Geophysical experiments to image the shallow internal structure and the moisture distribution of a mine waste rock pile

Several field surveys of a waste rock pile were carried out during the summers of 2002 and 2003 using ground-penetrating radar, electromagnetic conductivity and DC resistivity imaging. The waste rock deposit is prone to generate acid mine drainage (AMD) due to the oxidation of sulphidic minerals. One of the most critical factors that lead to the production of AMD is unsaturated water flow and the ensuing moisture distribution in the waste rock. This geophysical characterization study, performed over a 30 m × 30 m test zone, was designed to image the internal structure controlling the water flux at shallow depth. The subsurface was found to consist of three zones for the first 6 m of the pile, mainly based on electrical resistivities: a thin superficial conductive material, an intermediate 2 to 3 m thick highly resistive zone, and a lower, more conductive medium. With the help of hydrogeological tests, chemical analyses and two 2.5 m-deep trenches, it is shown that the two conductive zones are correlated with fine-grained waste rock and the resistive zone correlates with a coarser material. In the two deeper zones, the contact between the two types of waste rock is typically highlighted by a sharp resistive/conductive boundary. An increase of conductance in the relatively thin upper layer towards the edge of the pile appears to be caused by an increase in thickness of the fine-grained material. Additional geophysical surveys carried out on a profile along the flank of the upper bench of the pile show that the main features of the internal structure are sub-parallel to the slope, at least for the first 3 m in depth. The data also show an increase in resistivity from the top to bottom of the slope, in accordance with expected particle segregation, from fine-grained material at the top to coarser material at the bottom. Wide-angle reflection GPR monitoring during large scale infiltration tests seems to indicate preferential flow paths towards the direction of coarser, more pervious material (which also appears to be less oxidized). Water preferentially flows through the coarse-grained material, but it is stored by capillary forces in the fine-grained material. Apart from the deposition methods, the results strongly suggest that factors such as machinery-induced mechanical alteration, construction history of the pile, and increased oxidization near the edges could explain the resistivity model. The model interpreted from geophysical imaging agrees well with the conceptual model of the rock pile. The resistivity and GPR methods appear to be efficient geophysical methods to characterize the internal structure and preferential flow patterns within unsaturated waste rock piles.     

声波电视在刚果(金)铜钴矿勘察中的应用

声波电视是利用声波走时和振幅参数进行钻孔壁成像的一种地球物理测井系统。由于采用数字技术和配置功能完善的软件,系统具有图像分辨率高、测井速度快、可在混浊的井液中工作、数据处理和分析过程相对简单的特性,是研究岩层结构面的有效手段。在刚果（金）某铜钴矿岩体稳定性评价中,采用声波测井方法,获取岩体的优势结构面,为确定采坑边坡角、岩体抗剪强度指标提供了可靠数据。本文介绍RG声波电视测井的原理及方法,以DK02孔为例,对所揭露岩层结构面、裂隙发育信息进行分析。工程实践说明,声波井下电视在进行深部岩体的原位勘察方面具有明显优势。      

Multi-scale analysis of water alteration on the rockslope stability framework

Water is an important weathering factor on rock discontinuities and in rock mass mechanical behaviour because of its chemical features such as temperature, pH or salinity which make it a “good” candidate to rock degradation. Furthermore the increase of rainfall frequency or intensity highlights some problems on the rock slope stability analysis. This study aims to evaluate the effect of water flow on the rock slope stability and it is performed at two space scales: in situ scale and laboratory (micro scale and macro scale). It shows how water induces degradation at multi-scale (surface roughness and matrix) and thus may decrease the stability of the discontinuous rock mass. It has two main components: the effect of water-solid chemical mechanisms and the analysis of the mechanical response of the discontinuity modified by the water alteration.     

地震与水压力耦合作用下岩质边坡倾覆解析方法

以往对平面破坏模式的岩质边坡稳定性评价,主要关注潜在滑坡体在自重、坡体内静水压力和地震荷载耦合作用下沿破坏面的抗滑稳定性,并未涉及各类外荷载作用线不通过潜在滑体重心而引起的绕坡趾倾覆稳定性。针对这一问题,提出地震与张裂缝水压耦合作用下的岩质边坡倾覆稳定性解析方法,基于力矩平衡原理推导出岩质边坡抗倾覆稳定性系数的一般表达式;通过深入的变动参数比较研究,探讨张裂缝水压和地震荷载对抗倾覆安全系数的影响,认为水压是控制岩质边坡倾覆破坏的决定性因素,而地震荷载处于次要因素,其在一定程度上增加或减小抗倾覆稳定性。在此基础上建立不同参数组合下的岩质边坡抗倾覆稳定图,为工程技术人员快速评估饱水岩质边坡地震倾覆稳定性提供直接依据。     

