The evaluation of the probability of rock wedge failure using the point estimate method

In a probabilistic analysis of rock slope stability, the Monte Carlo simulation technique has been widely used to evaluate the probability of slope failure. While the Monte Carlo simulation technique has many advantages, the technique requires complete information of the random variables in stability analysis; however, in practice, it is difficult to obtain complete information from a field investigation. The information on random variables is usually limited due to the restraints of sampling numbers. This is why approximation methods have been proposed for reliability analyses. Approximation methods, such as the first-order second-moment method and the point estimate method, require only the mean and standard deviation of the random variable; therefore, it is easy to utilize when the information is limited. Usually, a single closed form of the formula for the evaluation of the factor of safety is needed for an approximation method. However, the commonly used stability analysis method of wedge failure is complicated and cumbersome and does not provide a simple equation for the evaluation of the factor of safety. Consequently, the approximation method is not appropriate for wedge failure. In order to overcome this limitation, a simple equation, which is obtained from the maximum likelihood estimation method for wedge failure, is utilized to calculate the probability of failure. A simple equation for the direct estimation of the safety factors for wedge failure has been empirically derived from failed and stable cases of slope, using the maximum likelihood estimation method. The developed technique has been applied to a practical example, and the results from the developed technique were compared to the results from the Monte Carlo simulation technique.     

The effect of global warming on mortality

There is a significant relationship between ambient temperature and mortality. In healthy individuals with no underlying co-morbid conditions, there is an efficient heat regulation system which enables the body to effectively handle thermal stress. However, in vulnerable groups, especially in elderly over the age of 65 years, infants and individuals with co-morbid cardiovascular and/or respiratory conditions, there is a deficiency in thermoregulation. When temperatures exceed a certain limit, being cold winter spells or heat waves, there is an increase in the number of deaths. In particular, it has been shown that at temperatures above 27 °C, the daily mortality rate increases more rapidly per degree rise compared to when it drops below 27 °C.This is especially of relevance with the current emergency of global warming. Besides the direct effect of temperature rises on human health, global warming will have a negative impact on primary producers and livestock, leading to malnutrition, which will in turn lead to a myriad of health related issues. This is further exacerbated by environmental pollution.Public health measures that countries should follow should include not only health-related information strategies aiming to reduce the exposure to heat for vulnerable individuals and the community, but improved urban planning and reduction in energy consumption, among many others. This will reduce the carbon footprint and help avert global warming, thus reducing mortality.     

Web-based application for estimating water quality impacts due to environmental dredging

A Web-based dredge plume simulation software has been developed for estimating sediment transport and contaminant release from dredging operations. This application software comprises a near-field source model and far-field sediment transport model, combined with the settling analysis of flocculent particles. It is designed to run on all computing platforms with a standard Web browser and is accessible over the Internet. This paper describes its internal software structures and the major features of the application software. In addition, an example application of sediment transport in the Savannah River, GA, is included to illustrate typical input and output screens and to demonstrate the accuracy of the model. The water quality assessment software developed herein will greatly enhance the ability of the predictive tool for estimating sediment transport and resuspension during dredging operations.     

Performance of activated carbon-impregnated cellulose filters for indoor VOCs and dust control

An activated carbon-impregnated cellulose filter was fabricated, and the capacity to remove dust and volatile organic compounds was evaluated in a laboratory. The adsorption capacities for benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and m-xylene gases were compared by an adsorption isotherm test conducted as a preliminary test, showing that m-xylene and benzene were the most and least favorable for adsorption onto activated carbon, respectively. Cellulose filters were made with four levels of activated carbon contents, and dust removal was performed with all of the filters showing 99 % and higher efficiencies stable with a small variation during the experiment. Activated carbon content of 5 g in the unit filter area (125 g/m²) was found optimum for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and m-xylene removal, as it appeared that higher than 5 g activated carbon content was unnecessary for the improvement of its capacity. With increasing benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and m-xylene loading, the highest removal rates were determined as 0.33–0.37 mg/cm² s for as short as 0.0046 s of air filter residence time. The rapid removal was possible because of the high surface area of the activated carbon-impregnated cellulose filter provided by powdered activated carbon, which is distinguished from the granular form in conventional activated carbon towers. As fixed within a cellulose scaffolding structure, the powdered activated carbon performed excellent benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and m-xylene adsorption (98.9–100 %), and at the same time, particular matters were removed in average 99.7 % efficiency after being filtered through the cellulose filter sheet.     

