Saturday 22 December 2012

II Year B.Tech. PTME II Sem syllabus




JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD

II Year B.Tech. P.E.. II Sem                        L          T/P/D     C
3          1/-/-     4

PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS



UNIT-I : Probability

Sample space and events – Probability – The axioms of probability – Some


Elementary theorems - Conditional probability – Baye’s theorem, Random variables – Discrete and continuous.

UNIT-II: Distributions
Binomial , Poisson & normal distributions related properties . Sampling distributions –Sampling distribution of means (known and Unknown)

UNIT-III: Testing of Hypothesis I
Tests of hypothesis point estimations – interval estimations Bayesian estimation. Large samples, Null hypothesis – Alternate hypothesis type I, & type II errors – critical region confidential interval for mean testing of single variance. Difference between the mean.
UNIT-IV : Testing of Hypothesis II
Confidential interval for the proportions. Tests of hypothesis for the proportions single and difference between the proportions.

UNIT-V: Small samples
Confidence interval for the t- distribution – Tests of hypothesis –
t- distributions,  F- distributions distribution. Test of Hypothesis –.

UNIT-VI
Correlation & Regression
Coefficient of correlation – Regression Coefficient – The lines of regression – The rank correlation
UNIT-VII
Queuing Theory
Arrival Theorem - Pure Birth process and Death Process M/M/1 Model .

UNIT-VIII
Stochastic processes
Introduction to Stochastic Processes – Markov process classification of states – Examples of Markov Chains, Stochastic Matrix, limiting probabilities.

TEXT BOOKS:

  1. Probability & Statistics by D.K. Murugesan & P.Guru Swamy, Anuradha Publications.
  2. Probability & Statistics for Engineers by G.S.S.Bhisma Rao, Scitech Publications.

REFERENCES:

  1. Probability & Statistics by T.K.V.Iyengar & B.Krishna Gandhi & Others, S.Chand.
  2. Probability & Statistics by William Mendenhall & Others, Cengage Publications.
  3. Higher Engineering Mathematics by B.S. Grewal, Khanna Publications.
  4. Higher Engineering Mathematics by Jain & S.K.R. Iyengar, Narasa Publications.
  5. A first course in Probability & Statistics by B.L.S. Prakasa Rao, World Scientific.
  6. Probability & Statistics for Engineers, Miller and John E. Freund, Prentice Hall of India.
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD

II Year B.Tech. P.E.. II Sem                        L          T/P/D     C
3          1/-/-     3

MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS AND FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

Unit I
Introduction to Managerial Economics: Definition, Nature and Scope of Managerial Economics–Demand Analysis: Demand Determinants, Law of Demand and its exceptions.

Unit II
Elasticity of Demand: Definition, Types, Measurement and Significance of Elasticity of Demand. Demand Forecasting, Factors governing demand forecasting, methods of demand forecasting (survey methods, statistical methods, expert opinion method, test marketing, controlled experiments, judgmental approach to demand forecasting)

Unit III
Theory of Production and Cost Analysis: Production Function – Isoquants and Isocosts, MRTS, Least Cost Combination of Inputs, Cobb-Douglas Production function, Laws of Returns, Internal and External Economies of Scale.
Cost Analysis: Cost concepts, Opportunity cost, Fixed vs. Variable costs, Explicit costs Vs. Implicit costs, Out of pocket costs vs. Imputed costs. Break-even Analysis (BEA)-Determination of Break-Even Point (simple problems)- Managerial Significance and limitations of BEA.

Unit  IV
Introduction to Markets & Pricing Policies:

Market structures: Types of competition, Features of Perfect competition, Monopoly and Monopolistic Competition. Price-Output Determination in case of Perfect Competition and Monopoly.
Objectives and Policies of Pricing- Methods of Pricing: Cost Plus Pricing, Marginal Cost Pricing, Sealed Bid Pricing, Going Rate Pricing, Limit Pricing, Market Skimming Pricing, Penetration Pricing, Two-Part Pricing, Block Pricing, Bundling Pricing, Peak Load Pricing, Cross Subsidization.

Unit V
Business & New Economic Environment: Characteristic features of Business, Features and evaluation of Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Joint Stock Company, Public Enterprises and their types, Changing Business Environment in Post-liberalization scenario.

