Effect of Material Anisotropy on the Onset of Convective Flow in Three-Dimensional Fluid-Saturated Faults

In order to investigate the effect of material anisotropy on convective instability of three-dimensional fluid-saturated faults, an exact analytical solution for the critical Rayleigh number of three-dimensional convective flow has been obtained. Using this critical Rayleigh number, effects of different permeability ratios and thermal conductivity ratios on convective instability of a vertically oriented three-dimensional fault have been examined in detail. It has been recognized that (1) if the fault material is isotropic in the horizontal direction, the horizontal to vertical permeability ratio has a significant effect on the critical Rayleigh number of the three-dimensional fault system, but the horizontal to vertical thermal conductivity ratio has little influence on the convective instability of the system, and (2) if the fault material is isotropic in the fault plane, the thermal conductivity ratio of the fault normal to plane has a considerable effect on the critical Rayleigh number of the three-dimensional fault system, but the effect of the permeability ratio of the fault normal to plane on the critical Rayleigh number of three-dimensional convective flow is negligible.     

Double Diffusion-Driven Convective Instability of Three-Dimensional Fluid-Saturated Geological Fault Zones Heated from Below

We conduct a theoretical analysis to investigate the double diffusion-driven convective instability of three-dimensional fluid-saturated geological fault zones when they are heated uniformly from below. The fault zone is assumed to be more permeable than its surrounding rocks. In particular, we have derived exact analytical solutions to the total critical Rayleigh numbers of the double diffusion-driven convective flow. Using the corresponding total critical Rayleigh numbers, the double diffusion-driven convective instability of a fluid-saturated three-dimensional geological fault zone system has been investigated. The related theoretical analysis demonstrates that: (1) The relative higher concentration of the chemical species at the top of the three-dimensional geological fault zone system can destabilize the convective flow of the system, while the relative lower concentration of the chemical species at the top of the three-dimensional geological fault zone system can stabilize the convective flow of the system. (2) The double diffusion-driven convective flow modes of the three-dimensional geological fault zone system are very close each other and therefore, the system may have the similar chance to pick up different double diffusion-driven convective flow modes, especially in the case of the fault thickness to height ratio approaching 0. (3) The significant influence of the chemical species diffusion on the convective instability of the three-dimensional geological fault zone system implies that the seawater intrusion into the surface of the Earth is a potential mechanism to trigger the convective flow in the shallow three-dimensional geological fault zone system.     

Inversely-Mapped Analytical Solutions for Flow Patterns around and within Inclined Elliptic Inclusions in Fluid-Saturated Rocks

In this paper, an inverse mapping is used to transform the previously-derived analytical solutions from a local elliptical coordinate system into a conventional Cartesian coordinate system. This enables a complete set of exact analytical solutions to be derived rigorously for the pore-fluid velocity, stream function, and excess pore-fluid pressure around and within buried inclined elliptic inclusions in pore-fluid-saturated porous rocks. To maximize the application range of the derived analytical solutions, the focal distance of an ellipse is used to represent the size of the ellipse, while the length ratio of the long axis to the short one is used to represent the geometrical shape of the ellipse. Since the present analytical solutions are expressed in a conventional Cartesian coordinate system, it is convenient to investigate, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the distribution patterns of the pore-fluid flow and excess pressure around and within many different families of buried inclined elliptic inclusions. The major advantage in using the present analytical solution is that they can be conveniently computed in a global Cartesian coordinate system, which is widely used in many scientific and engineering computations. As an application example, the present analytical solutions have been used to investigate how the dip angle of an inclined elliptic inclusion affects the distribution patterns of the pore-fluid flow and excess pore-fluid pressure when the permeability ratio of the elliptic inclusion is of finite but nonzero values.     

