A review on the effect of rubber membrane in triaxial tests

This paper presents a review on the effect of rubber membranes on the measured stress and volume change data during the triaxial tests. In many instants, the error associated due to membrane penetration is measured to be close to the total sample volumetric strains. Hence, in addition to precise measurements, adopting an appropriate correction to the measured data is pivotal. This paper provides a detailed review on the methods used to estimate and reduce the influence of rubber membrane on the measured triaxial test results. The discussion therefore clearly highlights the stiffness, thickness, and diameter of the membrane used, to have significant influence on the measured deviatoric stress and the volume change data. The mean grain size of sample has an equally significant influence on the volume change. The methods in general are limited to test conditions, and therefore, it is practically uncertain to have a generalized correction procedure. Effectively, the outcome from this review work enhances the understanding of the reader towards the effect, methods, and corrections to be considered in triaxial testing due to rubber membrane and membrane penetration effects.     

On the importance of satellite lines to the helium-like Kα complex and the G ratio for calcium, iron and nickel

New, more detailed calculations of the emission spectra of the He-like Kα complex of calcium, iron and nickel have been carried out using data from both distorted-wave and R-matrix calculations. The value of the GD ratio (an extended definition of the G ratio that accounts for the effect of resolved and unresolved satellite lines) is significantly enhanced at temperatures below the temperature of He-like maximum abundance. Furthermore, it is shown that satellite lines are important contributors to the GD ratio such that   GD / G > 1  at temperatures well above the temperature of maximum abundance. These new calculations demonstrate, with an improved treatment of the KLn     satellite lines, that Kα satellite lines need to be included in models of He-like spectra even at relatively high temperatures. The excellent agreement between spectra and line ratios calculated from R-matrix and distorted-wave data also confirms the validity of models based on distorted-wave data for highly charged systems, provided the effect of resonances is taken into account as independent processes.     

An effective visualization and comparison of online terrain draped with multi-sensor satellite images

The objective of this paper is to discuss the effectiveness of visualizing online 3D terrain draped with different satellite imageries. The topographic data of the study area were obtained from the contour maps of Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia. The high resolution satellite imageries used in this project involving QUICKBIRD (0.6 m resolution), IKONOS (1 m resolution), and SPOT5 (5 m resolution). R2V software was used for editing the contour data, whereas Arc GIS was used for overlaying the imageries over the 3D terrain data. Then the data were exported into Virtual Reality Markup Language to compare the effectiveness of different satellite imageries based on the data file size, imageries size, number of images tile, loading time during office hours (from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and out of office hours (after 5 p.m.), frame rate per second, and visualization quality. The results revealed that IKONOS satellite imageries are better for an effective online 3D terrain visualization utilizing GIS data even though it has lower resolution compared to QUICKBIRD.     

Bianchi type-I cosmological models with time dependent q and Λ-term in general relativity

On getting motivation from increasing evidence for the need of a geometry that resembles Bianchi morphology to explain the observed anisotropy in the WMAP data, Einstein’s field equations with variable cosmological “constant” are considered in presence of perfect fluid for a homogeneous and anisotropic Bianchi type-I space-time. Einstein’s field equations are solved by considering a time dependent deceleration parameter which affords a late time acceleration in the universe. The cosmological constant Λ is found to be a decreasing function of time and it approaches a small positive value at the present epoch which is corroborated by consequences from recent supernovae Ia observations. From recently developed Statefinder pair, the behavior of different stages of the evolution of the universe has been studied. The physical significance of the cosmological models have also been discussed.     

Mg VIII DIAGNOSTIC LINE RATIOS IN SKYLAB SOLAR OBSERVATIONS

Recent calculations of Mgviii electron and proton impact excitations rates are used to derive theoretical electron temperature (T _e)- and density (N _e)-sensitive emission line ratios involving transitions in the 315–782 Å wavelength range. Some of these ratios are presented in the form of ratio–ratio diagrams, which should in principle allow both N _e and T _e to be deduced. These results are compared with solar observational data from Skylab, but agreement between theory and observation is very poor, probably due to blending.     

Robertson-Walker viscous fluid model

Robertson-Walker cosmological model with bulk viscosity is investigated with equation of statep=(–1). The cosmological solution of the model is obtained with the help of the special law of variation for Hubble's deceleration parameter. Some physical consequences of the solution is studied pertaining to two extreme cases of the equation of state.     

Land suitability analysis for cereal production in Himachal Pradesh (India) using Geographical Information System

Land suitability analysis is prerequisite for sustainable agriculture and it plays a pivotal role in the niche based agricultural planning in mountain regions. In this paper different parameters viz. climatic (precipitation and temperature), topographic (elevation), soil type and land cover/land use have been used in order to perform land suitability evaluation for cereals food-grain crops in Himachal Pradesh using Geographic Information System (GIS). The suitability analysis was performed by digital processing of geo-referenced data (elevation, climate, soil and landcover) and calculating potential production areas by combining different types of geographical data through decision rules framed for each crop in ArcView spatial analyst. Suitable areas have been delineated for cereal crops in the form of land suitability maps. In comparison to the actual area under cereal crops, the possibility of further expansion under each cereal crop was determined. These discriminated areas appear suitable for growing these crops and can be harnessed efficiently for achieving long term sustainability and food security.