Unit VI
Capital and Capital Budgeting: Capital and its significance, Types of Capital, Estimation of Fixed and Working capital requirements, Methods and sources of raising finance.
Nature and scope of capital budgeting, features of capital budgeting proposals, Methods of Capital Budgeting: Payback Method, Accounting Rate of Return (ARR) and Net Present Value Method (simple problems)

Unit VII
Introduction to Financial Accounting: Double-Entry Book Keeping, Journal, Ledger, Trial Balance- Final Accounts (Trading Account, Profit and Loss Account and Balance Sheet with simple adjustments).

Unit VIII
Financial Analysis through ratios: Computation, Analysis and Interpretation of Liquidity Ratios (Current Ratio and quick ratio), Activity Ratios (Inventory turnover ratio and Debtor Turnover ratio), Capital structure Ratios (Debt- Equity ratio, Interest Coverage ratio), and Profitability ratios (Gross Profit Ratio, Net Profit ratio, Operating Profit Ratio, P/E Ratio and EPS).

TEXT BOOKS:
1. Aryasri: Managerial Economics and Financial Analysis, TMH, 2009.
2. Varshney & Maheswari: Managerial Economics, Sultan Chand, 2009.
REFERENCES:

  1. Raghunatha Reddy & Narasimhachary: Managerial Economics& Financial Analysis, Scitech, 2009.
  2. V.Rajasekarn & R.Lalitha, Financial Accounting, Pearson Education, New Delhi, 2010.
  3. Suma Damodaran, Managerial Economics, Oxford University Press, 2009.
  4. Domnick Salvatore: Managerial Economics in a Global Economy, 4th Edition, Cengage, 2009.
  5. Subhash Sharma & M P Vittal, Financial Accounting for Management, Text & Cases, Machmillan, 2008.
  6. S.N.Maheswari & S.K. Maheswari, Financial Accounting, Vikas, 2008.
  7. Truet and Truet: Managerial Economics:Analysis, Problems and Cases, Wiley, 2009.
  8. Dwivedi:Managerial Economics, Vikas, 2009.
  9. M.Kasi Reddy, S.Saraswathi: Managerial Economics and Financial Accounting, PHI, 2007.
  10. Erich A. Helfert: Techniques of Financial Analysis, Jaico, 2007.

























































JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD

II Year B.Tech. P.E.  II Sem                        L          T/P/D     C
4          -/-/-     4
MOMENTUM TRANSFER
UNIT –I
Unit operations and unit processes, unit systems, basic concepts, nature of fluids, hydrostatic equilibrium, applications of fluid statics.

UNIT- II
Fluid flow phenomena-Laminar flow, Shear rate, Shear stress, Rheological properties of fluids, Turbulence, Boundary layers, Basic equation of fluid flow –Mass balance in a flowing fluid; continuity,  differential momentum balance; equations of motion, Macroscopic momentum balances, Bernouli’s equation, Mechanical energy equations

UNIT-III
Incompressible Flow in pipes and channels- shear stress and skin friction in pipes, laminar flow in pipes and channels, turbulent flow in pipes and channels, friction from changes in velocity or direction, Dimensional analysis including Buckingham π Theorem and Rayleighs method

UNIT-IV
Flow of compressible fluids- Definitions and basic equations, Processes of compressible flow, Isentropic flow through nozzles, adiabatic frictional flow, and isothermal frictional flow.  

UNIT-V
Flow past immersed bodies, Drag and Drag coefficient, flow through beds of solids, Kozhney-Karman, Blake-Plummer and Ergun’s equations,  motion of particles through fluids, Stoke’s Law ..


UNIT-VI
Fluidization, Conditions for fluidization, Minimum fluidization velocity, Types of fluidization, Expansion of fluidized bed, Applications of fluidization. Continuous fluidization; slurry and pneumatic transport

UNIT-VII
Transportation and Metering of fluids- Pipes, fittings and valves, pumps: positive displacement pumps, and centrifugal pumps, Fans, blowers, and compressors.

UNIT-VIII
Measurement of flowing fluids- full bore meters, Orifice meter, Venturi meter, Magnetic flow meter  insertion meters Pitot tube, Area meters .

