Evaluation of the new dynamic needle penetrometer in estimating uniaxial compressive strength of weak rocks

Studying the mechanical characteristics of weak sedimentary rocks is a burning issue in civil and mining engineering designs and analysis since obtaining rock mechanical properties of these has always faced lots of problems and uncertainties due to the structural weaknesses. One of the main causes of these problems is the difficulty of preparing high-quality core specimens recommended by testing standards or suggested methods for uniaxial compressive strength (UCS). For resolving this issue, in this study, common methods for indirect estimation of UCS of weak rocks were initially studied, their merits and demerits were analyzed, and then, in light of their positive and negative points, a new modified device was designed with a different mechanical structure and force exertion system, which could be practically used to present a new method for indirect estimation of UCS. Thus, in this study, we initially had a general view of the new dynamic needle penetrometer and its modified parts and their capabilities. After introduction, as the first phase of the practical studies on this, dynamic needle penetration resistance (DNPR) was measured, as the dynamic needle penetrometer test result, from 65 specimens collected from three different projects. Then, the relationships between DNPR and UCS of the rock specimens and the regressions of correlations were statistically analyzed. Finally, a linear equation with considerable accuracy resulted from analysis, and using this led to solving the main problem of this research by proposing a developed method for indirect estimation of uniaxial compressive strength of weak rocks.     

针贯入仪在软岩强度测试中的应用

软岩强度较低,结构松散,难以加工成标准试件测其单轴抗压强度,为解决这一工程实践难题,引入了日本的一种通过测试软岩针贯入指标间接推算其抗压强度的试验仪器——针贯入仪。首先简要地介绍了针贯入试验的仪器装置、操作过程、注意事项以及数据处理方法,然后运用该仪器在现场和室内分别对不同软岩进行强度测试。统计分析测试结果表明,测试数据离散性大小与岩性均一程度、结构面分布情况密切相关。最后,选取了一组软岩岩样进行针贯入和点荷载对比试验,计算得出两种试验结果相差不大。因此,采用针贯入仪测试软岩强度是合理可行的,可在软岩工程中推广使用。     

The evolution of pore pressure fields around standard and ball penetrometers: influence of penetration rate

Rate effects are examined in the steady pore pressure distribution induced as a result of penetration of standard and ball penetrometers. The incompressible flow field, which develops around the penetrometer is used to define the approximate soil velocity field local to the penetrometer tip. This prescribes the Lagrangian framework for the migration of the fluid saturated porous medium, defining the advection of induced pore pressures relative to the pressure‐monitoring locations present on the probe face. In two separate approaches, different source functions are used to define the undrained pore fluid pressures developed either (i) on the face of the penetrometer or (ii) in the material comprising the failure zone surrounding the penetrometer tip. In the first, the sources applied at the tip face balance the volume of fluid mobilized by the piston displacement of the advancing penetrometer. Alternately, a fluid source distribution is evaluated from plasticity solutions and distributed throughout the tip process zone: for a standard penetrometer, the solution is for the expansion of a spherical cavity, and for the ball penetrometer, the solution is an elastic distribution of stresses conditioned by the limit load embedded within an infinite medium. For the standard penetrometer, the transition from drained to undrained behavior occurs over about two orders of magnitude in penetration rate for pore pressures recorded at the tip (U1) and about two‐and‐a‐half orders of magnitude for the shoulder (U2). This response is strongly influenced by the rigidity of the soil and slightly influenced by the model linking induced total stresses to pore pressures. For the ball penetrometer, the transition from drained to undrained behavior also transits two‐and‐a‐half orders of magnitude in penetration rate, although it is offset to higher dimensionless penetration rates than for standard penetration. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

结构性砂土静力触探试验离散元分析

为研究结构性砂土静力触探的宏微观力学特性,在10 g重力场中生成一个净砂地基;将一个考虑胶结厚度的微观胶结接触模型引入到净砂地基中以生成结构性砂土地基;用一定速率移动探杆以模拟结构性砂土中的静力触探过程,其中,探杆由4面刚性墙组成。结果表明,随着贯入深度的增加,锥尖贯入阻力逐渐增大,增长速度逐渐减慢,在达到临界深度后贯入阻力在某一定值附近波动;锥尖部位有明显的力链集中现象,力链的集中程度和范围会随着贯入深度的增加而逐渐提高和扩大;静力触探过程中,探杆两侧的土体经历了明显的加载和卸载过程,且土体主应力方向发生偏转;离探杆越远,主应力偏转速度越慢,最终偏转角越小;不同深度处平均纯转动率（APR）的变化趋势基本相同,而APR最大值会随着土体深度而逐渐增加;探杆的贯入会使土颗粒间胶结发生破坏,胶结的破坏形式主要有拉剪破坏和压剪破坏两种,而拉剪破坏数目要比压剪破坏数目多。     