Theoretical and numerical analyses of pore-fluid flow focused heat transfer around geological faults and large cracks

In this paper, theoretical and numerical methods are used to investigate pore-fluid flow focused temperature distribution patterns around geological faults and cracks of any length-scales in hydrothermal systems. If the far field inflow is uniform and the long axis of an elliptical fault of any length-scale is parallel to the far field inflow direction, a complete set of analytical solutions has been presented for the pore-fluid velocity, stream function and excess pore-fluid pressure around the elliptical fault embedded in fluid-saturated porous media. Because the analytical solutions are explicitly expressed in the conventional Cartesian coordinate system, not only can they be used to gain a theoretical insight into the pore-fluid flow patterns around geological faults and large cracks, but also they can be used as valuable benchmark solutions for validating any numerical methods. After a finite element computational model is validated by comparing the numerical solutions with the present analytical solutions, it is used to investigate pore-fluid flow focused heat transfer around geological faults in hydrothermal systems. Some interesting conclusions in relation to the effects of geological faults on pore-fluid flow focused heat transfer have been made through both the theoretical and the numerical analyses.     

Analytical Solutions for Pore-Fluid Flow Focusing Within Inclined Elliptic Inclusions in Pore-Fluid-Saturated Porous Rocks: Solutions Derived in an Elliptical Coordinate System

Exact analytical solutions have been derived rigorously for the pore-fluid velocity, pore-fluid-flow focusing factor, stream function and excess pore-fluid pressure around and within a buried inclined elliptic inclusion in pore-fluid-saturated porous rocks. The geometric characteristics of the buried inclined elliptic inclusion are represented by the aspect ratio and dip angle of the inclusion, while the hydrodynamic characteristic is represented by the permeability ratio of the elliptic inclusion to its surrounding rock. Since an elliptic inclusion of any aspect ratio can be used to approximately represent geological faults and cracks, the present analytical solutions can be used to investigate the pore-fluid-flow patterns around buried faults and cracks within the crust of the Earth. Therefore, the present analytical solution not only provides a better understanding of the physics behind the pore-fluid-flow focusing problem around and within buried faults and cracks, but also provides a valuable benchmark solution for validating any numerical method in dealing with this kind of pore-fluid-flow focusing problem. The pore-fluid-flow focusing factor of a buried elliptic inclusion is demonstrated to be dependent on the aspect ratio, the permeability ratio and the dip angle.     

Theoretical and numerical analyses of convective instability in porous media with upward throughflow

Exact analytical solutions have been obtained for a hydrothermal system consisting of a horizontal porous layer with upward throughflow. The boundary conditions considered are constant temperature, constant pressure at the top, and constant vertical temperature gradient, constant Darcy velocity at the bottom of the layer. After deriving the exact analytical solutions, we examine the stability of the solutions using linear stability theory and the Galerkin method. It has been found that the exact solutions for such a hydrothermal system become unstable when the Rayleigh number of the system is equal to or greater than the corresponding critical Rayleigh number. For small and moderate Peclet numbers (Pe ⩽ 6), an increase in upward throughflow destabilizes the convective flow in the horizontal layer. To confirm these findings, the finite element method with the progressive asymptotic approach procedure is used to compute the convective cells in such a hydrothermal system. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987111000478

Convective heat transfer associated with the circulation of pore-fluid in porous rocks and fractures within the upper crust of the Earth is substantial when the temperature gradient is sufficiently high.In order to understand the process of Sn-polymetallic mineralization in the Dachang ore district of Guangxi,a finite element method has been used in this study to simulate both pore-fluid flow and heat transfer in this district.On the basis of related geological,tectonic and geophysical constraints,a computational model was established.It enables a computational simulation and sensitivity analysis to be carried out for investigating ore-forming pore-fluid flow and other key factors that may affect hydrothermal ore genesis in the district.The related simulation results have indicated that:(1) permeable fault zones in the Dachang ore district can serve as preferential pathways for pore-fluid flow on a regional-scale;and(2) the pore-fluid flow can affect the salinity distribution.This latter factor is part of the reason why Sn-polymetallic mineralization has taken place in this district.     

