Dynamic soil properties are important parameters for the design of structures subjected to various dynamic/cyclic loading such as earthquake which can be obtained by in situ and laboratory measurements. Numerous empirical and mathematical models have been proposed to predict the dynamic properties of soils, including maximum shear modulus (Gmax), normalized shear modulus (G/Gmax - γ) curve, reference shear strain (γr), minimum damping ratio (Dmin) and damping ratio (D - γ) curve. However, the majority of the existing models were proposed for specific soil types, loading characteristics, initial soil fabrics and strain ranges. This paper proposes five universal models to estimate the Gmax, γr and Dmin values, and also G/Gmax - γ and D - γ curves using a database that contains 117 tests on 5 different granular soils. The proposed models include the effect of grading characteristics, void ratio, mean effective confining pressure, consolidation stress ratio (KC) and specimen preparation method. The models are validated using experimental data from previous studies for granular soils. The results indicate that the proposed models are capable of evaluating the dynamic properties of granular soil., Meysam Bayat., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The harmonic oscillations of water level changes with several hundred nanometers amplitudes and 10-3 [Hz] frequencies are irregularly observed with the water-tube tiltmeter. The effects are observed only by one of four gauges - the one closest to the entrance to underground. The other three gauges of water-tube tiltmeters are situated at the ends of the corridors and are significantly more distant from the entrance to the underground. The atmospheric pressure signals affect level of water in the instrument by inverse barometric effect. The water-tube tiltmeters can register water level variations associated with inverse barometric effects, which were produced by air pressure signals until 10-5 [Pa] magnitude. The amplitude of harmonic oscillations of water level is significantly large and amounts to 1/10 of tidal amplitude, that is 300 to 500 nanometers, which corresponds to 5 x 10-3 [Pa] of air pressure variations. Harmonic oscillations appear irregularly and their time of duration changes from few days until several weeks. The length of atmospheric wave of 10-3 [Hz] frequencies is of 1000 [km] and cannot be explained by any phenomenon from the outside surroundings or the inside of the underground. Resonance frequencies of air column in the hundred meters long underground corridors are of the order of single Hz. Absence of similar signals in measurements from the other three gauges suggests that the harmonic signals are not propagated through the Earth’s solid body but through the atmospheric medium. The observed micro-vibrations of air pressure are very low infrasounds which can be produced in large dimension space of thousand kilometers size. The open question is what is the origin of micro-vibrations registered by the water-tube tiltmeter., Marek Kaczorowski., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Modern methods of monitoring landslides are based on observations of both: direct surveying (GNSS, electronic tachymetry, geometric levelling) and remote sensing (terrestrial and aerial photogrammetry, laser scanning, interferometry), as well as surface and subsurface geotechnical observations (e.g. inclinometers, extensometers, piezometers, etc.). Due to the high cost of installation of these devices and its measurement, the implementations of these methods are usually used on well-define d objects, with established landslide activity and high risk to people’s lives. The main objective of the project was to design, create and do practical tests of simple and inexpensive measurement devices, which detect first symptoms of a potential landslide movements and alert of an existing threat. These devices would be some kind of an early warning system that would register the occurrence of the first movements of the surface layers of soil, which would be a signal to start of geodetic and geotechnical monitoring of potential landslides., Bartłomiej Ćmielewski, Bernard Kontny and Kazimierz Ćmielewski., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
The energy utilization of the alternative fuels is one of the main topics for future developments of recoverable sources in the European Union and in the Czech Republic. The aim of research is combustion tests in the fluidized-bed boiler Foster Wheeler located at Štětí. The experiments are carried out for Czech brown coal, wood, sewage sludge and wastes including analyses and recommendations for optimal thermal utilization and minimizing harmful emissions. The second step is thermal analyses of coal, alternative fuel- wood pellets and sewage sludge from treatment plant. From the results of experiments and thermal modeling it is clear that 15 % of alternative fuels can be used in the large fluidized-bed boilers located in the Czech Republic., Pavel Kolat, Bohumir Čech, Dagmar Juchelková, Helena Raclavská and Juraj Leško., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Review article presents utilisation of coal in industry, coal in power generation, gas production, Czech energy policy and outlook