Thick Cover Research Articles

Ice passport of a river icebreaker: propulsion ability

The work begins a series of publications summarizing the experience of long-term ice operation of shallow-seated river icebreakers of project 1191. This article is devoted to the analysis of full-scale data on the ice propulsion ability of the vessel.
 In tabular form, the speed characteristics of the icebreaker on the advancing, stern board and ramming icebreaking are given depending on various conditions and operating modes in solid ice and ice channel: thickness of the ice cover; the degree of its fragmentation, extent of destruction, concentration; height, density and humidity of the snow cover; depth of the water area; total power of thrusting electric motors.
 The procedure for using tabular data to evaluate the operational propulsion ability of a vessel in ices is shown in the article.

Sustainable Energy Progress via Integration of Thermal Energy Storage and Other Performance Enhancement Strategies in FPCs: A Synergistic Review

Flat plate collectors (FPCs) are the leading solar thermal technology for low-medium range temperature applications. However, their expansion in developing countries is still lacking because of their poor thermal performance. Improving the thermal performance of flat plate collectors (FPCs) is a crucial concern addressed in this review This study comprehensively discussed the performance improvement methods of FPCs, such as design modification, reflectors, working fluid, and energy storage materials, by covering current issues and future recommendations. Design factors such as coating and glass cover thickness, thickness of absorber plate and material, air gap between the glass cover and absorber plate, and riser spacing, along with insulation materials, are examined for their impact on FPC performance. Absorber design changes with selective coatings for improving the heat transmission rate between the working fluid and absorber are critical for enhancing collectors’ thermal output. The nanofluids utilization improved FPC’s thermal performance in terms of energetic and exergetic outcomes in the 20–30% range. Moreover, adding a heat storage unit extends the operating hours and thermal output fluctuations of FPCs. Research suggests that employing turbulators and nanofluids as heat transfer fluids are particularly effective for enhancing heat transfer in FPCs. This comprehensive review serves as a critical tool for evaluating and comparing various heat transfer augmentation techniques, aiding in the selection of the most suitable option.

Study of the shear performance of inclined screws in glulam-concrete composite beams under standard ISO 834 fire

Extensive research has been conducted on the shear behaviour of inclined screws in glulam-concrete composite beams at normal temperatures. However, research on the shear behaviour of inclined screws under fire conditions is limited. In this study, one group of push-out tests at normal temperature and five groups of push-out tests under standard ISO 834 fire were performed. The test results revealed that the failure modes of inclined screws under fire were characterized by compression failure of the timber surrounding the screws and pulling failure of the shear-tension loaded screws. As the fire exposure time increased, the shearing capacity and slip modulus of the inclined screws decreased. Notably, the slip modulus of inclined screws under fire exhibited a more pronounced decrease compared to the shearing capacity. The shear properties of inclined screws under standard ISO 834 fire were enhanced with increasing thickness of the timber side cover of the screws. The comparative results showed that the shearing capacity of inclined screws under standard ISO 834 fire could be accurately predicted based on the analytical model in EN 1995-1-2. In addition, a theoretical method was presented to predict the slip modulus of inclined screws under standard ISO 834 fire.

Development of lightweight and flexible crystalline silicon solar cell modules with PET film cover for high reliability in high temperature and humidity conditions

Lightweight and flexible solar cell modules have great potential to be installed in locations with loading limitations and to expand the photovoltaics market. We used polyethylene terephthalate films instead of thick glass cover as front cover materials to fabricated lightweight solar cell modules with crystalline silicon solar cells. Because of the absence of a glass cover, the fabricated modules have flexible properties. The fabricated modules were subjected to accelerated degradation tests to evaluate their reliability. The test results showed that these lightweight and flexible modules exhibit high reliability under both high temperature and high humidity conditions.

Finite element modeling and design equations of partially steel-reinforced concrete beam-to-steel tube column joint

Steel reinforced concrete beams are increasingly used as novel transfer structures in high-rise buildings. In this paper, numerical and theoretical studies were carried out on a novel joint of steel-reinforced concrete beam and steel tube column, in which the beam was reinforced by a short steel beam with partial length. Based on the previous experimental studies, finite element modeling was performed to consider the evolution of the concrete damage and to investigate the effects of the main design parameters on the seismic performance of the new joint. It was found that the length of the steel shape, the thickness of the concrete cover, and the concrete compressive strength have significant effects on the initial stiffness and peak capacity of the new joint, while changing those parameters may not change the failure mode of the joint. A theoretical analysis was performed to establish an analytical model for the shear capacity of the new connection that takes into account the contributions of the steel web, stirrups, and concrete. The model was verified against the database of experimental and numerical analysis results. Design equations and recommendations for checking the flexural and shear strength of the embedded steel shape, the composite beam and the RC part of the beam were also provided.