Three-dimensional benchmark for variable-density flow and transport simulation: matching semi-analytic stability modes for steady unstable convection in an inclined porous box

This benchmark for three-dimensional (3D) numerical simulators of variable-density groundwater flow and solute or energy transport consists of matching simulation results with the semi-analytical solution for the transition from one steady-state convective mode to another in a porous box. Previous experimental and analytical studies of natural convective flow in an inclined porous layer have shown that there are a variety of convective modes possible depending on system parameters, geometry and inclination. In particular, there is a well-defined transition from the helicoidal mode consisting of downslope longitudinal rolls superimposed upon an upslope unicellular roll to a mode consisting of purely an upslope unicellular roll. Three-dimensional benchmarks for variable-density simulators are currently (2009) lacking and comparison of simulation results with this transition locus provides an unambiguous means to test the ability of such simulators to represent steady-state unstable 3D variable-density physics.     

含矿流体混合反应与成矿作用的动力平衡模拟研究

本文在约定热液体系中成矿元素成矿速率(成矿过程中单位时间内单位体积所合成矿元素重量的变化)的基础上。借助于物质-热-化学-成矿四重全耦合的研究思路,构建了均匀热液体系、层状热液体系、岩浆侵入热液体系下成矿元素的迁移、富集、溶解与沉淀作用数值模型。模拟结果表明;(1)硫化物(H2S)和硫酸盐(SO42-)流体的混合反应是成矿热液体系中铅、锌、铁成矿元素成矿的重要控制因素;(2)均匀介质、岩浆侵入或地质构造的存在,对成矿元素在成矿流体运移的速度、流线、温度分布和成矿元素的溶解与沉淀分布都有着各自的特征．不同的成矿环境或成矿背景制约了成矿元素的迁移与富集以及矿体的产出定位。暗示成矿环境及成矿速率对热液体系中成矿元素的沉淀与溶解具重要作用;成矿流体的混合反应是成矿作用发生的重要机制之一。在成矿理论研究中必须充分考虑不同地质构造因素的约束。     

断层破碎带突水突泥演化特征试验研究

为了研究富水断层破碎带隧道突水突泥灾害演化机制,自行研制了一套可考虑质量迁移及地应力状态的大型室内突水突泥试验系统。利用该装置开展了不同水压加载方式、不同破碎带介质参数等条件的断层破碎带突水突泥灾害演化过程模拟试验。结果表明：（1）断层破碎带突水突泥灾害演化是渗流?侵蚀强耦合过程,在水压作用下,破碎带介质中的细颗粒首先发生迁移,导致充填介质孔隙结构增加,进而加速细颗粒流失,促使涌水率不断增长,随着细颗粒不断迁移流失,水流流态由层流转换为紊流,最终诱发突水突泥灾害;（2）破碎带介质初始孔隙率和施加水压越大越易诱发突水突泥,介质渗流演化特征越明显,渗流场参量如渗透率、孔隙率、雷诺数增加越快,且渗流场参量演化曲线出现突增现象;（3）梯度水压加载模式下断层破碎带介质较恒定水压加载条件下突水突泥演化特征更明显,介质发生突水突泥的临界水压更小。在此基础上,基于涌水率?时间（Q-t）、水力梯度?涌水率（i-Q）关系的流态转换分析和基于渗透率?水力梯度（k-i）关系的渗透性演化特征,建立了断层破碎带渗透演化特征概化模型。该研究结果对于断层破碎带突水突泥灾害演化机制与防治措施具有一定的理论指导价值。     

Computational simulation of seepage instability problems in fluid-saturated porous rocks: Potential dynamic mechanisms for controlling mineralisation patterns

