A Conceptual Framework for Integration Development of GSFLOW Model: Concerns and Issues Identified and Addressed for Model Development Efficiency

In Coupled Groundwater and Surface-Water Flow (GSFLOW) model, the three-dimensional finite-difference groundwater model (MODFLOW) plays a critical role of groundwater flow simulation, together with which the Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (PRMS) simulates the surface hydrologic processes. While the model development of each individual PRMS and MODFLOW model requires tremendous time and efforts, further integration development of these two models exerts additional concerns and issues due to different simulation realm, data communication, and computation algorithms. To address these concerns and issues in GSFLOW, the present paper proposes a conceptual framework from perspectives of: Model Conceptualization, Data Linkages and Transference, Model Calibration, and Sensitivity Analysis. As a demonstration, a MODFLOW groundwater flow system was developed and coupled with the PRMS model in the Lehman Creek watershed, eastern Nevada, resulting in a smooth and efficient integration as the hydrogeologic features were well captured and represented. The proposed conceptual integration framework with techniques and concerns identified substantially improves GSFLOW model development efficiency and help better model result interpretations. This may also find applications in other integrated hydrologic modelings

Resource Allocation for Energy-Efficient Device-to-Device Communication in 4G Networks

Device-to-device (D2D) communications as an underlay of a LTE-A (4G) network can reduce the traffic load as well as power consumption in cellular networks by way of utilizing peer-to-peer links for users in proximity of each other. This would enable other cellular users to increment their traffic, and the aggregate traffic for all users can be significantly increased without requiring additional spectrum. However, D2D communications may increase interference to cellular users (CUs) and force CUs to increase their transmit power levels in order to maintain their required quality-of-service (QoS). This paper proposes an energy-efficient resource allocation scheme for D2D communications as an underlay of a fully loaded LTE-A (4G) cellular network. Simulations show that the proposed scheme allocates cellular uplink resources (transmit power and channel) to D2D pairs while maintaining the required QoS for D2D and cellular users and minimizing the total uplink transmit power for all users.Comment: 2014 7th International Symposium on Telecommunications (IST'2014

A Conceptualized Groundwater Flow Model Development for Integration with Surface Hydrology Model

A groundwater system model was developed and calibrated in the study area of Lehman Creek watershed, eastern Nevada. The model development aims for integrating the surface hydrologic model - precipitation runoff modeling system (PRMS) model - with the three-dimensional (3D) finite-difference model MODFLOW. A two-layer groundwater model was developed with spatial discretization of 100 x 100 m grid. The water balance was estimated with inflows of gravity drainage and initial streamflow estimated from a calibrated PRMS model, and with outflows of spring discharges, boundary fluxes, and stream base flow. A steady-state model calibration was performed to estimate the hydraulic properties. The modeling results were able to represent the geographic relieves, simulate water balance components, and capture the hydrogeologic features. The preliminary results presented in this study provide insights into the local groundwater flow system and lay groundwork for future study of interactive influences of surface hydrologic variation

Study of Potential Integrated Management of Water Resources in Las Vegas Valley

Water resource management under short term system perturbations such as storms and longer-term systemic changes caused by climate change such as droughts is a challenge when multiple agencies are involved. To address this challenge this research focuses on water management under changing climate conditions and population growth through understanding the agency water jurisdictions, management strategies, and modes of operation in Las Vegas Valley. A framework for integrated management through sharing data and models is presented that combines drinking water supply, flood control, and waste water treatment. This framework can be adopted to improve coordination among different water management agencies

Climate Change and Eutrophication: A Short Review

Water resources are vital not only for human beings but essentially all ecosystems. Human health is at risk if clean drinking water becomes contaminated. Water is also essential for agriculture, manufacturing, energy production and other diverse uses. Therefore, a changing climate and its potential effects put more pressure on water resources. Climate change may cause increased water demand as a result of rising temperatures and evaporation while decreasing water availability. On the other hand, extreme events as a result of climate change can increase surface runoff and flooding, deteriorating water quality as well. One effect is water eutrophication, which occurs when high concentrations of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, are present in the water. Nutrients come from different sources including agriculture, wastewater, stormwater, and fossil fuel combustion. Algal blooms can cause many problems, such as deoxygenation and water toxicity, ultimately disrupting normal ecosystem functioning. In this paper, we investigate the potential impacts of climatic factors affecting water eutrophication, how these factors are projected to change in the future, and what their projected potential impacts will be

