Acoustic Emission Experiments of Rock Failure Under Load Simulating the Hypocenter Condition

A series of acoustic emission (AE) experiments of rock failure have been conducted under cyclic load in tri-axial stress tests. To simulate the hypocenter condition the specimens are loaded by the combined action of a constant stress, intended to simulate the tectonic loading, and a small sinusoidal disturbance stress, analogous to the Earth tide induced by the Sun and the Moon. Each acoustic emission signal can indicate the occurrence time, location and relative magnitude of the damage (micro-crack) in the specimen. The experimental results verified some precursors such as LURR (Load/Unload Response Ratio) and AER (Accelerating Energy Release) before macro-fracture of the samples. A new parameter, the correlation between the AE and the load, has been proposed to describe the loading history. On the eve of some strong earthquakes the correlation between the Benioff strain and the Coulomb failure stress (CFS) decreases, similar to the variation of LURR prior to strong earthquakes.     

Load-Unload Response Ratio and Accelerating Moment/Energy Release Critical Region Scaling and Earthquake Prediction

-- The main idea of the Load-Unload Response Ratio (LURR) is that when a system is stable, its response to loading corresponds to its response to unloading, whereas when the system is approaching an unstable state, the response to loading and unloading becomes quite different. High LURR values and observations of Accelerating Moment/Energy Release (AMR/AER) prior to large earthquakes have led different research groups to suggest intermediate-term earthquake prediction is possible and imply that the LURR and AMR/AER observations may have a similar physical origin. To study this possibility, we conducted a retrospective examination of several Australian and Chinese earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 5.0 to 7.9, including Australia's deadly Newcastle earthquake and the devastating Tangshan earthquake. Both LURR values and best-fit power-law time-to-failure functions were computed using data within a range of distances from the epicenter. Like the best-fit power-law fits in AMR/AER, the LURR value was optimal using data within a certain epicentral distance implying a critical region for LURR. Furthermore, LURR critical region size scales with mainshock magnitude and is similar to the AMR/AER critical region size. These results suggest a common physical origin for both the AMR/AER and LURR observations. Further research may provide clues that yield an understanding of this mechanism and help lead to a solid foundation for intermediate-term earthquake prediction.     

Experimental Research on the Load／Unload Response Ratio （LURR） Theory

Implementing acoustic emission experiments with large rock samples, LURR (Load/Unload Response Ratio) theory was studied. The loading conditions in the experiments were designed to simulate the complicated loading process of underground rocks. The damages emerging inside the rock samples were recorded by the acoustic emission technique during the loading process. The experimental results were consistent with prediction by LURR theory. Integrating the changing processes of LURR value Y and the location process of acoustic emission events showed agreement between the variation of LURR value Y and the damage evolution inside the rocks. Furthermore, the high value of Y emerged before the complete breakdown of materials. Therefore, the damage evolution of rock specimen can be quantitatively analyzed with LURR theory, thus the failure of the rock materials and the earthquake occurrence may be predicted. The experimental results gave a further verification of LURR theory.     

态矢量方法的实验研究

在地震等灾变的发生之前，会出现一定的前兆现象。中通过实验方法对这些前兆现象之一的态矢量的异常变化进行了研究。实验使用声发射技术(Acoustic Emission)，对三轴应力条件下岩石试件内部微裂纹的产生和扩展进行了记录。实验结果表明在岩石试件最终破坏之前，表征态矢量的相关参量都发生了异常明显的变化，这表明态矢量的异常变化可以被用作为岩石等脆性材料灾变的前兆，使用态矢量方法可以对脆性材料的破坏乃至地震作出预测。     

加卸载响应比(LURR)理论的实验研究

利用大尺度岩石试件破坏声发射实验，对加卸载响应比(Load/Unload Response Ratio)理论进行了实验研究。实验采用的加载条件力求能够模拟地下岩石的复杂受力过程。在加载过程中，岩石试件内部出现的损伤用声发射技术进行了记录。实验数据经过分析之后所得的结论与加卸载响应比理论预测的结果相符合。把加卸载响应比值Y的变化情况与声发射事件定位的过程相对比，也可以进一步看出岩石材料内部的损伤发展过程与加卸载响应比Y值的变化具有一致性。而高Y值的异常情况出现，又是在材料发生最终破坏之前，所以，可以用加卸载响应比理论定量地分析岩石试件损伤演化情况，从而对岩石材料的破坏及地震做出预测。实验结果再一次验证了加卸载响应比理论。     

加卸载响应比的数值模拟

用数值模型来模拟和验证加卸载响应比（ＬＵＲＲＬｏａｄ／Ｕｎｌｏａｄ　ＲｅｓｐｏｎｓｅＲａｔｉｏ）理论．编制非均匀各向异性材料宏细观损伤破坏程序,模拟固体材料在损伤破坏时的加卸载过程,证实了加卸载响应比理论的正确性．结果表明,ＬＵＲＲ这一反映地球介质临近破坏的指标,也可以用来预测材料的破坏．同时讨论了一些参数（如均匀程度和脆性程序）对ＬＵＲＲ的影响,发现材料越呈脆性,或越均匀,ＬＵＲＲ值上升得越晚,曲线越陡．该结果对用ＬＵＲＲ指标预测地震具有一定启发．     

