Rotational Tomography For 3d Reconstruction Of The White-Light And Euv Corona In The Post-Soho Era

Improving our understanding of the mechanisms that energize the solar wind and heat structures in the solar corona requires the development of empirical methods that can determine the three-dimensional (3D) temperature and density distributions with as much spatial and temporal resolution as possible. This paper reviews the solar rotational tomography (SRT) methods that will be used for 3D reconstruction of the solar corona from data obtained by the next generation of space-based missions such as the Solar and Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO), Solar-B and the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). In the next decade, SRT will undergo rapid advancement on several frontiers of 3D image reconstruction:

1. Electron density reconstruction from white-light coronagraph images.
2. Differential emission measure (DEM) reconstruction from EUV images.
3. Dual-spacecraft (STEREO) observing geometry.
4. Fusion of data from multiple spacecraft with differing instrumentation.
5. Time-dependent estimation methods.

Although the principles described apply to many different wavelength regimes, this paper concentrates on white-light and EUV data. Previous work on all of these subjects is reviewed, and major technical issues and future directions are discussed.     

Development of a new connection for precast concrete walls subjected to cyclic loading

The Industrialized Building System (IBS) was recently introduced to minimize the time and cost of project construction. Accordingly, ensuring the integration of the connection of precast components in IBS structures is an important factor that ensures stability of buildings subjected to dynamic loads from earthquakes, vehicles, and machineries. However, structural engineers still lack knowledge on the proper connection and detailed joints of IBS structure construction. Therefore, this study proposes a special precast concrete wall-to-wall connection system for dynamic loads that resists multidirectional imposed loads and reduces vibration effects (PI2014701723). This system is designed to connect two adjacent precast wall panels by using two steel U-shaped channels (i.e., male and female joints). During casting, each joint is adapted for incorporation into a respective wall panel after considering the following conditions: one side of the steel channel opens into the thickness face of the panel; a U-shaped rubber is implemented between the two channels to dissipate the vibration effect; and bolts and nuts are used to create an extension between the two U-shaped male and female steel channels. The developed finite element model of the precast wall is subjected to cyclic loads to evaluate the performance of the proposed connection during an imposed dynamic load. Connection performance is then compared with conventional connections based on the energy dissipation, stress, deformation, and concrete damage in the plastic range. The proposed precast connection is capable of exceeding the energy absorption of precast walls subjected to dynamic load, thereby improving its resistance behavior in all principal directions.     

Remediation with surfactant foam of PCP-contaminated soil

An investigation was made into evaluating the capability of surfactants in the form of foam for removing the contaminant pentachlorophenol (PCP), a highly toxic, wood preservative, from soil. Several surfactants were investigated for their ability to make foam. Two of them, Triton X-100 and JBR425 (a rhamnolipid biosurfactant), generated foam with higher quality (99%) and higher stability than other surfactants. Triton X-100 and JBR425 were then used to investigate the removal efficiency in soils contaminated with pentachlorophenol (PCP). Triton X-100 showed better results in terms of final removal efficiency. Triton X-100 (1%) removed 85% and 84% of PCP from fine sand soil and sandy-silt, respectively, contaminated with 1000 mg/kg PCP. These values were 60% and 61% for JBR425 (1%). Of this, 66% and 57% of the PCP was removed by volatilization by Triton X-100 and 36% and 44% by JBR425. Further experiments with Triton X-100 indicated that 1% Triton X-100 removed more than 0.5% and that PCP removal was approximately the same for 1% Triton X-100 for a higher contaminant level (3000 mg/kg) but more pore volumes of foam were required for fine sand (23 pore volumes compared to 12). For the sandy-silt soil, PCP removal was higher for the higher contaminant level, 84% compared to 76%. More pore volumes were required (35 compared to 21). Comparison of liquid and foam injection of 1% Triton X-100 indicated that the foam removed more than twice as much PCP in all cases than the liquid surfactant solution. The results of this study on a sandy and sandy-silt media, thus, found that the foam can be used as a fluid to enhance soil remediation under low pressures compared to other fluids such as liquid surfactant solutions.     

Experimental Study on the Sand of Bandar-e Anzali Using Shaking Table

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering - Due to the economic and tourist importance of Bandar-e Anzali coastal zone and also the high seismic risk in this area, this article provides an...     

Seismic response of sliding equipment and contents in base‐isolated buildings subjected to broadband ground motions

Base isolation has been established as the seismic design approach of choice when it comes to protecting nonstructural contents. However, while this protection technology has been widely shown to reduce seismic demands on attached oscillatory equipment and contents (EC), its effectiveness in controlling the response of freestanding EC that are prone to sliding has not been investigated. This study examines the seismic behavior of sliding EC inside base‐isolated buildings subjected to broadband ground motions. The effect of isolation system properties on the response of sliding EC with various friction coefficients is examined. Two widely used isolation models are considered: viscously damped linear elastic and bilinear. The study finds isolation to be generally effective in reducing seismic demands on sliding EC, but it also exposes certain situations where isolation in fact increases demands on EC, most notably for low friction coefficients and high earthquake intensities. Damping at the isolation level is effective in controlling the EC sliding displacements, although damping over about 20% is found to be superfluous. The study identifies a physically motivated dimensionless intensity measure and engineering demand parameter for sliding equipment in base‐isolated buildings subjected to broadband ground motions. Finally, the paper presents easy‐to‐use design fragility curves and an example that illustrates how to use them. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Imaging a 3D geological structure from HEM, airborne magnetic and ground ERT data in Kalat-e-Reshm area, Iran

A set of geophysical data collected in an area in Iran are analyzed to check the validity of a geological map that was prepared in connection to a mineral prospecting project and also to image the spatial electrical resistivity distribution. The data set includes helicopter electromagnetic (HEM), airborne magnetic and ground electrical resistivity measurement. Occam approach was used to invert the HEM data to model the resistivity using a layered earth model with fixed thicknesses. The algorithm is based on a nonlinear inverse problem in a least-squares sense.The algorithm was tested on a part of an HEM dataset acquired with a DIGHEM helicopter EM system at Kalat-e-Reshm, Semnan in Iran. The area contains a resistive porphyry andesite that is covered by Eocene sedimentary units. The results are shown as resistivity sections and maps confirming the existence of an arc like resistive structure in the survey area. The resistive andesite seems to be thicker than it is indicated in the geological maps. The results are compared with the reduced to the pole (RTP) airborne magnetic anomaly field data as well as with two ground resistivity profiles. We found reasonable correlations between the HEM 1D resistivity models and 2D models from electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) inversions. A 3D visualization of the 1D models along all flight lines provided a useful tool for the study of spatial variations of the resistivity structure in the investigation area.     

Probabilistic analysis of an 80,000 m2 landslide in Shiraz,Iran

Landslides - Each year, so many devastating landslides occur all around the world causing a lot of life and economical losses. Many of these landslides take place in large populated cities where...     

A New Mathematical Formulation for Underground Cut-off Grade Determination in the Presence of Pre-concentration Systems

Natural Resources Research - The mining industry is facing increasingly lower grades, which intensifies the need to reduce costs. The depletion of orebodies close to the surface has pushed the...