太山龙泉寺舍利塔边坡地震稳定性研究

为了研究太原市太山龙泉寺拟建舍利塔边坡稳定性,对所在场地及外围地形地貌、地层、地质构造、水文条件进行了调查。结合7个探井,确定了塔址所在场地的土质边坡体可能失稳的模式,进行了边坡稳定性分析、计算。结果表明,场地在自然状态下边坡稳定系数为1.37,在烈度为Ⅷ、Ⅸ度地震影响下边坡稳定系数分别为1.24、1.15。根据《建筑边坡工程技术规范》（GB50330-2013）,塔址所在边坡是稳定的,不必对边坡进行处理;其次结合3个探槽揭露,发现场地北侧基岩边坡曾发生过滑动,据其滑动面倾角、滑动量及错断地层特征,认为是一种特殊边坡变形破坏-岩体错落,为崩塌与滑坡之间的中间类型,从现存的地形地貌特征分析,现阶段错落体已趋于基本稳定状态,稳定性较好;最后给出了预防边坡滑动的建议和措施,研究结果可为其他类似边坡场地地震稳定性研究提供参考借鉴。     

岩体力学参数变异性及取值方法

受结构和赋存环境的制约,岩体力学性质及其力学参数具有显著的时间和空间变异性.岩体力学参数和岩体质量从不同的侧面反映了岩体力学性质,两者具有必然的关联性,故可用相对简单的岩体质量评价来选取岩体力学参数:按地质条件将岩体空间离散为若干连续微元体单元;采用Q、RMR和BQ等方法逐一对各单元开展岩体质量评价,并利用岩体质量与岩体力学参数间的关系(如Hoek-Brown经验准则)计算其力学参数;综合各单元的计算结果确定反映连续岩体空间内空间变异特征的力学参数.以某水电站地下洞室群为例,实现了工程区围岩力学参数的不连续取值.     

Combined three-dimensional electric and seismic tomography study on the Åknes rockslide in western Norway

We present a combined 3-D geoelectric and seismic tomography study conducted on the large Åknes rockslide in western Norway. Movements on the slope are strongly influenced by water infiltration, such that the hydrogeological regime is considered as a critical factor affecting the slope stability. The aim of our combined geophysical study was to identify and visualize the main shallow tension fractures and to determine their effect on hydraulic processes by comparing the geophysical results with information from borehole logging and tracer tests. To resolve the complex subsurface conditions of the highly fractured rock mass, a three-dimensional set-up was chosen for our seismic survey. To map the water distribution within the rock mass, a pattern of nine intersecting 2-D geoelectric profiles covered the complete unstable slope. Six of them that crossed the seismic survey area were considered as a single data set in a 3-D inversion. For both methods, smoothing-constraint inversion algorithms were used, and the forward calculations and parameterizations were based on unstructured triangular meshes. A pair of parallel shallow low-velocity anomalies (< 1400 m/s) observed in the final seismic tomogram was immediately underlain by two anomalies with resistivities <13 kΩm in the resistivity tomogram. In combination with borehole logging results, the low-velocity and resistivity anomalies could be associated with the drained and water-filled part of the tension fractures, respectively. There were indications from impeller flowmeter measurements and tracer tests that such tension fractures intersected several other water-filled fractures and were responsible for distinct changes of the main groundwater flow paths.     

The mechanism of slope instability due to rainfall-induced structural decay of earthquake-damaged loess

