Seismo-stratigraphic and structural interpretation of seismic data of Titas gas field,Bengal basin,Bangladesh

In the present study, seismic interpretation has been carried out over Titas structure of Bengal basin, Bangladesh to figure out its seismo-stratigraphic and structural behavior. Seven well marked reflecting horizons (R-01 to R-07) have been identified within the Neogene sedimentary sequences using 18 seismic sections and well log data. A new seismic stratigraphy of Neogene sequences has been proposed for the Titas structure ruling out the traditional lithostratigraphy. The studied structure has been divided into 3 megasequences (MS1, MS2 and MS3). Reflector R-01 and R-03 represent the tops of the megasequence 2 (MS2) and megasequence 1 (MS1) respectively. These well marked reflectors are correlated with the top of the traditional litho-groups called Tipam and Surma. Reflectors R-02 and R-04 represent acoustic impedance boundaries within MS2 and MS1 due to lithological gradation. However, R-02 and R-04 are not considered as sequence/ formation boundaries because geologically these are not well defined. Reflectors R-05, R-06 and R-07 represent top of the gasbearing zones A, B and C that belongs to MS1. All these interfaces or reflectors are anti-form with a central long crestal zone. It forms a north-south trending semi-domal sub-surface anticlinal structure having a semi-dome shaped closure. The structure is asymmetric with steeper eastern flank and gentler western flank. The crestal region is essentially plain with discontinuous reflection. The semidomal nature of the anticline is in contrast to the neighboring narrow anticlines. Structural pattern suggests its development in relation to the NE-SW trending stress field due to convergence of Indian plate with Burmese plate. Structures of the shallower and deeper reflectors are formed at different phases of structural development.     

Evaluation of the effect of water management interventions on water level of Gaza coastal aquifer

Gaza coastal aquifer (GCA) is the most precious natural source where it is the only source of water for different uses. Groundwater crisis in Gaza includes two major folds: shortage of water supply and contamination. The extraction of groundwater currently exceeds the aquifer recharge rate. As a result, the groundwater level is falling continuously leading severely deterioration of GCA. The main objective of this study is to analyze and evaluate the current and proposed water resources management plans and their effect on the water level of GCA. In this respect, the available quantities of rainfall that could be harvested and infiltrated from different types of land-use based on existing and planned situations are studied using GIS tool and numerical models for GCA using V-MODFLOW environment for simulating four scenarios: (i) existing management practice (no action scenario), (ii) proposed Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) stormwater infiltration plan, (iii) proposed Gaza Emergency Technical Assistance Program (GETAP) interventions, and (iv) combination between second and third scenarios. The management scenarios were tested with the calibrated flow model for the target period between 2016 and 2040. The simulation results of existing management practice scenario show that there are several depression zones in Gaza Strip; in southern part from ??18 to ??24 m MSL in 2020 and 2040, in the northern part from ??7 to ??12 m MSL in 2020 and 2040, and in the middle regions experienced a small decline in groundwater level. The simulation results of proposed PWA scenario indicate similar depression zones as per first scenario but with good enhancement of water level, ??17 to ??18 m MSL in the southern part and ??3 to ??6 m MSL in the northern part in 2020 and 2040, respectively. The simulation results of GETAP intervention scenario show a positive impact on groundwater level. The results of fourth scenario show good enhancement of water level, in which the water level in the northern part ranges from +?3 to +?6 m MSL in 2020 and 2040, while in the south part ranges from ??15 to +?4 MSL in 2020 and 2040.     

