Influence of Relative Density on Static Soil–Structure Frictional Resistance of Dry and Saturated Sand

Soil–structure frictional resistance is required while designing foundation systems and retaining walls. Although much more attention has been paid in recent years regarding soil–structure interaction for dynamic loading, highly conservative values of the static frictional resistance between soil and structure are used in design. Not much emphasis has been given lately to evaluate static frictional resistance between soil and structure. In this study, a well graded sand, as per USCS classification system, was prepared in the laboratory at different relative densities and moisture contents i.e. dry and saturated, and frictional resistances of those soils were measured. Those soil samples were also sheared against wood, concrete, and steel blocks and corresponding soil–structure frictional resistances were measured. Moreover, similar experiments were performed for saturated and loose poorly graded sand (SP), silty sand (SM) and poorly graded sand with silt (SP–SM). The study result shows that the difference between frictional resistance of soil and skin friction depends on the type of soil, relative density and the moisture content. Interestingly, shear envelopes for soil–soil and soil–structure shearing resistance exhibited curvature. The traditionally adopted soil–structure frictional resistance values adopted by various geotechnical manuals were found to be highly conservative.     

Mapping potential risks of long-term wastewater irrigation in alluvial soils,Egypt

In Egypt, wastewater has been used for irrigation in areas with fresh water scarcity; however, continuous applications may cause potential risks. Thus, the current study aims to map the spatial distribution of soil contamination and human risks of long-term wastewater irrigation due to the exposure of heavy metals. Soils from nine sites in Al-Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt, were sampled and analyzed. Wastewater irrigation resulted in a buildup of heavy metals in soils compared to Nile fresh water-irrigated soil. The pollution index (PI) showed the decreasing order of Cd?>?Zn?>?Ni?>?Cu?>?Co?>?Pb?>?Cr. The soils were out of the safe domain, as the integrated pollution index of Nemero’s (IPIN) exceeded the safe limit of 0.7. The enrichment factor (EF) exceeded 1.0, proving anthropogenic effects. The geo-accumulation index (I_geo) indicated high threats associated with Cd. The calculated hazard index (HI) indicated that humans exposed to such contaminated soils would have a potential health risk, particularly children. It is recommended to perform a treatment to the wastewater used in irrigation to avoid such threats.     

A song of volumes,surfaces and fluxes: The case study of the Central Mallorca Depression (Balearic Promontory) during the Messinian Salinity Crisis

The Central Mallorca Depression (CMD) located in the Balearic Promontory (Western Mediterranean) contains a well-preserved evaporitic sequence belonging to the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) salt giant, densely covered by high- and low-resolution seismic reflection data. It has been proposed recently that the MSC evaporitic sequence in the CMD could be a non-deformed analogue of the key MSC area represented by the Caltanissetta Basin in Sicily. This presumed similarity makes the CMD an interesting system to better understand the MSC events. Physics-based box models of the water mixing between sub-basins, built on conservation of mass of water and salt, help constrain the hydrological conditions under which evaporites formed during the MSC. Those models have been widely used in the literature of the MSC in the past two decades. They have been mostly applied to the Mediterranean Sea as a whole focusing on the Mediterranean–Atlantic connection, or focusing on the influence of the Sicily Sill connecting the Western and Eastern Mediterranean Sea. In this study, we apply a downscaled version of such modelling technique to the CMD. First, we quantify the present-day volumes of the MSC units. We then use a reconstructed pre-MSC paleo-bathymetry to model salinity changes as a function of flux exchanges between the CMD and the Mediterranean. We show that a persistent connection between the CMD and the Mediterranean brine near gypsum saturation can explain volume of Primary Lower Gypsum under a sea level similar to the present. For the halite, on the contrary, we show that the observed halite volume cannot be deposited from a connected CMD-Mediterranean scenario, suggesting a drawdown of at least 850 m (sill depth) is necessary. Comparison between the deep basin halite volume and that of the CMD shows that it is possible to obtain the observed halite volume in both basins from a disconnected Mediterranean basin undergoing drawdown, although determining the average salinity of the Western Mediterranean basin at the onset of drawdown requires further investigation.     

Dust storms loads analyses—Iraq

The dust storms that blow over Iraq were studied from December 2008 to March 2009. The total number of studied dust storms was eight; during each dust storm, samples were collected from the cities of Baghdad, Ramadi, Kut, Basra, Najaf, Karbala, Hilla and Tikrit. The climatic elements with the dust storms types were studied. The results of dust storms analyses reflect their increase in average toward the southwestern direction (average suspended, rising, regional dust storms were 8, 10, 15 days/year, respectively). The average means annual rainfall (in mm), evaporation (in mm), temperature (in °C), and relative humidity percentage indicate that there were remarkable variations in values, with increase of the number of days/years of the dust storms reflecting the effect of the regional climatic change. The results of particle size analyses indicate the texture of most samples range from sandy clayey silt (75%) and clayey sandy silt (25%), and the average dominant grain size have a direct relationship with trajectories of dust storms. Quartz grains were 15% rounded and 85% sub-rounded. Moreover, the dust samples were analyzed and identified by using XRD analyses and Polaroid microscope. The results reflect the following minerals according to their average relative dominant, quartz 58.6%, feldspars 17.3%, and calcite 15.4%, with small amount of gypsum 5.5%. The clay minerals (chlorite, illite, montmorillonite, palygorskite, and kaolinite) were recognized. The analyses of heavy minerals percentages by using the microscope were performed. The results of pollen distribution, in descending order, were Chenopodiaceous, Graminea, Pine, Artemisia, Palmae, Olea, and Typha (reaching 79%, 69%, 63%, 53%, 17%, 9%, and 7% of the counted pollen grains, respectively). The results of microorganisms (i.e., isolated bacteria and fungi), in descending order, were the gram-positive Bacillus species (42.9%), Aspergillus species plus Candida albicans (13.8%), and (8.4%), the gram-negative rods, Escherichia coli (9.5%), the gram-positive Cocci streptococcus pneumonia (6.7%), then the gram-negative rod Enterobacter cloacae (4.3%), Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus (3.9%) and (1.9%). The remaining Gram-negative microorganisms were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2.7%). Regarding the viral etiology, there is no viral isolate among the work results. The allergens commonly associated with dust storms include fungal spores, plant and grass pollens, and organic detritus represent agricultural area pollen grains.