Seismic landslide analysis: Gurpinar (Istanbul) as a case history

Slope failures triggered by earthquakes are among the most important soil mechanics problems. In this study, static and pseudostatic analyses of slope stability for earthquake conditions were carried out in the Gurpinar area. In situ testing (SPT) was carried out and laboratory samples were obtained from six boreholes (maximum depth 50.0 m) to determine soil classification and strength characteristics. Geophysical studies (seismic refraction and MASW) were also carried out in the area to estimate the structure and stiffness strength characteristics of the slope to 50.0 m depth. All field and laboratory data were used to determine the mechanical and structural (geometrical) behavior of the slope. In order to solve the slope stability problem, three soil slope models were considered. Pseudostatic analysis was carried out to estimate the earthquake acceleration seismic hazard in the region. These analyses showed that, while there was no potential slope instability under static load conditions, some problems would appear with increasing earthquake acceleration. A geotechnical slope improvement project is proposed for the study area.     

K-Ar dating,whole-rock and Sr-Nd isotope geochemistry of calc-alkaline volcanic rocks around the Gümüşhane area: implications for post-collisional volcanism in the Eastern Pontides,Northeast Turkey

Volcanic rocks from the Gümü?hane area in the southern part of the Eastern Pontides (NE Turkey) consist mainly of andesitic lava flows associated with tuffs, and rare basaltic dykes. The K-Ar whole-rock dating of these rocks range from 37.62?±?3.33 Ma (Middle Eocene) to 30.02?±?2.84 Ma (Early Oligocene) for the andesitic lava flows, but are 15.80?±?1.71 Ma (Middle Miocene) for the basaltic dykes. Petrochemically, the volcanic rocks are dominantly medium-K calc-alkaline in composition and show enrichment of large ion lithophile elements, as well as depletion of high field strength elements, thus revealing that volcanic rocks evolved from a parental magmas derived from an enriched mantle source. Chondrite-normalized rare-earth element patterns of the volcanic rocks are concave upwards with low- to-medium enrichment (La_CN/Lu_CN?=?3.39 to 12.56), thereby revealing clinopyroxene- and hornblende-dominated fractionations for andesitic-basaltic rocks and tuffs, respectively. The volcanic rocks have low initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.70464 to 0.70494) and εNd_(i) values (+1.11 to +3.08), with Nd-model ages (T_DM) of 0.68 to 1.02 Ga, suggesting an enriched lithospheric mantle source of Proterozoic age. Trace element and isotopic data, as well as the modelling results, show that fractional crystallization and minor assimilation played an important role in the evolution of the volcanic rocks studied. The Eocene to Miocene volcanism in the region has resulted from lithospheric delamination and the associated convective thinning of the mantle, which led to the partial melting of the subduction-metasomatized lithospheric mantle.     

Assessment of spatial distribution and possible sources of heavy metals in the soils of Sariseki-Dörtyol District in Hatay Province (Turkey)

In this study, total heavy metal content of soil and their spatial distribution in Sar?seki-Dörtyol district were analyzed and mapped. Variable distance grids (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 km) were established, with a total of 102 soil samples collected from two different soil depths (0–5 and 5–20 cm) at intersections of the grids (51 sampling point). Soil samples were analyzed for heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, Mn, Fe, and Ni). The most proper variogram models for the contents of all heavy metal were spherical and exponential ones. The ranges of semivariograms were between 1.9 and 31.1 km. According to the calculated geoaccumulation (I _geo) values, samples from both soil depths were classified as partly to highly polluted with Cd and Ni and partly polluted with Cr and as partly polluted-to-not polluted with Pb and not polluted with Cu, Fe and Mn. Similar results were also obtained when evaluated by the enrichment factor. The contamination levels of the heavy metals were Ni > Cd > Cr > Pb > Zn > Cu > Co > Fe > Mn in decreasing order. The soils in the study area are contaminated predominantly by Cd and Ni, which may give rise to various health hazards or diseases. Cadmium pollution results primarily from industrial activities and, to a lesser extent, from vehicular traffic, whereas Ni contents in the study area result from parent material, phosphorus fertilizer, industries, and vehicles.     