Natural loess slopes are characterized by a strong geological structure, which is an important factor in maintaining slope stability. The magnitude and duration of the earthquake may disturb the soil structure at different levels degrees, locally changing the arrangement between soil particles. The process of rainfall humidification weakens the cementation between soil particles, and the disturbance and humidification change the structural state of the soil, which in turn causes sliding of the slope along with the decay of soil mechanical properties. As slope instability is often the result of a series of post-earthquake ripple effects, it is of great scientific significance to study the mechanism of slope instability due to the structural decay of earthquake-damaged loess exacerbated by rainfall. In this paper, the impact of structural decay of loess on slope stability is simulated by GEOSTUDIO software under three conditions: pre-earthquake rainfall, post-earthquake rainfall and earthquake, taking the landslide in Buzi Village, Min County, Gansu Province as an example. The comparative analysis of the calculation results shows that the structural properties of the slope without earthquake disturbance are influenced by infiltration amount. When it is fully saturated, the structural properties are similar to those of saturated soil, and the safety factor is reduced by 12.9%. In addition, the earthquake intensity and duration have different degrees of structural damage to the soil. When the structure is fully damaged, it is similar to that of remodelled soil, and the safety factor is reduced by 45.84%. Notably, the process of the earthquake and the following humidification generates the most serious damage to the loess structure, with a reduction in the safety factor of up to 56.15%. The quantitative analysis above obviously illustrates that the post-earthquake rainfall causes the most severe damage to structural loess slopes, and the resulting landslide hazard should not be underestimated.     

Lumped-parameter model for a rigid cylindrical foundation embedded in a soil layer on rigid rock

To represent a cylindrical rigid foundation vibrating in horizontal, vertical, rocking or torsional motions embedded in a soil layer resting on rigid rock, a lumped-parameter model is described. The coupling between the horizontal and rocking degrees of freedom is considered. For each degree of freedom eight frequency-independent real coefficients determine the springs, dashpots and the mass of the lumped-parameter model with two internal degrees of freedom. These coefficients are specified for various ratios of the radius of the foundation to the depth of the layer and lateral contact ratios. To derive the mechanical properties of the lumped-parameter model a systematic procedure of curvefitting of the dynamic-stiffness coefficient up to, in general, twice the fundamental frequency of the layer is applied, capturing the fact that below the (horizontal) fundamental frequency (cutoff frequency) no radiation of energy occurs. The lumped-parameter model can be used to represent the soil in a standard finite-element program for structural dynamics working in the time domain, whereby the structure can exhibit non-linear behaviour. Stability of the unbounded soil-layer model and of the total system is guaranteed. A hammer foundation with partial uplift of the anvil is analysed for illustration.     

Controls on the stability and inclinations of hillslopes formed on hard rock

In identifying controls on rock slope form a distinction is made between: (1) rock slopes with joints which dip steeply out of a cliff and hence are subject to mass failure of the rock mass above a critical joint; and (2) rock slopes with inclinations which are either in equilibrium with the mass strength of their rocks, or have profiles which will develop towards strength equilibrium as cross joints open. In the first class of slope, stability results not just from the basic frictional resistance of the rock but also from the frictional roughness along the critical joint and from the normal stress acting across that joint. Stability may be reduced by weathering and loss of strength of the joint wall rock. As a result of normal stress variations with depth, induced by overburdens, high cliffs which are not undercut have a concave profile. The second group of slopes includes those with inclinations controlled at the scale of individual joint blocks, buttressed slopes and those on unjointed rock masses. Buttressed and unjointed rock masses develop towards a condition of mass strength equilibrium as cross joints open. Strength equilibrium slopes may be recognized by application of a rock mass strength classification proposed for geomorphic purposes. Eleven propositions are formulated which identify controls on rock slope development and some consequences of these controls.     

Geophysical investigation of the Sandalp rock avalanche deposits

In the study of rock avalanche phenomena, numerical modelling makes use of back analyses of the rock avalanche propagation for calibration of the modelling assumptions and parameters. The back analyses require knowledge of the run-out area boundaries and the thickness distribution of the deposit. Geophysical methods can be applied to retrieve the thickness distribution, but, due to strong heterogeneities and logistic problems they are seldom applied. The aim of this work is to assess the potential of integrated geophysical methods to recognise and characterise a deposit created by two rock avalanches which occurred in the Sandalp valley (Switzerland) in 1996. The topography of the site before and after the rock avalanche is known and can be used as a benchmark. Resistivity tomography, seismic P-wave tomography, and active and passive surface wave analysis have been applied on several profiles deployed both on the rock avalanche deposit and in the surrounding area. Innovative approaches for surface wave analysis based on laterally constrained inversion and multimodal inversion have been applied to the data. A comparison of the results of the geophysical investigations with the topographic benchmark has shown the capability of the geophysical methods to locate the bottom of the deposit in the areas where the contrast with the host sediments properties is significant. In these areas, the deposit has higher resistivities and lower seismic velocities than the underlying materials. In the areas where the deposit is thicker and richer in fine-grained materials the geophysical parameters are not able to discriminate between the rock avalanche deposit and the underlying sediments. As a secondary task, the geophysical methods also allowed the bedrock pattern to be outlined.     