Evaluation of impact response of thermal-damaged FRP-RC slabs: Effects of FRP bar type and concrete cover thickness

The purpose of present study is to investigate the impact response of FRP-RC slabs under elevated temperatures. Considering the high-temperature degradation effect and strain rate enhancement effect of FRP bars and concrete materials, a numerical model for studying the fire and impact resistance of FRP-RC slabs was established and verified. The impact failure mechanism of in-fire thermal-damaged FRP-RC slabs was analyzed. The influence of the type of FRP bars, concrete cover thickness and fire duration on the in-fire impact resistance of FRP-RC slabs was revealed. Ultimately, the post-fire residual bearing capacity of the slabs after elevated temperature and impact was obtained. The results show that the typical local punching failure mode is not affected by thermal damage while energy dissipated by concrete accounts for most of the impact energy absorbed by the slabs. When exposed to fire for 60 min, the elevated temperature significantly deteriorates the impact resistance of FRP-RC slabs with a cover thickness of 15 mm. At this time, the greater the concrete cover thickness, the better the impact resistance of FRP-RC slabs. Under the combined action of elevated temperature and impact, Carbon FRP-RC slabs have greater stiffness, lower deflection, greater impact plateau value, less impact duration and lower energy consumption than Aramid FRP, Basalt FRP and Glass FRP-RC slabs. Moreover, the damage index of the slab based on residual bearing capacity and peak displacement is approximately linearly positively correlated. The influence of the concrete cover thickness is more prominent on the damage index based on the peak displacement.

Economic assessment of corrosion prevention measures in new structures

AbstractChloride‐induced corrosion is a main cause of deterioration in reinforced concrete (RC). The premature deterioration of RC leads to unplanned repairs, hence elevating the direct and indirect costs of the RC infrastructure. The current prescriptive durability design approach has proven to be insufficient in assuring the durability of the RC exposed to chlorides. The objective of this study is an economical evaluation of several prevention measures for chloride‐induced corrosion following the performance‐based approach. A case study is inspired by a real set of RC columns, which suffered from chloride‐induced corrosion damage after 14 years in service. The considered prevention measures are the use of different binder systems, variation of the water/binder ratio, and changes in the concrete cover. To compare the obtained results, a reference design is set with a concrete mix and a cover thickness according to the requirements of the prescriptive approach described in the European standards. The results show that a balance between the binder type, concrete cover and water/binder ratio is necessary in order to optimize the costs while assuring the durability of the RC element.

Transmission line icing thickness prediction model based on ISSA-CNN-LSTM

The prediction of transmission line ice cover thickness can effectively guide the scientific operation and maintenance of the power sector. An improved sparrow search algorithm, convolutional neural network and long short-term memory fusion ice cover prediction model is proposed in this paper. Environmental temperature, humidity, wind speed and other data are firstly normalised, CNN is used to both learn the data signature as well as input the results into LSTM, and then ISSA is used to optimise the parameters of LSTM such as the numeration of the neuron, the initial learning rate, and the regularisation coefficient, etc., and then the final output is the predicted value of the icing thickness of the transmission line cover. The simulation results show that the MSE and MAE of the ISSA-CNN-LSTM model are 0.23 and 0.37, respectively, which are much better than the prediction results of the SSA and CNN models.

Leaching of nitrogen, phosphorus and other solutes from a controlled drainage cultivated peatland in Ruukki, Finland