Pore-fluid flow associated with seepage instabilities can play an important role in controlling large mineralisation patterns within the upper crust of the Earth. To demonstrate this process, two kinds of seepage instability problems in fluid-saturated porous rocks are considered in this paper. The first kind of seepage instability problem is caused by the temperature-induced buoyancy of pore fluid, so that it can be called the buoyancy-driven seepage instability problem, while the second kind of seepage instability problem is caused by chemical dissolution reactions that are commonly encountered in the upper crust of the Earth, so that it can be called the chemical-dissolution-driven seepage instability problem. After the mathematical governing equations of and computational methods for these two kinds of seepage instability problems are introduced, two numerical examples are used to elucidate how and why these two kinds of seepage instabilities can provide favorable places for the formation of large mineralisation patterns within the upper crust of the Earth. The related computational simulation results have demonstrated that: (1) the convective pore-fluid flow caused by the buoyancy-driven seepage instability not only can dissolve minerals at the lower part of the upper crust, but also can transport the dissolved minerals from the lower part to the upper part of the upper crust, resulting in large mineralisation patterns near the surface of the Earth's upper crust. (2) The chemical-dissolution-driven seepage instability in fluid-saturated porous rock can provide some favorable places, such as finger-like channels created by porosity enhancement in the porous rock, for the formation of large mineralisation patterns within the upper crust of the Earth.     

Surface deformation over the Garm geodynamic polygon

The Garm polygon is confined to the junction between Tien-Shan and the Peter the Great fault zone separating the Pamirs and Tien-Shan. It is just in the zone of contact between the fault zone itself and Tien-Shan (the spurs of the Gissar ridge) that a submeridional overthrust of the fault zone on the Gissar block is revealed along the surface inclined to the horizontal by an angle of 40°, the velocity of the overthrust being approximately 20–25 mm/yr. Recently the area of the polygon has been increased. Investigations over the expanded polygon permit the preliminary conclusion that alongside the overthrust mentioned above there is a block in the fault zone approaching southwesterly along the contact with the Gissar block. Attempts are made to enlarge the deformational network so as to cover the fault zone completely.     

梯度塑性理论及其在地质灾害预测研究中的应用

岩石结构稳定性问题是岩土工程实践中迫切需要解决的重要课题之一。文章以地震为例，讨论了地质灾害的局部化特征，介绍了经典弹、塑性理论的某些缺陷及梯度塑性理论的几点优越性：(1)控制方程总是适定的；(2)病态网格依赖性消失；(3)局部化带宽度由材料的内部长度完全确定；(4)可对岩石结构的尺寸效应及失稳回跳进行合理解释和预测；(5)对预测宏观及微观问题均比较有效。介绍了基于梯度塑性理论的岩石变形、破坏及稳定性研究进展。梯度塑性理论可用于研究单轴压缩条件下，岩石试件发生剪切破坏时全程应力一应变曲线、尺寸效应、剪切带倾角尺寸效应及失稳回跳等问题。它们对土木工程及岩土工程均十分重要。若将单轴压缩岩样比拟为矿柱，则该失稳判据即为矿柱岩爆准则。梯度塑性理论可用于研究韧性断层带内部应变、应变率分布规律、断层带错动位移及带内孔隙度分布规律，为韧性断层带定量分析提供了新的手段。此外，该理论还可对直剪试验机——岩样系统不稳定性进行分析，系统失稳可比拟为断层岩爆。发展基于梯度塑性理论尺度律及失稳判据等解析解一方面可加深对岩石变形、破坏的理解；另一方面。还可用来检验数值结果的正确性。     

Arterial faults and their role in mineralizing systems

In quartzo-feldspathic continental crust with moderate-to-high heat flow,seismic activity extends to depths of 10-20 km,bounded by isotherms in the 350-450 C range.Fluid overpressuring above hydrostatic in seismogenic crust,is heterogeneous but tends to develop in the lower seismogenic zone(basal seismogenic zone reservoir=b.s.z.reservoir) where the transition between hydrostatically pressured and overpressured crust is likely an irregular,time-dependent.3-D interface with overpressuring concentrated around active faults and their ductile shear zone roots.The term Arterial Fault is applied to fault structures that root in portions of the crust where pore fluids are overpressured(i.e.at hydrostatic pressure) and serve as feeders for such fluids and their contained solutes into overlying parts of the crust.While arterial flow may occur on any type of fault,it is most likely to be associated with reverse faults in areas of horizontal compression where fluid overpressuring is most easily sustained.Frictional stability and flow permeability of faults are both affected by the state of stress on the fault(shear stress,τ;normal stress,σ_n),the level of pore-fluid pressure,P_f,and episodes of fault slip,allowing for a complex interplay between fault movement and fluid flow.For seismically active faults the time dependence of permeability is critical,leading to fault-valve behaviour whereby overpressures accumulate at depth during interseismic intervals with fluid discharged along enhanced fault-fracture permeability following each rupture event.Patterns of mineralization also suggest that flow along faults is non-uniform,concentrating along tortuous pathways within the fault surface.Equivalent hydrostatic head above ground level for near-lithostatic overpressures at depth(1.65×depth of zone) provides a measure of arterial potential.Settings for arterial faults include fault systems developed in compacting sedimentary basins,faults penetrating zones of active plutonic intrusion that encounter overpressured fluids exsolved from magma,together with those derived from contact metamorphism of fluid-rich wallrocks,and/or from regional devolatilisation accompanying prograde metamorphism.Specially significant are active faults within accretionary prisms rooted into overpressured subduction interfaces,and steep reverse faults activated by high overpressures from b.s.z.reservoirs during compressional inversion.     