地震作用下土质边坡类型划分

本文研究分析了多种因素对土质边坡地震稳定性的不同影响程度,认为影响作用较大的前8个因素分别为坡度、坡高、斜坡结构类型、降水、水系距离、黏聚力、内摩擦角和地震动参数.利用层次分析法计算各因素的影响权重,以综合性、操作性和适用性为原则,将影响权重较高的因素作为划分指标,将土质边坡划分为4大类,每大类中再根据坡度的大小划分为缓坡、缓陡坡、陡坡和急坡等4个亚类.划分结果可为地震作用下土质边坡稳定性的评价提供参考依据.      

Soil properties and performance of landmine detection by metal detector and ground-penetrating radar — Soil characterisation and its verification by a field test

Metal detectors have commonly been used for landmine detection, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is about to be deployed for this purpose. These devices are influenced by the magnetic and electric properties of soil, since both employ electromagnetic techniques. Various soil properties and their spatial distributions were measured and determined with geophysical methods in four soil types where a test of metal detectors and GPR systems took place. By analysing the soil properties, these four soils were classified based on the expected influence of each detection technique and predicted soil difficulty. This classification was compared to the detection performance of the detectors and a clear correlation between the predicted soil difficulty and performance was observed. The detection performance of the metal detector and target identification performance of the GPR systems degraded in soils that were expected to be problematic. Therefore, this study demonstrated that the metal detector and GPR performance for landmine detection can be assessed qualitatively by geophysical analyses.     

冻融循环作用下边坡地震动稳定性研究

季节冻土区和多年冻土区边坡在经历冻融循环后其力学性质产生较大变化,边坡稳定性随之改变,在地震动荷载作用下存在着巨大的安全隐患.本文基于FLAC数值软件,将考虑冻土相变的显热熔算法引入热学计算模块,并结合静态边界动力计算模块,建立了适用于冻融循环条件下的边坡地震动稳定性分析平台.研究了冻融循环对边坡土体地震动稳定性的影响.结果表明,在发生冻融循环的季节冻土区或多年冻土已经退化的区域,地震动后边坡的塑性破坏形式主要取决于发生冻融循环的活动层的范围.     

岩浆岩和变质岩边坡岩体结构类型的划分

在研究岩浆岩和变质岩特点的基础上,根据岩浆岩岩体结构体的大小、有无缓倾的结构面及岩浆岩散粒状边坡岩体的特征,将岩浆岩边坡岩体结构划分为4大类7个亚类;根据部分正变质岩边坡岩体结构与岩浆岩边坡岩体结构类似,部分副变质岩中发育的板理、千枚理、片理类似沉积岩中的层理,以及边坡岩体具有似层状岩体结构的特征,把变质岩边坡岩体的结构划分为5大类11个亚类。岩体结构的划分为边坡稳定性研究、边坡病害治理及其工程效果评价提供了依据。     

Why permafrost rocks become unstable: a rock–ice‐mechanical model in time and space

In this paper, we develop a mechanical model that relates the destabilization of thawing permafrost rock slopes to temperature‐related effects on both, rock‐ and ice‐mechanics; and laboratory testing of key assumptions is performed. Degrading permafrost is considered to be an important factor for rock–slope failures in alpine and arctic environments, but the mechanics are poorly understood. The destabilization is commonly attributed to changes in ice‐mechanical properties while bedrock friction and fracture propagation have not been considered yet. However, fracture toughness, compressive and tensile strength decrease by up to 50% and more when intact water‐saturated rock thaws. Based on literature and experiments, we develop a modified Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion for ice‐filled rock fractures that incorporates fracturing of rock bridges, friction of rough fracture surfaces, ductile creep of ice and detachment mechanisms along rock–ice interfaces. Novel laboratory setups were developed to assess the temperature dependency of the friction of ice‐free rock–rock interfaces and the shear detachment of rock–ice interfaces. In degrading permafrost, rock‐mechanical properties may control early stages of destabilization and become more important for higher normal stress, i.e. higher magnitudes of rock–slope failure. Ice‐mechanical properties outbalance the importance of rock‐mechanical components after the deformation accelerates and are more relevant for smaller magnitudes. The model explains why all magnitudes of rock–slope failures can be prepared and triggered by permafrost degradation and is capable of conditioning long para‐glacial response times. Here, we present a synoptic rock‐ and ice‐mechanical model that explains the mechanical destabilization processes operating in warming permafrost rocks. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismic stability analysis of fractured rock slopes by yield design theory