Cultivated peatlands are important for grass production in Northern Europe, but the potential impact of nutrients leaching to surface waters is a major concern. Due to a lack of data on nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and organic carbon leaching, a monitoring programme was established at Ruukki (Siikajoki, Finland), an agricultural, subsurface drained peat site with a peat thickness of 20–80 cm. Concentrations and loading of N, P, and total organic carbon (TOC) were monitored, along with other water quality parameters for the field discharge, in 2018–2021. We observed N leaching from subsurface discharge to be 25 kg N ha−1 year−1 (range 11–40 kg N ha−1 year−1, 74 % as nitrate NO3-N). The least N leaching was recorded from plots of thinner peat topsoil and those with grass cover, while the majority of N leaching originated from thicker peat plots (bare or under barley) in spring. Leaching of N strongly decreased during periods of thick grass cover. Significant N leaching also occurred during the mild winter of 2019–2020, characterized by alternating freeze and thaw periods. Annual P loading from subsurface drainage was 0.30 kg P ha−1 (0.20–0.43 kg P ha−1), low compared to that of average cultivated soils in Finland. It was estimated that 13 % of the total N leaching and 50 % of the total P leaching occurred in surface runoff. Leaching of TOC was significant at 87 kg ha−1 year−1 (31–137 kg ha−1 year−1). Leaching of dissolved P and TOC increased with peat thickness. Abundant loading of sulfur and acidity indicates the oxidation of sulfidic material in the subsoil. Leaching concentrations correlated with discharge quantity, suggesting that mobilization processes during the dry periods resulted in leaching during high discharge periods. The results show the importance of avoiding bare peat soil for NO3-N leaching reduction, even during wintertime in cultivated peatlands.

Bond strength of sand-coated deformed GFRP bars in UHPC, HPC, and NC

This paper focuses on evaluating the bond strength of sand-coated deformed Glass Fiber-Reinforced Composite (GFRP) bars in cement-based materials: Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC), and High-Performance Concrete (HPC) and Normal Concrete (NC). A total of 48 pullout tests were conducted to examine the impact of parameters such as bond length (2.5db, 5db and 10db) and cover thickness (1db, 2db and 4.5db). Three common failure modes comprising bar pullout, rupture, and cover splitting were outlined, in which, pullout of GFRP rebars was controlled by shear damage between the resin and glass fibers, and UHPC splitting behaved with greater ductility than HPC or NC. The bond-slip curve of GFRP rebars involved the micro-slippage branch, the slippage branch, the exponentially descending branch, and the residual branch with oscillation characteristics. In comparison with HPC and NC, GFRP bars in UHPC showed 27.9%-72.6% and 130.5%-164.2% increases in bond strengths, respectively. Moreover, the higher bond strength was achieved in specimens with a smaller bond length or greater cover thickness. Specifically, bond strengths in samples having covers of 4.5db and 2db were enhanced by 30.8%-53.4% and 16.2%-26.8% to those with a cover of 1db. Furthermore, the bond strength calculation formula for GFRP rebars in UHPC was established and validated using the existing tests, and some design recommendations were presented.

Displacement-based seismic performance of RC bridge pier

To correctly manage the road infrastructure before and after an earthquake, it is necessary to estimate and even predict the seismic performance of the bridge. The quantification of the bridge's seismic performance response was present in terms of displacement and also based on previous research of reinforced concrete bridge pier models. The displacement did define from a force lateral-displacement response diagram corresponding to the capacity curve, calculated through a non-linear static pushover analysis of the reinforced concrete bridge pier model for each limit state, from intact state to collapse. Thus, six defined displacements correspond to the cracking displacement, the yielding displacement, the spalling displacement, the crushing displacement, the buckling displacement, and the fracturing displacement. The six defined limit states correspond to the cracking limit state, the yielding limit state, the spalling limit state, the crushing limit state, the buckling limit state, and the fracturing limit state. Also, parametric analysis did carry out to evaluate the influence, relative importance, and trend of the input parameters in response to the seismic performance of the reinforced concrete bridge pier model. Eleven input parameters did analyze as the concrete compressive strength, the yield stress of reinforcing steel, the concrete cover thickness, the pier aspect ratio, the configuration of the transverse reinforcement, the spacing of the transverse reinforcing steel, the transversal diameter of the transverse reinforcing steel, the longitudinal reinforcement ratio, the transversal diameter of the longitudinal reinforcing steel, the axial load ratio, and coefficient of subgrade reaction.

Microstructures and mechanical property of post-fire grouting sleeve connections considering concrete cover

The performances of grouting sleeves for connections (GSCs) were critical for safety of prefabricated concrete structures especially after building fire. The consideration of concrete cover around sleeves was insufficient in previous studies which was essential for predicting the properties of GSCs in actual engineering. This study simulated the building fire, and the properties of post-fire GSCs with different concrete covers were explored. The influences of peak temperature (200 °C-800 °C) and the thickness of concrete cover (15 mm, 25 mm) on the strength of grouting materials and the anchorage performance of GSCs were analyzed. TG, MIP and SEM were used to reveal the deterioration of hydration products and microstructures of post-fire grouting materials. The failure mode, load–displacement relation and internal damage phenomenon of post-fire GSCs were tested, the prediction formula of bonding strength and peak temperatures was established. Furthermore, the prediction formula of bearing capacity of post-fire GSCs were recommended in condition of two kinds of concrete cover. The results showed that the peak temperature of 600 °C was upper limit of acceptability for GSCs under the protection of concrete cover. Increasing the thickness of concrete cover could slightly relieve the decomposition of hydration products and deterioration of microstructures of grouting materials, and then improve the bearing capacities of GSCs.

