Evidence of early generation of liquid hydrocarbon from suberinite as visible under the microscope

The early generation of liquid hydrocarbons from suberinite can be clearly observed under the microscope. The generation of this oil-like material, mainly in the form of exsudatinite, from the maceral suberinite occurs at a maturity level of about 0.4% vitrinite reflectance. Hydrocarbons appear to be naturally expelled from coal initially through sweating and agglomeration of suberinite which subsequently forms exsudatinite. It is suggested that extensive expulsion of exsudatinite causes cracks to develop in vitrinite whereas limited expulsion of exsudatinite will only impregnate the vitrinite matrix. If cracks are formed, it is possible they could progressively develop to form an exsudatinite-crack network. The formation of such a network is believed to represent an effective way of hydrocarbon expulsion from coal source rocks.     

裂隙各向异性介质波场VSP多分量记录的数值模拟

从各向异性介质中最为普遍的裂隙各向异性介质出发，推导了同零井源距ＶＳＰ三分量观测方式相一致的一维三分量波动方程．为了更符合实际观测，引入了坐标旋转，可以模拟井中任意方位的多层各向异性介质的波场响应．用有限元方法进行了波场数值模拟，重点突出了获得凡Ｒ_３×３矩阵剖面的方法，同时对Ｒ_３×３，矩阵剖面进行了一般性的分析解释，事实证明，Ｒ_３×３矩阵剖面含有介质丰富的各向异性信息．     

内含裂隙角的恐龙化石轴向受压数值试验及裂纹扩展机理研究

面临众多古生物化石遭受风化破坏的现实,恐龙化石保护是一项世界性难题。化石的风化原因多种多样,其中化石内部裂隙是导致恐龙化石风化、破坏的重要因素。该文以岩石断裂力学为理论依据,模拟分析内含裂隙的恐龙化石在压力作用下的破坏情况。通过数值模拟的方法,进行了内含裂隙恐龙化石数值压缩试验,并对内含裂隙的恐龙化石裂纹扩展机理进行了研究。研究结果表明,随着裂隙角度增大,开裂角逐渐减小,裂隙处特别是两端应力集中,其他部位应力较低、分布均匀;裂纹扩展是从裂纹尖端起裂,最终裂纹扩展到边缘。此研究结果为揭示恐龙化石风化机理和开展保护提供了基础参考资料。     

岩石在单轴压力环境下电阻率变化的研究

主要研究了煤矿中常见的石英砂岩和石灰岩等,在受不同的单轴压应力的环境下,其电阻率变化的一些规律。通过对实验数据的分析,说明了岩体的电阻率是表征岩体发生变化时一个十分敏感的参数,为利用岩体电阻率来预测煤层顶底板的稳定性进行了基础性的研究。     

Attenuation and dispersion ofSH waves due to scattering by randomly distributed cracks

The effect of randomly distributed cracks on the attenuation and dispersion ofSH waves is theoretically studied. If earthquake ruptures are caused by sudden coalescence of preexisting cracks, it will be crucial for earthquake prediction to monitor the temporal variation of the crack distribution. Our aim is to investigate how the property of crack distribution is reflected in the attenuation and dispersion of elastic waves.We introduce the stochastic property, in the mathematical analysis, for the distributions of crack location, crack size and crack orientation. The crack size distribution is assumed to be described by a power law probability density (p(a) a ^– fora _minaa _max according to recent seismological and experimental knowledge, wherea is a half crack length and the range 13 is assumed. The distribution of crack location is assumed to be homogeneous for the sake of mathematical simplicity, and a low crack density is assumed. The stochastic property of each crack is assumed to be independent of that of the other cracks. We assume two models, that is, the aligned crack model and the randomly oriented crack model, for the distribution of crack orientation. All cracks are assumed to be aligned in the former model. The orientation of each crack is assumed to be random in the latter model, and the homogeneous distribution is assumed for the crack orientation. The idea of the mean wave formalism is employed in the analysis, and Foldy's approximation is assumed.We observe the following features common to both the aligned crack model and the randomly oriented crack model. The attenuation coefficientQ ^–1 decays in proportion tok ^–1 in the high frequency range and its growth is proportional tok ² in the low frequency range, wherek is the intrinsic wave number. This asymptotic behavior is parameter-independent, too. The attenuation coefficientQ ^–1 has a broader peak as increases and/ora _min/a _max decreases. The nondimensional peak wave numberk _p a _max at whichQ ^–1 takes the peak value is almost independent ofa _min/a _max for =1 and 2 while it considerably depends ona _min/a _max for =3. The phase velocity is almost independent ofk in the rangeka _max<1 and increases monotonically ask increases in the rangeka _max>1. While the magnitude ofQ ^–1 and the phase velocity considerably depend on the orientation of the crack in the aligned crack model, the above feature does not depend on the crack orientation.The accumulation of seismological measurements suggests thatQ ^–1 ofS waves has a peak at around 0.5 Hz. If this observation is combined with our theoretical results onk _p a _max, the probable range ofa _max of the crack distribution in the earth can be estimated for =1 or 2. If we assume 4 km/sec as theS wave velocity of the matrix medium,a _max is estimated to range from 2 to 5 km. We cannot estimatea _max in a narrow range for =3.     

