Prediction of the Rock Mass Diggability Index by Using Fuzzy Clustering-Based,ANN and Multiple Regression Methods

Rock mass classification systems are one of the most common ways of determining rock mass excavatability and related equipment assessment. However, the strength and weak points of such rating-based classifications have always been questionable. Such classification systems assign quantifiable values to predefined classified geotechnical parameters of rock mass. This causes particular ambiguities, leading to the misuse of such classifications in practical applications. Recently, intelligence system approaches such as artificial neural networks (ANNs) and neuro-fuzzy methods, along with multiple regression models, have been used successfully to overcome such uncertainties. The purpose of the present study is the construction of several models by using an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) method with two data clustering approaches, including fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering and subtractive clustering, an ANN and non-linear multiple regression to estimate the basic rock mass diggability index. A set of data from several case studies was used to obtain the real rock mass diggability index and compared to the predicted values by the constructed models. In conclusion, it was observed that ANFIS based on the FCM model shows higher accuracy and correlation with actual data compared to that of the ANN and multiple regression. As a result, one can use the assimilation of ANNs with fuzzy clustering-based models to construct such rigorous predictor tools.     

Potential ecological risk assessment of heavy metal contamination in sediment and water body around Dhaka export processing zone,Bangladesh

Sediments and surface water contamination by the industrial effluents containing heavy metals is the most detrimental environmental impact. Therefore, the present work attempts to determine the status of eight heavy metal distribution in sediments and water samples, and their ecological risks’ assessment in the studied area. The distribution pattern of heavy metals in the water and sediment follows the sequences: Zn > Cu > Pb > Cr > Mn > Ni > As > Cd and Mn > Zn > Cr > Pb > Cu > Ni > As > Cd, respectively. Gross water pollution is observed at different sampling points of Dhalai Beel and Bangshi River. The comparison of sedimentary mean metal concentrations with several environmental contamination monitoring parameters, viz, threshold effect level (TEL), probable effect level (PEL), and severe effect lever (SEL) indicates that the metal levels are less than PEL except Cr. Moreover, the level of contamination degree (C _d) and modified degree of contamination (mC _d) indicates ‘low’ and ‘nil to low’ degree of contamination, respectively. Pollution load indices (PLI) of the studied area are lower than unity, indicates no pollution. Furthermore, a toxic-response factor is applied to assess the potential ecological risk of these heavy metals into the water body. The results of this study exhibit a low potential ecological risk of heavy metals. The Pearson’s correlation and cluster analysis are also performed to assess the heavy metal interactions in water and sediment samples.     

The effect of drained pre-shearing on the undrained behaviour of loose sand with a small amount of fines

Stress history is recognised to play a major role in determining stress–strain behaviour of soil in undrained shearing. Most experimental studies on the effects of stress history on undrained behaviour are mainly limited to clean sand. In this paper, an experimental study carried out to investigate the effect of stress history on the undrained behaviour of loose sand with a small amount of fines is presented. Four series of triaxial compression tests, with different types of drained stress histories to near-failure prior to commencement of undrained shearing, were conducted. The experimental results indicate that drained pre-shearing to near-failure affects significantly the undrained behaviour of loose sand. In general, the drained pre-shearing improves the subsequent undrained behaviour of loose sand to the extent that liquefaction may not occur. It is shown that the effect of drained pre-shearing cannot be explained by the reduction in void ratio induced by drained pre-shearing. However, for specimens subjected to drained pre-shearing, $ p_{{{\text{d}}0}}^{\prime } $ / $ p_{{{\text{u}}0}}^{\prime } $ can be used as a parameter for analysing the effects of preloading history. It is also shown that for different preloading histories that brought the same change in void ratio or state parameter, drained pre-shearing to near-failure is the most effective, whereas pre-compression alone is the least effective in improving subsequent undrained behaviour of loose sand.     

A shear‐dilation‐based model for evaluation of hydraulically stimulated naturally fractured reservoirs

