Modelling the effect of changing precipitation inputs on deep soil water utilization

Forests in the Southeastern United States are predicted to experience future changes in seasonal patterns of precipitation inputs as well as more variable precipitation events. These climate change‐induced alterations could increase drought and lower soil water availability. Drought could alter rooting patterns and increase the importance of deep roots that access subsurface water resources. To address plant response to drought in both deep rooting and soil water utilization as well as soil drainage, we utilize a throughfall reduction experiment in a loblolly pine plantation of the Southeastern United States to calibrate and validate a hydrological model. The model was accurately calibrated against field measured soil moisture data under ambient rainfall and validated using 30% throughfall reduction data. Using this model, we then tested these scenarios: (a) evenly reduced precipitation; (b) less precipitation in summer, more in winter; (c) same total amount of precipitation with less frequent but heavier storms; and (d) shallower rooting depth under the above 3 scenarios. When less precipitation was received, drainage decreased proportionally much faster than evapotranspiration implying plants will acquire water first to the detriment of drainage. When precipitation was reduced by more than 30%, plants relied on stored soil water to satisfy evapotranspiration suggesting 30% may be a threshold that if sustained over the long term would deplete plant available soil water. Under the third scenario, evapotranspiration and drainage decreased, whereas surface run‐off increased. Changes in root biomass measured before and 4 years after the throughfall reduction experiment were not detected among treatments. Model simulations, however, indicated gains in evapotranspiration with deeper roots under evenly reduced precipitation and seasonal precipitation redistribution scenarios but not when precipitation frequency was adjusted. Deep soil and deep rooting can provide an important buffer capacity when precipitation alone cannot satisfy the evapotranspirational demand of forests. How this buffering capacity will persist in the face of changing precipitation inputs, however, will depend less on seasonal redistribution than on the magnitude of reductions and changes in rainfall frequency.     

Three-dimensional finite element simulation of fracture propagation in rock specimens with pre-existing fissure(s) under compression and their strength analysis

A FORTRAN program, consistent with the commercially available finite element (FE) code ABAQUS, is developed based on a three-dimensional (3D) linear elastic brittle damage constitutive model with two damage criteria. To consider the heterogeneity of rock, the developed FORTRAN program is used to set the stiffness and strength properties of each element of the FE model following a Weibull distribution function. The reliability of the program is assessed against available experimental results for granite cylindrical specimens with a throughgoing, flat and inclined fissure. The calibration procedure of the material parameters is explained in detail, and it is shown that the compressive to tensile strength ratio can have a substantial influence on the failure response of the specimens. Numerical simulations are conducted for models with different levels of heterogeneity. The results show a smaller load bearing capacity for models with less homogeneity, representing gradual coalescence of fully damaged elements forming throughout the models during loading. The maximum load bearing capacity is studied for various combinations of inclination angles of two centrally aligned, throughgoing and flat fissures of equal length embedded in cylindrical models under uniaxial and multiaxial loading conditions. The key role of the compressive to tensile strength ratio is highlighted by repeating certain simulations with a lower compressive to tensile strength ratio. It is proven that the peak loads of the rock models with sufficiently small compressive to tensile strength ratios containing two throughgoing fissures of equal length are similar, provided that the minimum inclination angles of the models are the same. The results are presented and discussed with respect to the existing experimental findings in the literature, suggesting that the numerical model applied in this study can provide useful insight into the failure behaviour of rock-like materials.     

Implementation of a coupled plastic damage distinct lattice spring model for dynamic crack propagation in geomaterials

This paper studies dynamic crack propagation by employing the distinct lattice spring model (DLSM) and 3‐dimensional (3D) printing technique. A damage‐plasticity model was developed and implemented in a 2D DLSM. Applicability of the damage‐plasticity DLSM was verified against analytical elastic solutions and experimental results for crack propagation. As a physical analogy, dynamic fracturing tests were conducted on 3D printed specimens using the split Hopkinson pressure bar. The dynamic stress intensity factors were recorded, and crack paths were captured by a high‐speed camera. A parametric study was conducted to find the influences of the parameters on cracking behaviors, including initial and peak fracture toughness, crack speed, and crack patterns. Finally, selection of parameters for the damage‐plasticity model was determined through the comparison of numerical predictions and the experimentally observed cracking features.     

鄂尔多斯地块周缘垂直形变场负位错反演与应变积累研究

利用鄂尔多斯地块及其周缘1970～2014年的垂直形变速率场资料，借助负位错反演研究该区域长期应变积累。结果表明，地块东北缘山西断陷带中北段年均能量积累增量、剪应力强度都较高，西南缘六盘山断裂与渭河断裂西段次之；山西断陷带中南段至晋陕交界处年均剪应力强度较高且显示一定程度的能量积累；西秦岭构造区尤其西秦岭北缘断裂西段、晋冀蒙交界区也反映一定程度的能量积累特性。     

阿尔金断裂带中段现今构造形变模式的InSAR研究

利用2007～2010年间14景ALOS PALSAR数据及SBAS InSAR技术，获取阿尔金断裂带中段91°E附近现今地壳形变速率场，并反演该地区断层的滑动速率和闭锁深度。结果表明，阿尔金断裂中段地区的形变速率自北向南呈3个线性梯度变化区，分别为阿尔金山东段8～12 mm/a、索尔库里盆地6～7 mm/a、阿尔金断裂带以南约0 mm/a。3个速率梯度变化区主要集中在喀腊达坂断裂和阿尔金主断裂上；拟合的断层就位于金雁山南缘、喀腊达坂断裂南邻，走滑速率从西（7.1 mm/a）向东（14.0 mm/a）逐渐增大，闭锁深度自西(4.5 km)向东(10.6 km)逐渐趋深。结合前人研究推测，金雁山（阿尔金山链东部）与索尔库里拉分盆地组成的复合破裂构造模式，是转换断层运动时应力和应变调整的主要驱动机制。     