Experimental study on anchorage performance and mechanism of hooked bars with a pre-yield anchorage failure

In RC exterior beam-column joints, reliable anchorage of beam bars using hooked bars is a common approach to ensure sufficient joint rotation capability. The anchorage failure criterion and the influence of axial load and side cover on anchorage strength are unclear with the limitings of the existing test setup and test approach. Twenty-two simulated beam-column joint tests with hooked bars anchorage were therefore conducted. A specially designed test setup was proposed to ensure the simultaneous failure of hooked bars within a specimen, while a novel approach was employed to separate the anchorage force of the hook portion into bearing and bond forces based on stress distribution measurement. The experimental results show that the anchorage strength of hooked bars and hook portion bearing strength increase as side cover thickness and axial load increase, which may potentially alleviate joint congestion. Additionally, the study identifies that the hook portion bearing strength dominates the anchorage failure mechanism of hooked bars, prompting the proposal of an anchorage failure criterion. Based on this criterion, models for anchorage strength and anchorage force-slip relationship were proposed, which are applicable to hooked bars with varying inner bend diameters in actual structures. To examine the safety and validity of the proposed equation for anchorage strength, it was compared against a hooked bar test database with 363 anchorage specimens, as well as several existing models. The database analysis showed potential safety risks with the GB50010-2010 model. Notably, the proposed model demonstrated the highest accuracy in predicting the anchorage strength of hooked bars.

Pure shear model for crack width analysis of reinforced concrete members

Reinforcement corrosion in concrete structures with excessive crack width poses a high risk of reducing the structure's service life. The crack width behavior is one of the most complex aspects of the mechanics of reinforced concrete (RC). With most of the models used in practice being semi–empirical or empirical, very few analytical approaches have been proposed. However, the analytical models lack either accuracy or simplicity, or both. This paper presents a new analytical model, termed the Pure Shear Model, that predicts mean crack width by a simple formula. It is based on the partial interaction tension stiffening model considering a short RC tie subjected to short–term loading. The model assumes elastic material properties and neglects shrinkage, internal cracking, and slip at the interface. It presumes that the only deformations that occur in concrete are the shear strains due to shear lag that are taken constant across the cover thickness. Deplanation of concrete section due to shear lag results in crack width linearly increasing from zero at the bar to its maximum value on the surface of the RC member. Despite the simplicity of the proposed model, its accuracy in predicting mean crack width was shown to be comparable to that of the design code methods.

Geological Significance of the Perrot Spring in Mont Avic Natural Park (NW Alps)

Alpine areas shaped in a normally fissured bedrock do not typically contain important groundwater aquifers. In contrast, a wide Quaternary cover in mountainous areas, especially of landslide deposits, can make large aquifers promising for water withdrawals. A geological study of the central sector of the Chalamy Valley, a right tributary of the main Dora Baltea River (Aosta Valley) in which the Perrot Spring is located, was carried out, with the aim of providing a preliminary assessment of hydrogeological significance. The main interest of this investigation is, in addition to the high discharge of the Perrot Spring, its location within Mont Avic Natural Park, which is a very busy area with walkers, cyclists, visitors, and scholars. The geological survey shows a thick body of sandy silty glaciolacustrine sediments, consequent to the barrage of the Chalamy Valley from the glacier hosted in the main Aosta Valley. These sediments, outcropping in the north-facing slope of the Chalamy Valley, are involved in significant gullies and covered by a thick landslide accumulation located in the northern slope of the Bec de Nona, formed by very heterometric sediments. A wide detachment scarp is shaped in serpentinite characterized by evident fracture systems. The preliminary hydrogeological significance for the Perrot Spring, located at the boundary between glaciolacustrine and landslide sediments, was proposed. In detail, the thick landslide cover, characterized by high permeability, represents an important aquifer with a relatively fast groundwater flow to the spring. The underlying glaciolacustrine sediments of the low band of the slope, typically with very low permeability, favor the concentration of groundwater near the boundary with landslide sediments and the spring supply.