3D analysis of kinematic behavior of granular materials in triaxial testing using DEM with flexible membrane boundary

This paper describes the constitutive behavior and particle-scale kinematics of granular materials in three-dimensional (3D) axisymmetric triaxial testing using discrete element method (DEM). PFC3D code was used to run the DEM simulations using a flexible membrane boundary model consisting of spherical particles linked through flexible contact bonds. The overall deformation behavior of the specimen was then compared with the specimen with rigid boundary and experimental measurements. Computed tomography was used to track the evolution of particle translation and rotation within a laboratory triaxial specimen in 3D. The DEM model of the flexible membrane specimen successfully predicted the stress–strain behavior when compared with laboratory experiment results at different confining pressures. The DEM results showed that the rigid specimen applies a uniform deformation and leads to non-uniformities in the confining stress along the particle-boundary interface in the lateral direction. In contrast, the flexible specimen better replicates the uniformly applied confining stress of a laboratory triaxial experiment. The 3D DEM simulations of the specimen with flexible membrane overpredicted particle translation and rotation in all directions when compared to a laboratory triaxial specimen. The difference between the particle translation and rotation distributions of DEM specimens with rigid and flexible membrane is almost negligible. The DEM specimen with flexible membrane produces a better prediction of the macroscopic stress–strain behavior and deformation characteristics of granular materials in 3D DEM simulations when compared to a specimen with rigid membrane. Comparing macroscale response and particle-scale kinematics between triaxial simulation results of rigid versus flexible membrane demonstrated the significant influence of boundary effects on the constitutive behavior of granular materials.     

Deciphering factors controlling trace element distribution in the soils of Karaduvar industrial-agricultural area (Mersin,SE Turkey)

In this study, 30 topsoil samples were collected from Karaduvar area (Mersin, SE Turkey) where at present various industrial and agricultural activities are occurring. Using a five-step ultrasound-assisted sequential extraction (UASE) procedure, trace elements in soil samples were partitioned into the following: (1) soluble-exchangeable; (2) bound to carbonates; (3) bound to Fe- and Mn-oxides; (4) bound to organic matter and sulfide compounds, and (5) residual fraction. Concentrations of 11 trace elements in the extracts were determined using ICP-MS. Total concentrations ranged between (in mg kg⁻¹) 3.35 and 7.26 for As; 1.18 and 3.96 for Cd; 10.76 and 20.26 for Co; 37.99 and 63.48 for Cr; 18.55 and 243.1 for Cu; 338.7 and 565.6 for Mn; 4.42 and 6.44 for Mo; 148 and 279.3 for Ni; 10.12 and 73.71 for Pb; 17.93 and 36.55 for V, and 25.46 and 331.7 for Zn. Factor analysis was applied to dataset in order to discriminate between natural and anthropogenic pollution sources and factors controlling the spatial distribution of trace elements in the area. Results suggest that distributions of Co, Cr, Mn, and Ni are mainly controlled by lithological factors, whereas, distributions of Cu, Pb, and Zn can be attributed to agricultural activities such as pesticide/herbicide use and fertilizer application, as well as irrigation with petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater. Highest concentrations of Cd and Mo are generally observed around the diesel-fired thermal power plant and ATAŞ refinery. Highest concentrations of As and V are generally observed at the NW sector of the area; however, no definitive source can be designated for both of these elements.     

A stochastic optimization approach for paper recycling reverse logistics network design under uncertainty

One of the most important objectives of a manufacturing firm is the efficient design and operation of its supply chain to maximize profit. Paper is an example of a valuable material that can be recycled and recovered. Uncertainty is one of the characteristics of the real world. The methods that cope with uncertainty help researchers get realistic results. In this study, a two-stage stochastic programing model is proposed to determine a long term strategy including optimal facility locations and optimal flow amounts for large scale reverse supply chain network design problem under uncertainty. This network design problem includes optimal recycling and collection center locations and optimal flow amounts between the nodes in the multi-facility environment. Proposed model is suitable for recycling/ manufacturing type of systems in reverse supply chain. All deterministic, stochastic models are mixed-integer programing models and are solved by commercial software GAMS 21.6/CPLEX 9.0.