The Evaluation of Rock Mass Characteristics against Seepage for Sustainable Infrastructure Development

The determination of rock seepage characteristics is a complex phenomenon due to the variability, discontinuities, and formation age of rocks. The available literature on rock mechanics covers empirical relationships and approaches for the estimation of seepage characteristics from the rock mass parameters. In this study, an area comprising of infrastructure such as a water reservoir, embankments, roads, etc., constructed on mix rock mass formations was selected. The field and laboratory tests’ geo-mechanical data for the study area were evaluated. The data obtained from the field geo-mechanical engineering tests like Rock Quality Designation (RQD), Rock Core Recovery, Lugeon, etc., were analyzed. The data retrieved from the geological and geotechnical laboratory tests such as petrography, uniaxial compression, Hoek shear, elastic modulus, etc., were also evaluated. Rock mass was characterized based on petrographic and RQD, and was found in the hybrid formation of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary deposits. Seepage analysis in the study area was also carried out based on adit and piezometric data (installed in accordance with the mining technology guidelines), using Seep W Finite Element Method (FEM). The seepage observed in adits were compared with seepage calculated from Seep W. The trend of simulated flux was also presented against K ratio. Seepage quantities for different ranges of K ratio were plotted to evaluate interdependency between seepage and K ratio. Correlations of RQD were developed with hydraulic conductivity “k” for igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks for quick assessment of seepage characteristics of rock mass by RQD. These correlations and seepage related evaluations will be beneficial for the characterization of rock mass in relation to seepage for sustainable infrastructure development

The Evaluation of Rock Mass Characteristics against Seepage for Sustainable Infrastructure Development

The determination of rock seepage characteristics is a complex phenomenon due to the variability, discontinuities, and formation age of rocks. The available literature on rock mechanics covers empirical relationships and approaches for the estimation of seepage characteristics from the rock mass parameters. In this study, an area comprising of infrastructure such as a water reservoir, embankments, roads, etc., constructed on mix rock mass formations was selected. The field and laboratory tests’ geo-mechanical data for the study area were evaluated. The data obtained from the field geo-mechanical engineering tests like Rock Quality Designation (RQD), Rock Core Recovery, Lugeon, etc., were analyzed. The data retrieved from the geological and geotechnical laboratory tests such as petrography, uniaxial compression, Hoek shear, elastic modulus, etc., were also evaluated. Rock mass was characterized based on petrographic and RQD, and was found in the hybrid formation of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary deposits. Seepage analysis in the study area was also carried out based on adit and piezometric data (installed in accordance with the mining technology guidelines), using Seep W Finite Element Method (FEM). The seepage observed in adits were compared with seepage calculated from Seep W. The trend of simulated flux was also presented against K ratio. Seepage quantities for different ranges of K ratio were plotted to evaluate interdependency between seepage and K ratio. Correlations of RQD were developed with hydraulic conductivity “k” for igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks for quick assessment of seepage characteristics of rock mass by RQD. These correlations and seepage related evaluations will be beneficial for the characterization of rock mass in relation to seepage for sustainable infrastructure development

Alleviation of Salt Stress in Wheat Seedlings via Multifunctional Bacillus aryabhattai PM34: An In-Vitro Study

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria play a substantial role in plant growth and development under biotic and abiotic stress conditions. However, understanding about the functional role of rhizobacterial strains for wheat growth under salt stress remains largely unknown. Here we investigated the antagonistic bacterial strain Bacillus aryabhattai PM34 inhabiting ACC deaminase and exopolysaccharide producing ability to ameliorate salinity stress in wheat seedlings under in vitro conditions. The strain PM34 was isolated from the potato rhizosphere and screened for different PGP traits comprising nitrogen fixation, potassium, zinc solubilization, indole acetic acid, siderophore, and ammonia production, along with various extracellular enzyme activities. The strain PM34 showed significant tolerance towards both abiotic stresses including salt stress (NaCl 2 M), heavy metal (nickel, 100 ppm, and cadmium, 300 ppm), heat stress (60 °C), and biotic stress through mycelial inhibition of Rhizoctonia solani (43%) and Fusarium solani (41%). The PCR detection of ituC, nifH, and acds genes coding for iturin, nitrogenase, and ACC deaminase enzyme indicated the potential of strain PM34 for plant growth promotion and stress tolerance. In the in vitro experiment, NaCl (2 M) decreased the wheat growth while the inoculation of strain PM34 enhanced the germination% (48%), root length (76%), shoot length (75%), fresh biomass (79%), and dry biomass (87%) over to un-inoculated control under 2M NaCl level. The results of experiments depicted the ability of antagonistic bacterial strain Bacillus aryabhattai PM34 to augment salt stress tolerance when inoculated to wheat plants under saline environment