Characteristic curves for the inversion of magnetic anomalies of spherical ore bodies

Characteristic curves are presented for interpreting vertical and total components of the anomalous magnetic field caused by spherical ore bodies. The curves use characteristic distances which are easy to measure on an anomaly profile. The method is fast, and does not require prior knowledge of the base level or the origin. Inversion with the characteristic curves is demonstrated on two field examples and the curves computed for the estimated parameters match well the field curves.     

Slope failures along the western continental margin of India: a consequence of gas-hydrate dissociation, rapid sedimentation rate, and seismic activity?

Along the western continental margin of India (WCMI), several bottom simulating reflectors were identified on analogue single-channel seismic records, some of these located in areas where slumping and mass wasting were observed. The causes, consequences and degree of geographic variation of these geomorphic processes are assessed in terms of possible gas-hydrate dissociation during Pleistocene sea-level changes, high sedimentation resulting in underconsolidation, and seismotectonic activity prevailing along the WCMI margin. One consequence of possible gas-hydrate dissociation along the continental slope could be sediment failure and mass transport down the slope. By contrast, in the flat deep-sea areas, gas-hydrate dissociation may have led to gas seepage and the development of pockmarks at the seafloor.     

Coupled horizontal–vertical stability of bearings under dynamic loading

In this study, the coupled horizontal–vertical behavior of elastomeric bearings subjected to dynamic loading is studied in detail. Under extreme dynamic loading, elastomeric bearings exhibit unstable behavior and an instantaneous loss of horizontal stiffness that is recoverable. Building on an earlier study where the authors developed an analytical model for the horizontal behavior of bearings under dynamic loads, in this study, a new analytical model for the coupled horizontal–vertical behavior of the bearings is developed. The coupled behavior of the bearing is first studied for quasi‐static loading, and later, the behavior of the bearings under dynamic loading is studied. A clear distinction is made between different types of deformation the bearing undergoes in the vertical direction. Based on experimental results, it is observed that the behavior of the bearings under dynamic loading differs markedly from that observed under static loading. A new analytical model is proposed that can account for the coupled horizontal–vertical behavior of the bearings under dynamic loading. The proposed analytical model for predicting the post‐stability vertical behavior of the bearings is verified using experimental results. The model proposed is found to successfully predict the coupled horizontal–vertical behavior of elastomeric bearings. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kaolinite – alkali interaction and effects on basic properties

The influence of type and amount of clays present in soils on their properties is well understood. The clays exert their influence through large specific surface area and charges on them. Their effect is mostly exhibited through inter particle bonding and subsequent particle associations. The mineralogical influence of soils in water is well documented. However, the change in soil water system because of presence some of the contaminants can greatly influence the soil behaviour. Some of the changes are due to formation of new compounds due to interactions between the soil and pollutant. The paper reports the effect of interaction of kaolinite mineral with alkali on the index properties of soils from which the geotechnical behaviour can be understood. Detailed X-ray diffraction studies have shown that sodium aluminum silicate hydroxide hydrate (NASH) is formed by clay alkali reactions. The type and amount of formation of the compound is influenced by the concentration of alkali solution. While the compound formed is in smaller quantities with 1 N NaOH solution, significantly high quantity is formed with 4 N NaOH solution. Presence of alumina is shown to play a significant role. It was observed that the formation of sodium aluminum silicate hydroxide hydrate is reduced in the presence of alumina. Specific gravity of contaminated clay soil was reduced which confirms the formation of new compounds. Water adsorption and specific surface area of soil are also influenced due to soil alkali interaction. The changes in the free swell and index properties of soil in the presence of alkali have been explained by the changes in soil fabric and the formation of new compound.     

Dependence of tidal effects on the mass distribution in binary stellar systems

Analytic expressions for tidal disruption and tidal coalescence for binary stellar systems have been derived, using impulsive approximation, as a function of the mass ratio and separation of the components. These expressions can be used for any mass distribution of the components for non-interpenetrating cases.     

A CONSTANT DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR AQUIFER TESTS ON LARGE-DIAMETER WELLS

Abstract. The discharge in pumping tests conducted on large-diameter wells declines with the fall of water level. This violates the basic requirement of pumping tests that the discharge should remain constant. A simple device to keep the discharge constant has therefore been developed. This device is also useful in keeping the discharge much lower than the rated capacity of the farmer's pump, and thus in increasing the total test period.
The discharge from the farmer's pump is released in a barrel having a V-notch at the top and an arrangement for returning a part of the discharge to the well. The return flow is gradually reduced through a control valve, and thus the net outflow is kept constant.
This device has been used for conducting pumping tests on several dug wells.     

An index for tropical temperate troughs over southern Africa

Strong cases of the tropical temperate troughs (TTT) that are responsible for the most of the summer rainfall over subtropical southern Africa are analyzed. An index for identifying the TTT is introduced for the first time using anomalies of outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) and the wind. The TTT is associated with a ridge-trough-ridge wave-like structure in the lower troposphere over southern Africa and the adjoining Indian Ocean. Therefore, the index considers physical processes that occur over southern Africa, adjoining the Atlantic and Indian Oceans to depict the variability of the TTT events. Unusually strong TTT events are identified when the standard deviations of the TTT indices defined by the OLR and wind anomalies in the selected regions are above 1.5 and 0.5 respectively. After applying this criterion and filtering out consecutive events, 55 TTT events are identified during the study period of December–January–February seasons from 1980–1981 to 2009–2010. From the composite analyses of those 55 events, it is found that the TTTs evolve with suppressed (enhanced) convection over the southwest Indian Ocean adjacent to Madagascar (southern Africa). The suppressed convection is, in turn, found to be associated with the enhanced convection around Sumatra in the southeast tropical Indian Ocean. This may explain why more TTT events occur in La Niña years as compared to El Niño years. Time evolution of the canonical TTT event shows that it starts 3 days prior to the mature phase of the event, suggesting possible predictability. After reaching a matured state, the system moves east toward the Indian Ocean and decays within the subsequent couple of days. In addition, the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) structure changes over Southern Africa/Madagascar during the TTT event and remains similar to climatology over other regions. The results indicate that the continental part of the ITCZ intensifies prior to the TTT event and then spreads southward following the mid-latitude influence during and after the event.