Lower bound solutions for uplift capacity of strip anchors adjacent to sloping ground in clay

Numerical solutions have been obtained for the vertical uplift capacity of strip plate anchors embedded adjacent to sloping ground in fully cohesive soil under undrained condition. The analysis was performed using finite element lower bound limit analysis with second-order conic optimization technique. The effect of anchor edge distance from the crest of slope, angle and height of slope, normalized overburden pressure due to soil self-weight, and embedded depth of anchor on the uplift capacity has been examined. A nondimensional uplift factor defined as F_cγ owing to the combined contribution of soil cohesion (c_u), and soil unit weight (γ) is used for expressing the uplift capacity. For an anchor buried near to a sloping ground, the ultimate uplift capacity is dependent on either pullout failure of anchor or overall slope failure. The magnitude of F_cγ has been found to increase with an increase in the normalized overburden pressure up to a certain maximum value, beyond which either the behavior of anchor transfers from shallow to deep anchor or overall slope failure occurs.     

Geochemical assessment of fluoride enrichment and nitrate contamination in groundwater in hard-rock aquifer by using graphical and statistical methods

This systematic study was carried out with objective to delineate the various sources responsible for \(\hbox {NO}_{3}^{-}\) contamination and \(\hbox {F}^{-}\) enrichment by utilizing statistical and graphical methods. Since Central Ground Water Board, India, indicated susceptibility of \(\hbox {NO}_{3}^{-}\) contamination and \(\hbox {F}^{-}\) enrichment, in most of the groundwater, \(\hbox {NO}_{3}^{-}\) and \(\hbox {F}^{-}\) concentration primarily observed \({>}45\) and \({>}1.5~\hbox {mg/L}\), respectively, i.e., higher than the permissible limit for drinking water. Water Quality Index (WQI) indicates \({\sim }22.81\%\) groundwater are good-water, \({\sim }71.14\%\) groundwater poor-water, \({\sim }5.37\%\) very poor-water and 0.67% unsuitable for drinking purpose. Piper diagram indicates \({\sim }59.73\%\) groundwater hydrogeochemical facies are Ca–Mg–\(\hbox {HCO}_{3 }\) water-types, \({\sim }28.19\%\) Ca–Mg–\(\hbox {SO}_{4}\)–Cl water-types, \({\sim }8.72\%\) Na–K–\(\hbox {SO}_{4}\)–Cl water-types and 3.36% Na–K–\(\hbox {HCO}_{3 }\) water-types. This classification indicates dissolution and mixing are mainly controlling groundwater chemistry. Salinity diagram indicate \({\sim }44.30\%\) groundwater under in low sodium and medium salinity hazard, \({\sim }49.66\%\) groundwater fall under low sodium and high salinity hazard, \({\sim }3.36\%\) groundwater fall under very-high salinity hazard. Sodium adsorption ratio indicates \({\sim }97\%\) groundwater are in excellent condition for irrigation. The spatial distribution of \(\hbox {NO}_{3}^{-}\) indicates significant contribution of fertilizer from agriculture lands. Fluoride enrichment occurs in groundwater through the dissolution of fluoride-rich minerals. By reducing the consumption of fertilizer and stress over groundwater, the water quality can be improved.     

Postseismic relaxation due to Bhuj earthquake on January 26, 2001: possible mechanisms and processes

Earthquakes cause static stress perturbations in the nearby crust and mantle. Obeying rheological laws, this stress relaxes in a time frame of months to years with the spatial extent of few km to hundreds of km. While postseismic relaxation associated with major inter-plate earthquakes is well established, there have been few opportunities to explore its occurrence following intraplate earthquakes. The M _w 7.6 Bhuj earthquake on January 26, 2001 in western India is considered to be an intraplate event and provided a unique opportunity to examine post-earthquake relaxation processes sufficiently away from plate boundaries. To study the characteristics of transient postseismic deformation, six Global Positioning System campaigns were made at 14 sites. The postseismic transients were delineated after removing plate motions from the position time series. Postseismic deformation has been observed at all the sites in the study area. During 2001?C2007, the site closest to the epicenter exhibited postseismic deformation of about 30 and 25?mm in the north and east components, respectively. Time series of the NS and EW components of the postseismic transients can be fitted to both logarithmic and exponential functions. Close to the epicenter, the logarithmic function fits well to the initial transient, and an exponential function fits well to the later phases. The remaining sites (located east and west of the epicentral region) exhibited significantly diminished north?Csouth relaxation. Rapidly decaying afterslip and poroelastic mechanisms seem to be responsible for postseismic relaxation in the vicinity of epicenter during the initial period subsequent to the Bhuj earthquake. Postseismic relaxation by viscoelastic flow below the seismogenic zone seems to affect displacements across the entire Bhuj region. This paper presents the characteristics of postseismic transients and deformation processes in the scenario of the highly heterogeneous crust in the Bhuj region.     

