Axially symmetric explosion in magnetogasdynamics

A point explosion in a spheroid with axially symmetric exponential density distribution is investigated by generalizing the method of Laumbach and Probstein to include the effects of a magnetic field. It is shown that the shock velocity decreases and tends to zero. Also, the elongation of the shock envelope along the axis of symmetry is much reduced and the blowout of the shock wave is removed on account of the magnetic field.     

Prospectivity Modeling for Cambrian–Ordovician Hydraulic Fracturing Sand Resources Around The Llano Uplift,Central Texas

Cambrian–Ordovician strata in Central Texas are a major source of specialty sand for hydraulic fracturing and have potential to play a bigger role in proppant supply to markets in and around Texas. Sandstone in the Hickory Member of the Riley Formation is suitable in compressive strength, as well as grain size and shape to be used as proppant. The Hickory sandstone forms the basal sequence that non-conformably overlies the Precambrian basement and is a complex succession of terrestrial and transgressive marine arkosic to quartz arenitic sands and silts. The quantity and location of sand resources in the Central Texas Frac Sand district is illustrated through geospatial volumetric techniques and estimated at 5 billion tonnes of proppant material. The prospectivity modeling of favorable characteristics of existing resource locations is applied to determine new sites for resource development and locate and quantify the abundance of prospective natural sand resources in the Central Texas Frac Sand district.     

Empirical Approaches for Design of Web Pillars in Highwall Mining: Review and Analysis

Pillar design is of paramount importance to any underground mine design. Oversized pillars may lead to loss of coal while undersized pillars may lead to instability. While underground pillars are mostly square and rectangular, highwall mining pillars are long and narrow, as they are formed after driving parallel entries in the seam from the highwall. These pillars are termed as web pillars. The overall stability of highwall depends upon these pillars as no other supports are provided in the entries. Web pillar differs from usual coal pillars in respect of w/h ratio being <3.0, with an exceptionally longer length compared to its width, to the tune of 50–500 m. Several empirical coal pillar strength equations developed for rectangular pillars are still being used with some modifications to adapt to web pillars. Review and analysis of these empirical approaches for determining web pillar strength along with a numerical approach for web pillar design are discussed in this paper. Their application to some Indian case studies is also discussed.     

Influence of Overlying Roof Strata on Rib Design in Mechanised Depillaring

Depillaring of the existing pillars (square or rectangular in shape) by continuous miner provides irregular shaped ribs. An assessment of strength of such a rib becomes a difficult task. Literature review finds a number of approaches for the rib design but the scope of straight forward application of these approaches is limited due to the uniqueness of geo-mining conditions of the Indian coalfields. This review also finds that a wide spectrum of moderate roof conditions is yet to be properly addressed. Field studies at some depillaring operations in Indian coalfields indicated the influence of roof strata over the stability of a rib is considerably high. A systematic study of the roof strata influence on simulated models provided interesting results. A model for rib design is conceived on the basis of the simulation results. Discussing couple of field experiences of rib stability during mechanised depillaring under two different types of roof strata of Indian coalfields, this paper presents some results of the simulation along with the conceived model of a rib design.     

Eddy fluxes of CO2, water vapor,and sensible heat over a deciduous forest

Fluxes of CO₂, latent heat and sensible heat were measured above a fully-leafed deciduous forest in eastern Tennessee with the eddy correlation technique. These are among the first reported observations over such a surface. The influences of solar radiation, vapor pressure deficit and the aerodynamic and canopy resistances on these mass and energy exchanges are examined. Following a concept introduced by McNaughton and Jarvis (1983), examination of our data suggest that the water vapor exchange of a deciduous forest is not as strongly coupled with net radiation as is that of agricultural crops. The degree of decoupling is smaller than in the case of a coniferous forest. This difference may be attributable in part to the greater aerodynamic resistance to water vapor transfer in a deciduous forest. It appears that the concept of decoupling may be extended to the CO₂ exchange of a deciduous forest as well.Published as Paper No. 7832, Journal Series, Nebraska Agricultural Research Division. ATDD Contribution No. 85-17.     

Earthquake mechanisms and tectonics in the Assam-Burma region

Eleven new focal mechanisms from earthquakes in the Assam-Burma region have been determined using P-wave first-motion directions reported in the Bulletins of the International Seismological Centre (Edinburgh). Out of them, eight mechanisms indicate thrust faulting, two normal faultings and one strike-slip faulting. In the thrust type of mechanism solutions, sense of motion on the shallow dipping of the two nodal planes is consistent with underthrusting beneath the arc-like mountain ranges. Seismic slip vectors strike in almost northerly direction along the eastern Himalayas and in almost easterly direction along the Burmese arc. A predominance of thrust faulting is consistent with geological evidences of thrusting and uplift in the Himalayas and the Assam-Burma region.     

Time delay between Hα and hard X-ray emissions during impulsive solar flares

This investigation shows that statistically there are significant time delays between H and hard X-ray (HXR) emissions during solar flares; most impulsive flares produce HXR emissions up to 1 min before and up to 2 min after the onset of H emission. HXR emissions are also found to be peaked up to 2 min before the H emissions.