Coupled three-dimensional discrete element–finite difference simulation of dynamic compaction

Discrete element method has been widely adopted to simulate processes that are challenging to continuum-based approaches. However, its computational efficiency can be greatly compromised when large number of particles are required to model regions of less interest to researchers. Due to this, the application of DEM to boundary value problems has been limited. This paper introduces a three-dimensional discrete element–finite difference coupling method, in which the discrete–continuum interactions are modeled in local coordinate systems where the force and displacement compatibilities between the coupled subdomains are considered. The method is validated using a model dynamic compaction test on sand. The comparison between the numerical and physical test results shows that the coupling method can effectively simulate the dynamic compaction process. The responses of the DEM model show that dynamic stress propagation (compaction mechanism) and tamper penetration (bearing capacity mechanism) play very different roles in soil deformations. Under impact loading, the soil undergoes a transient weakening process induced by dynamic stress propagation, which makes the soil easier to densify under bearing capacity mechanism. The distribution of tamping energy between the two mechanisms can influence the compaction efficiency, and allocating higher compaction energy to bearing capacity mechanism could improve the efficiency of dynamic compaction.

     

The first extra-large helium-rich gas field identified in a tight sandstone of the Dongsheng Gas Field,Ordos Basin,China

Science China Earth Sciences - Helium gas is a scarce but important strategic resource, which is usually associated with natural gas. Presently, only one extra-large helium-rich gas field has been...     

Mid-Late Neoproterozoic rift-related volcanic rocks in China: Geological records of rifting and break-up of Rodinia

Early Cambrian and Mid-Late Neoproterozoic volcanic rocks in China are widespread on several Precambrian continental blocks,which had aggregated to form part of the Rodinia supercontinent by ca.900 Ma....     

低周反复荷载下Q460钢材框架柱抗震性能分析

为了进一步完善Q460钢材在抗震设计规范中相关限值的要求,本文利用有限元软件ABAQUS,以轴压比、翼缘宽厚比、腹板高厚比和壁板宽厚比为变量,建立了共48根“工”字型框架柱和“箱”型框架柱,分析了其抗震性能。结果表明:翼缘宽厚比对框架柱的能量耗散系数影响较小;能量耗散系数随轴压比、腹板高厚比（“工”字型）和壁板宽厚比（“箱”型）增大而明显减小;框架柱的极限承载力随轴压比的减小及壁板宽厚比和翼缘宽厚比的增大而逐渐增大,当腹板高厚比接近规范限值时,承载力下降趋势明显增大。与采用Q235钢材的框架柱相比,Q460钢材框架柱的延性较小,仅为2左右;当采用Q460钢材时,“工”字型框架柱的极限位移角限值建议取为0.03,“箱”型框架柱的极限位移角限值建议取为0.032。规范中对翼缘宽厚比限值的规定偏于保守,其值最大可取至9。无论是“工”字型框架柱还是“箱”型框架柱,其腹板高厚比均不宜过大。Q460钢材框架柱的刚度退化率随轴压比的增大而增强,且翼缘宽厚比越大,腹板高厚比越小,柱的初始刚度越大,刚度退化程度越明显。     

中国古代牧业社会骨制品的初步考察:以新疆巴里坤石人子沟遗址为例

考古遗址出土骨制品的研究对于揭示古代社会的动物资源获取和利用、手工业生产、社会组织结构等问题具有重要意义。国内骨制品研究目前多集中在农业区域,这些研究为探讨新石器时代至青铜时代的动物使用及其与社会发展、早期国家形成的关系等问题作出了重要贡献。然而,针对牧业社会骨制品的考察十分缺乏。新疆哈密地区巴里坤草原分布有大量古代牧业文化遗址,石人子沟遗址（43°31'12.8"~43°34'28.9"N,93°13'44.8"~93°16'49.1"E）是其中一处青铜时代晚期至铁器时代早期的大型聚落。本文从动物考古学视角研究该遗址2006年至2011年发掘出土的426件骨制品。结果显示,石人子沟遗址骨制品的原料主要为以羊（Ovis aries/Capra hircus）、马（Equus caballus）为主的家养动物和以鹿（Cervidae）为主的野生动物,其中羊的比例最高（69.7%）,鹿（13.8%）、马（2.3%）次之,这与中原地区青铜时代农业文化遗址的骨制品多以牛为原料的情况明显不同。羊在骨制品原料中占绝对多数且大量使用羊距骨制品的现象是对石人子沟遗址以牧业为主的生业经济方式的直接反映。石人子沟遗址不同类型骨制品的制作各具特点,但整体表现出"省时省力"的特点,即对使用部位细致打磨,对非使用部位仅做简单处理。与中原地区商周时期大型制骨作坊规范化、规模化、产业化的骨器生产不同,石人子沟遗址未见专门的制骨场所,骨制品生产的操作链条也并不完整。遗址的骨制品生产可能是以家庭为单元进行的,产品的专业化、精细化程度也相对较低。该研究填补了我国古代牧业文化遗址出土骨制品动物考古学专门研究的空白,为进一步探究我国古代不同区域、不同生业经济基础下的制骨手工业面貌提供了重要资料。

