Enhanced predictions of wave impact pressure by improved incompressible SPH methods

A new criterion is proposed for a more efficient assessment of free-surface particles in a particle-based simulation. Enhanced wave impact simulations are carried out by improved Incompressible SPH (ISPH) methods. The first improvement is the same as that in the Corrected ISPH (CISPH; [Khayyer A, Gotoh, H, Shao SD. Corrected incompressible SPH method for accurate water-surface tracking in breaking waves, Coast Eng 2008; 55 (3): 236–250]) method and is proposed for the improvement of momentum conservation. The second improvement is achieved by deriving and employing a higher order source term based on a more accurate differentiation to obtain a less fluctuating and more accurate pressure field. The enhanced performance of improved ISPH methods is demonstrated through the simulation of several fluid impact simulations in comparison with the experimental data and simulation results by other numerical methods.     

An investigation of the effects of important grouting and rock parameters on the grouting process

Today, grouting is used as an aid in ground improvement in most civil and mining engineering projects. Groutability and grout penetration depth are among the most important issues that are considered in grouting operation. Various parameters such as in-situ stress, pore water pressure, joint geometric and geomechanical characteristics, grout properties (viscosity and yield stress) and technical factors such as grouting pressure and flow rate affect the groutability and grout penetration depth in a jointed rock mass. Knowledge of the effect of these parameters has advantages in the prediction of grouting results. Typically, cement-based grout is used in jointed rock masses. Unlike water, stable cement-based grout usually acts as a Bingham fluid. In this study the effect of important parameters on grouting process in a jointed rock mass was investigated numerically using the DEM method. In the conducted study, the problem geometry represents a horizontal section in a regularly jointed rock mass with two joint sets. The analyses results show that the grout penetration depth and intake increase as joint aperture, normal stiffness and grouting pressure increase and in-situ stress and pore water pressure decrease. Increase in joint spacing does not have any effect on the grout penetration depth but decreases the grout intake. The effect of joint orientation on grouting process is strongly dependent on in-situ stress state. On the other hand, increase in grout yield stress decreases the grout penetration depth and intake, while grout viscosity does not have any effect on maximum grout penetration depth and intake. To further investigate the above mechanisms, the grouting process conducted in Gotvand dam-Iran was simulated numerically.     

Deforestation Trends and Spatial Modelling of its Drivers in the Dry Temperate Forests of Northern Pakistan–A Case Study of Chitral

Deforestation is a major environmental challenge in the mountain areas of Pakistan. The study assessed trends in the forest cover in Chitral tehsil over the last two decades using supervised land cover classification of Landsat TM satellite images from 1992, 2000, and 2009, with a maximum likelihood algorithm. In 2009, the forest cover was 10.3% of the land area of Chitral(60,000 ha). The deforestation rate increased from 0.14% per annum in 1992–2000 to 0.54% per annum in 2000–2009, with 3,759 ha forest lost over the 17 years. The spatial drivers of deforestation were investigated using a cellular automaton modelling technique to project future forest conditions. Accessibility(elevation, slope), population density, distance to settlements, and distance to administrative boundary were strongly associated with neighbourhood deforestation. A model projection showed a further loss of 23% of existing forest in Chitral tehsil by 2030, and degradation of 8%, if deforestation continues at the present rate. Arandu Union Council, with 2212 households, will lose 85% of its forest. Local communities have limited income resources and high poverty and are heavily dependent on non-timber forest products for their livelihoods. Continued deforestation will further worsen their livelihood conditions, thus improved conservation efforts are essential.     

Effects of Replacing Fishmeal with Animal By-products Meal Supplementation in Diets on the Growth and Nutrient Utilization of Mangrove Red Snapper

