Performance investigation of LAMBDA and bootstrapping methods for PPP narrow-lane ambiguity resolution

Precise point positioning with ambiguity resolution (PPP-AR) is a powerful tool for geodetic and time-constrained applications that require high precision. The ...     

An Empirical Method for Analysis of Load Transfer and Settlement of Single Piles

An empirical method is developed for estimating the load transfer and deformation of drilled, in situ formed piles subjected to axial loading. Firstly, governing equations for soil–pile interaction are developed theoretically, taking into account spatial variations in: (a) shaft resistance distribution and (b) ratio of load sharing between the shaft and base. Then generic load transfer models are formulated based on examination of data from 10 instrumented test piles found in the literature. The governing equations and load transfer models are then combined and appropriate boundary conditions defined. Using an incremental-iterative algorithm whereby all the boundary conditions are satisfied simultaneously, a numerical scheme for solving the combined set of equations is developed. The algorithm is then developed into an interactive computer program, which can be used to predict the load-settlement and axial force distribution in piles. To demonstrate its validity, the program is used to analyse four published case records of test piles, which other researchers had analysed using the following three computationally demanding tools: (a) load transfer (t–z), (b) finite difference and (c) finite element methods. It is shown that the proposed method which is much less resource-intensive, predicts both the load-settlement variation and axial force distribution more accurately than methods: (a–c) above.     

Coalescence of offset rock joints under biaxial loading

Crack coalescence in rock masses was studied by performing a series of biaxial compresion tests on specimens made of rock-like material. Specimens of size 63.5 × 27.9 × 20.3 cm, made of 72% silica sand, 16% cement (Type I) and 12% water by weight were tested. The joint inclination angle was maintained at 45°, while the offset angle i.e. angle between the plane of the joint and the line that connects the two inner tips of the joints, was changed from 0° to 90° with an increment of 15°. Three levels of lateral stress were used; 0.35 MPa, 0.7 MPa and 1.5 MPa on each sample. HP data acquisition system was used to record the data for each sample. In each sample, four LVDTs were fixed to measure the axial and lateral displacement along the sample. The failure mechanisms were monitored by eye inspection and a magnifier to detect crack initiation and propagation. For each test, the failure surfaces were investigated to determine the characteristics of each surface. Wing cracks initiated at the tip of the joint for the low confining stress applied, while at higher confining stresses wing cracks also initiated at the middle of the joint. Secondary cracks initiated at the tip of the joint due to shear stress. Three modes of failure took place due to coalescence of the secondary and wing cracks. The bridge inclination was the main variable that controlled the mode of failure. For bridge inclination of 0°, the coalescence occured due to shear failure and for bridge inclination of 90° the coalescence occurred due to tensile failure while for the other bridge inclinations coalescence occured due to mixed tensile and shear failure.     

Precipitation in the Anatolian Peninsula: sensitivity to increased SSTs in the surrounding seas

Effects of the increased sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the surrounding seas of the Anatolian Peninsula on the precipitation it receives are investigated through sensitivity simulations using a state-of-the-art regional climate model, RegCM3. The sensitivity simulations involve 2-K increases to the SSTs of the Aegean, eastern Mediterranean and Black seas individually as well as collectively. All the simulations are integrated over a 10-year period between 1990 and 2000. The model simulations of this study indicate that the precipitation of the peninsula is sensitive to the variations of the SSTs of the surrounding seas. In general, increased SSTs lead to increases in the precipitation of the peninsula as well as that of the seas considered. The statistically significant increases at 95% confidence levels largely occur along the coastal areas of the peninsula that are in the downwind side of the seas. Significant increases do also take place in the interior areas of the peninsula, especially in the eastern Anatolia in winter. The simulations reveal that eastern Mediterranean Sea has the biggest potential to affect the precipitation in the peninsula. They also demonstrate that taking all three seas into account simultaneously enhances the effect of SSTs on the peninsula’s precipitation, and extends the areas with statistically significant increases.     

Anthropogenic Pb accumulation in forest soils from Lake Clair watershed: Duchesnay experimental forest (Québec, Canada)

Mineral soil horizons (Ae, Bhf1, Bhf2, Bf, BC and C) were carefully collected from two podzolic soil profiles in the Lake Clair watershed (Québec) in order to assess anthropogenic trace metal accumulation. Petrographic and selective analyses were performed to establish the soil mineralogy and properties. Furthermore, a complete sequential extraction procedure has been applied to help understanding the complex chemical speciation of Pb in forest soils. Chemical speciation of Pb showed a strong vertical gradient: 85% of this metal is mainly partitioned in refractory minerals in the C-horizon whereas in the upper Bhf1 and Ae-horizons, less than 50% of Pb is associated with this fraction. In the Ae-horizon, for example, 35%, 30% and 12% of total Pb, respectively, is associated with the exchangeable, labile organic matter and amorphous Fe-Mn oxides fractions. The distribution of Pb and Cr in the studied forest soils mainly reflects progressive contamination of the watershed by anthropogenic atmospheric sources. The anthropogenic source is indicated by elevated Cr and Pb concentrations in the topsoil (Bhf and Ae) horizons and by strong negative correlation between ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios and total Pb concentrations. According to these isotopic values, penetration of anthropogenic Pb does not exceed 10 cm in both soil profiles. Below this depth, both Pb concentrations and isotopic ratios remain nearly constant and similar to values observed in pre-anthropogenic sediments from Lake Clair. These values are interpreted as the natural geochemical backgrounds of the watershed. Based on that behaviour, calculated anthropogenic Pb net inputs amounted to between 1.24 and 1.8 g/m².     

