Repeated load tests on geosynthetic reinforced unpaved road sections

This paper presents the experimental results from laboratory repeated plate load tests on unreinforced and reinforced model sections of unpaved road constructed in a steel test tank. Different types of geosynthetics, namely, geotextile, two types of biaxial geogrids and geocells were used to reinforce the road sections in different tests. The effect of type and form of reinforcement on the stress-strain hysteresis of unpaved road sections is discussed in the light of experimental results. Model tests were also conducted with varying heights and positions of geocell layer to study the effect of these parameters on deformations and surface profiles. It was observed that at higher settlements, the reinforced systems developed less permanent settlements and more elastic settlements compared to unreinforced systems. Increasing the height of the geocell layer resulted in improved performance up to a certain height, beyond which, further increase in the height reduced the load resistance because of the inadequate granular overlay thickness.     

Prediction of gas hydrate saturation throughout the seismic section in Krishna Godavari basin using multivariate linear regression and multi-layer feed forward neural network approach

Stepwise linear regression, multi-layer feed forward neural (MLFN) network method was used to predict the 2D distribution of P-wave velocity, resistivity, porosity, and gas hydrate saturation throughout seismic section NGHP-01 in the Krishna-Godavari basin. Log prediction process, with uncertainties based on root mean square error properties, was implemented by way of a multi-layer feed forward neural network. The log properties were merged with seismic data by applying a non-linear transform to the seismic attributes. Gas hydrate saturation estimates show an average saturation of 41 % between common depth point (CDP) 600 and 700 and an average saturation of 35 % for CDP 300–400 and 700–800, respectively. High gas hydrate saturation corresponds to high P-wave velocity and high resistivity except in a few spots, which could be due to local variation of permeability, temperature, fractures, etc.     

Differential Alteration of Ilmenite in a Tropical Beach Placer, Southern India: Microscopic and Electron Probe Evidences

Abstract. The study based on microscopic and microprobe techniques reveals that ilmenite of Manavalakurichi deposit has generally reached the alteration phase of 'leached ilmenite'. The XRD and bulk chemical analysis confirm the limited alteration undergone by ilmenite grains. Ilmenite alteration has been found to be a process of continuous leaching of iron from the mineral lattice and hydroxylisation. The enrichment of trace elements with progressive alteration is discussed. Si and Al are enriched by more than 100 fold. The prevalence of reducing environment at present in the deposit indicates that the oxidation of ferrous iron leading to pseudorutile formation would have occurred during transportation of sediments.     

Dynamics of urban boundary layer over São Paulo associated with mesoscale processes

Summary Examination of the Doppler SODAR data from Sao Paulo, Brazil, has given valuable information on the coupling between planetary boundary layer (PBL) and the free atmosphere above, which is reported here. In this communication a case study, on the dynamics of the urban boundary layer over the Metropolitan Area of Sao Paulo (MASP), Brazil, is examined for July 27, 1999 when a multiple gravity wave (GW), a low-level jet (LLJ) and a cold front (CF) all occurred in one single day in succession, making use of data from Doppler SODAR, surface meteorological instruments, satellite imageries and model derived values. The experimental findings are compared to provide validations of ground truth with the model-derived profiles based on the mesoscale analysis of Regional Atmospheric Modelling System (RAMS).It is seen that the multiple GW, the LLJ and the CF have different types of nonlinear coupling between the PBL and the free atmosphere. However, there is convincing matching between Doppler SODAR derived features, those of mesoscale analysis from RAMS and satellite view of cloud dynamics. The study provided valuable information on (i) the very nature of these events, (ii) the nonlinear hydrodynamical coupling between the PBL and the free atmosphere above, during such events, and (iii) the possible mechanism of CF influencing the formation of GW and LLJ.     

Observations of the atmospheric surface layer parameters over a semi arid region during the solar eclipse of August 11th, 1999

This paper discusses the observations of the Atmospheric Surface Layer (ASL) parameters during the solar eclipse of August 11th, 1999. Intensive surface layer experiments were conducted at Ahmedabad (23‡21′N, 72‡36′E), the western part of India, which was close to the totality path. This rare event provided by nature is utilised to document the surface layer effects during the eclipse period using measurements of high frequency fluctuations of temperature, tri-axial wind components as well as mean parameters such as temperature, humidity, wind speed and subsoil temperature. Analysis showed that during the eclipse period, the turbulence parameters were affected leading to the suppression of the turbulence process, the main dynamic process in the atmospheric boundary layer, while the mean parameters showed variations within the natural variability of the observational period. The spectra of the wind components and temperature indicated decrease in spectral power by one order in magnitude during the eclipse period. The rate of dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy is found to decrease by more than one order during the eclipse period. The stability parameter showed a change from unstable to stable condition during the period of eclipse and back to unstable condition by the end of eclipse     

Fluxes of material in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal — Sediment trap studies

In order to investigate how monsoons influence biogeochemical fluxes in the ocean, twelve time-series sediment traps were deployed at six locations in the northern Indian Ocean. In this paper we present particle flux data collected during May 1986 to November 1991 and November 1987 to November 1992 in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal respectively. Particle fluxes were high during both the SW and NE monsoons in the Arabian Sea as well as in the Bay of Bengal. The mechanisms of particle production and transport, however, differ in both the regions. In the Arabian Sea, average annual fluxes are over 50gm^-2y^-1 in the western Arabian Sea and less than 27gm^-2 y^-1 in the central part. Biogenic matter is dominant at sites located near upwelling centers, and is less degraded during peak flux periods. High particle fluxes in the offshore areas of the Arabian Sea are caused by injection of nutrients into the euphotic zone due to wind-induced mixed layer deepening. In the Bay of Bengal, average annual fluxes are highest in the central Bay of Bengal (over 50gm^-2y^-1) and are least in the southern part of the Bay (37gm^-2y^-1). Particle flux patterns coincide with freshwater discharge patterns of the Ganges-Brahmaputra river system. Opal/carbonate and organic carbon/carbonate carbon ratios increase during the SW monsoon due to variations in salinity and productivity patterns in the surface waters as a result of increased freshwater and nutrient input from rivers. Comparison of S years data show that fluxes of biogenic and lithogenic particulate matter are higher in the Bay of Bengal even though the Arabian Sea is considered to be more productive. Our results indicate that in the northern Indian Ocean interannual variability in organic carbon flux is directly related to the strength and intensity of the SW monsoon while its transfer from the upper layers to the deep sea is partly controlled by input of lithogenic matter from adjacent continents.     

Spatiotemporal variability of multifractal properties of fineresolution daily gridded rainfall fields over India

Natural Hazards - This study investigated the multifractal characteristics of fine resolution (0.25ox0.25°) daily gridded rainfall fields of India over the period 1901–2013 to examine...     

Evaluating pedogenesis and soil Atterberg limits for inducing landslides in the Western Ghats,Idukki District of Kerala,South India

Natural Hazards - In the Western Ghats of India, the soil properties, particularly Atterberg limits, are of relevance to the landslides. Pedogenic processes in the Western Ghats and plateaus on it...