Procedure for predicting settlements of thawing bases for engineering calculations

It was shown that in order to compute the settlement of thawing cohesive soil under a load in time it is necessary to experimentally determine the consolidation coefficient. A procedure is suggested for determining this coefficient, as well as use of the classical solution of a differential equation for seepage consolidation to describe the settlement of soil, thawing of which can occur according to any law.State All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Roads. Translated from Osnovaniya, Fundamenty i Mekhanika Gruntov, No. 4, pp. 5–7, July–August, 1993.     

A new approach for simulating aerodynamic vibrations of structures in a wind tunnel—development of an experimental system by means of hybrid vibration technique

The present paper describes a newly proposed technique for simulating aerodynamic vibration of structures, which is referred to as the hybrid vibration technique or HVT. This technique is a combination of step-by-step computer calculation and measurement of the aerodynamic force acting on a model structure in a wind tunnel test. Even though the HVT can be applied effectively, problems still exist with respect to obtaining accurate simulations. These problems include response delay in controlling the model behavior and the inertia force component present in the measured aerodynamic force. Techniques for compensating for response delay and for eliminating inertia force from measured aerodynamic force are applied to a developed system based on HVT simulations of aerodynamic vibration of elastic structures and structures exhibiting elasto-plastic behavior are performed by means of the newly developed system. The effectiveness of the techniques for compensating for the response delay and eliminating the inertia force can be confirmed from the results of the simulations. In addition, the possibility and applicability of HVT is indicated.     

Concurrent denitrification and oxygen uptake in microbial films

Mixed microbial films were grown on the inner walls of a tubular reactor with recirculation of the reactor contents and continuous flow-through of nutrient solution. The loss of total oxidized nitrogen was correlated to the film population, the nitrite concentration and the dissolved oxygen concentration in the reactor. When film population was greater than 0.5 × 10⁹ cells cm⁻², reactor dissolved oxygen concentration greater than 1 mg l⁻¹ had little effect on the nitrate loss. Nitrate loss declined for film populations greater than 2 × 10⁹ cells cm⁻². Models based on Monod and zero-order microbial kinetics were calibrated using these data and a nonlinear least squares method. There was little difference in the residual errors with these methods.     

Complexation of organic compounds in the presence of Al3+ during micellar flocculation

Complexes of Al and model pollutants phenol, benzoic acid, 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and 2,4-DB (2,4-dichlorophenoxybutiric acid) play a key role in the removal of organic pollutants by co-adsorption on micelles of anionic surfactants flocculated by means of Al(3+). This technique, known as adsorptive micellar flocculation (AMF), is related to removal of organic compounds by coagulation-precipitation with Al and Fe salts. Some of the stoichiometries found (6Al:1L and higher, with "L" the organic compound) indicate that complexes of a cationic nature form in the presence of high excesses of Al, possibly polyaluminium complexes related to the species [Al(13)O(4)(OH)(24)](7+). In the case of phenol it has been established by spectroscopic measures that in the range of [Al(2)(SO(4))(3)](tot) between 5 x 10(-5) and 3 x 10(-4)M and [phenol](tot) between 10(-3) and 6 x 10(-3)M complexes exist at pH as low as 2.4. The results show that AMF may be explained by the chemisorption of molecules of organic compounds able to incorporate into the polyaluminic complexes occurring within the Stern layer of flocculating micelles.     

A pore crack model for the mechanical behaviour of porous granular rocks in the brittle deformation regime

A model is developed for predicting and simulating the mechanical behaviour and failure mode of brittle porous granular rocks loaded in compression. It is based on a fracture mechanics analysis applied to cracks emanating from the surface of cylindrical pores in two-dimensional, which is well suited to the microstructure of such rocks. It is also consistent with the usual experimental procedure used for biaxial compression tests since the numerical scheme is implemented under the assumption of imposed axial strain. The model takes into account interactions between neighbouring cracks, which grow when their stress intensity factor reaches the fracture toughness of the rock. The simulation of crack growth from cylindrical holes, associated with a failure criterion based on the coalescence of interacting cracks, allows one to calculate the critical stress at rupture and to derive theoretical stress–strain curves.The present model is then used to compare theoretical results with laboratory data obtained on four sandstones with porosity ranging between 13% and 25.5% which were deformed under conventional triaxial compression conditions at confining pressures between 0 and 35 MPa. The comparison shows that by using a small number of parameters (pore size, pore density, fracture toughness, and elastic moduli), the model is able to predict the rock behaviour during the compression tests and the stress level at rupture in a quite accurate way, when the microstructural parameters introduced are consistent with the observations.     

