A Method to Estimate the Hydraulic Conductivity of the Ground by TRT Analysis

The knowledge of hydraulic properties of aquifers is important in many engineering applications. Careful design of ground‐coupled heat exchangers requires that the hydraulic characteristics and thermal properties of the aquifer must be well understood. Knowledge of groundwater flow rate and aquifer thermal properties is the basis for proper design of such plants. Different methods have been developed in order to estimate hydraulic conductivity by evaluating the transport of various tracers (chemical, heat etc.); thermal response testing (TRT) is a specific type of heat tracer that allows including the hydraulic properties in an effective thermal conductivity value. Starting from these considerations, an expeditious, graphical method was proposed to estimate the hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer, using TRT data and plausible assumption. Suggested method, which is not yet verified or proven to be reliable, should be encouraging further studies and development in this direction.     

Simulating Stable Isotope Ratios in Plumes of Groundwater Pollutants with BIOSCREEN‐AT‐ISO

BIOSCREEN is a well‐known simple tool for evaluating the transport of dissolved contaminants in groundwater, ideal for rapid screening and teaching. This work extends the BIOSCREEN model for the calculation of stable isotope ratios in contaminants. A three‐dimensional exact solution of the reactive transport from a patch source, accounting for fractionation by first‐order decay and/or sorption, is used. The results match those from a previously published isotope model but are much simpler to obtain. Two different isotopes may be computed, and dual isotope plots can be viewed. The dual isotope assessment is a rapidly emerging new approach for identifying process mechanisms in aquifers. Furthermore, deviations of isotope ratios at specific reactive positions with respect to “bulk” ratios in the whole compound can be simulated. This model is named BIOSCREEN‐AT‐ISO and will be downloadable from the journal homepage.     

强震记录对三个土层地震反应分析程序的检验

为了对国内外广泛使用的3个一维土层地震反应分析程序（DENSOR98、SHAKE91和LSSRLI-1）的计算精度进行检验,本文以4次地震中唐山响瞠井下三维台阵的基岩强震记录为输入地震动,利用这3个程序对此测井剖面分别进行计算,计算结果分别与同次地震中相应的台阵地表强震记录相比较,可得如下结论：在地震动不大的情况下,3个程序都可满足工程要求,其差别为SHAKE91算得的峰值偏大,DENSOR98算得的峰值偏小,LSSRLI-1得到的反应谱更接近实际,DENSOR98得到的反应谱偏低,从安全角度和经济角度综合来看,LSSRLI-1程序较好。     

A finite element model for seismic response analysis of deformable rocking frames

A new finite element model to analyze the seismic response of deformable rocking bodies and rocking structures is presented. The model comprises a set of beam elements to represent the rocking body and zero‐length fiber cross‐section elements at the ends of the rocking body to represent the rocking surfaces. The energy dissipation during rocking motion is modeled using a Hilber–Hughes–Taylor numerically dissipative time step integration scheme. The model is verified through correct prediction of the horizontal and vertical displacements of a rigid rocking block and validated against the analytical Housner model solution for the rocking response of rigid bodies subjected to ground motion excitation. The proposed model is augmented by a dissipative model of the ground under the rocking surface to facilitate modeling of the rocking response of deformable bodies and structures. The augmented model is used to compute the overturning and uplift rocking response spectra for a deformable rocking frame structure to symmetric and anti‐symmetric Ricker pulse ground motion excitation. It is found that the deformability of the columns of a rocking frame does not jeopardize its stability under Ricker pulse ground motion excitation. In fact, there are cases where a deformable rocking frame is more stable than its rigid counterpart. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

野马河—大雪山断裂肃北段晚第四纪活动特征研究

前人对野马河—大雪山断裂肃北段的晚第四纪活动特征研究相对薄弱,缺少有关断层最新活动的证据。本文在高分辨率遥感解译的基础上,对肃北断裂开展全段1∶5 000的地质地貌填图,通过探槽开挖、放射性碳(~(14)C)测年以及低空无人机摄影测量(small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles,简称sUAV)等工作,对该断裂晚第四纪活动性进行系统研究。发现肃北断裂为一条全新世的逆冲活动断裂,晚第四纪以来具有多期活动,西水沟探槽剖面揭示出2次古地震事件,古地震离逝时间为(4 192.5±97.5)a B.P.之后。     