Text Books:
1.     Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering by W.L.McCabe, J.C.Smith & Peter Harriot, McGraw-Hill,  7th ed, 2007

References:
1. Transport processes and unit operations by Christie  J. Geankoplis, PHI
2. Unit operations, Vol-1 –Chattopadhya, Khanna publishers
3. P rinciples of Unit Operations, Foust et. al,  2nd ed., John Wiley, 1999
4. Chemical Engineering, Vol-I, Coulson and Richardson, Pergamon Press.


JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD

II Year B.Tech. P.E.  II Sem                        L          T/P/D     C
4          -/-/-     4
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
UNIT-I:
Source Rocks:  Definition of source rock. Organic rich sediments as source rocks. Nature and type of source rocks - Claystone / shale.  The process of diagenesis, catagenesis and metagenesis in the formation of source rocks.  Evaluation of petroleum source rock potential.  Limestones as source rocks.  Coring in claystone/shales for source rock evaluation.  Subsurface pressure temperature conditions for the generation of oil and gas from the source sediments. Oil window.  

UNIT-II:
Reservoir Rocks: Characteristics of Reservoir rocks – classification and nomenclature: Clastic Reservoir Rocks, Carbonate Reservoir Rocks, Unconventional, fractured and miscellaneous reservoir rocks.  Marine and non marine reservoir rocks.

UNIT-III:
Reservoir pore space - porosity – primary and secondary porosity, Effective porosity, fracture porosity - permeability – effective and relative permeability - Effects of diagenesis on reservoir quality, reservoir continuity- Relationship between porosity, permeability and texture.   Classification and origin of pore space – Recrystallisation – Dolomitization phenomenon – Cementation and compaction – Artificial or man made porosity and permeability.  
Cap rocks:   Definition and characteristics of ‘cap Rocks’.

UNIT-IV:
Hydrocarbon migration: Geological framework of migration and accumulation.  The concept of hydrocarbon migration from source beds to the carrier beds - Carrier beds to the reservoir -  Free-path ways for migration -  Short distance and long distance migration -  Evidence for migration – oil and gas seepages.
The concept of buoyancy, capillary pressure and wettability in the process of migration of hydrocarbons – Tilted oil water contacts – Spill point.

UNIT-V:
Primary and secondary migration- Migration and accumulation of hydrocarbons – Lateral migration and vertical migration – Factors effecting primary and secondary migration – Time of accumulation.  

UNIT-VI:
Entrapment of hydrocarbons: Mechanics of entrapment of hydrocarbons - Traps in the path of migration, entrapment and accumulation of hydrocarbons - Classification and types of traps:  Structural, stratigraphic and combination type of traps- Genesis of various types of Traps – The anticlinal theory – traps caused by folding – Traps caused by faulting – Traps caused by fracturing.  
Primary Stratigraphic Traps – Lenses and facies in chemical rocks – Porous carbonate facies – Organic reefs – Modern reefs – Fossil reefs – Productive reefs – Secondary stratigraphic traps – Salt domes – Origin of salt domes – Traps associated with salt domes.  

UNIT-VII:
Sedimentary Basins: Sedimentary basins -origin and classification.  Types of basins and their relationship to hydrocarbon prospects. Basin location and Crustal evolutions of sedimentary basins, Geosynclinal Basins, plate tectonic theories, tectonic framework and classification of phenerozoic sedimentary basins of India.

UNIT-VIII:
Tectonic classification, stratigraphic evolution and hydrocarbon accumulations in thefollowing basins of India,Cambay basin and Gulf of Cambay, Mumbai offshore, Cauvery basin, Krishna-Godavari basin, and Mahanadi and Mahanadi Offshore.

Text Book:

  1. Leverson, A.I. Geology of Petroleum, 2nd Edn., CBS, New Delhi, 1967

References:

  1. Richard, C. Selley, Elements of Petroleum Geology, Academic Press, London, 1998.
  2. Welte, D.H. Harsfield, B. and Baker, D.R. (Eds.), Petroleum and Basin Evolution, Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 1997.  
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD

II Year B.Tech. P.E.  II Sem                        L          T/P/D     C
4          -/-/-     4
PROCESS HEAT TRANSFER
UNIT I
Introduction: Nature of heat flow, conduction, convection, natural and forced convection, radiation.
Heat transfer by conduction in Solids: Fourier’s law , thermal conductivity, steady state conduction in plane wall & composite walls, compound resistances in series, heat flow through a cylinder, conduction in spheres, thermal contact resistance, plane wall: variable conductivity
Unsteady state heat conduction: Equation for one-dimensional conduction, Semi-infinite solid, finite solid.