Properties of geogrid-reinforced marine slope due to the groundwater level changes

Evaluation of slope stability, especially in the absence of a proper bed such as marine soils, is one of the most important issues in geotechnical engineering. Using geogrid layers to enhance the strength and stability of embankments is regarded as a commendable stabilization method. On the other hand, groundwater level erratically fluctuates in coastal areas. Therefore, the aim of this research is to study the effects of groundwater level changes on stability of a geogrid-reinforced slope on loose marine soils in Qeshm Island, Iran. At first, geotechnical properties of the site were obtained by comprehensive series of geotechnical laboratory and in situ tests. Then, by simultaneous changes of groundwater level and several parameters such as embankment slope, loading, geogrid length, geogrid number, and tensile strength of geogrid, different characteristics such as embankment safety factor (SF), vertical and horizontal displacements at embankment top and embankment base were studied. It was observed that groundwater level had significant effects on behavior of the embankment. For most of the observations, by decreasing the groundwater level, the displacements decreased and consequently safety factor increased. Increasing the length, number, and tensile strength of geogrid led to the reduction of displacements and an increase in the safety factor.     

基于圆柱多段拟合的隧道中轴线提取方法研究

提出基于圆柱多段拟合的隧道中轴线提取方法。首先对隧道点云数据进行预处理，并将点云按隧道走向分成不同区段；然后对各区段依据轴线与表面点云法线垂直关系，提取精度较低的中轴线；最后对各区段利用圆柱多段拟合，提取精度较高的中轴线。实验表明，隧道中轴线的提取在一定的采样区间具有较高的稳定性，对直线和弯曲的圆形隧道有良好的适用性，算法可靠，精度较高。     

利用短期静态PPP结果反演海潮负荷位移

采用香港11个GPS测站的观测资料进行1 h、2 h、3 h和4h静态PPP解算，获得4组PPP坐标序列，利用调和分析求取11个测站处8个主要分潮的负荷位移参数（振幅和相位），将其与海潮模型计算的负荷位移参数进行对比，并比较分析PPP反演值与海潮模型值改正海潮负荷信号的效果。结果表明，垂直和水平方向上，不同PPP结果反演8个分潮的负荷位移分别具有约5 mm和7 mm的差异；PPP反演8个分潮垂向负荷位移优于全球海潮模型，但水平方向上的反演效果稍弱。     

基于重力测点和段差变化的前郭5.8级震群研究与三维反演

利用东北地区近几年流动重力观测数据，分析前郭5.8级震群周边重力点值的时序变化特征，并基于重力段差变化对东北地区整体和局部重力变化引入能够反映异常显著性程度的指标量G和C值，最后对前郭5.8级震群前的重力场动态变化作三维密度反演。结果表明：1）前郭5.8级震群发震构造两侧的局部重力变化具有较明显的差异性，其变化趋势可作为识别构造活化或解耦运动的标志；2）显著性指标量G和C值能够为地震重力前兆的定量描述提供新思路；3）震前重力变化的反演结果显示地震发生在质量运移的过渡区域，垂向反演结果对本次地震的震源深度有一定的揭示意义。     

用双三次样条函数和GPS资料反演现今中国大陆构造形变场

将中国大陆现今构造变动视为一种连续的地壳变形,利用双三次样条函数模拟了近期GPS测定的大陆内部及周边地区412个测站速率,反演大陆地区自洽的构造变动速度场和应变率场.模拟结果显示:印度板块与欧亚板块的碰撞、挤压是构成中国大陆内部岩石层水平形变的主要驱动力.印度板块在东喜马拉雅构造结深深插入青藏高原,造成地壳大规模的缩短和抬升.青藏高原东南部的喜马拉雅带、拉萨和羌塘地块以及青藏高原东南边的川滇地区,内部构造活动强烈,其内部的构造变形包含地壳碎片的冲断、褶皱和侧向逃逸.大陆地壳(或岩石圈)的增厚,尤其是喜马拉雅山脉南北向的快速缩短和青藏高原东西向的缓慢拉张,大约吸收了印欧板块会聚量的85%,西藏中东地区东西向的拉张速率达到了(16±2.0)mm/a,且顺时针方向扭转明显.印度板块相对欧亚板块运动的欧拉极为(29.7°N, 19.3°E, 0.392°/Ma);华南地块相对于欧亚大陆向东(102°±7.4°)南的运动速率是(11±1.54)mm/a,华南块体相对欧亚板块运动的欧拉极为(62.25°N, 126.56°E, 0.141°/Ma);塔里木地块相对较稳定,其西部运动速度高于东部运动速度,作顺时针方向旋转.总体上讲,中国大陆运动方向为北偏东呈辐射状,从西部近南北方向的运动转向东部地区东南方向的运动,绕东喜马拉雅构造结有一顺时针方向的旋转.横穿喜马拉雅构造带及青藏内部的南北向压缩速率为(19±2.0)mm/a,横穿西天山构造带的南北向压缩平均速率为(13±1.5)mm/a,横穿东天山构造带的南北向压缩平均速率为(6.0±1.4)mm/a.阿尔金断裂带的左旋走滑速率为(6±1.2)mm/a.