Accuracy of kinematic wave and diffusion wave approximations for space-independent flows on infiltrating surfaces with lateral inflow neglected in the momentum equation

Error equations for the kinematic wave and diffusion wave approximations with lateral inflow neglected in the momentum equation are derived under simplified conditions for space-independent flows. These equations specify error as a function of time in the flow hydrograph. The kinematic wave, diffusion wave and dynamic wave solutions are parameterized through a dimensionless parameter γ which is dependent on the initial conditions. This parameter reflects the effect of initial flow depth, channel-bed slope, lateral inflow, infiltration and channel roughness when the initial condition is non-vanishing; it reflects the effect of bed slope, channel roughness and acceleration due to gravity when the initial condition is vanishing. The error equations are found to be the Riccati equation. The structure of the error equations in the case when the momentum equation neglects lateral inflow is different from that when the lateral inflow is included.     

Numerical simulation of fault reactivation phenomenon

Two-dimensional finite element method was used for evaluating the effect of orthogonal compression on precursor faults. The tendency of reactivation of precursor faults as thrust or normal was analyzed involving the positions and angles of precursor faults with the stresses, strains and displacements. Twelve cases were taken up with different combinations of precursor fault angles (high, >45° and low, <45°) and fault positions for analysis. Different positions and angles of precursor faults are correlated with stresses, strains, and displacements and are discussed in detail. It is hoped that this would help in understanding the past and the present geodynamics of the earth’s crust.     

Some theoretical aspects of electric field and precipitation growth in a finite thundercloud

A time-dependent numerical model allowing a simulation of the electric field and precipitation growth in a thundercloud of finite dimensions is described. It is found that slower growth rate (compared to an infinite thundercloud) of the electric field in a finite thundercloud permits larger size growth and higher terminal velocities of hydrometeors owing to an enhancement in precipitation intensity. Calculations also show that a higher maximum of the electric field is needed to slow down the larger particles produced in a thundercloud of finite dimensions. In particular, these solutions also include contribution of screening charge transport in thundercloud electrification.     

Impact of 3D Var GSI-ENKF hybrid data assimilation system

The hybrid two-way coupled 3DEnsVar assimilation system was tested with the NCMRWF global data assimilation forecasting system. At present, this system consists of T574L64 deterministic model and the grid-point statistical interpolation analysis scheme. In this experiment, the analysis system is modified with a two-way coupling with an 80 member Ensemble Kalman Filter of T254L64 resolution and runs are carried out in parallel to the operational system for the Indian summer monsoon season (June–September) for the year 2015 to study its impact. Both the assimilation systems are based on NCEP GFS system. It is found that hybrid assimilation marginally improved the quality of the forecasts of all variables over the deterministic 3D Var system, in terms of statistical skill scores and also in terms of circulation features. The impact of the hybrid system in prediction of extreme rainfall and cyclone track is discussed.     

SHORT COMMUNICATIONS FLEXURAL CAPACITY OF EDGE LOADED ANNULAR FOUNDATIONS

Edge loaded annular foundations have been analysed assuming the soil pressure at the contact to be non-uniform using the lower bound approach of Limit Analysis. Variable fixity at the edges has been allowed and the foundation slab is made to follow the Square yield criterion. Results presented in the form of curves can be readily used to obtain the locations of the yield hinge circles for the given slab and the corresponding collapse load. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Landslides caused due to ignorance — Case studies from northeast India

Landslides may be caused either by natural process or human activity or combination of both. In many cases, modifications in hill slopes are carried out with or without proper slope stability analysis, even though the consequences are well known. In other cases, stable slopes are converted into unstable slopes by the people residing in the area by artificial modification/alterations of the hill slope without basic knowledge of hill slope management. Such cases are very common in the hilly terrain including northeast India and they have caused loss of many lives even though the size of such landslide are very small. The present paper describes four examples from different parts of the northeast India where the terraced hill slopes that remained stable for an appreciable length of time have been converted to unstable slopes.     

Effect of excavation stages on stress and pore pressure changes for an underground nuclear repository

This paper provides a brief overview of evolution of deformations, stresses, and pore pressures due to different excavation stages during construction of an URL. Excavation of a rockmass develops damage zone of finite width around the excavated zone which is associated with changes in permeability and affect the fluid flow mechanism. In this study, a coupled hydromechanical (HM) analysis for a water saturated porous rock mass has been done which is caused by sequential excavation and backfill of vertical disposal pit of an URL. For this purpose, an Atomic Energy of Canada Limited’s in-floor concept for a deep geologic repository suitable for Indian condition has been used. Changes in rock deformations, stresses, strains and mechanically induced pore pressure in an undrained condition, during excavation, as well as those caused by mechanically induced rock deformations after backfill of the disposal pit have been modeled. A three-dimensional finite difference tool FLAC^3D (Itasca Consulting Group Inc. FLAC-3D 1997) has been used for the analysis.     

Prediction of creep characteristic of rock under varying environment

The strain developed due to creep is mainly proportional to the logarithm of the time under load, and is mostly proportional to the stress and temperature. At higher temperature the creep rate falls slowly with respect to time, and the creep strain is proportional to a fractional power of time, with the exponent increasing as the temperature increases and reaching a value approximately one-third at temperatures of about 0.5°C. At these temperatures, the creep increases with stress according to a power greater than unity and possibly exponentially. It increases with temperature as (−U/kT), where U is an activation energy and k is Boltzman’s constant. There are different methods to determine the creep strain and the energy of Jog (B) including experimental methods, multivariate regression analysis, and by numerical simulation. These methods are less cumbersome and time consuming. In the present investigation, artificial neural network technique has been used for prediction of the creep strain and energy of Jog (B). Two different networks have been tested and validated. Both the networks have four input neurons and one hidden layer with five neurons, and one output neuron. The data for different rocks at temperatures up to 750°C under conditions of compressive or tortional stress are taken from the literatures. The training and testing data sets used were 163 and 14, respectively. To deal with the problem of overfitting of data, Bayesian regulation has been used and network is trained with suitable training epochs. The coefficients of correlation among the predicted and observed values are found high and they improve the confidence of the users. The mean absolute percentage error obtained are also very low.