Stress Analysis for Rock Mass Failure with Offset Joints

Two-dimensional finite element model was created in this work to investigate the stress distribution within rock-like samples with offset open non-persistent joints under uniaxial loading. The results of this study have explained the fracture mechanisms observed in tests on rock-like material with open non-persistent offset joints (Mughieda and Alzo’ubi, Geotech Geol Eng J 22:545–562, 2004). Finite element code SAP2000 was used to study the stresses distribution within the specimens. Four-noded isoperimetric plain strain element with two degrees of freedom per node, and the three-noded constant strain triangular element with two degree of freedom per node were used in the present study. The results of the present study showed that the tensile stress in the bridge area caused coalescence for specimens with overlapped preexisting cracks (joints) while the coalescence of the secondary cracks, due to shear stress, caused the failure of specimens with non-overlapping cracks.     

Thermochronological data from Sudan in the frame of the denudational history of the Nubian Red Sea margin

Low‐temperature thermochronology provides information on the timing of rifting and denudation of passive margins, and the Red Sea with its well‐exposed, young rift margins is a suitable setting for its application. Here we present new apatite fission‐track (AFT) data from Sudan northern hinterland and Red Sea coastal areas. From the former region we obtained ages between 270 ± 2 Ma ad 253 ± 53 Ma, and from the coastal belt between 83 ± 8 Ma and 39 ± 7 Ma. These data prompted a review and comparison with low‐temperature thermochronological data from the whole Nubian Red Sea Margin, and a discussion on their implication in assessing the margin evolutionary style. AFT data are available for Egypt and Eritrea as well as apatite (U‐Th)/He (AHe) ages for two transects transversal to the margin in Eritrea. Both in Egypt and Eritrea AFT data record a cooling event at about 20–25 Ma (Early Miocene) and an earlier, more local, cooling event in Egypt at about 34 Ma (Early Oligocene). The thermal modeling of the Sudan samples provides an indication of a rapid cooling in Miocene times, but does not support nor rules out an Early Oligocene cooling phase. The re‐assessment of new and existing thermochronological data within the known geological framework of the Nubian and conjugate Arabian margins favours the hypothesis that early rifting stages were affecting the whole Gulf of Suez–Red Sea–Gulf of Aden system since the Oligocene. These precocious, more attenuated, phases were followed by major extension in Miocene times. As to the mode of margin evolution, AFT age patterns both in Egypt and Eritrea are incompatible with a downwarp model. The distribution of AHe ages across the Eritrean coastal plain suggests that there the escarpment was evolving predominantly by plateau degradation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New Discovery of Hipparion theobaldi Skull from the Late Miocene of Padhri, District Jhelum, Punjab, Pakistan and Associated Mammalian Fossil Assemblage

A fossil-bearing locality near Padhri village, Dhok Pathan, 55 km away from the tehsil Dina, Jhelum District, in the Potwar Plateau, Middle Siwaliks, Punjab, northern Pakistan, is significantly rich in mammalian fossils. This site has provided an abundant mammalian fossil fauna of Late Miocene age from the Dhok Pathan Formation (Fm.). The recovered material belongs to four families: Equidae (horses), Rhinocerotidae (rhinos), Bovidae (cows), and Suidae (pigs). We discovered a new skull of hipparionine Hipparion theobaldi from this locality along with 22 specimens from the associated assemblage of fossil mammals. The recovered material includes seven other species: the aceratheriine Chilotherium intermedium, boselaphines Tragoportax punjabicus, Selenoportax vexillarius, Pachyportax latidens, the antelope Gazella lydekkeri and suinine Propotamochoerus hysudricus. The specimens are isolated teeth, fragments of maxilla, mandibles and horn cores. The Dhok Pathan Fm. is generally composed of claystone, siltstone and sandstone beds and, based on the mammalian fauna, the Padhri fossil locality is dated as Late Miocene. Thi99s formation was deposited in a subtropical paleoenvironment and the predominance of fossil bovids indicates extremely moist conditions with small but frequent standing water bodies.     

Soil Stabilization by Chemical Agent

Soil treatment is commonly resorted in order to improve the strength, stiffness properties of road foundations, and reduce the swelling potential of expansive soils. In Jordan, considerable amount of construction activity is carried out at relatively shallow depths where soil is likely to be unsaturated and subjected to low stresses level. Road damage is frequently observed when it is founded on weak sub-grade in Karak. Therefore, chemical stabilization of the base course, sub base course and sub-grade is essential. The soil will be treated by using sodium silicate and lime with different percentages. An experimental program was designed to study the behavior of soil as the percent of additive agent changes. The results showed that; the geotechnical properties have been improved when soil is treated by mixing lime and sodium silicate. The initial consumption of lime is of 4 and 2?% for sodium silicate. The reaction time is a significant parameter where strength improves as time increases.