软土中T型触探仪贯入阻力的数值模拟

T型触探仪近年来在国外的海洋软土地基原位测试中得到了广泛应用,但贯入速率、地基土强度的各向异性与渐进软化等因素对于贯入阻力的影响没有得到系统的研究。在大型有限元软件ABAQUS平台上进行二次开发,针对基于Tresca屈服准则的理想弹塑性模型进行了相应改进,使之可以比较合理地反映上述因素的影响,进而对软土中T型触探仪的贯入机制进行了比较系统的数值分析。计算结果表明,贯入速率、地基土强度的各向异性与强度软化效应对于T型触探仪的贯入阻力系数影响较大。通过与有关极限分析上限解的对比分析,在一定程度上验证了有限元分析结果的合理性。     

Discrete element modelling of deep penetration in granular soils

This paper presents a numerical study on deep penetration mechanisms in granular materials with the focus on the effect of soil–penetrometer interface friction. A two‐dimensional discrete element method has been used to carry out simulation of deep penetration tests on a granular ground that is under an amplified gravity with a K₀ lateral stress boundary. The numerical results show that the deep penetration makes the soil near the penetrometer move in a complex displacement path, undergo an evident loading and unloading process, and a rotation of principal stresses as large as 180°. In addition, the penetration leads to significant changes in displacement and velocity fields as well as the magnitude and direction of stresses. In general, during the whole penetration process, the granular ground undergoes several kinds of failure mechanisms in sequence, and the soil of large deformation may reach a stress state slightly over the strength envelope obtained from conventional compression tests. Soil–penetrometer interface friction has clear effects on the actual penetration mechanisms. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

球型全流触探仪的机理研究及工程应用综述

近年来,随着全球海洋开发战略的逐步开展,越来越多的工程建设和试验研究将在海洋中进行,为了掌握海底的土体环境,静力触探（CPT）技术在国内外海洋工程领域中的运用变得更加重要。本文根据国内外大量文献中相关海洋原位测试技术的报道,对海洋静力触探的国内外发展历程进行总结,重点阐述和研究了一种适用于海底淤泥质土的球型全流触探仪。分析结果表明,球型全流触探仪在海洋岩土工程勘察中具有很好的应用前景,且集测量数据精确可靠、试验方法多样化、理论解析丰富全面等优点于一身;利用球型全流触探仪能够有效避免较大的实测数据修正,贯入机理清晰严谨,开展循环贯入试验可以评价土的重塑特性,变速率贯入试验在评价应变速率和现场土体强度以及测试中土体固结状态之间的关系上具有优势;结合现场试验,对比分析传统CPT和球型全流触探仪的试验结果,并考虑海底软土的性质,摸索出一种可停靠球型探头新形式。     

Bioistratigraphical and sedimentological study of Upper Senonian–Lower Eocene sediments of Tripolitza Platform in central Crete (Greece)

The stratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental implications of a section in the Upper Senonian to Lower Eocene carbonates of the Tripolitza Platform in central Crete are discussed in this paper. The lower part (upper Campanian–lower Maastrichtian) of the succession consists of about 75 m of thickly bedded, light to dark grey limestones, dolomitic limestones and dolomites that were deposited on an inner carbonate platform. It is characterized by stratified bioclastic rudist facies (shelly limestone) associated with foraminifera and especially with species of the Rhapydioninidae family. These are overlain by 35 m of crystalline light grey dolomites that were deposited on a very restricted internal platform, characterized by intertidal-supratidal facies. The overlying 75-m-thick light grey dolomitic limestones and dolomites are characterized by the presence ofRhapydionina liburnicaStache, and in the uppermost part byNeobalkhania bignotiCherchi, Radoicic & Schroeder, dating it as Late Maastrichtian. The facies, cryptalgal laminites with fenestrae of varying dimensions, suggest relatively extensive subaerial exposure. Possible pedogenic textures are common in this sequence and especially in the uppermost part, which coincides with the K/T boundary. The presence ofPseudonummoloculina heimi(Bonet) at two levels in the Maastrichtian succession suggests transportation of Middle-Late Cenomanian sediments from emergent blocks of the platform during this period. A gap is suspected, for regional stratigraphic reasons, between this horizon and the next which containsSpirolinasp. and “Pseudochrysalidina” sp., dating it as Early-Middle Eocene.     