and application of clean coal technology in the Czech power stations. The further exploitation and utilisation of Czech coal resources requires the implementation of development programme aimed at the application of the new, economically effective technologies, of coal mining, utilisation, gasification. Emissions of GHG in CR., Václav Roubíček, Pavel Kolat and Jaroslav Buchtele., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The aim of this study was to assess the performance of several approximation techniques for ionospheric total electron content (TEC) mapping. Approximation techniques based on data-fitting with local or general two-dimensional polynomials, local planes or distance-dependent interpolation were applied and tested. For the ionosphere modeling, dual-frequency GPS data from Polish GBAS system (ASG-EUPOS) were used, and TEC was estimated together with hardware delays from phasesmoothed pseudoranges. Next, grids of vertical TEC values with spatial resolution of 0.25 degrees in both latitude and longitude were generated using the evaluated approximation techniques. Subsequently the grids were used to create regional TEC maps with 5-minute temporal resolution, and also to create ionospheric delay corrections for GPS positioning. The quality of the resulting ionospheric maps was tested twofold, firstly by comparison to high-quality CODE global ionosphere maps (GIM), which were generated using data from about 150 GPS sites of the International GNSS Service (IGS). Secondly, by creating double-differenced ionospheric delay corrections and comparing them to reference values derived from the reference network data processing. For the correction tests, two perpendicular baselines directed North-South (N-S) and West-East (W-E) and reaching up to 100 km were selected. The approximation methods were analyzed with a special emphasis on the diverse ionospheric conditions. For the testing, a quiet ionosphere day of 20 March 2012 and an active ionosphere day of 9 March 2012 were selected. The results show that the regional models properly represent the changing ionosphere, with the best results provided by data-fitting into local functions., Anna Krypiak-Gregorczyk, Pawel Wielgosz, Dariusz Gosciewski and Jacek Paziewski., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Vermiculite in its macroscopic form occurs in the Archaean supracrustal rocks exposed towards east of Sargur supracrustal complex in Karnataka state. The present study forms the first detailed work on the occurrence of vermiculite associated with the ultramafic rocks in the Agasthyapura, which lies in the long. 76° 50’ 658” and lat. 12° 15’ 976”. Petrography, X-ray diffraction, FTIR, DTA&TGA, SEM, fluid inclusion and electron probe analyses are presented in this contribution study. The probable origin of vermiculite from biotite through hydrobiotite is discussed., Kikkeri N. Prakash Narasimha, Honnaiah Ramalingaiah, Karel Melka, K. Krishnaveni, Pinnelli S. R. Prasad, Chikkamadaiah Krishnaiah, Katihalli S. Jayappa and Atni V. Ganesha., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
In presented work natural expanded vermiculite was used as a starting material for synthesis of Fe-doped catalysts. Material was modified with increasing amount of Fe by ion-exchange and precipitation of iron oxide. Composite materials were characterized with respect to their structure (X-ray diffraction, Infrared spectra using Diffuse Reflectance), agglomeration state of Fe (Ultraviolet-Visible spectra using Diffuse Reflectance) and chemical composition. Activity in H2O2 decomposition as well as in phenol oxidation was studied in liquid phase at atmospheric pressure and temperature up to 70 °C. It was shown that doping with Fe increases catalytic activity. However, excess of iron resulted in formation of undesired side-products., Agnieszka Węgrzyn, Lucjan Chmielarz, Paweł Zjeżdżalka, Magdalena Jabłońska, Andrzej Kowalczyk, Agata Żelazny, Manuel Vázquez Sulleiro and Marek Michalik., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The West Bohemia earthquake swarm foci are approximated by a circular seismic source model, which radius is assumed to depend only on magnitude of the event. We consider two different models of average slip (i) a constant slip and (ii) a slip exponentially scaled to the magnitude of the event. Based on these assumptions, we stacked the contributions of individual events into representative final fault slip. We processed in such a way four significant swarms recorded during the last three decades in 1986, 1997, 2000 and 2008. Constant slip model indicates final slip was composed of 2 or 3 principal asperities located on one or two different planes. On the contrary, scaled slip model indicates that one big asperity prevails. It is not possible yet to select the preferred slip model. Analysis of the temporal activity of all swarms generally shows three principal phases: starting phase, main phase and fading phase; the upwards trend of activity spreading was observed (slip animation is presented in www supplement http://www.ig.cas.cz/kolar/StopPhase/Asperity). The maximal possible cumulative slip value may have reached the order of meters., Petr Kolář, Bohuslav Růžek, Alena Boušková and Josef Horálek., and Obsahuje bibliografii