We present a new measure for computing continuous penetration depth between two intersecting rigid objects. We generate a set of samples in the configuration space, precompute an approximation of the contact space for two intersecting objects using binary classification techniques, and construct a bijective mapping between the spherical space and the precomputed contact space. For a given in-co...

A solution is developed for the evolution of buildup, steady, and postarrest dissipative pore-fluid pressure fields that develop around a finite-radius conical penetrometer advanced in a saturated linearly elastic porous medium. The analog with cone penetrometer testing is direct and is used to enable continuous distributions of permeability and diffusivity to be determined with depth. This ana...

the introduction of canola (oilseed rape; brassica napus l.) as a new source of vegetable oil production in iran prompts evaluation of the performance of this crop under different tillage systems. a field experiment was conducted to determine the impact of depth and intensity of tillage on soil physical properties, crop establishment and yield of irrigated winter canola in a loam soil (typic ha...

This article examines the different failure modes of concrete sidewalks through an extensive field survey of sidewalk inventories in major cities in the Canadian Prairies. The major form of sidewalk damage is longitudinal cracks. There was no correlation of either the liquid limit or the plastic limit of the soil beneath the sidewalk with the type of sidewalk damage observed in each city. Howev...

Sharp, R. E and Da vies, W. J. 1985. Root growth and water uptake by maize plants in drying soil.— J. exp. Bot. 36: 1441-1456. The influence of soil drying on maize (Zea mays L.) root distribution and use of soil water was examined using plants growing in the greenhouse in soil columns. The roots of plants which were watered well throughout the 18 d experimental period penetrated the soil profi...

Subsoiling to a depth of 35 cm under the planting row for 3 consecutive years increased annual yields of seed cotton by 50 to 200%. Annual subsoiling was essential for maximum yields. The application of a nematicide, 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) or aldicarb, reduced the population of Hoplolaimus columbus but did not increase seed-cotton yields over subsoiling alone. Subsoiling reduced H. ...

The potential health risk from exposure to chemically contaminated soil can be assessed from bioavailability studies. The aims of this research were: (a) to determine the dermal bioavailability of contaminants in soil for representatives of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon class of chemicals, namely, benzo(a)pyrene and naphthalene, and (b) to examine the relative contribution of soil matrix ...

There is little empirical evidence to indicate that dairy cow live weight affects the extent of soil damage at the hoof-soil interface during grazing on poorly drained permanent grassland. In the present study the impact of Holstein-Friesian (HF) dairy cows with a mean (±standard deviation) live weight of 570 (±61) kg were compared with Jersey × Holstein-Friesian (JX) with a mean live weight of...