C60全珊瑚海水混凝土的钢筋锈蚀行为研究

采用线性极化电阻法,测试了C60全珊瑚海水混凝土（coral aggregate seawater concrete,简称CASC）的线性极化曲线、自腐蚀电位（E_corr）和极化电阻（R_p）,研究了不同暴露时间、不同种类钢筋CASC的钢筋腐蚀行为,提出了提升岛礁CASC结构耐久性的建议措施。结果表明：随着暴露时间的延长,CASC的E_corr和R_p均逐渐降低,钢筋的耐蚀性能逐渐减弱。不同种类钢筋CASC耐蚀性能规律为：316不锈钢筋优于有机新涂层钢筋,优于普通钢筋。即使暴露0 d,CASC中普通钢筋仍会发生锈蚀,表明普通钢筋在不附加任何防腐措施的条件下不适用于岛礁CASC结构。综合分析阻锈效果和成本因素,316不锈钢筋的性价比明显低于有机新涂层钢筋,建议岛礁CASC工程优先选用有机新涂层钢筋。     

Vertical variations and composition of dissolved free amino acid in the seawater of the Yap Trench in the western Pacific Ocean

The composition and concentration of dissolved free amino acid (DFAA) of seawater samples collected in May 2016 from the surface to the hadal zone of the northern region of the Yap Trench were analyzed by pre-column derivatization of o-phthalaldehyde. Results show that the average concentration of DFAA in the study area was 0.47±0.36 µmol/L. In different sampling stations, the concentrations of DFAA with water depth showed complex variation patterns. At the sediment-seawater interface, the concentrations of DFAA in the western side of the trench were obviously higher than that in its eastern side. In the study area, there were no significant correlations between the concentrations of DFAA and the environmental parameters such as concentrations of chlorophyll a (Chl a), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), indicating that the concentrations of DFAA in seawater of the trench are affected by many factors, such as photosynthesis, respiration, temperature, pressure, illumination, and circulation. The dominant DFAA are similar in different water layers of sampling stations, including aspartic acid (Asp), glutamic acid (Glu), glycine (Gly), and serine (Ser). The composition of different amino acids, and the relative abundance of acidic, basic, and neutral amino acids might be related to the sources and consumption of various amino acids. Nine pairs of amino acids in the DFAA showed significantly positive relationship by correlation matrix analysis, suggesting that they might share similar biogeochemical processes. The degradation index (DI) of the DFAA in seawater of the Yap Trench could reflect the degradation, source, and freshness of DFAA in the trench to some extents. This is a preliminary study of amino acids from sea surface to hadal zone in the ocean, more works shall be done in different trenches to reveal their biogeochemical characteristics in extreme marine environments.

     

Experimental study of aeolian sand ripples in a wind tunnel

The topographic parameters and propagation velocity of aeolian sand ripples reflect complex erosion, transport, and deposition processes of sand on the land surface. In this study, three Nikon cameras located in the windward (0–1 m), middle (4.5–5.5 m), and downwind (9–10 m) zones of a 10 m long sand bed are used to continuously record changes in sand ripples. Based on the data extracted from these images, this study reaches the following conclusions. (1) The initial formation and full development times of sand ripples over a flatbed decrease with wind velocity. (2) The wavelengths of full development sand ripples are approximately twice the wavelengths of initially formed sand ripples. Both wavelengths increase linearly with friction velocity. During the developing stage of sand ripples, the wavelength increases linearly with time. (3) The propagation velocity of full development sand ripples is approximately 0.6 times that of the initially formed sand ripples. The propagation velocity of both initial and full development of sand ripples increase as power functions with respect to friction velocity. During the developing stage of sand ripples, the propagation velocity decreases with time following a power law. These results provide new information for understanding the formation and evolution of aeolian sand ripples and help improve numerical simulations. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