On the mechanics of dynamic penetration tests

This paper describes a numerical model developed to simulate the wave propagation in an elastic media that is applied to in situ dynamic penetration test devices currently used for site characterization. In the model, dynamic equilibrium equations are solved by finite difference analysis in the time domain to produce the discretization of a penetration system – including hammer, rod, penetrometer (or sampler) and soil. In standard penetration tests numerical simulations are shown to agree well with energy measurements derived from force and acceleration signals produced by the impact of a hammer. A parametric study allowed the identification of the relevant factors affecting penetration by demonstrating that the energy effectively delivered to the soil is a function of hammer height of fall and weight of both hammer and rods, as well as the permanent penetration of the penetrometer into the ground produced by a single stroke. Based on these evidences, an approach is suggested to compare results from different dynamic penetration tests without the need to rely on empirical correlations, which is achieved by demonstrating that different equipments should yield the same normalized energy once the influence of both the hammer and rod potential energies are properly considered.     

Calcareous nannofossil assemblage changes and stable isotope data from Maastrichtian to Selandian in the Akveren Formation,Western Black Sea,Turkey

This study is based on calcerous nannofossil assemblages changes and fluctutions of stable carbon and oxygen isotopes was collected clayey limestones, limestones, and marls in the Maastrichtian to Selandian from Akveren Formation (Western Black Sea). As the relative abundances of species of Micula spp, Watznauera barnesiae, and Arkhangelskiella cymbiformis, which tolerated changes of temperature and nutrition, carbon and oxygen isotopes compositions, and low species richness imply strong diagenesis effect at the Maastrichtian, there is no important diagenesis effect at Paleocene. Just after the Cretaceous/Tertiary (K-Pg) boundary, Thoracosphaera spp. and Braarudosphaera bigelowi were dominant species; Danian is characterized by Thoracosphaera, Ericsonia ovalis, Cruciplacolithus spp., Coccolithus pelagicus, and Ericsonia subpertusa. Generally, the nutrition productivity is good–moderate in Lower Maastrichtian, and decreasing carbon isotope values during the Uppermost Maastrichtian shows the presence of oligotrophic environmental conditions suitable with global nutrition crises before the K-Pg boundary and diagenesis in study area. Throughout the Danian, mesotrophic–oligotrophic environmental conditions dominate; however, the decrease in nutrition before Selandian represents oligotrophic environmental conditions. The increasing nutrition at Selandian is related to the change in the environmental conditions.     

Numerical analysis of penetrometers free-falling into soil with shear strength increasing linearly with depth

Dynamic penetrometers have been used for offshore oil and gas industry applications such as pipeline feasibility studies and anchoring systems, and military applications including naval mine countermeasures and terminal ballistic studies. The main challenge of using dynamic penetrometers is the interpretation of their test results in order to deduce the mechanical properties of the penetrated soil via empirical or theoretical relations. Recently, a robust numerical method based on the Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) technique has been developed for analysing dynamic penetration problems and used to investigate a smooth penetrometer free falling into a uniform layer of clayey soil. Numerical as well as experimental results indicate that the penetration characteristics, including the impact energy, total time, and total depth of penetration, depend on the mechanical properties of the soil including its stiffness and strength parameters as well as the geometry of the penetrometer and its initial impact energy. In this study, the ALE method is employed to study the effect of shear strength increasing with depth (a common condition of seabed deposits) on the penetration characteristics of a free falling penetrometer. Conducting more than two thousand numerical simulations has shown that there is an approximate quadratic relation between the final embedment depth of a FFP penetrating into a non-uniform clay soil and the combined kinetic energy on contact with the soil and subsequent loss in potential energy of the penetrometer.     

