Building frequency fluctuations from continuous monitoring of ambient vibrations and their relationship to temperature variations

Building frequencies (fundamental and higher modes) are a critical parameter especially in the field of structural health monitoring mainly based on the stability of the structural dynamic parameters of individual building (frequencies, damping and modes shape). One of the most used methods to find out these parameters is based on the use on ambient vibration analysis. In this work, we study the fluctuations over a month period of the fundamental frequencies (transverse and longitudinal) of a 3.5-story RC-building made of 2 identical units connected by a structural joint. Time independent building frequencies is a strong assumption; as illustrated by our experiment showing that over an observation period of a month, building frequencies fluctuate of about 3.5 %. A clear correlation is found between the building frequency fluctuations and temperature variations, with a phase-shift interpreted as the characteristic time of heat diffusion within the walls. This allows: (1) determining the thermal diffusivity of the structure, (2) inferring its relative stiffness variations, and (3) showing that its Young modulus varies linearly with temperature.     

Hydrodynamic Tidal Model of the Persian Gulf Based on Spatially Variable Bed Friction Coefficient

The aim of this study is to develop a two-dimensional hydrodynamic tidal model for the Persian Gulf (PG2017) using 2D-MIKE21 software. The advantages of present study is accounting for the spatial variation of bed friction coefficient besides a precise bathymetry together with a 23-year of combined records of satellite altimetry data. We found that the bed friction coefficient has a significant effect on sea level changes in the region under our modeling consideration. Since the tidal behavior in the northern part of the Qeshm Island is significantly different from the other parts of the Persian Gulf, to present a more accurate hydrodynamic tidal model, the Gulf is divided into two regions where the bed friction coefficient is modeled separately for each region. The root mean square value of the differences between the amplitude of dominant constituents; M2, S2, K1, and O1 derived from the PG2017 model and that of 98 altimetry and coastal tide gauge stations are respectively equal to 1.6, 1.9, 2.8, and 1.3?cm. Moreover, comparing the PG2017 model efficiency with the FES2014, OSU12, EOT11a, DTU10, and Admiralty models shows that the PG2017 model has an improvement of 22.1%, 47.2%, 43.2%, 44.2%, and 57.6% in terms of relative error, respectively.     

The First Recorded Occurrences and the Distribution of Physalia physalis (Hydrozoa: Physaliidae) in Algerian Waters

Ocean Science Journal - Recently, there have been recorded findings of the pleustonic siphonophore Physalia physalis Linnæus, 1758, in different regions of Algeria. Several colonies washed...     

Laboratory Characterization of Cemented Tailings Paste Containing Crushed Waste Rocks for Improved Compressive Strength Development

This paper aims at investigating some physical and mechanical characteristics of cemented tailings paste incorporating different amounts of crushed waste rocks (hereinafter called paste aggregate fill, PAF) for underground stope filling. Different mixture formulations were prepared with three classes of crushed waste rocks (or aggregate) grain size, namely 0/10, 0/15 and 0/20 mm. The amount of crushed waste rocks in the PAF mixtures ranges from 10 to 50% by volume (% v/v) (or 8–45% by mass, %m) of dry mill tailings and crushed waste rocks. The results show that the addition of crushed waste rocks in cemented tailings paste mixtures allows a significant unconfined compressive strength (UCS) development after 28 and 90 days of curing. The highest UCS was obtained from the mixtures containing 50% v/v of crushed waste rocks of class of size 0/15 mm. The PAF mixtures with the coarser crushed waste rocks (class of size of 0/20 mm) exhibit some particles segregation.     

Sedimentological evolution of the Lower Series formation in the southern area of the Hassi R’Mel field,Saharan Platform,Algeria

The Hassi R’Mel field, which is the largest gas field in Algeria, produces principally gas condensate. The produced gas and oil comes from four reservoirs of Triassic age (reservoir A, reservoir B, reservoir C, and the Lower Series). All the previous studies in this field focused only on the upper reservoirs (A, B, and C), which have shown an excellent petrophysical properties. However, due to the presence of shale facies as well as volcanic intrusions, the Lower Series reservoir has been less explored. Thus, our study is mainly focused on this Lower Series in order to find the best sandy levels. The aim of this paper was to determine the facies types in the area, their distribution in the southern area of the Hassi R’Mel gas field, and their depositional environment. The Triassic rocks in this field are divided into four formations. From the youngest to oldest, these are S4, Lower Shale, Horizon A, and the Lower Series. The Lower Series formation can be further divided into three members (shaly sandstone, andesite, and lower shale). The shaly sandstone member within the Lower Series is composed of four units that are present all over the study area with an important pinch-out toward the northern part. The depositional environment within the defined units is a braided fluvial system in the southern part that evolves into a meandering fluvial system toward the north. Thus, the study area is considered to be a transitional zone between two depositional systems.     