Compositional variation in pyrochlores from the Mt Weld carbonatite laterite,Western Australia

Summary Pyrochlore is present as a residual mineral within a Mesozoic-Cainozoic laterite overlying and derived from a Proterozoic carbonatite intrusion. Leaching of the A-site ions Na and Ca from the pyrochlore structure occurred during weathering and the vacant sites were subsequently occupied by Sr and Ce. In addition, leaching of strongly-bonded Nb led to B-site vacancies, which were subsequently filled by Fe³⁺. The pyrochlore mineral chemistry changes markedly with depth in the weathering profile and the sequence: Na-Ca pyrochlore, strontian pyrochlore, strontiopyrochlore, ceriopyrochlore, cerian strontiopyrochlore and strontian ceriopyrochlore occurs between the fresh carbonatite/laterite interface and the top of the profile. This vertical zonation in pyrochlore mineral chemistry is the result of leaching and reprecipitation processes and the associated fractionation and differential mobility of individual elements during weathering.

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Variierende Zusammensetzungen in Pyrochlor in Lateriten des Mt Weld Karbonatits, West-Australien

Zusammenfassung Pyrochlor befindet sich in einem mesozoischen-känozoischen Laterit, der sich durch Verwitterung einer proterozoischen Karbonatitintrusion bildete. Das Lösen von A-Ionen, Na and Ca, aus der Pyrochlor-Struktur erfolgte während der Verwitterung; die freien Stellen wurden von Sr und Ce besetzt. Der Verlust von stark gebundenem Nb führte zu freien Stellen in der B-Position, die von F³⁺-Ionen besetzt wurden. Die Pyrochlor Zusammensetzung ändert sich deutlich mit der Verwitterungstiefe und entwickelt sich von der Karbonatit/Laterit-Grenze zum obersten Teil des Lateritprofils wie folgt: Na - Ca-Pyrochlor, strontian Pyrochlor, Strontiopyroehlor, Ceriopyrochlor, cerian Strontiopyrochlor bzw. strontian Ceriopyrochlor. Diese vertikale Zonierung in der Pyrochlorchemie ist das Resultat der Auslaugungs- und Wiederausfällungsprozesse während der Verwitterung und der damit verbundenen Fraktionierung und unter-schiedlichen Mobilität von einzelnen Elementen.

     

Simultaneous stabilization of arsenic, lead, and copper in contaminated soil using mixed waste resources

In the present study, stabilization treatment using waste resource stabilizers was performed for soil contaminated with As and heavy metals (Pb and Cu). Calcined oyster shell (COS) and coal mine drainage sludge (CMDS) were used as a mixed stabilizing agent for a wet-curing duration of 28 days. After the stabilization treatment, the treatment process efficiency was evaluated by the results of various batch- and column-leaching tests. Neutral and weak acid extraction methods, such as water-soluble extraction and SPLP, did not exhibit satisfactory results for heavy metal stabilization, even if they showed very low leachability. On the other hand, TCLP and 0.1 M HCl extraction showed that the stabilizers significantly reduced the amount of heavy metals leached from the soil, which strongly supports the thesis that the stabilization treatment is efficient in the acidic leaching conditions that were explored. Specifically, in the 0.1 M HCl extraction, the reduction efficiencies of As, Pb, and Cu leachings were more than 90 %, compared with control experiments. This study demonstrates that the application of waste resources for the stabilization of As and heavy metals is feasible. However, some limitations observed in the experiments should be considered in future studies, such as the mobilization of alkali-soluble elements, and in particular, exchangeable fractions of Cu. In addition, the treatment efficiency can be evaluated by different leaching methods, which suggests that multidirectional approaches are required for the proper evaluation of stabilization treatment.     