Unit- II
Principles of heat flow in fluids: Typical heat exchange equipment, countercurrent and parallel current flows, energy balances, rate of heat transfer, overall heat transfer coefficient, electrical analogy, critical radius of insulation, logarithmic mean temperature difference, variable overall coefficient, multi-pass exchangers, individual heat transfer coefficients, resistance form of overall coefficient, fouling factors, classification of individual heat transfer coefficients, magnitudes of heat transfer coefficients, effective coefficients for unsteady-state heat transfer.

Unit- III
Heat Transfer to Fluids without Phase change: Regimes of heat transfer in fluids, thermal boundary layer, heat transfer by forced convection in laminar flow, heat transfer by forced convection in turbulent flow, the transfer of heat by turbulent eddies and analogy between transfer of momentum and heat, heat transfer to liquid metals, heating and cooling of fluids in forced convection outside tubes.

Unit- IV
Natural convection: Natural convection to air from vertical shapes and horizontal planes, effect of natural convection in laminar-flow heat transfer, free convection in enclosed spaces, mixed free & forced convection.

Unit- V
Heat transfer to fluids with phase change: Heat transfer from condensing vapors, heat transfer to boiling liquids.

Unit VI
Heat exchange equipment: General design of heat exchange equipment, heat exchangers, condensers, boilers and calendrias, extended surface equipment, heat transfer in agitated vessels, scraped surface heat exchangers, heat transfer in packed beds, heat exchanger effectiveness (NTU method)

Unit VII
Evaporators: Evaporators, performance of tubular evaporators, capacity and economy, multiple effect evaporators, vapor recompression.

Unit- VIII
Radiation: Introduction, properties and definitions, black body radiation, real surfaces and the gray body, absorption of radiation by opaque solids, radiation between surfaces, radiation shielding, radiation to semi transparent materials, combined heat transfer by conduction, convection and radiation.

TEXT BOOK:
1. Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering, 6th ed., W.L. McCabe, J.C. Smith and P. Harriot,
   McGraw-Hill, New York, 2001

REFERENCES:
1. Process Heat Transfer, D.Q. Kern, Tata McGraw-Hill, New Delhi, 1997.
2. Heat Transfer, 4th ed., J.P. Holman, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1976.
3. Chemical Engineering, Vol-I, J. Coulson and R.F. Richardson, Pergamon Press
4. Transport Processes and Separation Process Principles 4th ed., C. J. Geankoplis, PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 2009.

JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD

II Year B.Tech. P.E.  II Sem                        L          T/P/D     C
3          -/-/-     3
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

UNIT-I : ECOSYSTEMS: Definition, Scope and Importance of ecosystem, Concept of ecosystem, Classification of ecosystems, Structure and Structural Components of an ecosystem, Functions of ecosystem, Food chains, food webs and ecological pyramids. Flow of energy, Biogeochemical cycles, Homeostasis / Cybernetics, Food chain concentration, Biomagnification, ecosystems value, services and carrying capacity.

UNIT-II:  NATURAL RESOURCES: Classification of Resources:  Living and Non-Living resources, Renewable and non-renewable resources.  Water resources: use and over utilization of surface and ground water, floods and droughts, Dams: benefits and problems. Mineral resources: use and exploitation, environmental effects of extracting and using mineral resources – case studies. Energy resources: growing energy needs, renewable and non renewable energy sources, use of alternate energy sources – case studies. Land resources: land as a resource, land degradation, man induced landslides and land use / land cover mapping.


UNIT-III: BIODIVERSITY AND BIOTIC RESOURCES: Introduction, Definition, genetic, species and ecosystem diversity. Value of biodiversity: consumptive use, productive use, social, ethical, aesthetic and intrinsic values. Hot spots of biodiversity. Threats to biodiversity: habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man-wildlife conflicts, conservation of biodiversity: In-Situ and Ex-situ conservation. Food and fodder resources, Timber and non-timber forest products.  