负坡段加卸载响应比的物理意义及预测效能

根据实验结果，用应变能研究岩石在极值应力后主破裂前（负坡段）加卸载响应比可能出现奇异点或负值的变化特征，并且说明其普遍性．以应变（能）及Ｐ波走时为响应，分别得出加卸载响应比的倒数在岩石破裂孕育过程中的变化形态．结果表明:在逼近主破裂时，加卸载响应比的倒数急剧下降后出现极小值（甚至为负值）．此特征可以看作临近主破裂的标志．      

Physical meaning and prediction efficiency of the load/unload response ratio of rocks in strain-weakening phase before failure

Introduction In studying the instability of a non-linear system, YIN (1987), YIN and YIN (1991), YIN, et al (1994), and Yin, et al (1994, 1995, 2000) have presented a concept of load/unload response ratio (LURR) of the system. When the system is in a stable state, its response process to the load/unload follows the same trajectory on the stress-strain diagram, and the load/unload response ratios are equal. However, when the system departs from a stable state, its response to the load/un…     

State Vector: A New Approach to Prediction of the Failure of Brittle Heterogeneous Media and Large Earthquakes

The concept of state vector stems from statistical physics, where it is usually used to describe activity patterns of a physical field in its manner of coarsegrain. In this paper, we propose an approach by which the state vector was applied to describe quantitatively the damage evolution of the brittle heterogeneous systems, and some interesting results are presented, i.e., prior to the macro-fracture of rock specimens and occurrence of a strong earthquake, evolutions of the four relevant scalars time series derived from the state vectors changed anomalously. As retrospective studies, some prominent large earthquakes occurred in the Chinese Mainland (e.g., the M 7.4 Haicheng earthquake on February 4, 1975, and the M 7.8 Tangshan earthquake on July 28, 1976, etc) were investigated. Results show considerable promise that the time-dependent state vectors could serve as a kind of precursor to predict earthquakes.     

地震预测的加卸载响应比岩石实验模拟

我们在中科院力学所非线性连续介质力放实验室材料试验机上做了岩石压缩破坏的加卸载实验,得到了以应变为尖的加卸载响应比。     

Experimental research on critical point hy- pothesis

Introduction Earthquake is a kind of severe natural disaster. In order to predict earthquake effectively, thegeoscientists at home and abroad have carried out a great deal of studies on seismicity. For exam-ple,Willis, (1924) and Tocher (1959) made some early investigations on seismicity before largeearthquake. Chinese geoscientists performed even more studies in this field (CHEN, et al, 1981;HUANG, FENG, 1981; LIU, 1982; LU, 1985; LU, et al, 2001; MA, et al, 1982; MEI, 1960; …     

加卸载响应比(LURR)响应量的研究

加卸载响应比(LuRR)理论以响应比值Y来刻画孕震区介质的损伤演化进程。在计算Y值时可选择能量(Benioff应变)、模量(应变)等多种物理量做响应。本通过理论和实验方法对使用不同响应量时Y值演化趋势的异同进行了研究，结果表明在Y达到峰值之前具有相似地演化过程。     

Failure Potential Evaluation in Engineering Experiments Using Load/Unload Response Ratio Method

The Load/Unload Response Ratio (LURR) method is proposed for prediction of the failure of brittle heterogeneous materials. Application of the method typically involves evaluating the external load on materials or structures, differentiating between loading and unloading periods, determining the failure response during both periods from data input, and calculating the ratio between the two response rates. According to the method, the LURR time series usually climbs to an anomalously high peak prior to the macro-fracture. To show the validity of the approach in engineering practice, we applied it to the loading and unloading experimental data associated with a two-floor concrete-brick structure. Results show that the LURR time series of the two floors consists of the damage evolution of the structure: they are at low level for most of the time, and reach the maxima prior to the final fracture. We then attempt to combine the LURR values with damage variable (D) to provide the health assessment of the structure. The relationship between LURR and D, defined as a function of Weibull stochastic distribution, is set up to provide more detailed underlying physical means to study damage evolution of the structure. The fact that the damage evolution of the structure correlates well with the variation of LURR time series may suggest that the LURR approach can be severed as a useful tool to provide the health assessment to big scale structures or ancient buildings.     

The Experimental Simulation of Rocks on Load/Unload Response Ratio for Earthquake Prediction

The load/unload experiments on rock failure under pressure have been carried out in Material Test System (MTS) in the Laboratory for Non-linear Mechanics of Continuous Media (LNM), Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and load/unload response ratio (LURR) values with strain as response (i.e. inverse elastic constant as response rate) have been obtained. The experimental results are in accordance with theoretical results and those in real earthquakes: LURR rises just before rock failure. So LURR can be used as the precursor of rock failure and earthquake prediction.     