An Approach to a Visual Language for Convective Fluid Flows: Visualization of Geophysical Simulations

It was known that deep within numbers and binary data from simulations of geophysical convective flows resided various patterns. Two models of convective fluid flows were being considered. One was a model of two-dimensional (768 × 256) air convection with finite Prandtl number of one and Rayleigh number of 10⁸−10¹⁰, and another was a model of three-dimensional (up to 120 × 120 × 90) mantle convection with infinite Prandtl number and Rayleigh number of 10⁶−10⁸. Clearly, phenomena existed which superceded each individual dimensionless computer model to provide a piece of information regarding actual fluid flows. The problem was how to find, prove, and communicate these patterns and phenomena for convection simulations with gigabytes of data. In a search for such an analytical and communicative tool, the alternative of visualization was considered. The need for visualization was recognized and discussed. Then, utilizing both two- and three-dimensional models of high Rayleigh number convection, basic techniques of style and content were developed. Applications of the visualization techniques were designed utilizing IBM’s Data Explorer in order to create communicative images and movies, and after the applications, the problems of data storage and transfer became apparent. Throughout the process though, it became clear how important the language of vision actually could be in the geophysics community. In a field in which words such as plumes and internal waves have in ways replaced mathematics as the basic language for science, there is a need for another resource, another language-the visualization of convective fluid flows.     

煤层断裂模式及形成机制的研究

本文以山西省汾西矿区崔家淘井田断层构造的展布规律、断层面构造岩特征民层滑动擦痕为依据，分析断层发育的力学机制衣成生欠，应用赤平投影图矿区两条主干断层，得出 区三向主支应力轴方向的认识，提出一种在华北地区有代表性煤矿区展布模式芝对断层的识别和预测具有指导意义。     

On the internal structure and mechanics of large strike-slip fault zones: field observations of the Carboneras fault in southeastern Spain

Deciphering the internal structure of large fault zones is fundamental if a proper understanding is to be gained of their mechanical, hydrological and seismological properties. To this end, new detailed mapping and microstructural observations of the excellently exposed Carboneras fault zone in southeastern Spain have been used to elucidate both the internal arrangement of fault products and their likely mechanical properties. The fault is a 40 km offset strike-slip fault, which constitutes part of the Africa–Iberia plate boundary. The zone of faulting is 1 km in width not including the associated damage zone surrounding the fault. It is composed of continuous strands of phyllosilicate-rich fault gouge that bound lenses of variably broken-up protolith. This arrangement provides a number of fluid flow and fluid sealing possibilities within the fault zone. The gouge strands exhibit distributed deformation and are inferred to have strain hardening and/or velocity hardening characteristics. Also included in the fault zone are blocks of dolomite that contain thin (<1 cm thick) fault planes inferred to have been produced by strain weakening/velocity weakening behaviour. These fault planes have a predominantly R₁ Riedel shear orientation and are arranged in an en echelon pattern. A conceptual model of this type of wide fault zone is proposed which contrasts with previous narrow fault zone models. The observed structural and inferred mechanical characteristics of the Carboneras fault zone are compared to seismological observations of the San Andreas fault around Parkfield, CA. Similarities suggest that the Carboneras fault structure may be a useful analogue for this portion of the San Andreas fault at depth.     

