Dynamic propagation criteria for catastrophic failure in planar landslides

Quantitative assessment of the risk of submarine landslides is an essential part of the design process for offshore oil and gas developments in deep water, beyond the continental shelf. Landslides may be triggered by a reduction in shear strength of subsea sediments over a given zone, caused for example by seismic activity. Simple criteria are then needed to identify critical conditions whereby the zone of weakness could grow catastrophically to cause a landslide. A number of such criteria have been developed over the last decade, based either on ideas drawn from fracture mechanics, or considering the equilibrium of the initial weakened zone and adjacent process zones of gradually softening material. Accounting for the history of the weak zone initiation is critical for derivation of reliable propagation criteria, in particular considering dynamic effects arising from accumulating kinetic energy of the failing material, which will allow the failure to propagate from a smaller initial zone of weakened sediments. Criteria are developed here for planar conditions, taking full account of such dynamic effects, which are shown to be capable of reducing the critical length of the softened zone by 20% or more compared with criteria based on static conditions. A numerical approach is used to solve the governing dynamic equations for the sliding material, the results from which justify assumptions that allow analytical criteria to be developed for the case where the initial softening occurs instantaneously. The effect of more gradual softening is also explored. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical prediction of an intense convective system associated with the July 1987 montreal flood. part II: A trailing stratiform rainband

Abstract

In this study, the internal circulation structures of the 14 July 1987 intense mesoscale convective system (MCS) are investigated using an improved high‐resolution version of the Canadian regional finite‐element model. It is found that although the MCS is characterized by a leading convective line followed by a trailing stratiform rainband, the associated circulation structures differ substantially from those in the classical midlatitude squall system. These include the rapid propagation and separation of the leading convection from the trailing rainband, the development of a surface‐based instead of an elevated rear‐to‐front descending flow and a shallow front‐to‐rear ascending flow associated with the stratiform precipitation, the generation of low‐ and mid‐level rather than mid‐ to upper‐level stratiform cloudiness and the development of a strong anticyclonic vorticity band at the back edge of the stratiform region. It is shown that the trailing stratiform rainband is dynamically forced by frontogenetical processes, and aided by the release of conditional symmetric instability and local orographical lifting. The intense leading and trailing circulations result from latent heat released by the convective and explicit cloud schemes, respectively. Sensitivity experiments reveal that the proper coupling of these two cloud schemes is instrumental in obtaining a realistic prediction of the above‐mentioned various mesoscale components. Vorticity budget calculations show that tilting of horizontal vorticity contributes the most to the amplification of the anticyclonic vorticity band, particularly during the squall's incipient stage. The sensitivity of the simulated squall system to other model physical parameters is also examined.     

Characterizing the hydraulic properties of unsaturated sand considering various porosities and drying‐wetting paths of the retention curve

Previous studies have shown that water retention curve (WRC) and the hydraulic conductivity vary because of changes of the void ratio or porosity of soil. However, limited documents pointed out the change of hydraulic properties of soil when compacted to different porosities while considering both of the drying and wetting processes of the WRC. This information is sometimes necessary for research like finger flow analysis or the occurrence of wetting and drying cycles as what would be seen in the field. Therefore, this study aims to examine the change of WRC characteristics with varied porosity considering both of the drying and wetting path in WRC by conducting a sand box experiment. Results show that the same type of sand compacted to various porosities have different hydraulic parameters. Hydraulic conductivities generally decrease with reduced porosities; shape parameter α of the van Genuchten equation (1980) linearly decreases with declining porosity and shape parameter n in a reversal manner for the sands of interest whether in the drying process or wetting process. The unsaturated properties of sand are further characterized by inspecting the variations of moisture content, matric suction and vertical displacement of soil body subject to periodic changes of the water level by another sand box experiment. The outcomes suggest that the saturated water content and residual water content are changing during the wetting–drying process, which can be an implication of the changed properties of WRC. The characteristics of volumetric deformation might be varied as well because of the observation of the dissimilar patterns of the changing vertical displacements among each wetting–drying process. Infiltration patterns of the sands also are identified through numerical modelling by introducing a constant infiltration flux from the surface followed by a no‐influx condition. Results indicate that less water accumulates in the sand near the surface for the sand compacted to higher porosity, but water can move deeper. Hydraulic conductivity is found as the prime factor dominating the evolvement of wetting fronts. However, shape parameters of water retention curves also affect the infiltration pattern to some extent. In addition, different sands with similar porosities can have quite different infiltrating characteristics. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Correlation Between Total Lightning Activity and Precipitation Particle Characteristics Observed from 34 Thunderstorms