Analysis and jointing of polygonal road slabs

Conclusions 1. For anlaysis of circular (polygona) slabs which can be included in the category of absolutely rigid slabs, a practical approximate method of analysis has been developed and experimentally verified which permits determining the bending moments under centrally and eccentrically applied loads acting over a small circular area, as well as at any other points in the slab beyond the limits of the loaded area.2. Monolithic bonding of hexagonal road slabs up to 3–4 m² in area designed for the N-30 load results in increased design bending moments and, consequently, in thicker pavements. For these slabs it is expedient to use nonrigid joints, which do not transmit bending or torsional moments; however, these slabs must be placed on stabilized beds and their joints must be filled with waterproofing mastic.Translated from Osnovaniya, Fundamenty i Mekhanika Gruntov, No. 5, pp. 19–22, September–October, 1974.     

The effect of temperature on the removal of non-ionic surfactants during small-scale activated-sludge sewage treatment—I. Comparison of alcohol ethoxylates with a branched-chain alkyl phenol ethoxylate

The degree of biodegradability of three non-ionic surfactants has been assessed using small-scale activated-sludge sewage treatment plants. The effect of temperature on biodegradability was studied by operation at 15°, 11° and 8°C.The two alcohol ethoxylate surfactants tested were well degraded at all three operating temperatures. The alkyl phenol ethoxylate surfactant tested was well degraded at 15°C but at lower temperatures the biodegradability was dependent on concentration. At 5 mg 1⁻¹, greater than 90 per cent removal was achieved but at 20 mg 1⁻¹ the degree of removal fluctuated between 40 and 95 per cent at 11°C and between 20 and 80 per cent at 8°C.The present results have been compared with those obtained using the same surfactants in community trials at a small sewage works employing biological filtration. Although a similar temperature effect was observed with the alkyl phenol ethoxylate, the biodegradabilities obtained in the laboratory were consistently greater than those obtained at the sewage works, perhaps because of the constant conditions of the laboratory test.     

Paleonutritional analysis of the pre-Hispanic population from Fuerteventura (Canary Islands)

In this study, from histological and chemical perspectives, we analyse the human remains belonging to the pre-Hispanic inhabitants from Fuerteventura (one of the Canary Islands) and compare the results with those obtained on a sample of pre-Hispanic inhabitants from Gran Canaria (Canary Islands). We observe that trabecular bone mass was normal in the samples from Fuerteventura except for an elderly woman; this result is in sharp contrast with the decreased bone mass observed in the population from Gran Canaria. The pre-Hispanic population from Fuerteventura showed lower bone strontium, Sr/Ca ratio, and bone barium, but slightly higher bone copper, than that from Gran Canaria. All these data indicate a greater consumption of marine products by the population of Fuerteventura. The high prevalence of osteoporosis observed in the population from Gran Canaria may be interpreted as a consequence of protein-calorie malnutrition, a condition which seemed to be not so prevalent in the population of Fuerteventura.     

Interstitial inorganic phosphorus concentrations in lakes Mendota and Wingra

Interstitial P levels in Lake Mendota and Lake Wingra were evaluated as a function of season and water column and sediment depth. Interstitial water was obtained by the centrifugation-filtration method. Temporal variations were observed over the entire 15 cm sediment depth interval examined in all four locations evaluated. Interstitial reactive P (IRP) levels in Lake Mendota ranged from 0.014–1.67 mg l⁻¹ at the 5–6 m water column depth and from 1.20–5.75 mg l⁻¹ at the 18–19.5 m depth. IRP levels in Lake Wingra ranged from 0.029–2.15 mg l⁻¹ at 3.5 m and from 0.191–3.96 mg l⁻¹ at 2 m. Variations in interstitial P were attributed to variations in oxidation state of Fe as influenced by oxygen transport and reduction rates.