Special features of heat flow in transform faults of the North Atlantic and Southeast Pacific

The paper reports on the morphostructure and heat flow in zones of transform faults of the North Atlantic and the Southeast Pacific, focusing on the fundamental difference between heat flow in active and inactive parts of the faults. In the active parts, which are located between segments of the mid-ocean ridge (MOR), the measured heat flow is close to that observed in the rift zones of MORs. The heat flow is considered a joint effect of the thermal conductivity of the oceanic crust and convective heat and mass transfer by thermal waters inside the oceanic crust. In the inactive parts of the faults, with distance from the MOR, the heat flow decreases to the background rates typical of thalassocratons. The sedimentation rate in a fault zone and conductive heat flow refraction resulting from the heterogeneous thermal characteristics of the geological section are the factors that deflect heat flow.     

佳伊断裂带晚白垩世走滑-逆冲事件的新证据

在四平市叶赫镇发现一系列走滑-逆冲断层,断层面平直、陡倾,走向集中在NNE15°~35°范围内,组成了佳木斯—伊通两条主干边界断裂之间的分支断裂带,分支断裂呈雁列式排布,与走向NE45°的主干边界断裂呈锐角相交,指示边界断裂具有右旋走滑特征。叶赫镇走滑-逆冲断裂带的发现为佳木斯—伊通断裂存在晚白垩世晚期—末期的走滑-逆冲事件提供了新证据。叶赫镇分支断裂带是石岭镇分支断裂带向南部的延伸,两者切割了相同的地层,具有相同的构造特征和构造属性,属于同一走滑-逆冲断裂系统,它们是晚白垩世晚期—末期同一地球动力学背景下的产物。     

Recent crustal movements in the Central Sierra Nevada—Walker lane region of California—Nevada: Part ii, The pyramid lake right-slip fault zone segment of the Walker lane

The Pyramid Lake fault zone is within the Honey Lake—Walker Lake segment of the Walker Lane, a NW-trending zone of right-slip transcurrent faulting, which extends for more than 600 km from Las Vegas, Nevada, to beyond Honey Lake, California. Multiscale, multiformat analysis of Landsat imagery and large-scale (1: 12,000) lowsun angle aerial photography, delineated both regional and site-specific evidence for faults in Late Cenozoic sedimentary deposits southwest of Pyramid Lake. The fault zone is coincident with a portion of a distinct NW-trending topographic discontinuity on the Landsat mosaic of Nevada. The zone exhibits numerous geomorphic features characteristic of strike-slip fault zones, including: recent scarps, offset stream channels, linear gullies, elongate troughs and depressions, sag ponds, vegetation alignments, transcurrent buckles, and rhombohedral and wedge-shaped enclosed depressions. These features are conspicuously developed in Late Pleistocene and Holocene sedimentary deposits and landforms.The Pyramid Lake shear zone has a maximum observable width of 5 km, defined by Riedel and conjugate Riedel shears with maximum observable lenghts of 10 and 3 km, respectively. P-shears have formed symmetrical to the Riedel shears and the principal displacement shears, or continuous horizontal shears, isolate elongate lenses of essentially passive material; most of the shears are inclined at an angle of approximately 4° to the principal direction of displacement. This suggests that the shear zone is in an early “PreResidual Structure” stage of evolution, with the principal deformation mechanism of direct shear replacing the kinematic restraints inherent in the strain field.Historic seismic activity includes microseismic events and may include the earthquake of about 1850 reported for the Pyramid Lake area with an estimated Richter magnitude of 7.0. Based on worldwide relations of earthquake magnitude to length of the zone of surface rupture, the Pyramid Lake fault zone is inferred to be capable of generating a 7.0–7.5-magnitude event for a maximum observable length of approximately 6 km and a 6.75–7.25-magnitude event for a half length of approximately 30 km.