Interactions Between Soils and Laboratory Simulated Electrolyte Solution

To study the impact of salt water intrusion on two types of soils from west coast region of India were investigated in the laboratory. The key characteristics evaluated included Atterberg limits, compaction characteristics, hydraulic conductivity and chemical characteristics of selected soils. The sea at this coast receives effluent from different points and hence the characteristics change with time and locality. Therefore, to maintain uniform composition, 0.5 N sodium chloride solution (NaCl) was prepared in the laboratory and batch tests were used to determine the immediate effect on soils. Soil specimens were prepared by mixing the soils with 0.5 N NaCl in the increments of 0, 5, 10 and 20% by weight to vary the degree of contamination. Experimental results of soils mixed with 0.5 N NaCl showed that the maximum dry density increases and the optimum moisture content (OMC) decreases with increasing sodium chloride concentration. The study also revealed that the hydraulic conductivity of the soils tested increases with increase in sodium chloride concentration. The Atterberg limits of contaminated specimens show a remarkable change when compared with uncontaminated specimens.     

Estimation of Pullout Capacity of Vertical Plate Anchors in Cohesionless Soil Using MARS

Vertical plate anchors provide an economical solution to safely resist the large horizontal forces experienced by the foundation of different structures such as bulkheads, sheet piles, retaining walls and so forth. This paper develops a multivariate adaptive regression spline (MARS) model-based approach for the determination of horizontal pullout capacity (P _u ) of vertical plate anchors buried in cohesionless soil by utilizing experimental results reported by different researchers. Based on the collection of forty different pullout experimental test results reported in the literature for anchors buried in loose to dense cohesionless soil with an embedment ratio ranges from 1 to 5, a predictive approach for P _u of vertical plate anchors has been developed in terms of non-dimensional pullout coefficient (M _γq ). The capability of the proposed MARS model for estimating the values of M _γq is examined by comparing the results obtained in the present study with those methods available in the literature. Using different statistical error measure criteria, this study indicates that the present approach is efficient in estimating the horizontal pullout capacity of vertical plate anchors as compared to other methods. The sensitivity analysis indicates that the embedment ratio (H/h, where H = embedment depth of anchor, and h = height of anchor) and internal friction angle (?) of soil mass are the two most important parameters for the evaluation of non-dimensional pullout coefficient (M _γq ) using the proposed MARS model.     

A determination of Jovian ammonia abundance based on a 2 μm spectrum

A spectrum of Jupiter in the two micron region has been analyzed to determine the Jovian ammonia abundance. The result is a ?4 cm - amagat, assuming an airmass factor η = 2.5 and a single effective reflecting layer for this wavelength. This is compared with the abundances observed at other wavelengths.     

Bulk viscous barotropic magnetised string cosmological models

Spatially homogeneous and anisotropic LRSBianchi type-I string cosmological models are studied in the frame work of general relativity when the source for the energy momentum tensor is a bulk viscous fluid containing one dimensional strings embedded in a magnetic field. A barotropic equation of state for the pressure and density is assumed to get determinate solutions of the field equations. The bulk viscous pressure is assumed to be proportional to the energy density. The effects of viscosity and electromagnetic field on the properties of the model are investigated. The role of bulk viscosity and electromagnetic field in getting an inflationary phase and in establishing a string phase in the universe is studied.     

Geochemical assessment of groundwater quality in vicinity of Bhalswa landfill,Delhi, India,using graphical and multivariate statistical methods

A geochemical assessment of groundwater quality and possible contamination in the vicinity of the Bhalswa landfill site was carried out by using a hydrochemical approach with graphical and multivariate statistical methods with the objective of identifying the occurrence of various geochemical processes and understanding the impact of landfill leachates on groundwater quality. Results indicate that nitrate, fluoride and heavy-metal pollution are in an alarming state with respect to the use of groundwater for drinking purposes. Various graphical plots and statistical analyses have been applied to the chemical data based on the ionic constituents, water types, and hydrochemical facies to infer the impact of the landfill on groundwater quality. The statistical analysis and spatial and temporal variations indicate the leaching of contaminants from the landfill to the groundwater aquifer system. The concentrations of heavy metals in the landfill leachates are as follows: Fe (22 mg/l), Mn (~20 mg/l), Cu (~10 mg/l), Pb (~2 mg/l), Ni (0.25 mg/l), Zn (~10 mg/l), Cd (~0.2 mg/l), Cl⁻ (~4,000 mg/l), SO₄²⁻ (~3,320 mg/l), PO₄³⁻ (~4 mg/l), NO₃⁻ (30 mg/l) and fluoride (~50 mg/l); all were much higher than the standards. The study reveals that the landfill is in a depleted phase and is affecting groundwater quality in its vicinity and the surrounding area due to leaching of contaminants.     

Talkoot: software tool to create collaboratories for earth science

“Open science,” where researchers share and publish every element of their research process in addition to the final results, can foster novel ways of collaboration among researchers and has the potential to spontaneously create new virtual research collaborations. Based on scientific interest, these new virtual research collaborations can cut across traditional boundaries such as institutions and organizations. Advances in technology allow for software tools that can be used by different research groups and institutions to build and support virtual collaborations and infuse open science. This paper describes Talkoot, a software toolkit designed and developed by the authors to provide Earth Science researchers a ready-to-use knowledge management environment and an online platform for collaboration. Talkoot allows Earth Science researchers a means to systematically gather, tag and share their data, analysis workflows and research notes. These Talkoot features are designed to foster rapid knowledge sharing within a virtual community. Talkoot can be utilized by small to medium sized groups and research centers, as well as large enterprises such a national laboratories and federal agencies.