Notes on the Chameleon Brans-Dicke gravity

We consider a generalized Brans-Dicke model in which the scalar field has a potential function and is also allowed to couple non-minimally with the matter sector. This anomalous gravitational coupling can in principle avoid the model to pass local gravity experiments. One then usually assumes that the scalar field has a chameleon behavior in the sense that it acquires a density-dependent effective mass. While it can take a small effective mass in cosmological (low-density environment) scale, it has a sufficiently heavy mass in Solar System (large-density environment) and then hides gravity tests. We will argue that such a chameleon behavior can not be generally realized and depends significantly on the forms attributed to the potential and the coupling functions.     

Impact of constitutive models on the numerical analysis of underground constructions

The constitutive model frequently used in numerical calculations of tunnel excavation is linear-elastic perfectly plastic with a Mohr–Coulomb (MC) failure criterion. Generally, this leads to shallower and wider surface settlement troughs than those observed experimentally. It is therefore necessary to use adapted constitutive models for the design of underground works. In this paper, three constitutive models are implemented in a two-dimensional simulation of an underground excavation in plane strain: a linear-elastic perfectly plastic model (the MC model), an elastoplastic model with isotropic hardening [the hardening soil (HS) model, Schanz et al., Beyond 2000 in computational geotechnics, Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 281–290, 1999] and an extension of this model which implies an evolution of the stiffness modulus in the small-strain range according to the strain level (the HS model with small-strain stiffness “HS-Small”, Benz, Small-strain stiffness of soils and its numerical consequences. Ph.D. thesis, Universitat Stuttgart, 189 pp., 2007). The study is based on the results of drained triaxial compression tests representing an overconsolidated clay (Gasparre, Advanced laboratory characterisation of London clay. Ph.D. thesis, Imperial College London, 598 pp., 2005); and is then applied to a shallow tunnel. The impact of the constitutive model is highlighted as well as the limits of the simplest constitutive model.     

Evaluation of sediment contamination in the Red Sea coastal area combining multiple pollution indices and multivariate statistical techniques

In the recent years,the Red Sea coast of Yemen has been severely affected by intensive anthropogenic activities.The current study constitutes a thorough inquiry to evaluate the extent of heavy metals pollution in Yemen's Red Sea coast sediment and identifies the possible sources of pollution.The concentrations of five metals(copper(Cu),zinc(Zn),cadmium(Cd),lead(Pb),and nickel(Ni))collected from nine sites along the Red Sea coast of Yemen were assessed using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer(ASS).Sediment quality indices,such as the sediment quality guidelines(SQGs),potential ecological risk(RI),contamination factor(CF),pollution load index(PLI),geoaccumulation index(Igeo),and modified degree of contamination(mCd)were computed.In addition,multivariate statistical techniques(principal component analysis(PCA),hierarchical cluster analysis,and Pearson's correlation analysis)were applied to identify the potential sources of metals.The mean concentrations of Cu,Zn,Cd,Pb,and Ni were 51.3,61.9,4.02,9.9,and 33.4 mg/kg dry wt,respectively.The spatial distribution revealed that the metals concentrations were high at the middle zone and low southward of Hodeida city.According to the SQGs,the adverse biological effects of metals were occasionally associated with Cu and Cd,frequently associated with Ni,and not expected to occur with Zn and Pb.The RI indicated that the sediment of the studied sites pose low(RI<50)to considerable(100≤RI<200)ecological risk.The mean effect range-median quotient(M-ERM-Q)indicated that the combination of the studied metals had the toxicity probability of 21%at all studied sites.Igeo and CF indicated that the metals concentrations were in the descending order of:Zn>Ni>Pb>Cd>Cu,whereas the PLI and mCd indicated that Ras Isa(Site 5)and Urj village(Site 6)were the most polluted sites.PCA,cluster analysis,and correlation analysis found that Cd,Pb,and Ni mostly originated from anthropogenic sources while Cu and Zn were mainly derived from natural sources.Thus,it is evident that the intensive anthropogenic activities had negative influence on metals accumulation in the sediment of the Red Sea coast of Yemen leading to detrimental effects to the whole ecosystem.These comprehensive findings provide valuable information and data for future monitoring studies regarding heavy metals pollution and sediment quality at the Red Sea coast of Yemen.     

Statistical analysis of different chemical elements in groundwater of northwestern Saudi Arabia

A total of 72 water samples were collected from the sub-surface aquifer system in the Midyan basin and analyzed for 24 major, minor and trace elements. Histograms and normal quantile plots were used to delineate the sub-populations of the chemical constituents in the studied groundwater samples. Some of the elements such as Al, K, Ca, Mg, Na and Cl have concentrations that could be linked to the weathering of the surface rock strata. On the other hand, the elements like As, Pb and Sb have concentration, that can be linked to agricultural practices in the area. The use of simple statistical analysis, frequency histograms, and Q-Q plots were useful for the detection and evaluation of elemental constituents in the groundwater of the study area.     

The Effect of finite strain and deformation history of HALABAN area,eastern Arabian shield,Saudi Arabia

The present study aims to evaluate a relationship between the mineralogy and structural analysis in the Halaban area and to document the tectonic evolution of Halaban and Al Amar faults. The collected samples were taken from deformed granitiods rocks (such as granite, gneisses and tonalite), metasedimentary, metavolcanic, metagabbro and carbonate rocks are trend to NE-SW with low dip angle in the Halaban area. These samples were 8 from granite, 14 metagabbro, 6 metavolcanics, 5 tonalite, 6 metasedimentary, 10 gneisses and 8 carbonate rocks. Our results are described for the different axial ratios of deformed rocks as the following: XZ sections range from 1.10 to 4.60 in the Fry method and range from 1.70 to 2.71 in the Rf/? method. YZ sections range from 1.10 to 3.34 in the Fry method and range from 1.62 to 2.63 in the Rf/Phi method. In addition, XY sections range from 1 to 3.51 in the Fry method and range from 1 to 1.27 in the Rf/? method for deformed granite rocks, metasedimentry rocks, and metagabbro. The stretch axes for measured samples in the X direction axes (S_X) variety from 1.06 to 2.53 in the Fry method and vary from 1.20 to 1.45 in the Rf/? method. The values of the Y direction axes (S_Y) vary from 0.72 to 1.43 in the Fry method, which indicates contraction and extension in this direction and vary from 1.13 to 1.37 in the Rf/? method which indicates extension in this direction. Furthermore, the Z direction axes (SZ) varies from 0.09 to 0.89 in the Fry method and from 0.52 to 0.71 in the Rf/? method. The stretches axes in the Z direction (SZ) show a vertical shortening about 11% to 91% in the Fry method and show vertical shortening about 29% to 48% in the Rf/? method. The studied rock units are generally affected by brittle-ductile shear zones, which are sub-parallel to parallel NW or NNW trend. It assumed that different rock types of have similar deformation behavior. Based on these results, it is concluded that the finite strain is accumulated during the metamorphism after that was started the deformation by thrusting activity. The contacts between the different rock types were deformed during thrusting under semi-brittle to ductile deformation conditions by simple shear. A component of vertical shortening is also involved causing subhorizontal foliation in the Halaban area.