运用轻便触探和静载荷试验研究黄土的湿陷性(英文)

黄土在应力作用下迂水时力学强度迅速下降 ,产生大范围的快速沉陷。这就是黄土的湿陷性 ,是黄土的诸多特性之一。鉴于对黄土湿陷性以往用各种实验室试验指标进行评价 ,这里提出运用动力触探和静载荷试验进行黄土湿陷性原位评价的一种简便的新方法。该方法的试验程序是 ,先用轻便可变动能触探仪在天然状态和饱水状态下进行触探试验 ,而后在触探孔完成静载荷压缩性试验。运用中国黄土高原黄土原位动力触探和静载荷试验测得的资料 ,详细分析了天然状态的黄土对探头阻力 qdnat,饱水状态的黄土对探头阻力 qdsat,实验室测得的湿陷性指数s压缩曲线参数 (即触探极限压力 ppf,触探蠕变压力ppl 和触探载荷模量Epn)的关系。结果证明所提出的方法适用于原位判定黄土的湿陷性。     

Evaluation of Portuguese limestones’ susceptibility to salt mist through laboratory testing

The salt mist present in the coastal shoreline constitutes an important weathering agent of the building materials applied in these regions. Portugal has an extensive coastline, which has a high population density. It holds a long tradition in the use of stone as a building material, due to the abundance of this natural resource, but also because of its durability and beauty. Considering the main ornamental stones mined in Portugal, limestones are the most susceptible to the action of saline atmospheric aerosol, because, in most cases, they present open porosities higher than those of other stone types. This feature facilitates the penetration of saline aerosol in their structures. Six widely applied Portuguese limestones, with different technological properties, were selected for this study. After accessing their petrographic and main technological features, the limestones were submitted to salt mist test. The test method, established in the respective European standard, was complemented with further determinations (variation on water absorption and flexural strength after salt mist cycling). The results allowed evaluating the limestones’ suitability for the main types of applications and for specific usage conditions, within each one. Thus, it was possible to set the recommended uses for each limestone, in order to maximize its durability. Salt mist testing made possible to determine the limestones’ resistance to the climatic conditions of coastal areas. The detailed analysis of the salt mist results strengthens the knowledge that the open porosity plays a decisive role in the limestones’ behaviour to this test.     

Lithostratigraphy and depositional environments of the upper cretaceous deposits in the central Taurides (S Turkey)

The study area is located in the Central Taurides (southern Turkey), which is bounded by the K?rkkavak fault to the west and Ecemi? fault to the east. The sequences are studied in detail based on measured sections composed of the rocks deposited during the Cenomanian–Maastrichtian and located within different tectonic units previously described in the Taurides. The study materials include 217 thin section data from seven Cenomanian–Maastrichtian sequences of outcropping in different parts of the Central Taurides. The sediments deposited during the Cenomanian–Maastrichtian period in the Central Taurides are subdivided into eight units based on their lithological, paleontological, and textural properties. The lower boundaries of the upper Santonian and Campanian are unconformable contacts. The Upper Cretaceous sequence starts with the middle Cenomanian and represents a continuation of the Lower Cretaceous tidal flat and shelf lagoon sequence. Upper Turonian–Coniacian sediments are not observed due to the eustatic sea level drop. The second main transgression period of the Upper Cretaceous platform took place in the Santonian. This unit is represented by limestones composed of wackestones/packstones containing benthic foraminifera and rudist fragments, which are deposited in tidal flats and subtidal environments. The late Campanian starts with a transgression, and the environment transformed transitions into slope facies from inner platform facies, as a result of the thrust of ophiolitic rocks. In the following period, slope front and basin plain environments were dominant due to the increasing slope. Slumped pelagic limestones were deposited on the slope. Planktonic foraminiferal pelagic limestones were unconformably deposited on plaque limestone in the slope front environment depending on the increase in slope gradient and local faulting. As a result of decreasing tectonic activity, the sediments were deposited onto a stable basin plain. They were initially fed from the nearby carbonate platform and then by siliciclastic turbidites derived from the thrusted ophiolitic rocks. In this study, the lithostratigraphic properties of the Cenomanian–Maastrichtian units outcropping in various parts of the Central Taurides are described. The sedimentary deposits described here suggest different basinal conditions in the region.     