A feeding trial was conducted for 75 d to evaluate the nutritive value of a mixture of animal by-products(MAB) as a possible protein source in diets for juvenile mangrove red snapper,Lutjanus argentimaculatus(mean initial body weight,30 g). Fish were fed one of five isonitrogenous diets(40% crude protein) replacing 0,25%(MAB25),50%(MAB50),75%(MAB75) and 100%(MAB100) of fish meal protein with similar percentages of MAB. The MAB consisted of 25% cow liver meal,20% leather meal,20% meat and bone meal,15% blood meal,10% APC(poultry feather meal),8% poultry manure dried,1.5% choline and 0.5% chromic oxide. After 75 d of feeding,fish fed with diets MAB50,MAB75 and MAB100 exhibited significantly lower growth per-formance than that of fish fed with control and MAB25 diets. The optimum level of MAB was estimated to be 23%. Replacement of fish meal by MAB23% showed the following performance:maximum weight gain,510%;SGR,2.39% and FCE,2.83%. The MAB substitution up to 75% of fish meal protein in diets did not show differences in apparent protein digestibility(83.6% for MAB25,79.2% for MAB50,78.7% for MAB75) compared with control(83.4%),whereas in MAB100 group digestibility(65.3%) was sig-nificantly lower than in other groups. The apparent phosphorus absorption of test diet groups was significantly higher(37.1% for MAB25,28.5% for MAB50,55.6% for MAB75 and 54.5% for MAB100) than that of control(11.2%). The levels of protein and ash in the whole body,carcass and viscera increased as MAB substitution in diets increased,whereas lipids and moisture remained con-sistent among all treatment groups. These results showed that approximately 23% of fish meal protein could be replaced by a mixture of animal by-products for juvenile snapper growing from 30 g to 167 g in 75 d without compromising growth performance and feed efficiency.     

An investigation into the fault patterns in the Chadegan region, west Iran: Evidence for dextral brittle transpressional tectonics in the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone

The NW-SE trending Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone (SSZ) is the internal part of the Zagros continental collision zone, which mainly consists of metamorphic rocks deformed in a dextral transpressional zone. This dextral transpression is attributed to brittle deformation related to late Cenozoic Arabia-Eurasia oblique continental collision. Major NW-trending faults, including the Dalan, Garmdareh, Yasechah, Sheida, and Ben faults, are reverse faults with a dextral strike-slip component. These faults were displaced by NW-trending synthetic and NE-trending antithetic faults. There are also E-trending thrusts and N-trending normal faults developing in directions that are, respectively, almost normal and parallel to the major shortening direction. The NW-trending Ben, Yasechah, and Sheida faults are NE-dipping faults, and the Dalan and Garmdareh faults are SW-dipping faults. These faults indicate the presence of a transpressive flower structure zone that probably led to the exhumation of Jurassic high-grade metamorphic rocks, such as eclogite, in the central part of the study area.     

哈纳斯自然保护区地衣生态地理分布的研究

根据 1985年以来实地考察的基础上 ,对保护区自然地理条件和地衣生长发育的地理背景进行了分析 ,对地衣植被的生态地理分布规律进行了初步探讨。并对地衣植被进行了生态分类。     

A hybrid AHP-VIKOR approach for prospectivity modeling of porphyry Cu deposits in the Varzaghan District,NW Iran

Identifying highly favorable areas related to a particular mineralization type is the main objective of mineral prospectivity modeling (MPM). The northwestern portion of Ahar-Arasbaran porphyry copper belt (AAPCB) is situated within the Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic belt (UDMB). Because of owning many worthwhile Cu-Mo and Cu-Au porphyry deposits, this area is entitled to incorporate diverse spatial evidence layers for the MPM. In this paper, a hybrid AHP-VIKOR, as an improved knowledge-driven MPM procedure has been proposed for integration of various exploration evidence layers. For this, the AHP is used to calculate important weights of spatial criteria while the VIKOR is applied to outline ultimate prospectivity model. Six effective spatial evidence layers pertaining to the Varzaghan District are selected: (1) multi-elemental geochemical layer of Cu-Mo-Bi-Au; (2) remotely sensed data of argillic, phyllic, and iron oxide alteration layers; and (3) geological and structural layers of Oligo-Miocene intrusions and fault. In addition, a fuzzy prospectivity model (γ?=?0.9) is implemented to assess the AHP-VIKOR approach. Two credible validation methods comprising normalized density index and success rate curve are adapted for quantitative evaluation of predictive models and enhancing the probability of exploration success. The achieved results proved the higher accuracy of the AHP-VIKOR model compared with the fuzzy model in delimiting the favorable areas.