     

Comparison of debris-flow volume and activity under different formation conditions

Debris flows frequently occurred in Wenchuan earthquake region from 2008 to 2010, resulting in great damage to localities and being a prolonged threat to reconstruction. Forty three events' data including debris-flow volume, sediment volume and watershed area are analyzed and compared with other debris-flow events in Eastern Italian Alps, burned areas in USA and in Taiwan. The analysis reveals that there is a strong empirical relationship between debris-flow volume and loose materials volume in the earthquake region. In addition, the relationship between debris-flow volume and watershed area in the earthquake region has a wider variation range than that in other three regions while the debris volume also appears to be larger than that in the other three regions, which implies the volume of debris flows with strong influence of earthquakes is larger than that with no such influence and it is hard to predict the post-quake volume only by the watershed area. The comparison of the maximal debris-flow erosion modulus in the Wenchuan region and in Taiwan indicates that debris flows will be very active in a short time after strong earthquake.     

山东寿光北部地区土壤盐渍化特征与现状评价

为了解山东寿光北部地区土壤盐碱化现状及为工程建设、生态环境改良提供基础资料,通过野外采样和室内试验,分析了土壤盐碱化分布特征和类型,识别出盐分的主要形态.结果表明,研究区土壤含盐量总体不高,局部地段处于轻度至中度盐渍化程度;盐分含量北高南低,近似平行于海岸分布;土壤中阳离子以Na+为主,阴离子主要为Cl-和SO42-,盐分类型为氯盐渍土、亚氯盐渍土和亚硫酸盐渍土三类.     

Palynological constraints on the age of the Mississippi Valley-type Changdong Pb-Zn deposit,Sanjiang belt,West China

Mississippi Valley-type(MVT)Pb-Zn deposits serve as the world’s major supply of Pb-Zn resources.However,the age constraint of MVT Pb-Zn deposits has long been a big challenge,due to the lack of minerals that are unequivocally related to ore deposition and that can be used for radioisotopic dating.Here we show sporopollens can provide useful chronological information on the Changdong MVT Pb-Zn deposit in the Simao basin,Sanjiang belt,West China.The Pb-Zn ores in the Changdong deposit are hosted by internal sediments in paleo-karst caves of meteoric origin.Sphalerite and galena occur as replacements of carbonate minerals and void infillings in the internal sediments.The relations suggest that the Pb-Zn mineralization occurred after the deposition of the internal sediments.A palynological assemblage mainly composed of angiosperm pollen dominated by Castanea,Quercus,and Carya and fern spores dominated by Polypodiaceae,Pteris,and Athyriaceae was identified.These pollen and spores place the ore-hosting internal sediments and the Changdong paleo-karst at early to middle Oligocene.Consequently,the Changdong Pb-Zn deposit must have formed after the early Oligocene(~34 Ma).These age constraints,together with the geological characteristics,indicate that the Changdong Pb-Zn deposit is a paleo-karst-controlled MVT deposit related to fold-thrust systems in the Sanjiang belt.The Changdong deposit is similar to other MVT Pb-Zn deposits in the northern part of the Sanjiang belt,making it possible to extend this Pb-Zn belt 500 km further to the South.Results presented here highlights the potential of sporopollens in dating the age of MVT deposits related to paleo-karst formation in young orogenic belts.     

Hydrological cycle and water balance estimates for the megadune–lake region of the Badain Jaran Desert,China

The hydrology and water balance of megadunes and lakes have been investigated in the Badain Jaran Desert of China. Field observations and analyses of sand layer water content, field capacity, secondary salt content, and grain size reveal 3 types of important natural phenomenon: (a) vegetation bands on the leeward slope of the megadunes reflect the hydrological regime within the sandy vadose zone; (b) seepage, wet sand deposits, and secondary salt deposits indicate the pattern of water movement within the sandy vadose zone; (c) zones of groundwater seeps and descending springs around the lakes reflect the influence of the local topography on the hydrological regime of the megadunes. The seepage exposed on the sloping surface of the megadunes and gravity water contained within the sand layer confirm the occurrence of preferential flow within the vadose zone of the megadunes. Alternating layers of coarse and fine sand create the conditions for the formation of preferential flows. The preferential flows promote movement of water within the sand layer water that leads to deep penetration of water within the megadunes and ultimately to the recharging of groundwater and lake water. Our results indicate that a positive water balance promotes recharge of the megadunes, which depends on the high permeability of the megadune material, the shallow depth of the surface sand layer affected by evaporation, the occurrence of rainfall events exceeding 15 mm, and the sparse vegetation cover. Water balance estimates indicate that the annual water storage of the megadunes is about 7.5 mm, accounting for only 8% of annual precipitation; however, the shallow groundwater per unit area under the megadunes receives only 3.6% of annual precipitation, but it is still able to maintain a dynamic balance of the lake water. From a water budget perspective, the annual water storage in the megadunes is sufficient to serve as a recharge source for lake water, thereby enabling the long‐term persistence of the lakes. Overall, our findings demonstrate that precipitation is a significant component of the hydrological cycle in arid deserts.