不同重力场下静力触探试验离散元数值分析

采用离散元商业软件PFC2D对7种重力场下静力触探试验进行了对比分析试验,以研究高、低重力场下静力触探试验的异同点。数值试验结果表明：不同重力场下土体受静力触探贯入主要影响区域不同,低重力场下主要是上部土体受到影响,高重力场下主要是下部土体受到影响;归一化贯入阻力的最大值和稳定值、归一化球应力和偏应力的最大值均与重力加速度的倒数呈线性关系,均随重力加速度倒数的增加而增大;土体经历了明显的加载、卸载过程,重力加速度越小,加载、卸载现象越明显,同一重力加速度下上部土体加载、卸载程度大于下部土体。     

Late Cretaceous oceanic crust and Early Tertiary foreland basin development, Euboea, Eastern Greece

In northern Euboea (Eastern Greece), Late Cretaceous platform carbonates of the Pelagonian Zone pass depositionally upwards into Maastrichtian hemipelagic limestones, possibly reflecting a rifting event in the adjacent Neotethys. This is followed by a c. 1 km-thick unit of siliciclastic turbidites, debris flows and detached limestone blocks. Thrust intercalations of ophiolitic rocks comprise altered pillow basalts and ultramafic rocks with ophicalcite. Calcite veins in sheared serpentinite contain planktonic foraminifera and the ophicalcite is directly overlain, with a depositional contact, by Globotruncana-bearing pelagic limestones and calciturbidites of Maastrichtian age. The ophiolitic rocks are interpreted as Late Cretaceous oceanic crust and mantle, that formed at a fracture zone, or rifted spreading axis within a Neotethyan, Vardar basin to the east. During the Early Tertiary (Palaeocene–Eocene), the Neotethyan basin began to close, with development of a subduction-accretion complex, mainly comprising sheared, trench-type sandstones, associated with ophiolitic slices. In response to trench/margin collision, the Pelagonian carbonate platform foundered and limestone debris flows and olistoliths were shed into a siliciclastic foreland basin. Suturing of the Neotethyan ocean basin then resulted in westwards thrusting of oceanic units over the foreland basin, thrusting of slices of inferred Late Cretaceous Pelagonian carbonate platform slope and large-scale recumbent folding.     

Planktonic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossils record in the upper Campanian-Maastrichtian pelagic deposits of the Malatya Basin in the Hekimhan area (NW Malatya,eastern Anatolia)

The uppermost Cretaceous (upper Campanian-Maastrichtian) pelagic successions from the Malatya Basin (NW Malatya, eastern Anatolia) were studied by 688 samples, which were collected from five stratigraphic sections in the Hekimhan area. The pelagic deposits conformably overlie rudist bearing shallow-water limestones and are overlain conformably by Maastrichtian dolomites and unconformably by Paleocene-Eocene deposits, respectively.The pelagic successions in the Hekimhan area comprise the Kösehasan Formation at the base and the Zorbehan Formation at the top and reach up to 1100 m in thickness. The Kösehasan Formation rests over the neritic rudist-bearing limestones of the Güzelyurt Formation along a sharp contact and consists mainly of flysch-type sandstone-mudstone alternation with complete and partial Bouma sequences. The carbonate content of abundant planktonic foraminifera and nannoplankton-bearing 980-m-thick succession increases upwards and the formation passes gradually to the clayey limestones and marlstones of the Zorbehan Formation to the top. Occurrences of nannoplankton Lithraphidites quadratus Bramlette and Martini and Micula praemurus (Bukry) in the first beds of the Kösehasan Formation indicate that the age of the Kösehasan Formation and overlying Zorbehan Formation is of late Maasthrichtian. Another late Maastrichtian taxa Cribrosphaerella daniae Perch-Nielsen and Arkhangelskiella maastrichtiana Burnett are observed from the lowermost part of the succession. Maastrichtian planktonic foraminifera such as Contusotruncana walfischensis (Todd) and Globotruncanita pettersi (Gandolfi) were recorded through the successions. Although planktonic foraminifera are diverse and abundant particularly in the Kösehesan Formation, index late Maasthrichtian species were not encountered. Campanian and Santonian-Campanian planktonic foraminifera, e.g. Radotruncana calcarata (Cushman) and Globotruncanita elevata (Brotzen), obtained particularly from the lower part of the succession and calcareous nannofossils such as Broinsonia parca parca Bukry, Reinhardtites anthophorus (Deflanre) and Eiffellithus eximius (Stover) are interpreted as reworked from older strata. Trace fossils are common throughout the succession.Rareness of planktonic foraminifera and nannoplankton in the uppermost part of the succession (Zorbehan Formation) indicates maximum shallowing of the latest Maastrichtian sea in this part of the basin. Rare echinoids, bivalves and ammonites are observed in that part of the sequence.The obtained data indicate that sediment accumulation rate of the pelagic deposits is rather high and about 27.5 cm/ky for this part of the basin. Changes in thickness of the formations along short distances in the five stratigraphic sections analysed in this study should be related to the diachroneity of the depositional and erosional events.     

