Pretunnel technology: applications and design methods

The Pretunnel technology allows the final or preliminary lining to be built ahead of a tunnel face. The paper shows how this technology has been used for mechanizing the full-face excavation of large tunnels in difficult ground conditions with minimum settlements. Analytical methods are presented for the analysis of the lining both in deep and shallow applications. Fields of applicability are established using results of parametric studies based on the methods proposed.     

Leaching and dilution of fertilizers in the Yucatan karstic aquifer

The application of agrochemicals in crops can cause pollution of aquifers, especially those with a shallow water table and covered by thin soils; such is the case of Yucatan, Mexico. Information about the requirements and application of fertilizers to major irrigation and rainfed crops as well as the volume of water consumed in growing were used to determine the potential amount of nitrate delivered to groundwater. The research reported in this paper was conducted in the metropolitan area of the city of Merida, in Yucatán, Mexico, where groundwater plays an important role since it is the main source of supply, due to the lack of surface water in the region. In addition, the vulnerability of this aquifer is threatened by the various activities taking place in the municipalities, which emphasize agriculture, located within the groundwater basin. This activity is analyzed as a source of contamination given the concentration of NO₃ ^? present in groundwater intended for human consumption. The results show that the contribution of farming that enriches the presence of nitrates in the aquifer is different for each municipality in the study area. For the ZMM, the average nutrient leaching is 44 % of the original mass applied; it could be diluted approximately 12 times, in the groundwater.     

HD 172189, a Cluster Member Binary System with a δ Scuti Component in the Field of View of COROT

Photometric and spectroscopic results for the star HD 172189, member of the open cluster IC 4756 in the summer field of the space mission COROT, are presented. From photometric observations in the Strömgren system carried out at various epochs, its binary nature as well as the presence of a δ Scuti-type pulsating component have been discovered. The frequency analysis of the whole dataset confirms a dominant frequency of 19.5974 c d^?1 with a maximum amplitude near 0.02 mag plus other frequencies in the range 18–20 c d^?1. A preliminary orbital solution from the light curve and from four FEROS spectra reveals two similar components of around 1.5 M _⊙ orbiting with a period of 5.702 d.     

Transient kinematic pile bending in two-layer soil

The dynamic response of piles to seismic loading is explored by means of an extensive parametric study based on a properly calibrated Beam-on-Dynamic-Winkler-Foundation (BDWF) model. The investigated problem consists of a single vertical cylindrical pile, modelled as an Euler–Bernoulli beam, embedded in a subsoil consisting of two homogeneous viscoelastic layers of sharply different stiffness resting on a rigid stratum. The system is subjected to vertically propagating seismic S waves, in the form of a transient motion imposed on rock outcrop. Several accelerograms recorded in Italy are employed as input motions in the numerical analyses. The paper highlights the severity of kinematic pile bending in the vicinity of the interface separating the two soil layers. In addition to factors already investigated such as layer stiffness contrast, relative soil–pile stiffness, interface depth and intensity of ground excitation, the paper focuses on additional important factors, notably soil material damping, stiffness of Winkler springs and frequency content of earthquake excitation. Existing predictive equations for assessing kinematic pile bending at soil layer interfaces are revisited and new regression analyses are performed. A synthesis of findings in terms of a set of simple equations is provided. The use of these equations is discussed through examples.     

Facies Recognition Using Multifractal Hurst Analysis: Applications to Well-Log Data

Well-log (radioactivity, density and resistivity) analysis constitutes a standard approach for inferring lithology from wells. However, due to inherent complexity of the signals (such as highly heterogeneous deep-water sedimentary sequences) lithology recognition is not straightforward. We used a rescaled range analysis, calibrated with cores, to recognize lithological patterns from signal recorded along wireline logs. The detected intervals coincide with zones of visual electro-facies associations proposed by geologist well-log interpreters. In addition, we propose a rescaled range multifractal analysis to identify ranges of well-log signal complexities, which could be related to sedimentary process variations at specific stratigraphic order cycles.     