Assessment of mesoscale convective systems using IR brightness temperature in the southwest of Iran

In this research, the spatial and temporal distribution of Mesoscale Convective Systems was assessed in the southwest of Iran using Global merged satellite IR brightness temperature (acquired from Meteosat, GOES, and GMS geostationary satellites) and synoptic station data. Event days were selected using a set of storm reports and precipitation criteria. The following criteria are used to determine the days with occurrence of convective systems: (1) at least one station reported 6-h precipitation exceeding 10 mm and (2) at least three stations reported phenomena related to convection (thunderstorm, lightning, and shower). MCSs were detected based on brightness temperature, maximum areal extent, and duration thresholds (228 K, 10,000 km², and 3 h, respectively). An MCS occurrence classification system is developed based on mean sea level, 850 and 500 hPa pressure patterns.

The results indicated that the highest frequency of MCSs occurred in December and April. Assessment of MCSs spatial frequency showed that MCS occurrence is strongly correlated with topography in April and May unlike the cold months. In other words, the role of Zagros Mountains in developing MCSs varies based on the season so that its impact increases with enhancement of mean monthly temperature. In addition, the occurrence of MCSs depends closely on the configuration of the Sudan Low in the southwest of Iran.

     

An experimental investigation of LNAPL migration in an unsaturated/saturated sand

Accidental spills of hydrocarbons, such as Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids (LNAPLs), are one of the most common sources of subsurface contamination. Migration of LNAPL in a porous medium is influenced by various factors such as the number of fluids present in the unsaturated/saturated zones and the proportion of pores occupied by each fluid. The results for relationship between matric suction and degree of saturation are presented in this paper for water–air, water–LNAPL and LNAPL–air systems in a sand. A simple and reliable setup using Buchner funnel was designed to obtain these relations. It was found that the relationship between matric suction head and degree of saturation is hysteretic for all the fluid systems (water–air, water–LNAPL and LNAPL–air). Furthermore, the amount of hysteresis depended upon the fluid system, with the maximum hysteresis occurring for water–air system. The results suggest that the amount of trapped air depends upon the reversal degree of saturation from drying to wetting.     

Fuzzy logic and multi-criteria methods for groundwater potentiality mapping at Al Fo’ah area,the United Arab Emirates (UAE): an integrated approach

This study has modified an approach based on fuzzy logic in a GIS and multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) for groundwater potentiality mapping in Al Fo’ah area, the United Arab Emirates. The proposed approach uses nine groundwater conditioning factors recognized by local hydrology experts. Each factor and class of each factor was given a weight and score based on its level of contributions to groundwater accumulation using analytical hierarchy process and MCDM. Our results revealed that the areas of very high harbouring groundwater are located at the foot of the Oman mountains and occupies an area of about 8.46 km² (4%) of the study area. We validated our results using the Relative Operating Characteristics. The area under the curve showed a ratio of 0.8957 (of 89.57%). The modified approach is timely and economically effective and can be applied in semi-arid regions to help hydrologists.     

The transverse dynamics of flow in a tidal channel within a greater strait

Vessel-mounted ADCP measurements were conducted to describe the transverse structure of flow between the two headland tips in Khuran Channel, south of Iran (26° 45′ N), where the highest tidal velocities in spring tides were ~?1.8 m/s. Current profiles were obtained using a 614.4 kHz TRDI WorkHorse Broadband ADCP over nine repetitions of three cross-channel transects during one semidiurnal tidal cycle. The 2.2-km-long transects ran north/south across the channel. A least-square fit to semidiurnal, quarter-diurnal, and sixth diurnal harmonics was used to separate the tidal signals from the observed flow. Spatial gradients showed that the greatest lateral shears and convergences were found over the northern channel and near the northern headland tip due to very sharp bathymetric changes in this area. Contrary to the historical assumption, the across-channel momentum balance in the Khuran Channel was ageostrophic. The current study represents one of the few examples reported where the lateral friction influences the across-channel momentum balance.     

Dissolution of calcitic marble and dolomitic rock in high iron concentrated acid mine drainage: application to anoxic limestone drains

Oxidation of sulphide mining waste can generate acid mine drainage (AMD) that has the potential to seriously affect the ecosystems. Acid mine drainage is characterised by a high acidity, high concentrations of sulphates and metals. To reduce the environmental impacts due to AMD, neutralisation using limestone drains is an option proposed in the literature and used around the world. The present study focuses on the influence of the carbonate rock mineralogy and their particle size on the neutralising capacity. The tests were performed in two different anoxic conditions: in batch reactors, and in columns having a hydraulic retention time of 15?h. The results showed that the neutralisation capacity of calcite was more important than for dolomitic rock, and smaller particle size gave higher alkalinity production (fine calcite dissolved faster in contact with AMD). A characterization of metal precipitate in sludge and in limestone coating was performed and demonstrated that gypsum, lepidocrocite and goethite were the predominant secondary minerals to be formed. Finally, this study underlines that anoxic limestone drain cannot be used alone to treat high iron concentrated AMD.