Shear behavior of short studs in steel-thin ultrahigh-performance concrete composite structures

Steel-concrete composite structures gradually tend to be thinner and lighter in modern bridge engineering. Ultrahigh-performance concrete (UHPC) as an innovative solution has been used to upgrade the behavior of composite structures and accelerate construction, and short stud connectors are the key elements to guarantee the effective connection of steel and concrete components. This study conducted push-out test to explore the failure modes and load-slip relationships of short studs in steel-thin UHPC composite structures (STUCs). The experimental findings revealed that the fracture of the stud shank and local concrete crushing dominated the failure modes of all specimens. Increasing stud diameter could enhance shear strength, while arranging short studs densely and decreasing stud height could result in the reduction of shear capacity of a single stud. The experiment data were employed for the construction and verification of the finite element models. The impact of several parameters on the shear strength was investigated via the validated numerical models. The shear strength increased approximately linearly with stud diameter for short studs in thin UHPC layers, but the cover thickness and UHPC strength had a slight impact. The shear capacity of short studs couldn't be negatively impacted by reducing the aspect ratio to 3.16. In addition, the ultimate shear capacity significantly decreased due to the grouped stud effect for grouped short studs when the spacing between the studs was less than 70 mm. The shear capacity was conservatively predicted by these specifications for short studs in thin UHPC layer, according to the comparison of the simulated data with the existing construction specifications. Finally, a new equation considering multiple parameters was proposed and validated by the test data, which could precisely predict the shear strength of short studs in STUCs.

Metallogenic Setting and Temporal Evolution of Porphyry Cu-Mo Mineralization and Alteration in the Delamerian Orogen, South Australia: Insights From Zircon U-Pb, Molybdenite Re-Os, and In Situ White Mica Rb-Sr Geochronology

Abstract Paleozoic porphyry-style hydrothermal alteration and mineralization has previously been recognized within the Delamerian orogen, South Australia, where porphyry prospects include Anabama Hill, Netley Hill, and Bendigo. However, limited exploration due in part to thick postmineralization cover hinders the understanding of the temporal context, metallogenic setting, and mineral potential of the porphyry systems along the Proterozoic continental margin of Australia. In this study, we have characterized the hydrothermal alteration and mineralization of these porphyry occurrences. Zircon U-Pb, molybdenite Re-Os, and white mica Rb-Sr ages have been determined to constrain the timing for emplacement of magmatic intrusions, precipitation of metal-bearing sulfides, and duration of hydrothermal alteration in the Delamerian orogenic belt. Zircon U-Pb laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analyses of nine granitoids reveal that the intrusive rocks were emplaced mostly between 485 and 465 Ma, whereas three intrusions at Bendigo have zircon U-Pb ages of 490 to 480 Ma. Molybdenite isotope dilution-negative thermal ion mass spectrometry (ID-NTIMS) Re-Os dating of the four prospects identifies two porphyry Cu-Mo mineralization events at 480 and 470 to 460 Ma, respectively. Nineteen white mica Rb-Sr LA-ICP-MS/MS (tandem mass spectrometers) analyses return an age range between 455 and 435 Ma for phyllic alteration at the Anabama Hill and Netley Hill prospects, whereas intense white mica-quartz-pyrite alteration at Bendigo prospect appears to have developed between 470 and 460 Ma. These geochronologic results indicate that the Delamerian porphyry systems postdated subduction-related magmatism in the region (514–490 Ma) but instead formed within an inverted back-arc regime, where mineralized magmas and fluids ascended along favorable lithospheric-scale structures, probably due to asthenospheric upwelling triggered by mafic delamination. Porphyritic stocks, dikes, and aplites with ages of 470 to 460 Ma are the most likely hosts to porphyry-style mineralization in the Delamerian orogen that appears to have formed simultaneously with the oldest known porphyry systems in the intraoceanic Macquarie arc (e.g., Marsden, E43, and Milly Milly; 467–455 Ma). These results emphasize the significance and potential of Early-Middle Ordovician intrusive systems to host such a type of magmatic-hydrothermal mineralization in the Delamerian orogen.

