A New Correlation to Predict Rock Mass Deformability Modulus Considering Loading Level of Dilatometer Tests

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering - All numerical and analytical methods dealing with the calculating deformation of rock mass require deformation modulus (Df) which is measured by direct or...     

Re‐examining green revolution diffusion and factor/input markets in Bangladesh after market liberalization

This paper re‐examines the effect of green revolution (GR) diffusion on factor/inputs demand in Bangladesh using an empirical model that allows for simultaneous determination of factors influencing adoption of GR technology at the current mature stage, as well as access to irrigation. Results reveal some alignments with conventional wisdom as well as few surprises. For example, while an increased demand for major inputs is expected, an increased demand for organic manure is an unexpected positive outcome. The GR adoption rate is significantly higher in villages with access to irrigation and fertile soils and, surprisingly, in infrastructurally underdeveloped villages. Together with other expected findings of GR technology uptake with higher cereal prices and irrigation use encouraged by access to credit, tenurial status and fertile soils, our findings suggest that investment in irrigation and soil conservation, as well as implementing measures to improve cereal prices and provide agricultural credit, could boost GR technology adoption.     

Ion acoustic solitary waves in plasma with nonthermal electron,positron and warm ion

In this paper, the characteristics of ion acoustic solitary waves are studied in plasmas containing warm ion fluid, non-thermally distributed electron and positron. We study the effects of non-thermal electrons and ion temperature on solitons by Pseudo-potential method and show that the parametric region where ion acoustic solitons can exist is modified. We also obtain linear dispersion relation by using the standard normal-modes analysis.     

A real-time operation optimization model for flood management in river-reservoir systems

In this paper, a new methodology has been developed for real-time flood management in river-reservoir systems. This methodology is based upon combining a Genetic Algorithm (GA) reservoir operation optimization model for a cascade of two reservoirs, a hydraulic-based flood routing simulation model in downstream river system, a Geographical Information System (GIS) based database, and application of K-Nearest Neighbor (K-NN) algorithm for development of optimal operating rules. The GA optimization model estimates the optimal hourly reservoirs’ releases to minimize the flood damages in the downstream river. GIS tools have also been used for specifying different land-uses and damage functions in the downstream floodplain and it has been linked to the unsteady module of HEC-RAS flood routing model using Hec-GeoRAS module. An innovative approach has also been developed using K-NN algorithm to formulate the optimal operating rules for a system of two cascade reservoirs based on optimal releases obtained from the optimization model. During a flood event, the K-NN algorithm searches through the historical flood hydrographs and optimal reservoir storages determined by the optimization model to find similar situations. The similarity between the hydrographs is quantified based on the slopes of rising and falling limbs of inflow hydrographs and reservoir storages at the beginning of each hourly time step during the flood events for two cascade reservoirs. The developed methodology have been applied to the Bakhtiari and Dez River-Reservoir systems in southwest of Iran. The results show that the proposed models can be effectively used for flood management and real-time operation of cascade river-reservoir systems.     

Lead isotope signatures of Pb-Zn sulfide mineralization in the Reshian-Lamnian area of Azad Jammu and Kashmir,Pakistan

The Reshian-Lamnian area within the Hazara-Kashmir syntaxis in Pakistan is composed mainly of the rocks of the Salkhala, Panjal and Murree formations. Base metal sulfide mineralization in the form of sphalerite and galena with lesser amounts of chalcopyrite and pyrite is present within the Salkhala Formation of the study area. Chemically all these ore phases are homogeneous in composition. The Pb isotopic composition of galena from the area suggests that there is very little or negligible variation in the ratios of ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb. Modal ages ranging from 509 to 562 Ma and the μ values of 10.71 to 10.93 have been calculated for the studied Pb-Zn mineralization. On the basis of field features, mineralogy and Pb-isotope signatures, it is concluded that the Pb-Zn sulfide mineralization in the Reshian-Lamnia area is pre-Himalayan in age and can be correlated with the Cambro-Ordovician (Pan-African) orogenic event.     

Site selection and cost-benefit analysis for artificial recharge in the Baghmalek plain, Khuzestan Province, southwest Iran

Available hydrogeological data for the Baghmalek aquifer, southwest Iran, suggest that in order to counter progressive depletion of groundwater, but at the same time meet the growing demand on groundwater resources, artificial recharge should be considered. The success of artificial recharge schemes requires the integration of many types of data and information. The prime prerequisite in establishing an artificial recharge scheme using the surface spreading technique is identification of a suitable site. Therefore, an integrated investigation, including a detailed assessment of surface and sub-surface geology, and hydrogeological surveys were undertaken. The potential of harvesting storm waters, considering their quality and suspended loads, has been evaluated. Using this background, three sites (including basins and check dam) for artificial recharge are suggested in the north and northeast of the area, where the thickness of coarse alluvium is greatest. On the basis of the collected data, (1) the rate of recharge that can be achieved at the three sites is approximately 2.2 million m³ per year, (2) the cost–benefit ratio is 1:1.32, and (3) the analysis suggests that the project could recover the investment within 3 years.     

Some numerical issues using element‐free Galerkin mesh‐less method for coupled hydro‐mechanical problems

A new formulation of the element‐free Galerkin (EFG) method is developed for solving coupled hydro‐mechanical problems. The numerical approach is based on solving the two governing partial differential equations of equilibrium and continuity of pore water simultaneously. Spatial variables in the weak form, i.e. displacement increment and pore water pressure increment, are discretized using the same EFG shape functions. An incremental constrained Galerkin weak form is used to create the discrete system equations and a fully implicit scheme is used for discretization in the time domain. Implementation of essential boundary conditions is based on a penalty method. Numerical stability of the developed formulation is examined in order to achieve appropriate accuracy of the EFG solution for coupled hydro‐mechanical problems. Examples are studied and compared with closed‐form or finite element method solutions to demonstrate the validity of the developed model and its capabilities. The results indicate that the EFG method is capable of handling coupled problems in saturated porous media and can predict well both the soil deformation and variation of pore water pressure over time. Some guidelines are proposed to guarantee the accuracy of the EFG solution for coupled hydro‐mechanical problems. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.