Effects of supplemental viscous damping on seismic response of asymmetric-plan systems

Coupling between lateral and torsional motions may lead to much larger edge deformations in asymmetric-plan systems compared to systems with a symmetric plan. Supplemental viscous damping has been found to be effective in reducing deformations in the symmetric-plan system. This investigation examined how supplemental damping affects the edge deformations in asymmetric-plan systems. First, the parameters that characterize supplemental viscous damping and its plan-wise distribution were identified, and then the effects of these parameters on edge deformations were investigated. It was found that supplemental damping reduces edge deformations and that reductions by a factor of up three are feasible with proper selection of system parameters. Furthermore, viscous damping may be used to reduce edge deformations in asymmetric-plan systems to levels equal to or smaller than those in the corresponding symmetric-plan system. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluating the impact of artificial groundwater recharge structures using geo-spatial techniques in the hard-rock terrain of Rajasthan,India

Groundwater levels in hard-rock areas in India have shown very large declines in the recent past. The situation is becoming more critical due to a paucity of rainfall, limited surface water resources and an increasing pattern of groundwater extraction in these areas. Consequently, the Ground Water Department with the aid of World Bank has implemented the water structuring programme to mitigate groundwater scarcity and to develop a viable solution for sustainable development in the region. The present study has been undertaken to assess the impact of artificial groundwater recharge structures in the hard-rock area of Rajasthan, India. In this study groundwater level data (pre-monsoon and post-monsoon) of 85 dug-wells are used, spread over an area of 413.59 km². The weathered and fractured gneissic basement rocks act as major aquifer in the area. Spatial maps for pre- and post-monsoon groundwater levels were prepared using the kriging interpolation technique with best fitted semi-variogram models (Spherical, Exponential and Gaussian). The groundwater recharge is calculated spatially using the water level fluctuation method. The entire study period (2004–2011) is divided into pre- (2004–2008) and post-intervention (2009–2011) periods. Based on the identical nature of total monsoon rainfall, two combinations of average (2007 and 2009) and more than average (2006 and 2010) rainfall years are selected from the pre- and post-intervention periods for further comparisons. All of the water harvesting structures are grouped into the following categories: as anicuts (masonry overflow structure); percolation tanks; subsurface barriers; and renovation of earthen ponds/nadis. A buffer of 100 m around the intervention site is taken for assessing the influence of these structures on groundwater recharge. The relationship between the monsoon rainfall and groundwater recharge is fitted by power and exponential functions for the periods of 2004–2008 and 2008–2011 with R ² values of 0.95 and 0.98, respectively. The average groundwater recharge is found to be 18% of total monsoon rainfall prior to intervention and it became 28% during the post-intervention period. About 70.9% (293.43 km²) of the area during average rainfall and more than 95% (396.26 km²) of the area during above-average rainfalls show an increase in groundwater recharge after construction of water harvesting structures. The groundwater recharge pattern indicates a positive impact within the vicinity of intervention sites during both average and above-average rainfall. The anicuts are found to be the most effective recharge structures during periods of above-average rainfall, while subsurface barriers are responded well during average rainfall periods. In the hard-rock terrain, water harvesting structures produce significant increases in groundwater recharge. The geo-spatial techniques that are used are effective for evaluating the response of different artificial groundwater recharge techniques.     

Morphotectonic and lithostratigraphic analysis of intermontane Karewa Basin of Kashmir Himalayas, India

Morpho-tectonic study plays an important role in deciphering the effects of tectonic activity in the geomorphic evolution of the drainage basins.Romushi watershed forms one of the major watersheds of the intermontane Karewa Basin of Kashmir Valley.The Karewa sediments are characterized by glacio-fluvio-lacustrine deposits capped by the aeolian loess.The geomorphic,morphometric and lithostratigraphic studies of these cap deposits have been carried out to elucidate the effect of tectonics on the geomorphic evolution of Romushi Watershed.Geomorphic mapping was carried out using GPS measurements,DEM at 30m resolution,Topographic Position Index(TPI) model,topographic maps,LANDSAT TM Imagery and field data.Morphometric and morphotectonic analyses in GIS environment were used to calculate various geomorphic indices(Mountain Front Sinuosity Index,Bifurcation Ratio,Asymmetry Factor,River Profile,etc).These indices reveal that the tectonic uplift observed in the region due to Himalayan orogeny coupled with mass movement and aeolian deposition have dominated the landscape evolution of intermontane Karewa Basin of Kashmir throughout the Late Quaternary Period.Additional data from lithostratigraphic measurements were analyzed to understand the geomorphic evolution of intermontane Karewa Basin.The data revealed that the basin has experienced differential uplift and erosion rates from time to time in the geological past.This was corroborated by the results from the morphometric and morphotectonic analysis.     