Stakeholder perceptions of the northern Gulf of Mexico grouper and tilefish individual fishing quota program

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council determined that previous management of the grouper and tilefish fisheries in the northern Gulf of Mexico were not meeting management goals, and developed a catch shares program using individual fishing quotas (IFQs) beginning in January 2010 in order to more effectively manage these fisheries. An IFQ is a management method in which individual fishers and corporations are allocated the right to harvest a percentage of a fishery's total allowable catch, thus specifying how much of a particular species each fisher can harvest. This study makes use of a mail out survey to document the perceptions of fishers, seafood wholesalers, fisheries managers, and academics with an interest in the (northern) Gulf of Mexico grouper and tilefish IFQ program. While fishers, seafood dealers, fisheries managers, and academics all acknowledge that the IFQ program will create some problems, commercial fishers and dealers were far more skeptical of the alleged benefits of IFQs. Moreover, larger commercial operators were more inclined to agree with managers and academics that the IFQ program will produce several benefits for their operations and the fisheries. Some smaller operators believe that they will be driven to ignore the new rules or be forced out of business. In the future, the Gulf Council might do two things: put a bit more effort into making fishers aware of the potential benefits of IFQs, and develop alternatives with more flexibility perhaps working more closely with communities of fishers, who prize their independent way of life above all else.     

Seismic improvement of slender masonry tower by using hysteretic devices and partial prestressing technique

An innovative system for seismic improvement of slender masonry towers by using hysteretic devices and partial prestressing technique was developed and applied to a case study. The proposed technique consists in a low level of prestressing of the upper part of the tower in order to localize in the un-prestressed lower part of the tower, i.e. a limited zone near the basement, the vertical displacements due to the cracking of masonry under seismic action. The positioning of dissipative devices, such as the Buckling-Restrained Axial Dampers, across the localization zone allows a significant contribution in terms of damping for hysteretic dissipation. The main effect of such an intervention is the reduction of the seismic demand to the tower and consequently the reduction of the top displacement as well as of the level of damage of the masonry. Both numerical analyses and experimental tests on a scale model of a Venetian bell tower were carried out showing the efficiency and reliability of the proposed technique.     

Point defects and pre-dose requirements for sensitization of the 300°C TL peak in natural quartz

This paper discusses the structural features required to stimulate a strong thermoluminescence (TL) glow peak near 300°C in clear natural quartz. For that reason, fresh TL data taken from several specimens prepared from five single crystals with known impurity content are shown. The TL emission was measured with a test dose of 10 mGy of γ-rays in the readout intervals 50–160 and 160–320°C. The readings were carried out prior and after the administration of a pre-dose of 175 kGy of γ-rays followed by heat-treatments at 400°C. For each single specimen, the OH content and the population of inclusions were evaluated by infrared spectroscopy and optical microscopy, respectively. The darkening induced by high γ dose was evaluated by optical spectroscopy. It was observed that the absorption at 475 nm and TL responses decrease with increase of the OH. It was shown that both smoky darkening and TL signals were better explained in terms of Li/Al and Li/OH content ratios rather than the absolute values of aluminum and alkali concentrations. The sensitization with high γ dose and heating is essential to create and stabilize a class of defects sites with Li⁺ ions dislodged from [AlO₄/Li]⁰ and Li-dependent OH centers. It is suggested that the defect sites formed with Li⁺ act as electron traps during test dose irradiation, whereas electron-hole recombination occurs essentially at [AlO₄]⁰ centers during the TL output near 300°C.     

Nitrate temporal and spatial patterns in 12 water-supply wells, Yucatan, Mexico

 The nitrate concentration in 12 water-supply wells were monitored for the period April 1992 to March 1993. Each water-supply well was sampled once a month. The nitrate concentrations in the 12 wells ranged from 7 to 156 mg/l. Two water-supply wells (Chacsinkin and Peto) showed concentrations that reached 3.5 times the maximum permissible limit for the Drinking Water Standard (45 mg/l). A third water-supply well (Akil) exceeds the norm for 7 out of 12 months. The use of nitrogen-rich fertilizers are responsible for high nitrate concentrations in groundwater in the southern part of Yucatan, Mexico where intensive agricultural practices exist. Received: 14 December 1999 · Accepted: 2 May 2000