A model study on the effects of input motion on the seismic behaviour of tunnels

Tunnel behaviour under earthquake loading is affected by many factors such as shape, depth and stiffness of the tunnel lining and the nature of the input motion. However, current knowledge on the effects of these parameters on the seismic behaviour of tunnels is limited to lack of experimental or field data. Existing analytical methods are based on assumptions, the validity of which needs to be established using carefully conducted experimental studies and numerical analyses. This paper focuses on the effects of input motion characteristics on seismic behaviour of circular and square tunnels. Dynamic centrifuge tests were carried out on model tunnels using input motions of different amplitude and frequency. Accelerations and earth pressures around the tunnels were measured. Complementary Finite Element analyses were conducted with different types of input motions. Results show that magnitude of the maximum input acceleration plays a crucial role on the maximum and residual lining forces, which the tunnel experiences.     

Impacts of shrimp farming in Bangladesh: Challenges and alternatives

Shrimp farming is growing in Bangladesh due to suitable agro-climatic conditions, adequate water resources, cheap labour force, international donor agencies and the involvement of multinational corporations. Although it provides immediate economic benefits, contributes to poverty reduction and food security, as well as generates employment from seed collectors to exporters, it has also been facing a host of challenges. They hinder the sustainable development of this otherwise thriving sector. This paper aims to expound the hindrances and challenges for sustainable shrimp farming in Bangladesh by means of reviewing the available scientific literature. It finds that socioeconomic impacts such as traditional livelihood displacement, social unrests and market fluctuations are hindering the sustainable development of shrimp farming in Bangladesh. Similarly, environmental impacts such as mangrove degradation, salt water intrusion, sedimentation, pollution and disease outbreaks are found to be obstacles for the development of sustainable shrimp farming. Inappropriate management practices and inadequate plans regarding water quality, seed supply, irrigation facilities and fishery resources, added to institutional weaknesses, jeopardize the future growth of shrimp farming. Therefore, this paper shall provide substantial input to set the directions that research for alternatives can take and that can contribute to the sustainability of shrimp farming.     

Land degradation mapping in the upper catchment of river Tons

A study on land degradation in the upper catchment of river Tons, a tributary of Yamuna river, in Uttarkashi district of the Uttarakhand state, was carried out using on-screen visual interpretation of IRS LISS-III + PAN merged data. The study area, which is largely mountainous, includes Govind Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park. Vegetation cover, slope and erosion status were used as criteria for the delineation of four major land degradation categories viz., undegraded, moderately degraded, degraded and severely degraded. More than 50 per cent of the study area is reported to be covered with snow and grassland. The moderate to severely degraded area worked out to be 42.4 per cent of the total area. The 32.8 per cent of area was found to be moderately degraded, followed by degraded (6.63%) and severely degraded (2.88%) areas. The depletion of vegetation cover on mountainous terrain and subsequent cultivation without proper protection measures is the reason for severe soil erosion and land degradation. In view of the existing land degradation situation, the catchment requires immediate treatment on priority for the sustenance of agriculture and wild life. It is expected that these measures will reduce the silt load in the river Tons and eventually, in river Yamuna.     

Application of direct displacement based design to long span bridges

The paper investigates the applicability of current direct displacement based seismic design (DDBD) procedure, developed by Priestley and his coworkers, for straight long span bridges under transverse seismic excitation synchronous to all supports. This category of bridges often possess some additional features such as massive tall piers, highly irregular distribution of mass and stiffness due to unequal superstructure spans and pier heights, large deformation capacity etc. that are absent in short-to-moderate span bridges for which DDBD has extensively been verified. It is shown that DDBD in its current form is unable to capture both displacement and base shear demand when compared with nonlinear dynamic analysis results. Accordingly, a simple mechanics based extension of the current procedure that takes into account the effect of pier mass while computing base shear demand as well as a modal combination rule for estimating displacement demand is proposed and validated using a series of parametric studies. The new procedure also allows engineer to allocate strength at the potential plastic hinge location in more general terms.     

Modification of the spontaneous emission of quantum dots near the surface of a three-dimensional colloidal photonic crystal

This paper demonstrates experimentally and numerically that a significant modification of spontaneous emission rate can be achieved near the surface of a three-dimensional photonic crystal. In experiments, semiconductor core-shell quantum dots are intentionally confined in a thin polymer film on which a three-dimensional colloidal photonic crystal is fabricated. The spontaneous emission rate of quantum dots is characterised by conventional and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) measurements. The modification of the spontaneous emission rate, which is reflected in the change of spectral shape and PL lifetime, is clearly observed. While an obvious increase in the PL lifetime is found at most wavelengths in the band gap, a significant reduction in the PL lifetime by one order of magnitude is observed at the short-wavelength band edge. Numerical simulation reveals a periodic modulation of spontaneous emission rate with decreasing modulation strength when an emitter is moved away from the surface of the photonic crystal. It is supported by the fact that the modification of spontaneous emission rate is not pronounced for quantum dots distributed in a thick polymer film where both enhancement and suppression are present simultaneously. This finding provides a simple and effective way for improving the performance of light emitting devices.     

Geochemistry of the Neoproterozoic Narji limestone,Cuddapah Basin,Andhra Pradesh,India: implication on palaeoenvironment

The Neoproterozoic Narji Formation of Cuddapah Basin, Southern India is mainly composed of limestones with minor amount of clastic rocks. Limestones are massive as well as laminated and occasionally chert bearing. Geochemistry (major, trace, and REE) of limestones is studied to strengthen the knowledge on depositional environment of Narji Formation in the direction to better figure out the development of Cuddapah Basin during Neoproterozoic era. Average SiO₂ (25.97), Al₂O₃/TiO₂ (16.67), and K₂O/Al₂O₃ (0.21) ratios suggest clastic contamination in the Narji limestones. PAAS (Post Archean Australian Shale) normalized REE?+?Y pattern of Narji limestones are showing seawater like REE?+?Y pattern. The Er/Nd and Y/Ho ratios (average 0.17 and 35.68, respectively) of Narji limestones indicate the retention of normal seawater character with the signatures of terrigenous input and diagenesis process. Positive Ce anomaly, high U/Th (>?1.25), and V/(V?+?Ni) (>?0.5) ratios of Narji limestones clearly indicate their deposition in dyoxic to anoxic condition.