UNIT-IV: ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND CONTROL:  Classification of pollution  and pollutants, causes, effects and control technologies. Air Pollution: Primary and secondary pollutants, Automobile and Industrial pollution, Ambient air quality standards. Water pollution:  Point and non-point sources of pollution, Major pollutant of water and their sources, drinking water quality standards, Waste water treatment methods: effluent treatment plants (ETP), Sewage treatment plants (STP), common and combined effluent treatment plants (CETP).Soil Pollution: Soil as sink for pollutants, Impact of modern agriculture on soil, degradation of soil. Marine Pollution:   Misuse of International water for dumping of hazardous waste, coastal pollution due to sewage and marine disposal of industrial effluents. Noise Pollution: Sources, Industrial Noise- Occupational Health hazards, standards,  Methods of control of Noise. Thermal Pollution: Thermal Comforts, Heat Island effect, Radiation effects. Nuclear Pollution: Nuclear power plants, nuclear radiation, disasters and impacts, genetical disorders. Solid waste: types, Collection processing and disposal of industrial and municipal solid wastes composition and characteristics of e-Waste and its management.

UNIT-V: GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AND GLOBAL EFFORTS : Green house effect, Green House Gases (GHG), Global Warming, Sea level rise, climate change and their impacts on human environment. Ozone depletion and Ozone depleting substances (ODS).Deforestation  and desertification.  International conventions / Protocols: Earth summit, Kyoto protocol  and Montréal Protocol,

UNIT-VI:  ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN:  Definition of Impact: classification of impacts, Positive and Negative, Reversible and irreversible, light, moderate and severe, methods of baseline data acquisition. Impacts on different components: such as human health resources, air, water, flora, fauna and society. Prediction of impacts and impact assessment methodologies. Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Environmental Management Plan (EMP): Technological Solutions, preventive methods, Control technologies, treatment technologies: green-belt-development, rain water harvesting, Remote sensing and GIS methods.  

UNIT-VII: ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, LEGISLATION, RULES AND REGULATIONS
National Environmental Policy, Environmental  Protection act, Legal aspects Air (Prevention and Control  of pollution ) Act- 1981, Water( Prevention and Control of pollution ) Act-1974, Water pollution Cess Act-1977, Forest Conservation Act, Municipal solid waste management and handling rules, biomedical waste management  and handling rules, hazardous waste management and handling rules .

UNIT: VIII   -- TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Concept of Sustainable  Development, Threats to Sustainability,  Population and its explosion, Crazy Consumerism, Over-exploitation of resources, Strategies for Achieving Sustainable development, Environmental Education, Conservation of Resources, Urban Sprawl, Sustainable Cities and Sustainable Communities, Human health, Role of IT in Environment, Environmental Ethics, Environmental Economics, Concept of Green Building, Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

TEXT BOOKS:

  1. Environmental  studies , From crisis to cure by R.Rajagopalan, 2005
  2. Text book of Environmental  Science and Technology by M.Anji Reddy 2007
  3. Environmental  studies by Erach Bharucha 2005, University Grants Commission, University Press.

REFERENCES:

  1. Environmental Science: towards a sustainable future by Richard T.Wright. 2008 PHL Learning Private Ltd. New Delhi
  2. Environmental Engineering and science by Gilbert M.Masters and Wendell P. Ela .2008 PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD

II Year B.Tech. P.E. II Sem                        L          T/P/D     C
0           -/3/-    2
MOMENTUM TRANSFER LAB

1. Identification of laminar and turbulent flows
    Major equipment - Reynolds apparatus

2. Measurement of point velocities
   Major equipment - Pitot tube setup

3. Verification of Bernoulli’s equation
    Major equipment – Bernoulli’s Apparatus

4. Calibration of Rotameter
    Major equipment – Rotameter Assembly

5. Variation of Orifice coefficient with Reynolds Number
   Major equipment - Orifice meter Assembly

6. Determination of Venturi coefficient
   Major equipment – Venturi meter Assembly

7. Friction losses in Fluid flow in pipes
   Major equipment -  Pipe Assembly with provision for Pressure measurement

8. Pressure drop in a packed bed for different fluid velocities
    Major equipment - Packed bed with Pressure drop measurement