Assessing seismic response of a 2D roller-compacted concrete dam under variable reservoir lengths

Finite element method (FEM) is effectively used for evaluating roller-compacted concrete (RCC) dams, especially in high seismicity zones. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of various reservoir lengths on the seismic response of a selected RCC dam under strong ground motion effects. Six different reservoir lengths, the lengths varies from h/2 to 10h (h, the height of dam), are used within finite element models. The hydrodynamic pressure of the reservoir water is modelled with the 2D fluid finite elements based on the Lagrangian approach. The horizontal and vertical components of the 1989 Mw 6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake are utilized in numerical analyses. The non-linear time-history analyses of those six models are investigated by using Drucker-Prager material model. According to the numerical analysis, it is obvious that the seismic behavior of the RCC dams is considerably dependent on the reservoir length. By increasing the length, we have obtained higher displacement values, which exist until the reservoir length reaches the 3h; at increased lengths, the values remain stable. This result proposes that 3h reservoir length is adequate to assess the seismic response of RCC dams. The principal tensile stresses are relatively lower in non-linear analysis compared to linear analyses. However, the principal compression stresses are close to each other in linear and non-linear analyses. The results imply that the non-linear response is influential on the total seismic response of a dam, which cannot be neglected in numerical analysis.     

Investigation of the nature of slip surface using geochemical analyses and 2-D electrical resistivity tomography: a case study from Lapseki area, NW Turkey

The nature and subsurface structure of the slip surface of a landslide was studied on the basis of geochemical analyses and 2-D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) survey. Head scarp and lateral slip surfaces of the landslide marked by clear slickensided shear planes were composed of the average amounts of clayey silt (32.5%) and sand (67.5%). Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) data revealed the enrichment of Si (23.24%), Fe (12.2%), Al (9.51%) and C (8.34%) in the elemental composition of the disturbed slip surface. From X-ray diffractometry (XRD) data, six main clay types were determined, such as Volkonskoite, Halloysite, Ferrosilite, Saponite, Illite and Nontronite. The ERT survey displayed that the landslide developed as a reactivation on the upper part of an old landslide body.     

Hydrothermal and thermal treatment of natural clinoptilolite zeolite from Bigadiç, Turkey: An experimental study

The clinoptilolite rich zeolite from Bigadiç which was formed from alteration of volcanic glass were treated with acidic (HCl, H₃BO₃, H₃PO₄), alkaline (KOH, NaOH) solutions. Hydrothermally treated and untreated samples were heat treated at 400, 550 and 700°C. XRD, ICP-MS and N₂ gas adsorption were used for physicochemical characterization of zeolites. Considering the Si/Al > 4 and Na+K/Ca+Mg < 1 ratios, zeolite sample is included to earth alkali clinoptilolite class (Heu II) which is also revealed by thermal treatments. Since zeolite structure contains low alkalies it was at collapsed 550°C. The removal of oxide elements efficiency of acids and alkalies were in the order of HCl > H₃PO₄ > HBO₃ > KOH > NaOH. XRD analysis indicated that the structure of zeolite was not altered with acids and alkali treatments. The structure of zeolite treated with HCl and other acids started to deform at 400 and 550°C respectively. In treatment with HCl, Si/Al ratio increases with significant a decrease in K content which resulted in a decrease in the heat stability of zeolite. No change was observed in the structure and thermal stability of clinoptilolite after alkali treatments. The fact that although significant amount of Na is removed with H₃BO₃ acid and Na is increased with NaOH but the thermal stability remains the same indicates that Na cation is not an important parameter as much as K. HCl and H₃PO₄ acid treatments increased the surface area depending on the dissolution of amorphous material and H₃PO₄ was found to be more effective. However, the total pore size decreased due to formation of new micropores.     