Innovative mix design of cementitious materials for enhancing strength and ductility

Cement based composites i.e. paste, mortar and concrete are the most utilized materials in the construction industry all over the world. Cement composites are quasi-brittle in nature and possess extremely low tensile strength as compared to their compressive strength. Due to their low tensile strength capacity, cracks develop in cementitious composites due to the drying shrinkage, plastic settlements and/or stress concentrations (due to external restrains and/or applied stresses) etc. These cracks developed at the nanoscale may grow rapidly due to the applied stresses and join together to form micro and macro cracks. The growth of cracks from nanoscale to micro and macro scale is very rapid and may lead to sudden failure of the cement composites. Therefore, it is necessary to develop such types of cement composites possessing higher resistance to crack growth, enhanced flexural strength and ductility. The development of new technologies and materials has revolutionized every field of science by opening new horizons in production and manufacturing. In construction materials, especially in cement and concrete composites, the use of nano/micro particles and fibers in the mix design of these composites has opened new ways from improved mechanical properties to enhanced functionalities. Generally, the production or manufacturing processes of the nano/micro sized particles and fibers are energy intensive and expensive. Therefore, it is very important to explore new methods and procedures to develop less energy intensive, low cost and eco-friendly inert nano/micro sized particles for utilization in the cement composites to obtain better performance in terms of strength and ductility. The main theme of the present research work was to develop a family of new type of cementitious composites possessing superior performance characteristics in terms of strength, ductility, fracture energy and crack growth pattern by incorporating micro sized inert carbonized particles in the mix design of cementitious composites. To achieve these objectives the micro sized inert carbonized particles were prepared from organic waste materials, namely: Bamboo, coconut shell and hemp hurds. For comparison purposes and performance optimization needs, another inorganic waste material named as carbon soot was also investigated in the present research. The experimental investigations for the present study was carried out in two phases; In the first phase of research work, a methodology was developed for the synthesis of the micro sized inert carbonized particles from the above mentioned organic raw materials. In the second phase of research, various mix proportions of the cementitious composites were prepared incorporating the synthesized micro sized inert carbonized particles. For micro sized inert carbonized particles obtained from bamboo and coconut shell three wt.% additions i.e. 0.05, 0.08, 0.20 were investigated and for particles synthesized from hemp hurds 0.08, 0.20, 1.00 and 3.00 wt.% additions were explored. The cement composites were characterized by third-point bending tests and their fracture parameters were evaluated. The mechanical characterization of specimens suggested that 0.08 wt.% addition of micro sized inert carbonized bamboo particles enhances the flexural strength and toughness of cement composites up to 66% and 103% respectively. The toughness indices I5, I10 and total toughness of the cement composites were also enhanced. The carbonized particles synthesized from coconut shell resulted in improved toughness and ductility without any increase in the modulus of rupture of the cement composite specimens. Maximum enhancements in I5 and I10 were observed for 0.08% addition of both carbonized and carbonized-annealed particles. For the carbonized hemp hurds cement composites the results indicate that the micro sized inert carbonized particles additions enhanced the flexural strength, compressive strength and the fracture energy of the cement composites. The microstructure of the cement composites was also studied with the help of field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) by observing small chunks of cement composite paste samples. The FESEM observations indicated that the micro sized inert carbonized particles utilized in the mix design of these mixes were well dispersed in the cement matrix. It was also observed that the fracture paths followed by the cracks were tortures and irregular due the presence of micro particles in the matrix. The cracks during their growth often contoured around the inert particle inclusions and resulted in enhanced energy absorption capacity of the cement composites. The study was further enhanced to the cement mortar composites and their performances were studied. The results indicated that the energy absorption behavior of the composites was enhanced for all the cement composites containing micro carbonized particles. Finally, it is concluded that the ductility and toughness properties of the cement composites can be enhanced by incorporating the micro sized inert carbonized particles in the cement matrix. The fracture energy, ductility and toughness properties enhancement of the cement composites greatly depends upon the source and synthesis procedure followed for the production of micro sized inert carbonized particles

