Evaluation of seismic performance of pile‐supported models in liquefiable soils

The seismic performance of four pile‐supported models is studied for two conditions: (i) transient to full liquefaction condition, i.e. the phase when excess pore pressure gradually increases during the shaking; (ii) full liquefaction condition, i.e. defined as the state where the seismically induced excess pore pressure equalises to the overburden stress. The paper describes two complementary analyses consisting of an experimental investigation, carried out at normal gravity on a shaking table, and a simplified numerical analysis, whereby the soil–structure interaction (SSI) is modelled through non‐linear Winkler springs (commonly known as p–y curves). The effects of liquefaction on the SSI are taken into account by reducing strength and stiffness of the non‐liquefied p–y curves by a factor widely known as p‐multiplier and by using a new set of p–y curves. The seismic performance of each of the four models is evaluated by considering two different criteria: (i) strength criterion expressed in terms of bending moment envelopes along the piles; (ii) damage criterion expressed in terms of maximum global displacement. Comparison between experimental results and numerical predictions shows that the proposed p–y curves have the advantage of better predicting the redistribution of bending moments at deeper elevations as the soil liquefies. Furthermore, the proposed method predicts with reasonable accuracy the displacement demand exhibited by the models at the full liquefaction condition. However, disparities between computed and experimental maximum bending moments (in both transient and full liquefaction conditions) and displacement demands (during transient to liquefaction condition) highlight the need for further studies. Copyright © 2016 The Authors Earthquake Engineering & Structural Dynamics Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Mineralogical Study of Beneficiated and Carbonized Indian Coking Coal for Better Utilization: A Case Study

Coking/metallurgical coal is one of the essential raw materials for steel industries. The metallurgical coal in India contains high ash content (mineral matters), is rich in inertinite, and requires optimization before its proper utilization. Distribution of mineral matter in coking coal plays a significant role in achieving the desired product for blast furnace and coke-making operations. The present paper reports a case study on the distribution and nature of mineral matter in Indian coking coals at varying densities with respect to the coal’s beneficiation behavior. The maceral analysis indicated the maximum liberation of reactives at the relative density (RD) of 1.2–1.3 g/cm³ while maximum inerts concentrated at the highest density (RD?>?1.8 g/cm³). The most dominating mineral matter found in the coal is argillaceous minerals containing substantial amounts of quartz followed by carbonate and sulfides existing as cavity fillings or in disseminated form. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and electron-probe microanalysis (EPMA) techniques were used to study the mineral distribution and transformation behavior of coke produced from the coking coal during carbonization process. A case study on the reactivity of dispersed mineral matter in coke and the implication of mineral transformation behavior on coke is also discussed in this paper.

     

Shoreline change analysis and its application to prediction: A remote sensing and statistics based approach

Shoreline change analysis and prediction are important for integrated coastal zone management, and are conventionally performed by field and aerial surveys. This paper discusses an alternative cost-effective methodology involving satellite remote sensing images and statistics. Multi-date satellite images have been used to demarcate shoreline positions, from which shoreline change rates have been estimated using linear regression. Shoreline interpretation error, uncertainty in shoreline change rate, and cross-validation of the calculated past shorelines have been performed using the statistical methods, namely, Regression coefficient (R²) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). This study has been carried out along 113.5 km of coast adjoining Bay of Bengal in eastern India, over the time interval 1973 to 2003. The study area has been subdivided into seven littoral cells, and transects at uniform interval have been chosen within each cell. The past and future shoreline positions have been estimated over two time periods of short and long terms in three modes, viz., transect-wise, littoral cell-wise and regionally.The result shows that 39% of transects have uncertainties in shoreline change rate estimations, which are usually nearer to cell boundaries. On the other hand, 69% of transects exhibit lower RMSE values for the short-term period, indicating better agreement between the estimated and satellite based shoreline positions. It is also found that cells dominated by natural processes have lower RMSE, when considered for long term period, while cells affected by anthropogenic interventions show better agreement for the short-term period. However, on regional considerations, there is not much difference in the RMSE values for the two periods. Geomorphological evidence corroborates the results. The present study demonstrates that combined use of satellite imagery and statistical methods can be a reliable method for shoreline related studies.     

Gamma-ray luminosity function of gamma-ray bright AGNs

Detection of γ-ray emissions from a class of active galactic nuclei (viz blazars),has been one of the important findings from the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (CGRO). However, their-γ-ray luminosity function has not been well determined. Few at-tempts have been made in earlier works, where BL Lacs and Flat Spectrum Radio Quasars (FSRQs) have been considered as a single source class. In this paper, we investigated the evolution and γ-ray luminosity function of FSRQs and BL Lacs separately. Our investi-gation indicates no evolution for BL Lacs, however FSRQs show significant evolution. Pure luminosity evolution is assumed for FSRQs and exponential and power law evolu-tion models are examined. Due to the small number of sources, the low luminosity end index of the luminosity function for FSRQs is constrained with an upper limit. BL Lac lu-minosity function shows no signature of break. As a consistency check, the model source distributions derived from these luminosity functions show no significant departure from the observed source distributions.     

Electric and magnetic field perturbations recorded by DEMETER satellite before seismic events of the 17th July 2006 M 7.7 earthquake in Indonesia

Seismo-electromagnetic phenomena refers to the electric and magnetic field perturbations that may be caused due to geophysical activities like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Due to the existence of such phenomena before earthquakes they may be regarded as short term precursors to earthquakes. Keeping in mind the in situ measurements for detection of such phenomena, the satellite based techniques are of great interest because they keep a constant track of the seismically active zones globally. With the objective of detecting the electromagnetic emissions in the ionosphere, the DEMETER satellite has been launched on 29th June 2004 from Baikonour in order to study the ionospheric perturbations associated with seismic activities. In this paper, we discuss some interesting results of electromagnetic emissions that are observed before a series of recent Indonesian earthquakes in the Jawa region with a major shock measuring 7.7 magnitude on Richter scale which occurred on 17 July 2006. The emissions have been observed in the Ultra Low Frequency (ULF)/Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) range of electromagnetic spectra.     

Source parameters and focal mechanisms of local earthquakes: Single broadband observatory at ISM Dhanbad

A three-component broadband seismograph is in operation since January 2007 at the Indian School of Mines (ISM) campus. We have used the broadband seismograms of two local earthquakes M <3 recorded by this single station to illustrate its efficacy in understanding the source processes and tectonics in Dhanbad area. Source parameters and fault plane solutions are obtained through waveform inversion. It is observed that these two earthquakes occurred in the lower crust at a depth of 26 km by strike slip faulting. North-south compressional and east-west tensional stresses are dominant in the area, and the lower crust is the source area for the local earthquakes.     

The terrace like feature in the mid-continental slope region off Trivandrum and a plausible model for India–Madagascar juxtaposition in immediate pre-drift scenario

Bathymetry of the southwestern continental margin of India reveals the presence of an anomalous terrace like feature in the mid-continental slope region off Trivandrum. The genesis of this terrace of large areal extent ( 9000 sq. km.) is yet to be established. Based on exercises with several existing paleogeographic reconstruction models and updated compilation of identified offshore tectonic elements, this study attempts to identify a plausible model of India–Madagascar juxtaposition in immediate pre-drift scenario, which provides idea about genesis of this terrace. It is inferred that the terrace off Trivandrum and an anomalous bathymetric notch located in the northern Madagascar Ridge are conjugate features related to India–Madagascar separation and the rifted and sheared segments of the pre-drift plate boundary have shaped their outlines. The drifting of India from Madagascar is suggested to have commenced at about 86.5 Ma.