Faculty Publications
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Item Mooring forces in horizontal interlaced moored floating pipe breakwater with three layers(2008) Hegde, A.V.; Kamath, K.; Deepak, J.C.The paper presents the results from model scale experiments on the study of forces in the moorings of horizontally interlaced, multi-layered, moored floating pipe breakwaters. The studies are conducted with breakwater models having three layers subjected to waves of steepness Hi/L (Hi is the incident wave height and L the wavelength) varying from 0.0066 to 0.0464, relative width W/L (W is the width of breakwater) varying from 0.4 to 2.65, and relative spacing S/D (S is the spacing of pipes and D the diameter of pipe) of 2 and 4. The variation of measured normalized mooring forces on the seaward side and leeward side are analyzed by plotting non-dimensional graphs depicting f/?W2 (f is the force in the mooring per unit length of the breakwater, ? the weight density of sea water) as a function W/L for various values of Hi/d (d is the depth of water). It is found that the force in the seaward side mooring increases with an increase in Hi/L for d/W values ranging between 0.081 and 0.276. The experimental results also reveal that the forces in the seaward side mooring decrease as W/L increases, up to a value of W/L=1.3, and then increases with an increase in W/L. It is also observed that the wave attenuation characteristics of breakwater model with relative spacing of 4 is better than that of the model with relative spacing of 2. The maximum force in the seaward side mooring for model with S/D=4 is lower compared to that for the breakwater model with S/D=2. A multivariate non-linear regression analysis has been carried out for the data on mooring forces for the seaside and leeside. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Item Optimum size of granite filter media for the maximum treatment of domestic sewage in upflow anaerobic biofilters(2008) Srinikethan, G.; Shrihari, S.; Pradeepan, V.S.Laboratory studies were conducted to assess the influence of media related factors such as particle size, porosity, pore size and specific surface area on performance of upflow anaerobic biofilters (AnBFs). Three simple models of 8 litres capacity upflow anaerobic biofilters (AnBFs) packed with support media granite of size 40 mm, 20 mm and 10 mm respectively were installed. The experimental anaerobic biofilters (AnBFs) were made of PVC tubes. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) was maintained as 12 hours. The study was carried out for a period of 90 days. The waste treatment performance indicates that the anaerobic biofilter (AnBF-2) packed with granite media of moderate particle size of 20mm demonstrated the highest BOD and COD removal 91.02 % and 82.01 % respectively. Copyright © Enviromedia.Item Biological sulfide oxidation using autotrophic Thiobacillus sp.: Evaluation of different immobilization methods and bioreactors(2009) Ravichandra, P.; Gopal, M.; Jetty, A.Aims: Evaluation of various immobilization methods and bioreactors for sulfide oxidation using Thiobacillus sp. was studied. Methods and Results: Ca-alginate, K-carrageenan and agar gel matrices (entrapment) and polyurethane foam and granular activated carbon (adsorption) efficacy was tested for the sulfide oxidation and biomass leakage using immobilized Thiobacillus sp. Maximum sulfide oxidation of 96% was achieved with alginate matrix followed by K-carrageenan (88%). Different parameters viz. alginate concentration (1%, 2%, 3%, 4% and 5%), CaCl2 concentration (1%, 2%, 3%, 4% and 5%), bead diameter (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mm), and curing time (1, 3, 6, 12 and 18 h) were studied for optimal immobilization conditions. Repeated batch experiments were carried out to test reusability of Ca-alginate immobilized beads for sulfide oxidation in stirred tank reactor and fluidized bed reactor (FBR) at different sulfide concentrations. Conclusions: The results proved to be promising for sulfide oxidation using Ca-alginate gel matrix immobilized Thiobacillus sp. for better sulfide oxidation with less biomass leakage. Significance and Impact of the Study: Biological sulfide oxidation is gaining more importance because of its simple operation. Present investigations will help in successful design and operation of pilot and industrial level FBR for sulfide oxidation. © 2009 The Society for Applied Microbiology.Item Estimating rock properties using sound levels produced during drilling(Elsevier BV, 2009) Vardhan, H.; Adhikari, G.R.; Govinda Raj, M.An attempt has been made in this paper to experimentally investigate the estimation of rock properties like compressive strength and abrasivity using sound levels produced