A total of 34 thunderstorms around Shanghai and Wuhan of China are analyzed in order to determine the relationship between total lightning activity and precipitation particle characteristics.Precipitation particle concentration data are obtained from the 2A12 product of TRMM/TMI(Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission/TRMM Microwave Image) and lightning activity data are from the TRMM/LIS(Lightning Imaging Sensor) and SAFIR3000(Surveillance et Alerte Founder par Interferometric Radioelectirque).On a spatial ...     

单自由度二阶线性系弘在各种输入函数（或实际波形）作用下的响应

The response problem of second-order linear system with single freedom degree is solved by positive and inverse Fourier transform and dynamic waveform inversion method. Several expressions of tipicel waveforms and a measured practical waveform are calculated, and the results are satisfying.     

关于氡测量标定装置(氡室)和测量单位的统一

本文介绍了作者研制的8505—I型氡室,该氡室可用于准确和快速标定多种测氡装置。作者提出了相应的标定方法,并测定了野外常用的10种氡探测器的标定系数。根据法定计量单位选用了贝克(Bq)和贝克/升(Bq/L)。相应作为各种氡测量的[放射性]活度单位和氡浓度单位。     

Collapsibility and deformation characteristics of deep-seated loess in China

Lin, Z.G. and Wang, S.J., 1988. Collapsibility and deformation characteristics of deep-seated loess in China. Eng. Geol., 25: 271–282.

As part of a comprehensive research program, laboratory tests were conducted on samples of deep-seated loess from different locations of the loessial regions of northern China, including Shaanxi, Gansu, Shanxi and Honan Provinces. The information thus acquired on some aspects of the engineering properties of the samples, such as the unit collapse-pressure relationships, the initial collapse pressure versus the “preconsolidation pressure” and deformation–pressure characteristics, is interesting and may prove useful to geotechnical engineers who work on projects on water-poor plateaux or high river terraces in loessial regions throughout the world.     

Organic geochemical analysis of environments of Dongpu Basin

Six types of “molecular fossil” indicators are summarized, by which the sources of organic matter (OM) in the sedimentary rocks of the Lower Tertiary Shahejie Formation in the Dongpu Basin can be traced and the redox and paleosalinity conditions restored.     

Effects of Initial Stresses in Tailored Pulse Loading Method

Based on the mechanism study of new well stimulation method—tailored pulse loading method, the effects of initial stresses in this method is further studied. The effects of initial stresses on the propagation velocities and directions of the cracks around a hole, especially on the energy dissipation in crack extension, are obtained through theoretical analysis, dynamic photo elasticity tests, high speed photography. And large coal specimen tests. These results provide a theoretical foundation for the practical applications of the tailored pulse loading method.     

Finite Element Calculation of Creep Effects on Pile Foundation

The axisymmetric finite element technique is used in this paper to analyze the creep effects on pole foundation. Generalized Kelvin model and Bingham model are proposed to simulate the viscoelastic and viscoelastic behavior of soil respectively. Viscoelastic and viscoelastic strain incremental formulas are derived for interface elements and soil elements around piles and the axisymmetric elastic-viscoelastc-viscoplastic finite element program is compiled. Creep effects on the settlement of poles, the building load carried by raft and the distribution of stresses along piles are analyzed. In addition, the behavior of interface between pile and soil are investigated through experiment.