The role of geophysics in the construction and stability assessment of tunnels

Geophysics play a vital role in the constructions of any major manmade structures in the world. One of those being the tunnels. In depth understanding of geophysical methods and a lot of information are needed in order to design a tunnel construction project. Comprehensive investigation on the ground condition has to be done before the field preparation study that will determine the stand-up time and the groundwater condition that may disrupt the tunnel construction. For tunnel stability assessment, an integration of geophysical methods is a must in order to obtain the most accurate results. Satellite imaging interpretation emphasizes on the structural tracing of negative lineament while field mapping emphasizes on location of underground seepage and major tectonic structures such as faults, joints and shear zones. Geoelectrical resistivity tomography survey is able to identify the differences in resistivity of Earth’s materials based on the water content inside of them. The best course of remediation could only be chosen once the output from all these studies are made available.

Identification of submarine landslides in the Colombian Caribbean Margin (Southern Sinú Fold Belt) using seismic investigations

Submarine landslides can be triggered by several processes and involve a variety of mechanisms. These phenomena are important sediment transport processes, but they also constitute a significant geohazard. Mapping of the southwestern Caribbean Sea using 3D seismic data has allowed identification of several submarine landslides in the Colombian Margin in the area dominated by the Southern Sinú Fold Belt (SSFB). A poststack depth-migrated seismic cube survey with a 12.5 by 12.5 m bin spacing was used to identify landslides in an area covering 5746 km2. Landslides were interpreted using a seafloor morphologic parameter identification process and the internal deformation of the slope-forming material, as seen from seismic data. A total of 93 landslides were identified and classified based on their movement styles as follows: 52 rotational, 29 translational, and 12 complex landslides. In addition, 12 distinct deformational zones and a zone of mass transport complex (MTC) were identified. Five different ground condition terrains were interpreted based on landslide type and distribution as well as in geologic structures and seismic reflection analysis. Two main processes seem to influence landslides in the study area. First is the folding and faulting involved in the SSFB evolution. This process results in oversteepened slopes that start as deformational zones and then fail as translational or rotational slides. Those individual landslides progressively become complex landslide zones that follow geologic structural orientation. Second is the continental shelf break erosion by debris flows, which fills in intraslope subbasins and continental rise with several MTCs. According to the results, risk of damage by landslides increases in distances shorter than 4 km along structural ridge foothills in the study zone.

Black Bacterial Spot Disease of Tomato, Eggplant and Pepper Plants Cultivated in Open Ground Condition in the Western Region of Azerbaijan and its Development Features

Agriculture has a great role in the development of the economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Vegetable growing is one of the main sectors of agriculture and occupies an important place among crop production. Wild species growing around us are infected with many diseases, accumulate large amounts of infection in the soil and environment, the amount of inoculum is out of control, so some diseases cross borders, oceans, seas and enter new areas and expand their range. Such long-distance infections are caused by water, air flow, anthropogenic factors, and so on. With the spread of the infection and the resumption of growth and development, new diseases and other pests invade the area. The pathological process begins in the host plants, the pathogenesis associated with the development of various factors passes through certain stages in the development cycle and finally reaches a logical conclusion with the occurrence of the disease and its coverage. In the past, only pathogenic fungi were understood when they were not pathogens, but in the last 60–70 years, our perceptions have changed, with the development of biological science. As a result of the invention and development of electron microscopes, fungi and other microorganisms began to enter the ranks of pathogens.

A study on variations in excess attenuation due to ground surface and meteorological conditions based on a long-term outdoor sound propagation experiment

From the winter of 2018, outdoor sound propagation experiments (maximum horizontal range: 300 m) have been repeatedly conducted three times a day on weekdays at a glider airfield in Hokkaido, Japan. The ground condition of the experimental field is grass-covered in summer and snow-covered in winter. In each experiment, impulse responses have been measured by time-stretched pulse method and excess attenuation has been obtained at receiving points. Meteorological data at the field has been also measured. Based on the data of excess attenuation collected under various meteorological conditions over a long period, variation in sound propagation characteristics due to the differences in ground surface condition and meteorological condition has been investigated. The numerical analysis based on the GFPE method has been also carried out with changing the parameter of meteorological condition and ground surface condition. By comparing the results with the experimental data, the prediction method of the variations in excess attenuation has been also investigated.