during drilling. The investigation was carried out on a laboratory scale using small portable pneumatic drilling equipment used in hard rock drilling. For this purpose, a pneumatic drill setup was fabricated for drilling vertical holes. The compressive strength and the abrasivity of various rock samples collected from the field were determined in the laboratory. A set of test conditions were defined for measurement of sound level of the pneumatic drill. Also, with the help of the experimental setup, vertical drilling was carried out on the rock samples for varying thrust and air pressure values and the corresponding A-weighted equivalent continuous sound levels were measured. Results of this study indicate that sound level can be a promising tool in estimating rock properties during drilling. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Item Preparation and characterization of CdxZn1-xS thin films by spray pyrolysis technique for photovoltaic applications(2009) Raviprakash, Y.; Bangera, K.V.; Shivakumar, G.K.CdxZn(1-x)S (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1) thin films were deposited by the chemical spray pyrolysis technique using a less used combination of chemicals. Depositions were done at 573 K on cleaned glass substrates. The composition, surface morphology and structural properties of deposited films were studied using EDAX, SEM and X-ray diffraction technique. XRD studies reveal that all the films are crystalline with hexagonal (wurtzite) structure and inclusion of Cd into the structure of ZnS improved the crystallinity of the films. In the entire compositions, the (0 0 2) diffraction peak is prominent which gives lattice matching to the chalcogenide semiconductor such as CuInxGa1-xSe2 and CuIn (s1-xSex)2, which are used in photovoltaic devices. The value of lattice constant 'a' and 'c' have been observed to vary with composition from 0.382 to 0.415 nm and 0.625 to 0.675 nm, respectively. The band gap of the thin films varied from 3.32 to 2.41 eV as composition varied from x = 0.0 to 1.0. It was observed that presence of small amount of cadmium results in marked changes in the optical band gap of ZnS. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Item Performance enhancement of RC frames using welded wire fabrics - An experimental investigation(2010) Prashanth, M.H.; Chinnagiri Gowda, H.C.; Babu Narayan, K.S.; Ramana, K.V.The paper presents the performance enhancement of RC frames using welded wire fabrics to appraise beneficial effects of welded wire fabrics as lateral reinforcement in Reinforced Concrete elements. The RC frames subjected to lateral loading have been simulated to rhombus frame with vertical loading. The experimental investigation has been done on rhombus frame with vertical loading. Experimental program involved details of test specimens, test set-up and instrumentation. Comparison of conventional bare frames has been done for frame with welded wire fabrics as lateral reinforcement at discrete zone and frame with welded wire fabrics as lateral reinforcement throughout the length for the same volume fraction. Results of Experimental investigation have been reported from which the discussions and conclusions had been drawn. © 2010 Cafet-Innova Technical Society.Item Stone Columns with Vertical Circumferential Nails: Laboratory Model Study(2010) Shivashankar, R.; Dheerendra Babu, M.R.D.; Nayak, S.; Manjunath, R.This paper presents results from a series of laboratory plate load tests carried out in unit cell tanks to investigate the improvement in stiffness, load carrying capacity and resistance to bulging of stone columns installed in soft soils. A new method of reinforcing the stone columns with vertical nails installed along the circumference of the stone column is suggested for improving the performance of these columns. Tests were carried out with two types of loading (1) the entire area in the unit cell tank loaded, to estimate the stiffness of improved ground and (2) only the stone column loaded, to estimate the limiting axial capacity. It is found that stone columns reinforced with vertical nails along the circumference have much higher load carrying capacity and undergo lesser compression and lesser lateral bulging as compared to conventional stone columns. The benefit of vertical circumferential nails increases with increase in the diameter, number and depth of embedment of the nails. The improvement in the performance of stone column was found to be more significant, even with lower area ratio. It is found that reinforcing stone column with vertical circumferential nails at the top portion to a depth equal to three times the diameter of stone columns, will be adequate to prevent the column from excessive bulging and to improve its load carrying capacity substantially. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.Item Analysis of observed soil moisture patterns under different land covers in Western Ghats, India(2011) Venkatesh, B.; Lakshman, N.; Purandara, B.K.; Reddy, V.B.An understanding of the soil moisture variability is necessary to characterize the linkages between a region's hydrology, ecology and physiography. In the changing land use scenario of Western Ghats, India, where deforestation along with extensive afforestation with exotic species is being undertaken, there is an urgent need to evaluate the impacts of these changes on regional hydrology. The objectives of the present study were: (a) to understand spatio-temporal variability of soil water potential and soil moisture content under different land covers in the humid tropical Western Ghats region and (b) to evaluate differences if any in spatial and temporal patterns of soil moisture content as influenced by nature of land cover. To this end, experimental watersheds located in the Western Ghats of Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka State, India, were established for monitoring of soil moisture. These watersheds possessed homogenous land covers of acacia plantation, natural forest and degraded forest. In addition to the measurements of hydro-meteorological parameters, soil matric potential measurements were made at four locations in each watershed at 50 cm, 100 cm and 150 cm depths at weekly time intervals during the period October 2004-December 2008.Soil moisture contents derived from potential measurements collected were analyzed to characterize the spatial and temporal variations across the three land covers. The results of ANOVA (p<0.01, LSD) test indicated that there was no significant change in the mean soil moisture across land covers. However, significant differences in soil moisture with depth were observed under forested watershed, whereas no such changes with depth were noticed under acacia and degraded land covers. Also, relationships between soil moisture at different depths were evaluated using correlation analysis and multiple linear regression models for prediction of soil moisture from climatic variables and antecedent moisture condition were developed and tested. A regression model relating near-surface soil moisture (50 cm) with profile soil moisture content was developed which may prove useful when surface soil moisture contents derived from satellite remote sensing are available. Overall results of this study indicate that while the nature of land cover has an influence on the spatio-temporal variability of soil moisture, other variables related to topography may have a more dominant effect. © 2010 Elsevier B.V.Item Effect of recuring on compressive strength of thermally deteriorated concrete cubes(2011) Prasanth, S.; Yaragal, S.C.; Babu Narayan, K.S.Concrete is found to undergo degradation when subjected to elevated temperatures during an event such as fire and lose substantial amount of its strength. The loss of strength in concrete is mainly attributed to decomposition of C-S-H and release of chemically bound water, which begins when the exposure temperature exceeds 500°C. When thermally deteriorated concrete is supplied with water there is a substantive gain in strength as a consequence of rehydration of cement that is initiated. This paper presents results of an experimental program carried out to investigate the effect of recuring on strength gain of normal strength concrete specimens subjected to elevated temperatures from 500°C to 800°C, which were subjected to retention time of two hours at the designated temperatures. © 2011 CAFET-INNOVA TECHNICAL SOCIETY. All rights reserved.Item Study on shelter effect of solid wind fences(2011) Umesh, U.; Prashanth, J.; Yaragal, S.C.; Nagaraj, M.K.In this paper the shelter effect of solid wind fence is investigated. A solid fence was considered with different bottom gap ratios (ratio of bottom gap to the height of the fence) of 0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3. The numerical analysis was done for different free stream velocities of 7.5 m/s, 10 m/s and 12.5 m/s. The results obtained were compared with the results of wind tunnel testing and flow visualization. Comparison between the experimental and numerical results showed a fairly good agreement. Flow visualization technique provided sufficient information for planning and conducting flow field measurements with a clear demarcation of reattachment length. The modified k- ? turbulence model predicted the flow well. From both the experimental and numerical investigation it is shown that a fence with gap ratio of 0.1 is effective in providing good shelter effect. © 2011 CAFET-INNOVA TECHNICAL SOCIETY. All rights reserved.