Unsteady hydromagnetic thermal boundary layer flow

Unsteady hydromagnetic thermal boundary layer flow past a non-conducting infinite porous wall in presence of a transverse magnetic field is considered. The magnetic Reynolds number of the flow is taken to be small enough so that the induced magnetic field is negligible. It is assumed that the normal velocity of suction/injection at the wall varies att ^?/12. Solution of the problem, in the form of power series, is obtained for two cases:

1. When the wall temperature is the same as that of the free-stream, and
2. When the difference in the temperatures of the wall and that of the free-stream varies as some power of time. The variations of the skin-friction, the temperature and the rate of heat transfer are shown graphically followed by a quantitative discussion.

     

Analyzing hyper-spectral and multi-spectral data fusion in spectral domain

Image fusion is the combination of two or more different images to form a new image by using a certain algorithm. Despite the fact that the number and kind of satellite imagery are daily increasing, using fusion techniques, in a proper way, to eliminate the redundancy in data and increase the quality of data is an important challenge in Remote Sensing Image Processing. Fusion of multispectral images with a hyperspectral image generates a composite image which preserves the spatial quality from the high resolution (MS) data and the spectral characteristics from the hyperspectral data. For the present study three fusion algorithms (Principal Component Transformation, Colour Normalized and Gram-Scmidt Transformation) were analysed for Hyperion and IKONOS MSS data. Their ability to preserve the spectral quality of fused data, in comparison with original hyper-spectral image, has been investigated.     

Time-dependent multilaminate model of rocks—a numerical study of deformation and failure of rock masses

A new model for rocks and rock-like material with multiple planes of weakness is proposed. The behaviour of the assembly applies tensile and Mohr-Coulomb shear limits on each such plane with possible strain dependence of frictional properties. The visco-plastic algorithm which allows the incorporation of time effects is used to obtain static solutions. The model is illustrated in actual context by applications to stability of rock slopes and behaviour of tunnels. A generalization of the model to include arbitrary three-dimensional distribution of laminae in ‘quasi-plane strain’ is included. The effect of various flow rules adopted for plastic straining is indicated.     

GPS-derived precipitable water vapour and its comparison with MODIS data for Almora, Central Himalaya, India

The present study is an attempt to analyse the precipitable water vapour (PWV) derived from Global Positioning System (GPS) and observed meteorological data over Almora, Central Himalayan Region. The PWV values derived using GPS study is compared with the corresponding moderate resolution imaging spectro-radiometer (MODIS) data. The statistical analysis reveals a positive correlation between both methods. Moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer near-infrared (MODIS NIR) clear column water vapour product shows a higher correlation (R ² = 90–93 %) with GPS-derived precipitable water vapour on annual scale as compared to the seasonal scale (R ² = 62–87 %). MODIS is found to be overestimating in NIR clear column where the magnitude of bias and RMSE show systematic changes from season to season. Monsoon is an important phenomenon in the Indian weather context and holds significant importance in Central Himalayan ecosystem. The monthly and seasonal variation in precipitable water vapour is related with monsoon onset in the region. Diurnal variations in precipitable water vapour are studied with other meteorological data over Almora during dry and wet season. The precipitable water vapour had minimum value in the morning, increases in the afternoon to evening and again decreases to the midnight in both the dry and wet seasons. These results suggest that diurnal variation of water vapour is caused by the transport of water vapour by thermally induced local circulation.     

Molecules in white dwarfs

Molecular dissociation equilibrium calculations were done for the model atmospheres of DA and non-DA white dwarfs. Our calculations show that He ₂ ⁺ and HeH⁺ appear as most abundant molecules in the atmospheres of non-DA white dwarfs while H₂ and H ₂ ⁺ are most abundant molecules in DA white dwarfs. It is suggested that these molecules should be searched for in the atmospheres of white dwarfs.     

Multi-laminate model of clays—a numerical evaluation of the influence of rotation of the principal stress axes

A new framework for the development of constitutive models based on certain aspects of physical theories of plasticity is proposed. The resulting Multi-laminate model of clays has the same response as the Critical state model provided no rotation of principal stress axes takes place during plastic flow. The influence of rotation of the principal stress axes on the volumetric and deviatoric plastic strains has been numerically evaluated. In undrained saturated, normally consolidated clays considerable excess pore pressure may build up due to rotation of the principal axes only. Numerical studies of the collapse of footings indicate that significant rotations do not take place in this class of problems and consequently the collapse load is only marginally reduced.     

Implications of new $$^{40}\hbox {Ar}/^{39}\hbox {Ar}$$ age of Mallapur Intrusives on the chronology and evolution of the Kaladgi Basin,Dharwar Craton,India

The Kaladgi Basin on the northern edge of the Dharwar craton has characters diverse from the other epicratonic Purana basins of Peninsular India. Sedimentological studies in the basin have established the presence of three cycles of flooding separated by an event of intra-basinal deformation accompanied by low grade incipient metamorphism. The overall structural configuration of the basin indicates its development by supracrustal extension accompanied by shearing in a trans-tensional regime during the Mesoproterozoic. This was followed by sagging that yielded Neoproterozoic sedimentation in a successor nested basin. \(^{40}\)Ar/\(^{39}\)Ar dating of an intrusive mafic dyke along the axial plane of a fold has yielded a plateau age of \(1154{\pm }4\,\hbox {Ma}\). This helps constraint the age of the various events during the evolution of this basin.     

Geoenvironmental appraisal of groundwater quality in Bengal alluvial tract,India: a geochemical and statistical approach

Groundwater is an essential natural resource which has enormous use throughout the world, but with the enhanced population pressure, its quality and quantity gets affected. Consequently, assessment and categorization of groundwater quality is necessary and the availability of safe water for utilization is to be ensured. The present study was based on groundwater samples, collected over 5,324 km² from the alluvial tract of Bengal plain, India. Ten geochemical parameters viz. arsenic, pH, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, iron, total hardness as calcium carbonate, sulphate, nitrite and depth were analysed, and multivariate statistical analyses were performed on the data set. Factor analysis depicted four factors, which explained 66.57 % of total variability of data. Factor 1 represented high positive loadings on total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity. Factor 2 was associated with depth, arsenic and iron and indicated process of reduction in groundwater. Over extraction of groundwater showed probable relationship with arsenic concentration in groundwater. Parameters of Factor 3 and 4 had been related with agricultural activities and local geological conditions. Further, four clusters observed from hierarchical cluster analysis, assisted in grouping groundwater geochemistry of the region. The results coupled with GIS facilitated in categorizing and mapping the groundwater quality.     

Trapping of test particles in static and spherical space-time geometries

Estimates of the pulsation massesM _Q and of massesM _g=gR²/G (g is the surface gravity;R, the mean stellar radius; andG, the gravitational constant) of 89 Delta Scuti-variables have been obtained. An intercomparison of three kinds of masses —M _e, M_g, andM _Q — is performed; the evolutionary massesM _e of the same variables were estimated in a previous paper (Tsvetkov, 1986). It is pointed out that within the limits of the accuracy of determination, the three kinds of masses agree for the majority of the stars under study. For several varaibles, however, there is a considerable discrepancy between the estimates of the pulsation massesM _Q and the estimates of the massesM _e andM _g. Arguments are represented, which may alleviate or even remove this mass discrepancy for some of these stars. It is shown that the results from the comparison between the three kinds of masses of the considered Delta Scuti-stars are not very sensitive to the choice of the system of evolutionary tracks and the adopted chemical composition as well as to the evolutionary phases of the variables (core or shell hydrogen burning). The variations of the chemical composition in most of the stars under study are probably not very large.