Marble Industry Role in the Socio Economic Development of Marble Industrial Owners of District Mohmand Federal Administered Tribal Area-Pakistan

The study was carried out in District Mohmand  in August, 2018. The major objective was, to find out marble industry role in the socio-economic development of District Mohmand. The study area consists of 7 tehsils while three tehsils namely Safi, Pandiali, Khwezai Bazai were selected on the basis of more marble industries . The total number of marble industries in these tehsils  were 140, Safi 40, Pandiali 48 and Khwazia Bazai 48 while all were selected for the present study. Data were collected though questionnaire while Descriptive statistic and paired T-test were used for data analysis. The mean monthly income of the respondents after marble industry was Rs.97286 and before was Rs.49843 while mean monthly expenditure after was Rs.51714 and before was Rs.39479.Similarly the mean monthly saving after marble industrial owners was found Rs.45500 and before was Rs.10786  and the school children were found more than before. Similarly the private school number was found more than before. The monthly mean expenditure on education after marble industry was found Rs.6151 and the expenditure before was Rs.4361. Subsequently the private hospitals were found more than before. The mean monthly expenditure on health after marble industries was Rs.6501 and before was Rs.4700.All results were found highly significant at 5% level. Majority house were found Pucca than before. The land holding size of the respondents’ number was increased due to marble industries in the study area. The number of vehicles decreased due to huge investment for the industry establishment. The study recommends to fulfill the needs of the industry owners and to enhance the export of marble abroad.  Transportation problem should be permanently solved for pushing the marble industries in the study area. It will be also better to decrease the govt. taxes and water availability in the study area for enhancing marble industries for generating more employment for improving their income level in the study area. Credit and marketing facilities availability also play key role in the enhancement of marble industries in the study area. Keywords:- Role, Marble Industry, Socioeconomic Conditions, Development, Mohmand District DOI: 10.7176/IEL/9-3-01 Publication date: April 30th 201

Modelling of High Temperature Hot-Rolled Steel

The coilbox is a non-compulsory process used in hot strip milling to produce diverse alloys of hot-rolled steel products. Unlike other hot strip processes, the Coilbox is a passive process usually placed between the roughing and finishing mills which does not introduce any extra heat or mechanical stress into the steel strip. The coilbox wraps the steel strip around itself, forming a tight coil and shortening the overall length of the steel strip, and in turn, reduces the overall size of the hot strip mill. The coilbox also reduces heat loss from the steel strip by reducing the total surface area exposed to the environment. Lastly, the coilbox allows the strip to be stored temporarily on the mill while still hot in case of a fault or congestion ahead. Temperature control throughout the hot strip milling process is essential to ensure the end steel product has the correct and expected mechanical properties. Temperatures too high or low can introduce unexpected stresses and damage mill equipment. Due to the importance of temperature control, many mills have thermal models or simulation software that predict the temperature of the steel strip throughout every stage of the milling process. Thermal models of the hot strip are often implemented in-house and specific to manufacturers' requirements and setups. TATA Steel is no different, having developed a strip mill simulation software called TiTAN. This study looks at modifying and implementing a thermal model into TiTAN using the finite element method to allow the user to test and understand the thermal losses of a steel strip as it passes through the coilbox. TiTAN is a quick and efficient modelling software for hot and cold strip mills, although currently, it cannot model temperature changes that may occur during the coilbox process. TATA Steel would like to implement a new module into TiTAN that would allow this functionality. The new model must integrate seamlessly with TiTAN whilst also accurately modelling the steel strip temperature up to 80% of the actual temperature of the steel strip as measured from on-site data. Temperature data from TATA Steels Port Talbot site were analysed to understand the thermal properties of the strip as it passes through the coilbox. Furthermore, how the strip moves through the coilbox was studied to determine if the physical properties of the strip, such as position and speed, would impact the temperature. After building up a good understanding of the properties of the strip as it passes through the coilbox, a model of the coilbox process was developed in TiTAN