Method for estimating available groundwater volume of small coral islands

We present a simple modelling method to estimate the volume of available groundwater in the freshwater lens of atoll islands under steady-state conditions. Model inputs include annual rainfall depth, island width for cross-sections along the length of the island, aquifer hydraulic conductivity, and depth to the contact between the upper sand aquifer and the lower limestone aquifer. The methodology is tested for nine islands of varying size in the Maldives and Micronesia. Sensitivity analysis indicates that lens volume on large islands typically is governed by the depth to the discontinuity, whereas lens volume for smaller islands is governed by rainfall rate and hydraulic conductivity. Volume curves, which relate lens volume to lens thickness, are developed for each of the nine islands and for three generic island shapes to allow rapid estimation of lens volume given field-estimated lens thickness. The methods presented in this study can be used for any small atoll island.     

Developing constitutive models from EPR‐based self‐learning finite element analysis

A constitutive model that captures the material behavior under a wide range of loading conditions is essential for simulating complex boundary value problems. In recent years, some attempts have been made to develop constitutive models for finite element analysis using self‐learning simulation (SelfSim). Self‐learning simulation is an inverse analysis technique that extracts material behavior from some boundary measurements (eg, load and displacement). In the heart of the self‐learning framework is a neural network which is used to train and develop a constitutive model that represents the material behavior. It is generally known that neural networks suffer from a number of drawbacks. This paper utilizes evolutionary polynomial regression (EPR) in the framework of SelfSim within an automation process which is coded in Matlab environment. EPR is a hybrid data mining technique that uses a combination of a genetic algorithm and the least square method to search for mathematical equations to represent the behavior of a system. Two strategies of material modeling have been considered in the SelfSim‐based finite element analysis. These include a total stress‐strain strategy applied to analysis of a truss structure using synthetic measurement data and an incremental stress‐strain strategy applied to simulation of triaxial tests using experimental data. The results show that effective and accurate constitutive models can be developed from the proposed EPR‐based self‐learning finite element method. The EPR‐based self‐learning FEM can provide accurate predictions to engineering problems. The main advantages of using EPR over neural network are highlighted.     

Nonlinear response estimates of RC frames using linear analysis of SDOF systems

An approximate‐simple method for nonlinear response estimates of reinforced concrete frames subjected to near‐field and far‐field records is presented in this paper. The approximate method is based on equivalent single‐degree‐of‐freedom and linear multi‐degree‐of‐freedom models. In this procedure, the nonlinear maximum roof displacement is estimated using an effective period factor and elastic response spectrum with an equivalent damping. The effective period factor was proposed for far‐field and near‐field ground motion records. For regions of high seismicity, the maximum roof displacement can be estimated by applying an effective period factor of 2.3 and 2.1 for near‐field and far‐field records, respectively, and 9% damped displacement response spectrum. For regions of moderate seismicity, a lower effective period factor of 1.9 and 1.8, for near‐field and far‐field records, respectively, can be applied to estimate the maximum roof displacement. A relationship between linear and nonlinear response of multi‐degree‐of‐freedom systems was also proposed to obtain estimates of the maximum inter‐story drift of nonlinear responding reinforced concrete frames. In addition, the effects of number of ground motion records used in the analyses on the scatters of results were investigated. The required number of ground motions to produce a reliable response was proposed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mineralogy,Fluid inclusions and stable isotopes study constraints on genesis of sulfide ore mineral,Qaladiza area Qandil Series,Iraqi Kurdistan Region

The metalized quartz veins is located 5 km west of the Iraqi-Iran border in the Qandil range. The quartz veins included sulfide and oxide ore minerals which mostly occur in the form of open-space filling texture. The polymetallic mesothermal quartz veins are hosted by marble and phyllite rocks. Within these veins, multiphase, open-space filling and crustiform, bedding to massive textures with pyrite, sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite,galena, sphalerite, tenorite, azurite, and malachite are observed. Selected samples were analyzed by using ore microscopy and electron probe micro analyzer (EPMA) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Ore minerals show replacement textures. The paragenesis diagram was made from a careful study of polished sections and three stages have been identified including pre-stage mineralization, mineralization, and post-mineralization stages.Fluid inclusion microthermometric analysis of 15 primary inclusions of quartz veins indicated that ore mineralization at the studied area were formed by a mesothermal, low to medium density, and dilute NaCl-type fluid system. The source of the fluid is mostly metamorphic which became mixed with other fluids later. Hydrothermal fluids of the selected studied area were classified into two groups based on microthermometry study; the first group had a higher homogenization temperature (335.5 to 386.8 °C) than the second group (194.1 to 298.5 °C), with a small difference in salinity between them. Nearly each group has different complexes including chloride and sulfide complexes respectively. The results of stable sulfur isotope of the ore minerals (chalcopyrite and sphalerite) confirmed the sedimentary and/or metamorphic origin of the ore mineralization.     