The role of shear dilation as a mechanism of enhancing fluid flow permeability in naturally fractured reservoirs was mainly recognized in the context of hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal reservoir stimulation. Simplified models based on shear slippage only were developed and their applications to evaluate HDR geothermal reservoir stimulation were reported. Research attention is recently focused to adjust this stimulation mechanism for naturally fractured oil and gas reservoirs which reserve vast resources worldwide. This paper develops the overall framework and basic formulations of this stimulation model for oil and gas reservoirs. Major computational modules include: natural fracture simulation, response analysis of stimulated fractures, average permeability estimation for the stimulated reservoir and prediction of an average flow direction. Natural fractures are simulated stochastically by implementing ‘fractal dimension’ concept. Natural fracture propagation and shear displacements are formulated by following computationally efficient approximate approaches interrelating in situ stresses, natural fracture parameters and stimulation pressure developed by fluid injection inside fractures. The average permeability of the stimulated reservoir is formulated as a function of discretized gridblock permeabilities by applying cubic law of fluid flow. The average reservoir elongation, or the flow direction, is expressed as a function of reservoir aspect ratio induced by directional permeability contributions. The natural fracture simulation module is verified by comparing its results with observed microseismic clouds in actual naturally fractured reservoirs. Permeability enhancement and reservoir growth are characterized with respect to stimulation pressure, in situ stresses and natural fracture density applying the model to two example reservoirs. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Back reaction and quantum gravity corrections of Hawking radiation from Schwarzschild-de Sitter black hole

Following the Parikh and Wilczek semiclassical tunneling method of massless particle, hawking radiation of Schwarzschild-de Sitter (SdS) black hole have been computed using null geodesic method. Purely thermal and quantum gravity corrections have been made and have shown that both the corrections give the same results and all the tunneling rates are related to change of Bekenstein-Hawking entropy of SdS black hole. The results obtained for SdS black hole are also in accordance with Parikh and Wilczek’s opinion and gives a correction to the Hawking radiation of SdS black hole.     

Observations of AGNs using PACT

We report our observations on 4 AGNs viz, Mkn 421, Mkn 501, 1ES1426+428 and ON231 belonging to a sub-class called blazars. The observations were carried out using the Pachmarhi Array of Cherenkov Telescopes and span about 6 years period from 2000 to 2005. We discuss our methods of analysis adopted to extract the gamma ray signal from cosmic ray background. We present our results on the emission of TeV gamma rays from these objects. Also, we report on the status of the new high altitude experiment, a 7 telescope array at Hanle in the Himalayas at an altitude of about 4200 m above mean sea level for detecting celestial gamma-rays.     

Unsteady magnetic boundary-layer flow of power-law non-Newtonian conducting fluid through a porous medium past an infinite porous flat plate

In this paper, the nonsteady flow of non-Newtonian power-law conducting fluid through a porous medium past an infinite porous plate is investigated. The system is stressed by a constant transverse magnetic field. The velocity outside the boundary layer depends exponentially on time. The rheological effects are shown and discussed on the shear stress in terms of rheological parameter of power-law fluid. The approximate solution in a closed form were obtained by using the Galerkin method. Also the effect of the magnetic field and permeability parameter are discussed.     

Search for TeV gamma-rays from Geminga pulsar

We present the results of observation of the Geminga pulsar carried out in the TeV energy band during the 6 year period spanning 2000–2006 using the Pachmarhi Array of Cherenkov Telescopes (PACT). A long stretch of data, new computer codes and the “Tempo” package have been used in the present analysis. We have searched for evidence of pulsed emission of γ-rays from the Geminga pulsar using the post-glitch pulsar elements obtained by Jackson and Halpern from X-ray/γ-ray satellite data. We do not see any significant evidence for pulsed emission from the Geminga pulsar at a threshold energy of 825 GeV. In this paper we present our results on the light curve in the TeV energy band, set an upper limit on the time averaged flux of γ-rays, and compare our results with other ground based observations.     

Groundwater arsenic contamination and its health effects in India

During a 28-year field survey in India (1988–2016), groundwater arsenic contamination and its health effects were registered in the states of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in the Ganga River flood plain, and the states of Assam and Manipur in the flood plain of Brahamaputra and Imphal rivers. Groundwater of Rajnandgaon village in Chhattisgarh state, which is not in a flood plain, is also arsenic contaminated. More than 170,000 tubewell water samples from the affected states were analyzed and half of the samples had arsenic >10 μg/L (maximum concentration 3,700 μg/L). Chronic exposure to arsenic through drinking water causes various health problems, like dermal, neurological, reproductive and pregnancy effects, cardiovascular effects, diabetes mellitus, diseases of the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems, and cancers, typically involving the skin, lungs, liver, bladder, etc. About 4.5% of the 8,000 children from arsenic-affected villages of affected states were registered with mild to moderate arsenical skin lesions. In the preliminary survey, more than 10,000 patients were registered with different types of arsenic-related signs and symptoms, out of more than 100,000 people screened from affected states. Elevated levels of arsenic were also found in biological samples (urine, hair, nails) of the people living in affected states. The study reveals that the population who had severe arsenical skin lesions may suffer from multiple Bowens/cancers in the long term. Some unusual symptoms, such as burning sensation, skin itching and watering of eyes in the presence of sun light, were also noticed in arsenicosis patients.