Analysis of Load-Bearing Capacity of Initial lining in Tunnels

Large displacements during excavation are regularly observed in Squeezing ground condition and Rock-burst condition with high overburden. The expected displacement has to be estimated prior to excavation to provide enough allowance for the displacements. The support system need to be well-suited through the estimated imposed strains. As the estimated displacements and thus the strains in the support depend upon the load-bearing capacity of support. The ratio of uniaxial compressive strength of rock mass to maximal insitu stress determines tunnel integrity in the weak region.This ratio estimates the requirements of initial lining to control strain to a stipulated level. The elasto-plastic theory may deliver definitive forecasts providing the strength limitations of rock masses are identified accurately. With the help of empirical analysis, the development of displacements for diverse advance rates and supports can be concluded. As a consequence, a quantitative finite element model based on an advanced built-in model is designed to analyse the load-bearing efficiency of initial lining although taking into consideration the time-dependent and non-linear material behaviour of initial lining. The time-dependent excavation mechanism of the drill-and-blast approach for tunnels guided by full face excavation is considered in the finite element model. The material parameters for the initial lining were computed based on case studies- (A Chibro-Khodri Hydropower Tunnel).

Unsteady Aerodynamic Performance of a Maglev Train: The Effect of the Ground Condition

The effect of the ground condition on unsteady aerodynamic performance of maglev train was numerically investigated with an IDDES (Improved Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation) method. The accuracy of the numerical method has been validated by wind tunnel experiments. The flow structure, slipstream and aerodynamic force around the train under stationary and moving ground conditions were compared. Compared with the stationary ground condition, the vortex structure under the condition of moving ground generated by the wake region is narrower and higher because of the track. Near the nose point of the head and tail vehicles, the peak value of slipstream under the condition of moving ground is slightly higher than that under stationary ground. In the wake area, the effect of the main vortex structure on both sides of the tail vehicle and the track makes the vortex structure in the wake area stronger than that under moving ground, the slipstream peak is larger and the locus thereof is further forward. Under the two ground conditions, the vortex structure is periodically shed from both sides of the train into the wake area, and the shedding frequency of the main vortex under the moving ground condition is lower than that under the stationary ground condition. Moving ground can increase the resistance of the maglev train, reduce the lift of the maglev train, and decrease the standard deviation of the maglev train’s aerodynamic force.

Impact of the Disturbances for Forest Grazing on Flora Composition in a Natural Forest

Daegwallyeong is a mountain pass at an altitude of 832 m, which has been designated a conservation area because of its essential role in Korea’s forest ecosystem. Simultaneously, this area is considered a suitable place for forest grazing due to the cool temperature during the summer. Some areas have been converted to grassland for livestock feeding, and the scale has continued increasing. Although livestock in a forest area is more ecofriendly than industrialized facilities, it could impact the native ecosystem, especially in terms of the flora and vegetation. We investigated the changes in flora and vegetation of Daegwallyeong before and after the grassland formation. The total number of vascular plant species changed throughout the survey period. It was decreased by thinning and forest floor removal in 2015. However, it bounced back to the original number in 2016, even after grazing. However, there was a dramatic decrease after the second forest floor removal and 3 months of grazing in 2017. The number of flora slightly increased after the fallow of grazing in 2019, but it did not fully recover. Although the number of flora seemed back to normal, the composition of the flora in 2019 was significantly changed from the forest without disturbance in 2014. First, there was the invasion of naturalized plants such as Taraxacum officinale and Barbarea vularis, as well as ecosystem-disturbing flora such as Carex callitrichos var. nana and Rumex acetosa. Second, the coverage of those species expanded after thinning and grazing. Most importantly, we lost five valuable rare species, Anemone koraiensis, Viola diamantiaca, Chionanthus retusus, Scopolia japonica, and Streptopus ovalis, from the area. Additionally, the ground condition of the area was severely damaged, and plants no longer grow in some areas. The survey and analysis of plants in this study showed the adverse effects of forest grazing practices on rare plants in Daegwallyeong. Forest grazing practices should be carefully conducted to preserve vulnerable plant species and a healthy ecosystem.

Model tests for tilting control of suction bucket foundation for offshore wind turbine with path points

In offshore wind farms, tilting control based on a single-basket suction bucket foundation is a significant problem. In a single-basket suction bucket foundation, the tilting control of the foundation is possible by arranging the cells inside and controlling the pressure of each cell. However, the pressure of each cell must be finely controlled. Studies on this topic have been conducted, but no specific tilting control method has been developed. This paper presents experimental model results for tilting control obtained during the installation of a suction bucket foundation consisting of three internal cells. Tilting control was performed by independently controlling the internal pressure of each cell. A 1:100 scale model was used, and the ground condition was sandy. Four cases of tilting control tests for the model foundation were used with multiple combinations of internal positive, negative, or both pressures of each cell. It was found that the tilting control was within 5° during the installation and operation stages. There was a tilting control limit for operation based on the model with only negative pressure; therefore, 5° tilting control was achieved by combining the positive pressure.