Migration and dispersion of trace elements in the rock–soil–plant system in areas underlain by black shales and slates of the Okchon Zone, Korea

The Okchon black shale in Korea provides a typical example of natural geological materials enriched with potentially toxic elements. The Chung-Joo, Duk-Pyung, Geum-Kwan, I-Won, Bo-Eun and Chu-Bu areas are underlain by these black shales and slates of the Guryongsan Formation or the Changri Formation, which are parts of the Okchon Group in the central part of the southern Korean Peninsula. In order to investigate the enrichment levels and dispersion patterns of potentially toxic elements in the rock–soil–plant system, environmental geochemical surveys were undertaken in the above six study areas in the Okchon Zone. After appropriate preparation, rock and soil samples were analyzed for potentially toxic elements by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), and plant samples by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). In particular, Ba, Cd, Mo, V and U in Okchon black shales are highly enriched, and their mean concentrations are significantly higher than those in black slates. These elements are geochemically associated, and might be enriched simultaneously. The highest mean concentrations of 42.0 μg g⁻¹ As, 2100 μg g⁻¹ Ba, 10.9 μg g⁻¹ Cd, 213 μg g⁻¹ Mo, 83 μg g⁻¹ U, 938 μg g⁻¹ V and 394 μg g⁻¹ Zn are found in black shales from the Duk-Pyung area. Mean concentrations of As, Mo and U in soils overlying black shales occurring in the Duk-Pyung area (30 μg g⁻¹ As, 24 μg g⁻¹ Mo and 50 μg g⁻¹ U) and Chu-Bu area (39 μg g⁻¹ As, 15 μg g⁻¹ Mo and 27 μg g⁻¹ U) are higher than the permissible level. Enrichment index values of the six study areas decrease in the order of Duk-Pyung > Chu-Bu > Bo-Eun > Chung-Joo > Geum-Kwan = I-Won areas. Relationships between trace element concentrations in soils and plants are significantly correlated, and the biological absorption coefficients (BAC) in plants are in the order of Cd > Zn = Cu > Pb, which suggests that Cd is more bioavailable to plants than the other elements. Cadmium concentrations in plant species decrease in the order of chinese cabbage > red pepper > soybean = sesame > rice stalk > corn > rice grain. From the result of sequential extraction analysis of soils, relatively high proportions of Cu, Pb and Zn are present as residual fractions, and that of Cd as non-residual fractions. Cadmium occurs predominantly as exchangeable/water-acid soluble phase in soils, and this is in agreement with the findings of high Cd concentrations in plants.     

Assessment of dynamic impact force of debris flow in mountain torrent based on characteristics of debris flow

Landslides and debris flows that occur around residential areas are considered, globally, as significant disasters that cause damage to human life and property. With terrain slope defining the flow characteristics of debris flows, flow depth, flow velocity, and impact force vary by time and distance. In particular, when a structure is located in the flow path of debris flows, the flow characteristics of debris flows vary by terrain slope and direction angle. To simulate the flow characteristics of these debris flows, the simulation results obtained by FLO-2D were analyzed with six-stage conditions for the research area. In the analysis, the flow depth, flow velocity, and impact force were estimated on the basis of the outlet of the research area in the presence and absence of structure(s) at certain distances. With this, the variation of the impact force in accordance with the variation of the flow depth of the debris flows was highly similar to the simulation results obtained by FLO-2D, when the correction index (α) of the suggested dynamic impact force equation was 0.3–0.4. There were sections where the estimated value of the impact force was overestimated near the outlet, and it was judged that the fixed values of the terrain factors (width, roughness coefficient, slope, etc.) caused the impact force to be overestimated. However, the correlation analysis showed that the correlation index was above the normal ranges in the suggested dynamic impact force equation for debris flows with the application of the terrain factors.