Impact of satellite soundings on the simulation of heavy rainfall associated with tropical depressions

The present study is carried out to examine the impact of temperature and humidity profiles from moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) or/and atmospheric infrared sounder (AIRS) on the numerical simulation of heavy rainfall events over the India. The Pennsylvania State University–National Centre for Atmospheric Research fifth-generation mesoscale model (MM5) and its three-dimensional variational (3D-Var) assimilation technique is used for the numerical simulations. The heavy rainfall events occurred during October 26–29, 2005, and October 27–30, 2006, were chosen for the numerical simulations. The results showed that there were large differences observed in the initial meteorological fields from control experiment (CNT; without satellite data) and assimilation experiments (MODIS (assimilating MODIS data), AIRS; (assimilating AIRS data); BOTH (assimilating MODIS and AIRS data together)). The assimilation of satellite data (MODIS, AIRS, and BOTH) improved the predicted thermal and moisture structure of the atmosphere when compared to CNT. Among the experiments, the predicted track of tropical depressions from MODIS was closer to the observed track. Assimilation of MODIS data also showed positive impact on the spatial distribution and intensity of predicted rainfall associated with the depressions. The statistical skill scores obtained for different experiments showed that assimilation of satellite data (MODIS, AIRS, and BOTH) improved the rainfall prediction skill when compared to CNT. Root mean square error in quantitative rainfall prediction is less in the experiment which assimilated MODIS data when compared to other experiments.     

Palynological dating and correlation of surface and subsurface sediments from Wardha valley coalfield,Maharashtra

42 genera of palynomorphs have been reported from the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the palynoflora from both open cast mine and bore holes viz., Ballarpur open cast mine, Durgapur open cast mine and Bore hole CMWNM-57 on barrier between Kawadi/Majri open cast and Hindustan Lalpeth Colliery from the Wardha valley coalfield of Wardha basin. Two palynoassemblages have been recorded i.e., an Upper Karharbari palynoassemblage comprising dominance of radial monosaccate genus Parasaccites and subdominance of nonstriate disaccate genus Scheuringipollenites and a Lower Barakar palynoassemblage consisting of dominance of Scheuringipollenites and subdominance of striate disaccates chiefly Faunipollenites, suggesting an Early Permian age (Late Sakmarian to Early Artinskian) to the sediments. It is further authenticated by the occurrence of palynotaxa viz., Crucisaccites, Caheniasaccites, Indotriradites and Tiwariasporis. Upper Karharbari Formation has been demarcated for the first time in lithologically designated Barakar Formations in Ballarpur, Durgapur, Majri and Hindustan Lalpeth Colliery while the sample 57/2 of bore hole CMWNM from Kawadi area may belong to the Kamthi Formation on the basis of pinkish yellowish coarse grained to medium grained sandstone. An attempt has been made to correlate these palynoassemblages with other Lower Gondwana basins of Early Permian affinity.     

Uranium mineralisation associated with felsic volcanism at Mohar,Shivpuri district,Madhya Pradesh

Several small lensoidal bodies of felsic volcanics are exposed in a curvilinear pattern within the brecciated granitoids of Bundelkhand Gneissic Complex (BGC) at Mohar. Sub-surface data reveals extensive presence of these felsic volcanics below the sediment of Vindhyan Supergroup. It occurs like a sheet with thickness varying from 12 m to 134 m. Its lateral extent has been traced upto 4.8 km. Multiple flows of felsic magma are identified based on colour, granularity, cross cutting relations and cyclic distribution of multiple vesicular bands along the entire thickness of felsic magma. The felsic rock contains upto 13.21% K₂O. Chemical composition of these felsic volcanics varies across the column. Petrographically and chemically all these felsic volcanics are identified as rhyolite or rhyolite tuff.     

Impact of satellite observed microwave SST on the simulation of tropical cyclones

The impact of realistic representation of sea surface temperature (SST) on the numerical simulation of track and intensity of tropical cyclones formed over the north Indian Ocean is studied using the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model. We have selected two intense tropical cyclones formed over the Bay of Bengal for studying the SST impact. Two different sets of SSTs were used in this study: one from TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) satellite and other is the weekly averaged Reynold’s SST analysis from National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). WRF simulations were conducted using the Reynold’s and TMI SST as model boundary condition for the two cyclone cases selected. The TMI SST which has a better temporal and spatial resolution showed sharper gradient when compared to the Reynold’s SST. The use of TMI SST improved the WRF cyclone intensity prediction when compared to that using Reynold’s SST for both the cases studied. The improvements in intensity were mainly due to the improved prediction of surface latent and sensible heat fluxes. The use of TMI SST in place of Reynold’s SST improved cyclone track prediction for Orissa super cyclone but slightly degraded track prediction for cyclone Mala. The present modeling study supports the well established notion that the horizontal SST gradient is one of the major driving forces for the intensification and movement of tropical cyclones over the Indian Ocean.     

Field and textural relationship in pelitic schists and gneisses from the area around Mangpu, Darjeeling district, West Bengal

The metasedimentary rocks of the area around Mangpu constitute a portion of the hinge zone of the northern limb of the major synform of Lower Darjeeling Himalaya. The rocks display evidences of multiple deformation and at least three major phases of deformation have been recognized. The time relations between the phases of deformation (D₁, D₂, D₃) and metamorphic crystallization reveal a single major prograde metamorphic event that initiated with the D₁ deformation and finally outlasted it. The earlier phase of this metamorphism is essentially regional syn-tectonic lowgrade (greenschist facies) which may be designated (M₁, early). This was followed by regional static metamorphism (M₁, late) in the post-tectonic phase between D₁ and D₂ deformations (upper green schist and amphibolite facies). This M1 metamorphism is superposed by later retrogressive metamorphism (M₂) during the D₂ and D₃ deformations (lower greenschist facies). Within the study area four isograds have been delineated by the first appearance of index minerals in the pelitic schists and gneiss which display Barrovian type of metamorphism.