A study of the local site effects on the ground response for the city of Eskişehir,Turkey

Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment - Local soil characteristics play a key role in determining soil-structure interaction and reliability of the superstructure behavior under...     

Seismic vulnerability indices of ground for Değirmendere (Kocaeli Province,Turkey)

Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment - It is well known that the mechanical and physical properties of subsoil layers as well as poor construction practices play an important role in...     

Quality assessment of surface and groundwater in Solaklı Basin (Trabzon, Turkey)

The paper reports a study of the surface and ground water in Solakl? Basin, Trabzon, from an assessment of 33 sampling points. Many of the parameters analysed are only marginally acceptable as potable water, even though the samples were collected during the wet season. The highest concentrations of contaminants were found downstream of the centres of population. The results indicate regular monitoring is required and some measures should be taken to protect the limited resources.     

Modelling nitrogen in the Yeşilirmak River catchment in Northern Turkey: impacts of future climate and environmental change and implications for nutrient management

Recent research in catchments of rapidly developing countries such as Brazil and China suggests that many catchments of the developing world are already showing signs of nitrogen pollution reminiscent of past experiences in developed countries. This paper looks at both the individual and combined effects of future climate change and other likely environmental changes on in-stream nitrate concentrations in a catchment in Northern Turkey. A model chain comprised of simulated future temperature and precipitation from a Regional Circulation Model (RCM), a conceptual hydrological model (HBV) and a widely tested integrated catchment nitrogen model (INCA-N) is used to model future changes in nitrate concentrations. Two future periods (2021-2050 and 2069-2098) are compared to the 1961-1990 baseline period in order to assess the effectiveness of several possible interventions available to catchment authorities. The simulations show that in the urbanised part of the catchment, the effects of climate change and other environmental changes act in the same direction, leading to peak nitrate concentrations of 7.5 mg N/l for the 2069-2098 period, which corresponds to a doubling of the baseline values. Testing different available policy options reveals that the installation of wastewater treatment works (WWTWs) in all major settlements of the catchment could ensure nitrate levels are kept at near their baseline values for the 2021-2050 period. Nevertheless, a combination of measures including WWTWs, meadow creation, international agreements to reduce atmospheric N concentrations and controls on agricultural practises will be required for 2069-2098. The approach presented in this article could be employed in order to anticipate future pollution problems and to test appropriate solutions, some of which will necessitate international co-operation, in other catchments around the world.     

Modeling groundwater flow in the agricultural area of Gümüşhacıköy (Amasya, Turkey)

The Gümü?hac?köy Plain is the most productive agricultural area in the central/northern part of Turkey. Although the Quaternary/Pliocene granular deposits beneath the Plain have formed an important aquifer/water resource, excessive pumping in the last two decades, mainly for irrigation, has resulted in a significant depletion of the reservoir with some 30% of the total resource being lost in the last 40 years. The paper reports a groundwater flow model developed to allow the sustainability of the groundwater resource to be monitored such that appropriate measures can be undertaken.     

Atmospheric and anthropogenic deterioration of the İvriz rock monument: Ereğli-Konya,Central Anatolia,Turkey

Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment - The aim of this study is to determine the extent of deterioration of the limestone on which the İvriz rock monument is engraved. This...     

Evaluation of seepage problems of the Armağan Dam, Kırklareli, northwestern Turkey

The Armağan Dam, Turkey, is constructed on the metalimestones and chalk schists of the Dolapdere Formation. The metalimestones have been karstified, with clay infilling many of the solution features. When the river was impounded, the increase in water head resulted in some of the clay infill leaching out such that there was hydraulic connection between the reservoir and the area downstream. Dye tracing tests, pinhole and XRD analyses suggested the clays in the waters egressing downstream were from the solution infill rather than from the dam itself. Unless it is possible to wash out the clays from the metalimestones and replace them with grout, a continual programme of monitoring and grouting will be required to ensure the stability and water tightness of the dam.      

The Sumela Monastery slope in Maçka,Trabzon, Northeast Turkey: rock mass properties and stability assessment

In 2001, rock falls occurred on the southern slope of the Sumela Monastery, which was built on a cliff in Trabzon, north east Turkey, and is visited by many tourists. Considering the steepness of the slope and difficulty of access, rock classifications were made based on seismic wave velocity, rock mass quality (Q), rock quality designation (RQD) and rock mass rating (RMR). The results indicated extremely poor to very poor rock in the cracked, fractured and weathered parts and poor to fair rock in the intact parts of the monastery slope. As a consequence, rock fall, slide and rolling may occur from time to time. These constitute a hazard to the facilities of the monastery and access paths. It is recommended that cracked areas are strengthened with cement-based materials, that accumulated rocks are removed, and that retaining walls are constructed on solid rock around the unstable rock blocks.     

Effect of chemical erosion and freeze–thaw cycling on the physical and mechanical characteristics of granites

Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment - Rocks in nature are very often subjected to weathering processes. The physical and mechanical properties of granites exposed to chemical...     