The acoustic signature of fluid flow in complex porous media

Effective medium approximations for the frequency-dependent and complex-valued effective stiffness tensors of cracked/porous rocks with multiple solid constituents are developed on the basis of the T-matrix approach (based on integral equation methods for quasi-static composites), the elastic–viscoelastic correspondence principle, and a unified treatment of the local and global flow mechanisms, which is consistent with the principle of fluid mass conservation. The main advantage of using the T-matrix approach, rather than the first-order approach of Eshelby or the second-order approach of Hudson, is that it produces physically plausible results even when the volume concentrations of inclusions or cavities are no longer small. The new formulae, which operates with an arbitrary homogeneous (anisotropic) reference medium and contains terms of all order in the volume concentrations of solid particles and communicating cavities, take explicitly account of inclusion shape and spatial distribution independently. We show analytically that an expansion of the T-matrix formulae to first order in the volume concentration of cavities (in agreement with the dilute estimate of Eshelby) has the correct dependence on the properties of the saturating fluid, in the sense that it is consistent with the Brown–Korringa relation, when the frequency is sufficiently low. We present numerical results for the (anisotropic) effective viscoelastic properties of a cracked permeable medium with finite storage porosity, indicating that the complete T-matrix formulae (including the higher-order terms) are generally consistent with the Brown–Korringa relation, at least if we assume the spatial distribution of cavities to be the same for all cavity pairs. We have found an efficient way to treat statistical correlations in the shapes and orientations of the communicating cavities, and also obtained a reasonable match between theoretical predictions (based on a dual porosity model for quartz–clay mixtures, involving relatively flat clay-related pores and more rounded quartz-related pores) and laboratory results for the ultrasonic velocity and attenuation spectra of a suite of typical reservoir rocks.     

Monitoring crack development in fiber concrete beam by using electrical resistivity imaging

Accurate detection of damaged concrete zones plays an important role in selecting the proper remedial technique. This study presents results from an application of the electrical imaging method to monitor the development of cracks in fiber concrete beams.The study showed that resistivity measurements on the concrete specimens were able to detect the increase of concrete resistivity with the curing time that reached about 65 Ωm after 28 days of curing. A similar development trend of concrete compressive strength was also found.Two types of cracks were investigated, i.e., artificial cracks made of plastic sheets inserted in concrete and cracks developed during a four-step loading test. A mini-electric imaging survey with Wenner array was conducted on the tension face of the beams. To deal with the effect of the beam size new procedures to correct resistivity measurements before inversion were proposed and successfully applied in this study. The results indicated that both crack direction and depth could be accurately determined in the inverted resistivity sections.     

Boundary element simulation of scattering of elastic waves by 3-D cracks

Numerical modelling techniques are now becoming common for understanding the complicated nature of seismic wave propagation in fractured rock. Here the Indirect Boundary Element Method (IBEM) is applied to study scattering of elastic waves by cracks. The problem addressed in this paper is the diffraction of P and S waves by open 3-D cracks of arbitrary shape embedded in a homogeneous isotropic medium. The IBEM yields the value of the jump of displacements between opposite surfaces of the crack, often called Crack Opening Displacement (COD). This is used to evaluate the solution away from the crack. We use a multi-regional approach which consists of splitting a surface S into two identical surfaces S⁺ and S⁻ chosen such that the crack lies at the interface. The resulting integral equations are not hyper-singular and wave propagation within media that contain open cracks can be rigorously solved. In order to validate the method, we compare results of displacements of a penny-shaped crack for a vertical incident P-wave with the classic results by Mal (1970) obtaining excellent agreement. This comparison gives us confidence to study cases where no analytic solutions exist. Some examples of incidence of P or S waves upon cracks with various shapes are depicted and the salient aspects of the method are also discussed. Both frequency and time-domain results are included.     

Effects of soil cracking on the seismic response of soil–structure systems

A numerical study on the influence that cracks and discontinuities (closed cracks) can have on the seismic response of a hypothetical soil–structure system is presented and discussed. A 2-D finite-difference model of the soil was developed, considering a bilinear failure surface using a Mohr–Coulomb model. The cracks are simulated with interface elements. The soil stiffness is used to characterize the contact force that is generated when the crack closes. For the cases studied herein, it was considered that the crack does not propagate during the dynamic event. Both cases, open and closed cracks, are considered. The nonlinear behavior was accounted for approximately using equivalent linear properties calibrated against several 1-D wave propagation analyses of selected soil columns with variable depth to account for changes in depth to bed rock. Free field boundaries were used at the edges of the 2-D finite-difference model to allow for energy dissipation of the reflected waves. The effect of cracking on the seismic response was evaluated by comparing the results of site response analysis with and without crack, for several lengths and orientations. The changes in the response obtained for a single crack and a family of cracks were also evaluated. Finally, the impact that a crack may have on the structural response of nearby structures was investigated by solving the seismic-soil–structure interaction of two structures, one flexible and one rigid to bracket the response. From the results of this investigation, insight was gained regarding the effect that discontinuities may have both on the seismic response of soil deposits and on nearby soil–structure systems.     

Connectivity of a network of random discontinuities

Discontinuities such as fractures or cracks are common in geo-materials. Connectivity is a comprehensive parameter that includes the influence of length, orientation and density of the discontinuities. The main objectives of this paper are to define connectivity based on the statistical geometrical parameters of a network of random discontinuities and to quantify the hydraulic properties of the network using connectivity. An analytical method is first proposed to evaluate connectivity through the density of degree of freedom (DDOF). The analytically estimated DDOF is verified using numerical analysis. DDOF increases with the increases in the mean length, relative orientation and density of the random discontinuity network. Connectivity becomes better and the permeability becomes larger with increasing DDOF. The representative element volume (REV) of a random discontinuity network can be estimated based on connectivity. When a discontinuity network is poorly connected, a REV does not exist when the size of the discontinuity network is smaller than 10 times of the mean length of the discontinuities. When a discontinuity network is normally connected, a REV exists when the REV size is smaller than 10 times of the mean length of the discontinuities. When the discontinuity network is highly connected, the REV size is only 2–4 times of the mean length of the discontinuities. The results indicate that DDOF is a good indicator to quantify the connectivity of a random discontinuity network and the relationship between connectivity and permeability.