Influence of geocell reinforcement on uplift response of belled piles

Piles are frequently used to transfer the heavy compressive loads to strong soil layers located in the depth of bed. In addition, such piles may be subjected to combination of repeated compressive and tensile loads due to earthquake, wind, etc. This paper describes a series of laboratory model tests, at unit gravity, performed on belled pile, embedded in unreinforced and geocell-reinforced beds. The tests were performed to evaluate the beneficial effect of geocell in decreasing the downward and upward displacements and performance improvement of the uplift response of belled pile under repeated compressive and tensile loads. Pile displacements due to fifty load repetitions were recorded. The influence of the height of geocell above the bell of pile, an additional geocell layer at the base of belled pile, and the number of load cycles on pile displacements were investigated. The test results show that the geocell reinforcement reduces the magnitude of the final upward displacement. It also acts as a displacement retardant, and changes the behaviour of belled pile from unstable response condition due to excessive upward pile displacement in unreinforced bed to approximately steady response condition. Therefore, the geocell reinforcement permits higher tensile loads or increased cycling. The efficiency of reinforcement in reducing the maximum upward displacement of the pile (i.e. pull-out resistance) was increased by increasing the height of geocell above the bell of the pile. Furthermore, the comparison showed that a specific improvement in upward and downward displacement and the stability against uplift can be achieved using an additional geocell layer at the base. The geocell reinforcement may reduce the required length of pile shaft, consequently reducing required excavation, backfill, and pile’s material. Simple dimensional analysis showed the need for an increased stiffness of the geosynthetic components in order to match prototype-scale performance similitude.     

Site class mapping based on earthquake ground motion data recorded by regional seismographic network

This paper presents a methodology for site class mapping in regions without adequate geotechnical, geologic and geomorphologic data, which is prevailing in many less developed regions globally. The proposed methodology is based primarily on analysis of earthquake ground motion data recorded by regional seismographic network. Three analysis methods independently developed have been adopted with appropriate weightings, from which a continuous value of site class index ranging from 1 to 4 could be assigned to each station. Finally, a regional site class map could be developed by applying an interpolation procedure across all stations of the seismographic network of which the site classes were estimated.     

Near-field probabilistic seismic hazard analysis with characteristic earthquake effects

In conventional seismic hazard analysis, uniform distribution over area and magnitude range is assumed for the evaluation of source seismicity which is not able to capture peculiar characteristic of near-fault ground motion well. For near-field hazard analysis, two important factors need to be considered: (1) rupture directivity effects and (2) occurrence of scenario characteristic ruptures in the nearby sources. This study proposed a simple framework to consider these two effects by modifying the predictions from the conventional ground motion model based on pulse occurrence probability and adjustment of the magnitude frequency distribution to account for the rupture characteristic of the fault. The results of proposed approach are compared with those of deterministic and probabilistic seismic hazard analyses. The results indicate that characteristic earthquake and directivity consideration both have significant effects on seismic hazard analysis estimates. The implemented approach leads to results close to deterministic seismic hazard analysis in the short period ranges (T < 1.0 s) and follows probabilistic seismic hazard analysis results in the long period ranges (T > 1.0 s). Finally, seismic hazard maps based on the proposed method could be developed and compared with other methods.     

Modification of the GALDIT framework using statistical and entropy models to assess coastal aquifer vulnerability

Recently, groundwater vulnerability assessment of coastal aquifers using the GALDIT framework has been widely used to investigate the process of groundwater contamination. This study proposes multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) entropy and Wilcoxon non-parametric statistical test methods to improve the vulnerability index of coastal aquifers. The rates and weights of this framework were modified using Wilcoxon non-parametric and entropy methods, respectively, and a combined framework of GALDIT-entropy, Wilcoxon-GALDIT, and Wilcoxon-entropy was obtained. Pearson correlation coefficients between the mentioned vulnerability indices and total-dissolved solids (TDS) of 0.51, 0.66 and 0.75, respectively, were obtained. According to the results, the Wilcoxon-entropy index had the highest correlation with TDS. Generally, it can be concluded that the proposed frameworks provide a more accurate estimation of vulnerability distribution in coastal aquifers.