization vis-a-vis organic matter

Carbonaceous rocks in the form of graphitic schist and carbonaceous phyllite are the major host rocks of the gold mineralization in Kundarkocha gold deposit of the Precambrian Singhbhum orogenic belt in eastern India. The detection of organic carbon, essentially in the carbonaceous phyllite and graphitized schist within the Precambrian terrain, is noted from this deposit. A very close relationship exists between gold mineralization and ubiquitous carbonaceous rocks containing organic carbon that seems to play a vital role in the deposition of gold in a Precambrian terrain in India and important metallogenetic implications for such type of deposits elsewhere. However, the role played by organic matter in a Precambrian gold deposit is debatable and the mechanism of precipitation of gold and other metals by organic carbon has been reported elsewhere. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results and total organic carbon (TOC) values suggest that at least part of the organic material acted as a possible source for the reduction that played a significant role in the precipitation of gold. Lithological, electron probe analysis (EPMA), fluid inclusions associated with gold mineralization, Total Carbon (TC), TOC and FTIR results suggest that the gold mineralization is spatially and genetically associated with graphitic schist, carbonaceous phyllite/shale that are constituted of immature organic carbon or kerogen. Nano-scale gold inclusions along with free milling gold are associated with sulfide mineral phases present within the carbonaceous host rocks as well as in mineralized quartz-carbonate veins. Deposition of gold could have been facilitated due to the organic redox reactions and the graphitic schist and carbonaceous phyllite zone may be considered as the indicator zone.     

Numerical and experimental investigations on inelastic cyclic performance of mid‐span gusset plate connections

The design and detailing of gusset plate connections greatly influence the seismic performance of a special concentrically braced frame (SCBF). Recently, a balanced design approach has been proposed in order to develop significant inelastic deformation from multiple yield mechanisms and to delay the failure of connections of SCBF system. Although extensive studies have been conducted on the corner gusset plate connections of SCBFs, research on the detailing of mid‐span beam gusset plates is rather limited. This study aims at investigating the required free length for the detailing of the mid‐span gusset plates with different brace slenderness ratios. A nonlinear finite element analysis has been conducted for a braced frame with 4 different values of linear clearance in the mid‐span gusset plates and 2 values of brace slenderness ratios. In all simulation models, the corner gusset plates have been designed using balanced design approach and detailed using an elliptical clearance of 8 times the gusset plate thickness. An experimental study has also been conducted on 2 gusset plate sub‐assemblages having similar brace slenderness ratio but with 2 different values of linear clearance in the middle gusset plates. The lateral drift capacity corresponding to the brace fracture and the level of damage are found to be dependent on the detailing of the gusset plates. Based on the results of numerical and experimental studies, the required free length has been recommended for the detailing of middle gusset plates of SCBFs of different brace slenderness ratios.