This paper deals with the problem of stability of fractured rock slope located in seismic area. The rock mass is crossed by two sets of fractures which are considered to be planar, parallel and persistent. The effects of both horizontal seismic coefficient and strength characteristics of fractures are addressed. The analysis is based upon the kinematic approach of the yield design theory and the pseudo-static method as well. The fundamental inequality of the kinematic approach is invoked and the failure of the fractured rock slope is considered through simple translational mechanism involving a one-partsliding block. Rigorous upper bounds of the so-called stability factor for the structure under study of given slope angle, strength properties of constituent materials and seismic loads are obtained. The results are presented in the form of stability charts relating the estimated upper bound solutions to the friction angle of fractures.The used procedure highlights the destabilizing effects of the seismic loadings and is capable of conducting parametric studies. Furthermore, the results obtained far from various sets of data show good performance and further research work is planed to extend the analysis to include a large number of sub-problems.     

USING A COMBINED SLOPE HYDROLOGY/STABILITY MODEL TO IDENTIFY SUITABLE CONDITIONS FOR LANDSLIDE PREVENTION BY VEGETATION IN THE HUMID TROPICS

The susceptibility of cut slopes to landsliding can be reduced in certain circumstances by the establishment of a vegetation cover. However, the hydrological implications of allowing a cover to develop may offset the mechanical benefits of soil reinforcement by roots. The balance between hydrological and mechanical effects is critical on slopes which are susceptible to the development of an infiltration-induced transitory perched water table, a common cause of landslides in deep, tropical residual soils. This balance is likely to change both between slopes of different types as well as temporally on any given slope. The net effect of a vegetation cover must be predicted either before natural vegetation covers are allowed to encroach on bare slopes, or if engineers are considering the use of trees as a protective measure. This paper presents a method of calculating the impact of a vegetation cover on slope stability. Simulations carried out on a wide range of slope types suggest that where failure is most likely to be triggered by infiltration rather than ground water rise, large-scale vegetation covers may contribute to instability. Whether vegetation had a positive or negative impact on slope stability was controlled by the permeability of the soil matrix, whilst the magnitude of impact was controlled by the soil strength and the slope height.     

Relative influence upon microwave emissivity of fine-scale stratigraphy,internal scattering,and dielectric properties

Summary The microwave emissivity of relatively low-loss media such as snow, ice, frozen ground, and lunar soil is strongly influenced by fine-scale layering and by internal scattering. Radiometric data, however, are commonly interpreted using a model of emission from a homogeneous, dielectric halfspace whose emissivity derives exclusively from dielectric properties. Conclusions based upon these simple interpretations can be erroneous. Examples are presented showing that the emission from fresh or hardpacked snow over either frozen or moist soil is governed dominantly by the size distribution of ice grains in the snowpack. Similarly, the thickness of seasonally frozen soil and the concentration of rock clasts in lunar soil noticeably affect, respectively, the emissivities of northern latitude soils in winter and of the lunar regolith. Petrophysical data accumulated in support of the geophysical interpretation of microwave data must include measurements of not only dielectric properties, but also of geometric factors such as finescale layering and size distributions of grains, inclusions, and voids.     

Biotic controls on shallow translational landslides

In undisturbed tropical montane rainforests massive organic layers accommodate the majority of roots and only a small fraction of roots penetrate the mineral soil. We investigated the contribution of vegetation to slope stability in such environments by modifying a standard model for slope stability to include an organic layer with distinct mechanical properties. The importance of individual model parameters was evaluated using detailed measurements of soil and vegetation properties to reproduce the observed depth of 11 shallow landslides in the Andes of southern Ecuador. By distinguishing mineral soil, organic layer and above‐ground biomass, it is shown that in this environment vegetation provides a destabilizing effect mainly due to its contribution to the mass of the organic layer (up to 973 t ha^{? 1} under wet conditions). Sensitivity analysis shows that the destabilizing effect of the mass of soil and vegetation can only be effective on slopes steeper than 37.9°. This situation applies to 36% of the study area. Thus, on the steep slopes of this megadiverse ecosystem, the mass of the growing forest promotes landsliding, which in turn promotes a new cycle of succession. This feedback mechanism is worth consideration in further investigations of the impact of landslides on plant diversity in similar environments. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.