Aquatic, riverside-aquatic and shrubswamp vegetation of Bile lake at «Biloozersky» NNP

The territory of the «Biloozerskyi» National Park represents the landscape complexes of the Middle Dnipro region, the integral elements of which contain ancient watercourses, swampy and waterlogged, wedged between the raised segments of the pine terrace and often connected to the modern floodplain. In the central part of such a decline (89–92 m above sea level), which is located within the park, there is a floodplain Bile Lake with a swampy island, which divides it into a smaller eastern water area of the lake and a larger western one. The periphery of the lake is surrounded by areas of swampy shores. The total area of flooded and swampy areas is about 16 hectares, of which the area of the water pond is 9 hectares. Considerable areas are represented by thickets of air-water vegetation and swamp-bog swamps with a thick cover of Sphagnum sp. The water supply of this lake is complex and is provided by both the underground waters of the pine terrace and the waters of the surface runoff. And in the presence of a swampy decline with channels connecting them into one wetland system, they provide the possibility of slow water exchange between the Kaniv Reservoir and the lake. The examined territory has a fairly rich and diverse plant complex. A number of habitats protected by Directive 92/43/EU «On the conservation of natural habitats and species of natural fauna and flora» are presented and large populations of two species of marsh orchids (Liparis loeselii (L.) Rich., Epipactis palustris (L.) Crantz) and water fern (Salvinia natans (L.) All.) are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine (2009). In addition, three species protected in the Kyiv region grow here in the conditions of natural biotopes (Drosera rotundifolia L., Dryopteris cristata (L.) A. Gray, Nymphaea alba L.).

Interfacial bonding stress transfer and failure mechanism between corrugated steel plate and reinforced concrete

The interfacial properties of corrugated steel plates and concrete are crucial for controlling the performance degradation of composite structures. To investigate the interfacial bonding performance and debonding evolution process, 13 pushout specimens are tested. The effects of concrete cover thickness, concrete strength, steel bond length, and transverse hoop height on the interfacial bonding properties are comprehensively considered. Moreover, the contributions of interfacial bonding components are investigated based on the bonding stress transfer mechanism at the interface. To study the distribution, evolution process, and damage development state of the interfacial bonding stress systematically, refined finite element models are developed. Results show that these four parameters positively affect bonding properties. The ratio of the chemical bonding force, mechanical bite force, and frictional force in the natural bond between the corrugated steel plate and concrete is 1:0.95:0.47. Additionally, the numerical results indicate that the interfacial bonding stress has a distinct non-uniform distribution. At the loading end, the bonding stress of the inclined web is generally higher than that of the flat web for the same section height. The bonding stress outside the web is greater than that inside. The outside part of the inclined web of the corrugated steel plate near the loading end is the first to exhibit interfacial damage developing towards the free end. The high stiffness at the bend of the corrugated steel plate deflects damage. Moreover, it does not fully develop in this part and is redundant.

Application of audio-frequency magnetotelluric data to cover characterisation – validation against borehole petrophysics in the East Tennant region, Northern Australia

The characterisation of the thickness and geology of cover sequences significantly improves targeting for mineral exploration in buried terrains. Audio-frequency Magnetotelluric (AMT) data is applicable to characterise cover sequences, where their conductivity (inverse resistivity) can be differentiated. We present a regional study from the under-cover East Tennant region in the Northern Territory (Australia) where we have applied deterministic and probabilistic inversion methods to derive 2D and 1D resistivity models. We integrated these models with information of co-located basement penetrating boreholes (lithological and geophysical logs) to ground-truth and validate the models and to improve geophysical interpretations. In the East Tennant region, borehole lithology and wireline logging demonstrate that the modelled AMT response is largely controlled by the mineralogy of the cover and basement rocks. The bulk conductivity is due primarily to bulk mineralogy and the success of using the AMT models to predict cover thickness is shown to be dependent on whether the bulk mineralogy of cover and basement rocks are sufficiently different to provide a detectable conductivity contrast. Our investigation of a range of geological scenarios that differ in thickness, complexity and geology of the cover and basement rocks suggests that in areas where there is sufficient difference in bulk mineralogy and where the stratigraphy is relatively simple, AMT models predict the cover thickness with high certainty. In more complex scenarios interpretation of AMT models may be more ambiguous and requires integration with other data (e.g. drilling, wireline logging, potential field modelling). Overall, we conclude that the application of the method has been validated and the results compare favourably with borehole stratigraphy logs once geological (i.e. bulk mineralogical) complexity is understood. This demonstrates that the method is capable of identifying major litho-stratigraphic units with resistivity contrasts. Our results have assisted with the planning of regional drilling programs and have helped to reduce the uncertainty and risk associated with intersecting targeted stratigraphic units in covered terrains.