Prediction of ground vibration due to quarry blasting based on gene expression programming: a new model for peak particle velocity prediction

Blasting is a widely used technique for rock fragmentation in opencast mines and tunneling projects. Ground vibration is one of the most environmental effects produced by blasting operation. Therefore, the proper prediction of blast-induced ground vibrations is essential to identify safety area of blasting. This paper presents a predictive model based on gene expression programming (GEP) for estimating ground vibration produced by blasting operations conducted in a granite quarry, Malaysia. To achieve this aim, a total number of 102 blasting operations were investigated and relevant blasting parameters were measured. Furthermore, the most influential parameters on ground vibration, i.e., burden-to-spacing ratio, hole depth, stemming, powder factor, maximum charge per delay, and the distance from the blast face were considered and utilized to construct the GEP model. In order to show the capability of GEP model in estimating ground vibration, nonlinear multiple regression (NLMR) technique was also performed using the same datasets. The results demonstrated that the proposed model is able to predict blast-induced ground vibration more accurately than other developed technique. Coefficient of determination values of 0.914 and 0.874 for training and testing datasets of GEP model, respectively show superiority of this model in predicting ground vibration, while these values were obtained as 0.829 and 0.790 for NLMR model.     

Stochastic evaluation of fluvial to marginal marine sealing facies

Hydrocarbon top seal analyses are particularly difficult in fluvial and marginal marine settings. Although these settings often contain beds comprised of a low-permeability, clay-rich lithology associated with high quality seals, their presence does not guarantee an effective seal because individual beds within the stratal unit may be laterally discontinuous. Lateral facies changes, truncation of fine-grained beds, or the presence of crevasse splays may provide cross-stratal migration pathways, reducing the effective sealing capacity to a magnitude less than the closure height.     

Kolmogoroff constants at the 1976 ITCE

The high-frequency data from 12 sensors at the ITCE 1976^* are analysed to determine the Kolmogoroff constants for velocity, temperature and humidity fluctuation, _u , _T , and _q . The occurrence of aliasing in the spectral analysis in some cases together with the limited response of some sensors at the higher frequencies introduces some uncertainties into the analysis. The Soviet sonic anemometer, fine-wire thermometer and infrared hygrometer and the Australian infrared hygrometer provide the best information, namely that% MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9% vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9qq-f0-yqaqVeLsFr0-vr% 0-vr0db8meaabaqaciGacaGaaeqabaWaaeaaeaaakeaacqaHXoqyda% WgaaWcbaGaamyDaaqabaGccqGH9aqpcaaIWaGaaiOlaiaaiwdacaaI% 5aGaeyySaeRaaGimaiaac6cacaaIWaGaaGymaiaacYcacaqGGaGaae% iiaiaabccacaqGGaGaeqySde2aaSbaaSqaaiaadsfaaeqaaOGaeyyp% a0JaaGimaiaac6cacaaI2aGaaGioaiabgglaXkaaicdacaGGUaGaaG% imaiaaikdacaGGSaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiabeg7aHnaa% BaaaleaacaWGXbaabeaakiabg2da9iaaicdacaGGUaGaaG4naiaaiA% dacqGHXcqScaaIWaGaaiOlaiaaicdacaaIZaaaaa!6248!\[\alpha _u = 0.59 \pm 0.01,{\text{ }}\alpha _T = 0.68 \pm 0.02,{\text{ }}\alpha _q = 0.76 \pm 0.03\]where the errors quoted refer solely to statistical errors. The other instruments provide general support to these values.The technique of using spectral density measurements to determine eddy fluxes is illustrated.International Turbulence Comparison Experiment.     

Some observations of eddy momentum fluxes within a maize canopy

Vertical momentum fiuxes measured by analog covariance equipment and hot-wire anemometers inside a dense canopy of mature maize vary exponentially with height above the ground. An attenuation coefficient of about 4 is indicated.This work was supported by the US Energy Research and Development Administration.Part of the Energy Research and Development Administration's Multistate Atmospheric Power Production Pollution Study (MAP³S).     

Evaluating techniques for sampling stream crayfish (Paranephrops planifrons)

We evaluated several capture and analysis techniques for estimating abundance and size structure of freshwater crayfish (Paranephrops planifrons) (koura) from a forested North Island, New Zealand stream to provide a methodological basis for future population studies. Direct observation at night and collecting with baited traps were not considered useful. A quadrat sampler was highly biased toward collecting small individuals. Handnetting at night and estimating abundances using the depletion method were not as efficient as handnetting on different dates and analysing by a mark‐recapture technique. Electrofishing was effective in collecting koura from different habitats and resulted in the highest abundance estimates, and mark‐recapture estimates appeared to be more precise than depletion estimates, especially if multiple recaptures were made. Handnetting captured more large crayfish relative to electrofishing or the quadrat sampler.     

Tumbling asteroids

We present both a review of earlier data and new results on non-principal axis rotators (tumblers) among asteroids. Among new tumblers found, the best data we have are for 2002 TD₆₀, 2000 WL₁₀₇, and (54789) 2001 MZ₇—each of them shows a lightcurve with two frequencies (full terms with linear combinations of the two frequencies are present in the lightcurve). For 2002 TD₆₀, we have constructed a physical model of the NPA rotation. Other recent objects which have been found to be likely tumblers based on their lightcurves that do not fit with a single periodicity are 2002 NY₄₀, (16067) 1999 RH₂₇, and (5645) 1990 SP. We have done a statistical analysis of the present sample of the population of NPA rotators. It appears that most asteroids larger than ∼0.4 km with estimated damping timescales (Harris, 1994, Icarus 107, 209) of 4.5 byr and longer are NPA rotators. The statistic of two short-period tumblers (D=0.04 and 0.4 km) with non-zero tensile strength suggests that for them the quantity μQ/T, where μ is the mechanical rigidity, Q is the elastic dissipation factor, and T is a spin excitation age (i.e., a time elapsed since the last significant spin excitation event), is greater by two to four orders of magnitude than the larger, likely rubble-pile tumblers. Among observational conditions and selection effects affecting detections of NPA rotations, there is a bias against detection of low-amplitude (small elongation) tumblers.