Using multiple-accumulator CMACs to improve efficiency of the X part of an input-buffered FX correlator

This paper presents the approach of using complex multiplier-accumulators (CMACs) with multiple accumulators to reduce the total number of memory operations in an input-buffered architecture for the X part of an FX correlator. A processing unit of this architecture uses an array of CMACs that are reused for different groups of baselines. The disadvantage of processing correlations in this way is that each input data sample has to be read multiple times from the memory because each input signal is used in many of these baseline groups. While a one-accumulator CMAC cannot switch to a different baseline until it is finished integrating the current one, a multiple-accumulator CMAC can. Thus, the array of multiple-accumulator CMACs can switch between processing different baselines that share some input signals at any moment to reuse the current data in the processing buffers. In this way significant reductions in the number of memory read operations are achieved with only a few accumulators per CMAC. For example, for a large number of input signals three-accumulator CMACs reduce the total number of memory operations by more than a third. Simulated energy measurements of four VLSI designs in a high-performance 28 nm CMOS technology are presented in this paper to demonstrate that using multiple accumulators can also lead to reduced power dissipation of the processing array. Using three accumulators as opposed to one has been found to reduce the overall energy of 8-bit CMACs by 1.4% through the reduction of the switching activity within their circuits, which is in addition to a more than 30% reduction in the memory.     

An assessment of environmental impacts of quarry-blasting operation: a case study in Istanbul, Turkey

This study evaluates the impacts resulting from quarry-blasting operation on nearby buildings and structures as it generates ground vibration, air blast, and fly rocks. In this paper, first blasting operation and its possible environmental effects are defined. Then the methods of blast-vibration prediction and commonly accepted criteria to prevent damage were introduced. A field experimental work was conducted to minimize the vibration effects at Saribayir quarry as it is an identical case for the many quarries situated in and around Istanbul, Turkey. Although the local surrounding geology and rock mechanics have great influence on vibrations as uncontrollable parameter, the charge weight per delay, delay period, geometric parameters of the blasts were changed to solve the existing vibration problem in the studied quarry. To obtain a realistic result, 10 blasts were carried out and 30 seismic records were made in different places mainly very close the buildings and the other vulnerable structures around the quarry. The evaluation is performed whether the vibration level are within safe limits or not. The prediction equation based on scaled distance concept is also determined, however, it is a site-specific model and need to be updated when the quarry advances. The safe blast parameters which minimize the environmental effect were determined for the Saribayir quarry.     

Changes in algal, coral and fish assemblages along water quality gradients on the inshore Great Barrier Reef

Macroalgae, hard corals, octocorals, and fish were surveyed on 10 to 13 inshore coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef, along a water quality gradient in two regions with contrasting agricultural land use. A water quality index was calculated for each reef based on available data of particulate and dissolved nutrients, chlorophyll and suspended solids. Strong gradients in ecological attributes occurred along the water quality gradient. Macroalgae of the divisions Rhodophyta and Chlorophyta increased with increasing nutrients, while Phaeophyta remained similar. Octocoral richness and abundances of many hard coral and octocoral taxa decreased, and none of the hundreds of species increased. At reefs in higher nutrient environments, hard coral and octocoral assemblages were composed of subsets of the many species found in lower nutrient environments, whereas fish and macroalgal assemblages consisted of contrasting suites of species. The study identifies species groups that are likely to increase or decrease in abundance with changing water quality.     

Hydrodynamic Coefficients and Wave Excitation Forces for A Ship near A Quay

In this paper,the effects of a quay or a solid jetty on hydrodynamic coefficients and vertical wave excitation forces on a ship woth or without forward speed are discussed.A modified simple Green function technique is used to calculate the 2D coefficients while the strip theory is used to calculate the 3D coefficients. Wave excitation forces are also calculated with the strip theory. Numerical results are provided for hydrodynamic coefficients and vertical wave excitation forces on a 200000 DWT tanker ship. It is found that the quay has a considerable effect on the hydrodynamic coefficients and wave excitation forces for a ship.     

A re-configuring sliding-mode controller with adjustable robustness

In this paper, a controller design method for underwater vehicles is presented, which is based on re-configuration of a sliding-mode controller in case of disturbances caused by shallow water conditions. The disturbance distribution information can be obtained and used to update the corrective gain vector of the sliding-mode controller. This increases the robustness of the controller and, hence, keeps the system performance within acceptable limits. Proposed method is validated with simulations on a submarine model.