9. Pressure drop and void fraction in a fluidized bed
    Major equipment - Fluidized bed with Pressure drop measurement

10. Studying the coefficient of contraction for a given open orifice
    Major equipment - Open Orifice Assembly

11. Studying the coefficient of discharge in a V-notch
    Major equipment - V-notch Assembly

12. Studying the Characteristics of a centrifugal pump
    Major equipment - Centrifugal Pump


JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD

II Year B.Tech. P.E. II Sem                        L          T/P/D     C
0           -/3/-    2

PROCESS HEAT TRANSFER LAB

1. Determination of total thermal resistance and thermal conductivity of composite wall.
      Major equipment - Composite wall Assembly

2. Determination of thermal conductivity of a metal rod.
     Major equipment - Thermal Conductivity apparatus

3. Determination of natural convective heat transfer coefficient for a vertical tube.
    Major equipment - Natural convection heat transfer apparatus

4. Determination of critical heat flux point for pool boiling of water.
    Major equipment- Pool boiling apparatus

5. Determination of forced convective heat transfer coefficient for air flowing through a pipe
     Major equipment – Forced convection heat transfer apparatus

6. Determination of overall heat transfer coefficient in double pipe heat exchanger.
    Major equipment -  Double pipe heat exchanger apparatus

7.  Determination of heat transfer coefficient for a helical coil in an agitated vessel.
    Major equipment – Helical coil in a agitated vessel.

8. Study of the temperature distribution along the length of a pin-fin under natural and forced convection conditions
    Major equipment - Pin fin apparatus

9. Estimation of un-steady state film heat transfer coefficient between the medium in which the body is cooled.
    Major equipment - Heat transfer coefficient determination  apparatus

10. Determination of Stefan – Boltzmann constant.
   Major equipment - Stefan Boltzmann apparatus


11. Determination of emissivity of a given plate at various temperatures.
    Major equipment - Emissivity determination apparatus

Saturday 3 November 2012

Lab External Dates: 2-1(PTME)

Lab External Dates:

8th November,2012(Thursday)

I.C. Engines/E.E. Lab 
9th November, 2012(Friday)

Surveying/Geology Lab

Friday 2 November 2012

Thursday 1 November 2012

Structure contour mapping


Structure contour mapping (20 pts.):
  • know the definition of a structure contour.
  • be able to hand contour data.
  • be able to calculate surface traits (e.g. local strike and dip) from structure contours.
  • construct map pattern of a contact from structure and topographic contours.
  • be able to use Surfer (or equivalent software) to contour data.
  • be able to interpret the structure contours geologically.
Structure contour maps are basically the same as topographic maps, where the surface being mapped is some geologic surface. Geologic surfaces commonly mapped in this way are:
  • a stratigraphic horizon.
  • a fault surface.
  • top of the groundwater table.
  • a seismic reflection surface.
There are some differences with standard topographic maps. Your surface does not have to be continuous everywhere, but can be truncated. For example the surface created by the top of a sill can be truncated by a fault.
You can also contour and 'map' other features than a physical surface. In this case the z axis instead of being elevation can be any physical/chemical parameter. For example, you can contour geophysical parameters such as the acceleration of gravity, or the strength of a magnetic field. When working with contaminant plumes the z parameter is the concentration of some contaminant. Isopach maps are where you are contouring the thickness of some unit.
When contouring you are assuming that for some x,y area the z values form a smooth continous surface.


Structure contours of a plane:
Trig functions for a right triangle:
  • tan (angle) = opposite / adjacent.
  • sin (angle) = opposite / hypotenuse.
  • cos (angle = adjacent / hypotenuse.
  • These are amazingly useful - commit them to memory!
  • distance between contour strike lines = contour interval / tan of the dip angle.
Exercise 1: Use the structure contour map below to answer the following questions.
a) The contours shown are on a fault surface and the numbers are meters above sea level. What is the strike of the fault (you will need a protractor to answer this)?
b) What direction does the fault dip in?
c) What is the dip angle? You will need to measure the spacing between the strike lines and then use the appropriate trig function above to compute the dip amount. Remember to measure the distance between the strike lines in a direction perpendicular to the strike lines.
d) The center of the star marks a point on the top of a stratigraphic formation. This planar surface is oriented N20E - 40SE. Draw and label a strike line so that the strike line truncates against the 300 m struccture contour for the fault.
e) Compute the map distance between strike lines with a 100 m contour interval for the stratigraphic formation top using the appropriate trig function above.
f) Draw the 500, 400, 200 and 100 structure contour for the stratigraphic formation top truncating them against the equivalent fault structure contour.
g) Draw and label the cut-off line, the line formed by the truncation of the stratigraphic formation top surface against the fault surface.