Empirical investigation of owner-occupiers’ reinvestments in housing: the case of Ankara,Turkey

In Turkey, reinvestments in the existing housing stock are entirely dependent on households’ decisions in the free market. There are no policies to consider reinvestment processes, and the body of knowledge on households’ reinvestment decisions is scant. Understanding how individual reinvestment decisions are determined is vital to devise policy measures to improve the condition of the existing housing stock and neighbourhoods. In this study, an attempt is made to identify the basic motivations and factors underpinning the owner-occupants’ performed and planned reinvestments in the apartment flats of Ankara. The results display that consumption considerations, particularly circumstances of necessity and urgency, are the basic motivation for undertaking reinvestment works among the surveyed owner-occupants. Higher household head age, shorter duration of occupancy, higher house value and maintained installations and infrastructure in common parts of the apartment blocks are displayed to increase the probability of having undertaken reinvestment works. Also, perception of the dwelling to be in disrepair and landscaped common outdoor space of the apartment are identified to increase the probability of having reinvestment plans for the future. The analysis suggests that policy measures are required both to trigger reinvestment capacities of households and to monitor the tendencies of reinvestments.     

Determination of major and trace elements in sediments of lake Eğridir,Turkey

Some major and trace element contents of sediment samples from four sampling stations in Lake E?ridir have been analysed by flame atomic absorbtion spectrometry. The mean levels (μg.g^‐1) of Ca, Mg, Cu, Mn, Pb, Fe, Zn, Ni, Cd for each station and the mean level of each metal for the four sampling stations together with the statistical evaluation of data are listed. The results indicate that, although the amounts of these metals fall within the range of unpolluted sediments, the fact that the samples from the second and third stations contained higher metal levels indicate the effect of some pollution in these areas.     

Numerical assessment of the static and seismic behaviour of the basilica of Santa Maria all’Impruneta (Italy)

The paper analyses the static behaviour and the seismic vulnerability of the Basilica of Santa Maria all’Impruneta near Florence (Italy). The static structural behaviour and the dynamic properties of the church have been evaluated using the finite element modelling technique, where the nonlinear behaviour of masonry has been taken into account by proper constitutive assumptions. A macro-modelling approach has been used based on the concepts of homogenisated material and smeared cracking and crushing constitutive law. Seismic vulnerability has been evaluated using a pushover method, and the results obtained with the nonlinear numerical model have been compared with the simplified schemes of limit analysis. The capacity of the church to withstand lateral loads is evaluated together with the expected demands resulting from seismic actions. The comparison of seismic demand vs. capacity confirms the susceptibility of this type of buildings to extensive damage and collapse, as frequently observed in similar buildings. The paper’s aim was to point out that advanced numerical analyses can offer significant information on the understanding of the actual structural behaviour of historic buildings. The methodology and the conclusions of this case study it is believed that are applicable to a wide variety of historic Basilica churches.     

Aquifer characteristics and water quality of Miocene–Pleistocene sediments, Kuwait

Al-Atraf is one of the water well fields of Kuwait supplying Kuwait City with the brackish groundwater obtained from the Kuwait Group aquifer of Miocene–Pleistocene age. The study determined the hydrogeological and hydrochemical characteristics of the groundwater in order to identify the major chemical processes that influence the groundwater quality of the study area. The results of the aquifer test analyses indicate that the Kuwait Group is a confined to semi-confined aquifer, with a transmissivity ranging between 62 and 321 m²/day. The flow net analysis implied that the groundwater moves from southwest to northeast. The estimated transmissivity values agree well with those calculated from the aquifer test. The results of the chemical analyses data of the Al-Atraf field show that the groundwater is mainly brackish, of NaCl and Na₂SO₄ water types. The groundwater is undersaturated with respect to halite, gypsum and anhydrite and supersaturated with respect to quartz, dolomite and calcite in the direction of groundwater flow. The average Pco₂ of the groundwater is higher than the Pco₂ of the earths atmosphere indicating that the groundwater is supplied with CO₂ during the infiltration processes and dissolves the carbonate minerals under closed-system conditions.     

Sustainability assessment and rating of buildings: Developing the methodology SBTool–H

Although sustainable building is a multidimensional concept, attention to the issue often focuses solely on environmental indicators, ignoring the substantial importance of social, economic and cultural indicators. Building sustainability involves various relations between built, natural and social systems and therefore comprises a complex of different priorities that require consideration at each stage of a building’s life-cycle. To cope with this complexity and to support sustainability systematic, holistic and practical approaches to building design need to be developed. The main objective of a systematic methodology is to support the development of a building design that achieves the most appropriate balance between the different sustainability dimensions, and is, at the same time, practical, transparent and flexible enough to be easily adapted to different types of buildings and technology.     

Does office space occupation matter? The role of the number of persons per enclosed office space,psychosocial work characteristics,and environmental satisfaction in the physical and mental health of employees

The study examined the effects of office space occupation, psychosocial work characteristics, and environmental satisfaction on physical and mental health of office workers in small‐sized and open‐plan offices as well as possible underlying mechanisms. Office space occupation was characterized as number of persons per one enclosed office space. A total of 207 office employees with similar jobs in offices with different space occupation were surveyed regarding their work situation (psychosocial work characteristics, satisfaction with privacy, acoustics, and control) and health (psychosomatic complaints, irritation, mental well‐being, and work ability). Binary logistic and linear regression analyses as well as bootstrapped mediation analyses were used to determine associations and underlying mechanisms. Employee health was significantly associated with all work characteristics. Psychosocial work stressors had the strongest relation to physical and mental health (OR range: 1.66–3.72). The effect of office space occupation on employee health was mediated by stressors and environmental satisfaction, but not by psychosocial work resources. As assumed by sociotechnical approaches, a higher number of persons per enclosed office space was associated with adverse health effects. However, the strongest associations were found with psychosocial work stressors. When revising office design, a holistic approach to work (re)design is needed.