The latest Carboniferous–Early Permian Dorud Group of the eastern Alborz (Iran): biostratigraphy and taxonomy of smaller foraminifers

The latest Carboniferous–Early Permian Dorud Group in the Chaman‐Saver area of eastern Alborz, Iran is more than 222 m thick and includes thick sequences of oncolitic limestone, sandy limestone, sandstones and shales. The Emarat and Ghosnavi formations of this Group are dated here as latest Gzhelian to early Sakmarian Stages. During the Asselian Stage, the sea level fell abruptly and epeirogenic episodes occurred. These events generated a broad, shallow carbonate platform suitable for the growth and diversity of smaller foraminifers in the Chaman‐Saver area which, consequently, displays faunal differences with the rest of the Alborz Mountains. Three foraminiferal biozones are proposed: Nodosinelloides potievskayae–Vervilleina bradyi Zone (latest Gzhelian), Calcitornella heathi–Nodosinelloides sp. Zone (latest Gzhelian–Asselian), and Rectogordius iranicus n. gen. n. sp.–Hemigordius schlumbergeri Zone (early Sakmarian). The new taxa described herein include: Pseudovidalina iranica n. sp., P. damghanica n. sp., Rectogordius iranicus n. gen. n. sp. and Tezaquina sp. 1. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of soil nail walls performance - Case study

This study surveys the performance of temporary soil nail walls with a maximum height of 29.3 m in the Yas project, located in Tehran. Some numerical models, with various modelling approaches, were developed using finite element software and the proper modelling approaches were specified and verified.The modelling results were analysed and compared with the in situ monitored data. The results demonstrate the model’s horizontal deformations are generally greater than the in situ monitored values. To decrease the differences between models and monitored results, the effect of variations of the soil parameters had been surveyed and the limits of needed variations were specified.     

Adaptive neuro-fuzzy prediction of the optimum parameters of protective spur dike

This study proposes a new approach for determining the optimum dimensions of a protective spur dike to mitigate the amount of scour around existing spur dikes. Several parameters of a protective spur dike were studied to determine their optimum values, including length, angle, and distance. Also the effect of changes of flow intensity and sediment size were examined. The main objective of this article was to predict the optimum values of protective spur dikes to attain the best performance. To predict the parameters of protective spur dikes for controlling the scour around spur dikes, we used the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system method to construct a process that simulates the optimal parameters of a protective spur dike, including the actual length of the protective spur dike, the actual length of the main spur dikes, the distance between the protective spur dike and the first spur dike, the angle between the protective spur dike and the direction of flow, the intensity of the flow, and median size of the bed sediments. This intelligent estimator was implemented using MATLAB/Simulink, and the performances were investigated. The simulation results presented in this paper show the effectiveness of the developed method.     

Damage Estimation in Masonry Buildings Based on Excavation-Induced Ground Movements

Excavation-induced ground movements and the resulting damages to adjacent structures and facilities is a source of concern for excavation projects in urban areas. The concern will be even higher if the adjacent structure is old or has low strength parameters like masonry building. Frame distortion and crack generation are predictors of building damage resulted from excavation-induced ground movements, which pose challenges to projects involving excavations. This study is aimed to investigate the relation between excavation-induced ground movements and damage probability of buildings in excavation affected distance. The main focus of this paper is on masonry buildings and excavations stabilized using soil nail wall method. To achieve this purpose, 21 masonry buildings adjacent to 12 excavation projects were studied. Parametric studies were performed by developing 3D FE models of brick walls and excavations stabilized using soil nail wall. Finally, probability evaluations were conducted to analyze the outputs obtained from case studies. Based on the obtained results, simple charts were established to estimate the damage of masonry structures in excavation affected distance with two key parameters including “Displacement Ratio” and “Normalized Distance”. The results also highlight the effects of building distance from excavation wall on its damage probability.

     

Optimization of Flue Gas Composition to Maximize Base Gas Replacement During UGS Process

Natural Resources Research - Base gas replacement by a cheap gas is one of the approved methods to reduce the cost of investment in underground gas storage process. Maximizing the amount of...     

A hybrid computational approach to formulate soil deformation moduli obtained from PLT

In this study, new empirical equations were developed to predict the soil deformation moduli utilizing a hybrid method coupling genetic programming and simulated annealing, called GP/SA. The proposed models relate secant (E_s), unloading (E_u) and reloading (E_r) moduli obtained from plate load–settlement curves to the basic soil physical properties. Several models with different combinations of the influencing parameters were developed and checked to select the best GP/SA models. The database used for developing the models was established upon a series of plate load tests (PLT) conducted on different soil types at various depths. The validity of the models was tested using parts of the test results that were not included in the analysis. The validation of the models was further verified using several statistical criteria. A traditional GP analysis was performed to benchmark the GP/SA models. The contributions of the parameters affecting E_s, E_u and E_r were analyzed through a sensitivity analysis. The proposed models are able to estimate the soil deformation moduli with an acceptable degree of accuracy. The E_s prediction model has a remarkably better performance than the models developed for predicting E_u and E_r. The simplified formulations for E_s, E_u and E_r provide significantly better results than the GP-based models and empirical models found in the literature.     

Application of Cracked Triangular Specimen Subjected to Three-Point Bending for Investigating Fracture Behavior of Rock Materials

Numerical and experimental studies were performed on a new fracture test configuration called the edge cracked triangular (ECT) specimen. Using several finite-element analyses, the fracture parameters (i.e., K _I, K _II, and T-stress) were obtained for different combinations of modes I and II. The finite-element results show that the ECT specimen is able to provide pure mode I, pure mode II, and any mixed-mode loading conditions in between. Also, a series of mixed-mode fracture experiments were conducted on Neiriz marble rock using the proposed specimen. Furthermore, the generalized maximum tangential stress (GMTS) criterion was used to predict the experimental results. The GMTS criterion makes use of a three-parameter model (based on K _I, K _II, and T) for describing the crack tip stresses. Due to the significant positive T-stresses that exist in the ECT specimen, typical minimum fracture toughness values were expected to be obtained when the ECT specimen is used. The direction of fracture initiation and the path of fracture growth were also obtained theoretically using the GMTS criterion, and good agreement was observed between the experimental fracture path and theoretical simulations. The fracture study of this specimen reveals that the ECT specimen can be also used in mixed-mode fracture studies of rock materials in addition to the conventional circular or rectangular beam test samples.     

The presentation of a new inhibitor to prevent enzymatic browning in mushroom,banana, and apple

The aim of this study was to evaluate a computer-based method to find a new inhibitor for polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in banana, apple, and mushroom. First, the sequence of PPOs was separately obtained from Protein Data Bank, and their homology was investigated. Next, the same structure of their active site was found, and it was interacted with various phenolic and benzoic compounds by a molecular dynamic software. Moreover, the inhibition of enzymatic browning was also investigated at different laboratory conditions. This study showed that histidine–leucine–phenylalanine–histidine was in all types of PPOs. Also, molecular dynamic simulation showed that (3S)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-chromanetriol (DHPC) is the best compound to interact with PPOs. Based on experimental tests, DHPC had the highest efficacy at 4 °C. The decrease in inhibition of enzymatic browning was seen with the increase in temperature. Also, the decrease in pH led to increase in enzymatic browning. It could be concluded that DHPC is a good inhibitor for enzymatic browning. It seems that this compound can be used in different fruits and vegetables to inhibit enzymatic browning.