Relationships between structure contours for a planar surface, a topographic surface and the map expression on the map of the planar surface.
You saw in the above exercise how one can map the line created by the intersection of two surfaces. You basically connect the points created by the intersection of the contours of equal elevation of the two respective surfaces to create what the map pattern should be. You of course can do the opposite, connect the points where the line representing the map expression crosses the same contour to estimate the structure contour line at the elevation of the contour.
Exercise 2: Use the map diagram below to complete the following. The thicker dotted line represents topographic contour lines, the thinner continuous line represent the same fault surface as depicted above, and the red (grey in b&w) represents the map expression of the fault surface.
a) A second fault surface exists exactly 100 meters elevation above the one depicted below. Draw its map expression.
b) A horizontal bed is cut by these faults. In the footwall of the lowest fault it is at an elevation of 250 m. In the footwall of the higher fault it is at an elevation of 350 m, and in the hanging wall of the higher fault it is at 450 m elevation. Draw in the map expression of the horizontal bed as it is cut by these two faults. You will need to interpolate between the given contour lines. Remember that the footwall is the block beneath a dipping fault, and the hanging wall is that above.





Hand contouring point x,y,z data.
While computer programs conduct this type of analysis readily, it is useful to hand contour data also. In some cases it can be argued that an experienced geologist might produce a better contour map of a surface than the computer does because they can use their expert knowledge of how that type of geologic surface behaves.
When contouring you will first need to pick a likely contour interval. You want the smallest contour interval possible without overinterpreting the data (producing false accuracy). A general rule of thumb is that if you commonly have several contours passing between two known control points then your interval is too small. You could think of some calculations on the data set that can suggest a good interval (e.g. histogram of neighbor differences). Too large of a contour interval will lead to an oversimplified interpretation.
Use your geologic knowledge to guide your contour construction.
Produce the simplest interpretation (in this case the simplest surface possible). Don't over interpret so that surface features are indicated which could exist, but that the data doesn't constrain to exist.
The contour map product is an interpretation since interpolation and significant discretion of exactly where you draw the lines can exist. What are some rules of interpolation between two constraining control points? A simple approach is to position the contour proportionally. If the control points are at 60 and 30 units, then the 50 unit contour interval should be 2/3rds the way along a line as your travel from the 30 to the 60 point. Other better rules of extrapolation exist.
Where should you start contouring? Where you start can make a difference, since you tend to use the existing contours as a guide to help you draw the contours under construction. One suggestion is to start where the surface is best constrained, where you have the maximum density of points, and then to work to areas where the surface is less constrained. This usually means starting in the middle of the map and in the middle range of the contour elevations being constructed.
Exercise 3: Below is a map of drill hole data, showing the elevation in feet above sea level of the Tarkio limestone. This is in the area of the Humboldt fault zone. Hand contour the data, also interpreting where you think the faults may lie. There will be a lot of interpretation/discretion involved in how this map looks. Make sure your contours and any faults are well labeled 





Computer contouring:
Computer contouring and visualization of the surfaces created is a marvelous tool. However, don't let it be a black box, magical sort of endeavor. You should understand at some level how the computer is generating that surface. There are different ways and the results can be quite different. For those of you who took geodata you can review, or for those of you who want to learn more about how the computer contours data, you can read material at the relevant geodata lecture notes.
Exercise 3: Below is x,y, z data in feet for the area you hand contoured above.
a) Enter the data into a software package that will contour the data and produce a contour map. If you are using Surface 3 on a Mac, then save this as comma delimited text. Surfer can open it up as an Excel sheet.
b) Compare the computer generated map with your hand contoured map. What is the difference?
c) Generate a 3-D diagram that shows the surface from a instructive vantage point.
d) Describe what can you conclude about any fault in this area?

1884.05616237.987921080
3104.71215707.334721075
2573.99214115.375121090
6819.75219687.233721003
5492.95218015.676141054
8040.40818201.404761010
5201.05616874.771761070
7881.19217272.761661019
9552.9617352.35964904
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