THE APPLICATION OF MINIATURE UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE IN 25 NOVEMBER 2016 ARKETAO MW6.6 EARTHQUAKE

In order to complete the field investigation to the 25 November 2016 Arketao M_W6.6 earthquake, ultra-low altitude remote-sensing data were obtained from miniature unmanned aerial vehicle. The surface rupture surveying has important significance for earthquake research. This paper selects the macro-epicenter of Arketao as the study area. The pictures were obtained with DJI Phantom 3 professional input into the software, the Digital Elevation Model (DEM), Digital Orthophoto Map (DOM) were acquired based on photogrammetry method using the overlapped optical remote-sensing images of UAV. Using these data, we can identify surface ruptures that have vertical dislocation. We selected six feature points and drew the elevation profile. In the elevation profile map, we chose smooth part of the surface rupture sides and obtained the trend line. A stable point in the surface rupture was selected and the abscissa of the point was taken into the equation of two straight lines. Then subtracting the results of the two equations, we can get the vertical dislocation of the surface rupture. On this basis, we chose six feature points and determined their vertical dislocation, which are between 4.4cm and 10.4cm. What's more, taking Bulungkou Xiang in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region for example, we speculated some surface ruptures that have vertical dislocation. It can provide a new method for identifying surface rupture in the field. In addition, we get DEM data of the Bulunkou area where ambient conditions are very poor, by using miniature unmanned aerial vehicle and taking 255 photos. Putting those photos into the EasyUAV software, we got the area digital elevation of 2cm resolution. Comparing these data with RTK data, we summarized some practical problems and solutions in the practical operation and evaluated the accuracy of miniature unmanned aerial vehicle data. The Pearson Correlation Coefficient is 0.996 6. In terms of absolute elevation, the average result of UAV and RTK differs by 156.96m. In terms of relative elevation, the average result of UAV and RTK differs by 9.74m. Compared with the previous test of Pishan County, there is a notable divergence in the results. It shows that the data accuracy will be affected to some extent in the cold weather in high elevations. The specific impact needs further exploration.     

PRELIMINARY STUDY OF PALEOEARTHQUAKES ON THE MIDDLE-EASTERN SEGMENT OF JINTA NANSHAN FAULT

Hexi Corridor is located at the northeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau. Series of late Quaternary active faults are developed in this area. Numerous strong earthquakes occurred in history and nowadays. Jinta Nanshan fault is one of the boundary faults between the Qinghai-Tibet block and the Alxa block. The fault starts from the northwest of Wutongdun in the west, passes through Changshan, Yuanyangchi reservoir, Dakouzi, and ends in the east of Hongdun. Because the Jinta Nanshan fault is a new active fault in this region, it is important to ascertain its paleoearthquakes since late Pleistocene for the earthquake risk study. Previous studies were carried out on the western part, such as field geomorphic investigation and trench excavation, which shows strong activity in Holocene on the western segment of Jinta Nanshan fault. On the basis of the above research, in this paper, we carried out satellite image interpretation, detailed investigation of faulted landforms and differential GPS survey for the whole fault. Focusing on the middle-eastern part, we studied paleoearthquakes through trench exploration on the Holocene alluvial fan and optical luminescence dating. The main results are as follows:Early Pleistocene to late Pleistocene alluvial strata are widely developed along the fault and Holocene sediment is only about tens of centimeters thick. The Jinta Nanshan fault shows long-lasting activity since late Quaternary and reveals tens of centimeters of the lowest scarp which illustrates new strong activity on the middle-east segment of this fault. Since late Pleistocene, 4 paleoearthquakes happened respectively before(15.16±1.29) ka, before(9.9±0.5) ka, about 6ka and after(3.5±0.4) ka, revealed by 4 trenches, of which 2 are laid on relatively thicker Holocene alluvial fan. Two events occurred since middle Holocene, and both ruptured the whole fault.