Numerical analysis of the miniature piezocone penetration tests (PCPT) in cohesive soils

An analytical model to simulate the penetration of the piezocone penetrometer in cohesive soils is presented here. The elasto-plastic coupled field equations of the saturated cohesive soils (given by Voyiadjis and Abu-Farsakh) is used in this analysis. The numerical simulation of the piezocone penetration is implemented into a finite element program. The analytical model is used to analyze the miniature piezocone penetration tests (PCPT) conducted at LSU calibration chambers. Simulation of the piezocone penetration is done for two cases. In the first case, the soil–penetrometer interface friction is neglected, while in the second case, the soil–penetrometer interface friction is taken into consideration. The constraint approach is used to model the soil–piezocone interface friction in which the Mohr–Coulomb frictional model is used to define the sliding potential. Analysis is done for three different soil specimens with different stress histories. The results of the numerical simulations are compared with the experimental measurements of the miniature piezocone penetration tests (PCPT) in cohesive soil specimens conducted in LSU calibration chambers. The resulting excess pore pressure distribution and its dissipation using the numerical model are compared with some available prediction methods. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New ornithopod footprints from the Lower Cretaceous Kitadani Formation,Fukui, Japan: Ichnotaxonomical implications

Two ichnogenus of “large-sized” ornithopods are found from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) Kitadani Formation in central Japan. Caririchnium isp. is characterized by the longer pes print than its width with strong mesaxony. Amblydactylus isp. is characterized by the wider pes print than its length with weak mesaxony. In the northern hemisphere, Caririchnium-type footprints are known from the Berriasian–Cenomanian strata, whereas Amblydactylus-type footprints are known from the Barremian–Maastrichtian strata. It is consistent with the temporal and geographic distribution of non-hadrosauroid iguanodontians and basal hadrosauroids. It suggests that footprint length-width ratio and mesaxony are important factors to indicate trackmakers (basal iguanodontian or hadrosauroid). Two “large-sized” ornithopod ichnogenus from the Kitadani Formation is also consistent with two iguanodontians from same site. It indicates a high diversity of the Kitadani ichnofauna and its importance to elucidate the ecosystem of the Kitadani Formation.     

Zarafasaura oceanis, a new elasmosaurid (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) from the Maastrichtian Phosphates of Morocco and the palaeobiogeography of latest Cretaceous plesiosaurs

Though the Maastrichtian Phosphates of Morocco have yielded very rich marine vertebrate assemblages, plesiosaurs remain very scarce in these strata. The only hitherto recognized taxon was Plesiosaurus mauritanicus Arambourg, 1952, regarded here as a nomem dubium. Here we describe a new genus and species of elasmosaurid plesiosaur, Zarafasaura oceanis, which represents the first valid elasmosaurid plesiosaur described from the latest Cretaceous of Africa, and the second one from this continent. A phylogenetic analysis of plesiosauroids indicates that Zarafasaura oceanis has close affinities with elasmosaurids from the Late Cretaceous of North America and Japan. Among its distinctive suite of characters, the general shape and organisation of its squamosal and palate are unique among elasmosaurids. This new taxon completes our understanding of Late Cretaceous plesiosaur palaeobiodiversity and palaeobiogeography, and shows that Maastrichtian plesiosaurs were characterized by a quite high degree of endemism. They were also highly diversified and distributed worldwide, which supports the hypothesis of a catastrophic extinction of plesiosaurs at the K/T boundary.