新疆中强地震前加卸载响应比时空演化特征分析与检验

加卸载响应比是一种刻画震源区介质损伤程度的物理学参数,它通过随时间的变化来反映地震孕育的过程来进行地震预测。通过对1990—1999年新疆地区部分中强地震前加卸载响应比时空演化特征进行分析,并基于该理论得到孕震积分的概念应用于震例中。结果表明:中强震震前在震中附近可能存在多个高加卸载响应比值区,它们大致围成椭圆状或环状,地震通常发生在异常高值波动或减弱的过程中;异常峰值至发震时间比理论时间要短,这可能表明新疆地区构造活动剧烈,孕震周期较短。     

青海玛多MS7.4地震前LURR与OLR短临异常关联性研究

加卸载响应比(LURR)是根据岩石应力-应变关系的动态演化规律提出的地震预测方法。以Benioff应变为响应量,分析青海玛多M_S7.4地震前震中及其周边400 km内的LURR异常的演化特征发现,在震前一个月LURR值达到最高值,半个月之后出现高值回落的现象,说明此时孕震区岩石介质已进入屈服阶段的末端。在此基础上,利用NOAA卫星地面长波辐射(OLR)数据,分析高值回落后(5月14—25日)地面长波辐射值的短临异常演化规律。结果显示:震前在空间上仅仅在震中北部出现OLR显著且连续的短临异常变化并呈现向震中扩展的趋势,在时间上整个演化过程经历了初始增温-异常扩展-达到峰值-异常减弱-地震发生-异常消失等6个阶段。LURR和OLR震前短临异常特征说明,回落前的LURR高值反映了岩石介质屈服阶段的结束,OLR在一定程度上可以表征处于临界状态的活动断层的构造应力累积状态,综合研究两种物理参量震前异常演化特征,有助于更准确评估地震活动趋势。     

Experimental research on critical point hypothesis

According to the critical point hypothesis (CPH), energy release would accelerate in power law before occurrence of large earthquakes or failure of brittle materials. In the paper, CPH was studied by acoustic emission experiments of large-scale rock samples. Three kinds of rock samples were used in the experiments. The tri-axial loading condition was applied under different loading histories. The released elastic energy (Acoustic emission) was recorded with acoustic emission technique as microcracks emerged and developed inside the rock samples. The experimental results gave a further verification on the CPH. The elastic energy release of rock samples would accelerate before the failure even under different experimental conditions. Primary studies were also made on medium-term earthquake prediction by using accelerating energy release (AER) in the paper. Foundation item: Project of Natural Sciences Foundation of China (10232050), Project of State Key Basic Research (2002CB412706) and Project of Computer Network Information Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2002CB412706).     

美国西部地区加卸载响应比的时空扫描及其地震趋势研究

加卸载响应比理论是近年来提出的地震预报新方法, 在中国大陆地区的实际地震预测中取得了较好的效果。 为了研究加卸载响应比理论是否适用于不同地质条件的地震, 是否具有普适性, 选择了典型的美国圣安德烈斯断层带及其周围地区的地震作为研究对象, 计算分析了美国西部地区加卸载响应比的变化情况, 并对该地区未来的地震趋势进行了研究。     

顺义Ms4.0地震前兆演化特点及利用响应比进行的震前和震后趋势判断

回顾性地分析了１９９６年１２月１６日顺义Ｍｓ４．０地震前,首都圈的异常演化情况及利用加卸载响应比等方法对该地震震前形势及震后趋势进行的综合判断,结果表明,顺义地震前观震不冢非测震学的均存在的地震前兆,这些前兆具有一定程度的中期向短期演化的特点,利用响应比除可以对主震作出一定程度的预测外,还能对大余震作出不同程度的预测,作还探讨了地震日常监测中须得汲取的经验教训。     

2020年6月26日于田MS6.4地震前Benioff应变和地电场加卸载响应比异常研究

加卸载响应比（Load/Unload Response Ratio,LURR）是根据岩石介质本构关系的动态演化特征提出的地震预测方法。2020年6月26日新疆于田县发生6.4级地震,震前以Benioff应变为响应量观测到明显的LURR高值异常,异常出现于2019年初,持续1年后发生地震,意味着震源区介质的应力状态在2019年发生了明显改变。进一步,以地电场为响应量,计算了距震中280km的和田地电场长、短极距共6个测向的LURR异常时序曲线,结果表明：和田地电场长、短极距的NS向和NW向共4个测向在震前1~3个月出现了LURR异常逐渐增大的同步变化,这种现象可能反映了孕震区介质因微裂隙的产生和扩展导致流体在裂隙中的运移引起的动电效应。综合分析2种不同响应量的LURR异常演化特征,有助于更深入地认知地震孕育过程,更准确地评估地震活动趋势。