Reconstruction of paleocoastlines for the northwestern South China Sea since the Last Glacial Maximum

The range of relative sea level rise in the northwestern South China Sea since the Last Glacial Maximum was over 100 m. As a result, lowland regions including the Northeast Vietnam coast, Beibu Gulf, and South China coast experienced an evolution from land to sea. Based on the principle of reconstructing paleogeography and using recent digital elevation model, relative sea level curves, and sediment accumulation data, this paper presents a series of paleogeographic scenarios back to 20 cal. ka BP for the northwestern South China Sea. The scenarios demonstrate the entire process of coastline changes for the area of interest. During the late glacial period from 20 to 15 cal. ka BP, coastline slowly retreated, causing a land loss of only 1×10⁴ km², and thus the land-sea distribution remained nearly unchanged. Later in 15–10 cal. ka BP coastline rapidly retreated and area of land loss was up to 24×10⁴km², causing lowlands around Northeast Vietnam and South China soon to be underwater. Coastline retreat continued quite rapidly during the early Holocene. From 10 to 6 cal. ka BP land area had decreased by 9×10⁴km², and during that process the Qiongzhou Strait completely opened up. Since the mid Holocene, main controls on coastline change are from vertical crustal movements and sedimentation. Transgression was surpassed by regression, resulting in a land accretion of about 10×10⁴km². Supported by Key Laboratory of Marginal Sea Geology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. MSGL0711), the Guangdong Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. 04001309) and Open Fund of the Key Laboratory of Marine Geology and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. MGE2007KG04)     

Assessment of shallow landslides from Hurricane Mitch in central America using a physically based model

Shallow landslides induced by heavy rainfall events represent one of the most disastrous hazards in mountainous regions because of their high frequency and rapid mobility. Recent advancements in the availability and accessibility of remote sensing data, including topography, land cover and precipitation products, allow landslide hazard assessment to be considered at larger spatial scales. A theoretical framework for a landslide forecasting system was prototyped in this study using several remotely sensed and surface parameters. The applied physical model SLope-Infiltration-Distributed Equilibrium (SLIDE) takes into account some simplified hypotheses on water infiltration and defines a direct relation between factor of safety and the rainfall depth on an infinite slope. This prototype model is applied to a case study in Honduras during Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Two study areas were selected where a high density of shallow landslides occurred, covering approximately 1,200 km². The results were quantitatively evaluated using landslide inventory data compiled by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) following Hurricane Mitch’s landfall. The agreement between the SLIDE modeling results and landslide observations demonstrates good predictive skill and suggests that this framework could serve as a potential tool for the future early landslide warning systems. Results show that within the two study areas, the values of rates of successful estimation of slope failure locations reached as high as 78 and 75%, while the error indices were 35 and 49%. Despite positive model performance, the SLIDE model is limited by several assumptions including using general parameter calibration rather than in situ tests and neglecting geologic information. Advantages and limitations of this physically based model are discussed with respect to future applications of landslide assessment and prediction over large scales.     

A coupling of mixed and continuous Galerkin finite element methods for poroelasticity I: the continuous in time case

In this paper, we formulate a finite element procedure for approximating the coupled fluid and mechanics in Biot’s consolidation model of poroelasticity. Here, we approximate the pressure by a mixed finite element method and the displacements by a Galerkin method. Theoretical convergence error estimates are derived in a continuous in-time setting for a strictly positive constrained specific storage coefficient. Of particular interest is the case when the lowest-order Raviart–Thomas approximating space or cell-centered finite differences are used in the mixed formulation, and continuous piecewise linear approximations are used for displacements. This approach appears to be the one most frequently applied to existing reservoir engineering simulators.     

Rapid estimation of maximum and minimum void ratios of granular soils

Maximum and minimum void ratios (e_max and e_min) of granular soils are commonly used as indicators of many engineering properties. However, few methods, apart from laboratory tests, are available to provide a rapid estimation of both e_max and e_min. In this study, we present a theoretical model to map the densest and the loosest packing configurations of granular soils onto the void space. A corresponding numerical procedure that can predict both e_max and e_min of granular soils with arbitrary grain size distributions is proposed. The capacity of the proposed method is evaluated by predicting the maximum and minimum void ratios of medium to fine mixed graded sands with different contents of fines. The influence of the grain size distribution, characterized quantitatively by uniformity parameter and the fractal dimension, on e_max and e_min is discussed using the proposed method. Moreover, application of this method in understanding the controlling mechanism for the void ratio change during grain crushing is presented.

     

倾斜基岩上的土-框架相互作用研究

倾斜基岩上的框架是山地、丘陵地区多见的一种结构形式，但以往对其抗震性能研究很少。本文利用二次开发后的ANSYS对倾斜基岩上的框架的抗震性能进行了上下部相互作用分析。在研究中发现，考虑土一结相互作用后，结构的高阶振型在地震反应中的参与程度提高；可能在结构的地震反应傅里叶谱中形成双峰；并使地震反应沿结构高度的分布不再沿直线变化，而呈锯齿状分布。由于倾斜基岩将降低土层对地震波的放大作用，但基本不改变地基的卓越频率，因此倾斜基岩将会抑制上部结构的地震反应；而倾斜基岩上结构的地震反应分布将比相应平坦基岩上结构的地震反应分布更接近直线形分布，但变化形状基本相同。     

Grid pattern recognition in road networks using the C4.5 algorithm

Pattern recognition in road networks can be used for different applications, including spatiotemporal data mining, automated map generalization, data matching of different levels of detail, and other important research topics. Grid patterns are a common pattern type. This paper proposes and implements a method for grid pattern recognition based on the idea of mesh classification through a supervised learning process. To train the classifier, training datasets are selected from worldwide city samples with different cultural, historical, and geographical environments. Meshes are subsequently labeled as composing or noncomposing grids by participants in an experiment, and the mesh measures are defined while accounting for the mesh’s individual characteristics and spatial context. The classifier is generated using the C4.5 algorithm. The accuracy of the classifier is evaluated using Kappa statistics and the overall rate of correctness. The average Kappa value is approximately 0.74, which corresponds to a total accuracy of 87.5%. Additionally, the rationality of the classifier is evaluated in an interpretation step. Two other existing grid pattern recognition methods were also tested on the datasets, and comparison results indicate that our approach is effective in identifying grid patterns in road networks.     

Stabilization of Expansive Clays Using Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GBFS) and GBFS-Cement

Expansive clays undergo swelling when subjected to water. This can cause damage, especially to light weight structures, water conveyance canals, lined reservoirs, highways, and airport runways unless appropriate measures are taken. In this study, granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) and GBFS-cement (GBFSC) were utilized to overcome or to limit the expansion of an artificially prepared expansive soil sample (sample A). GBFS and GBFSC were added to sample A in proportions of 5–25% by weight. The effects of these stabilizers on grain size distribution, Atterberg limits, swelling percentage and rate of swell of soil samples were determined. GBFS and GBFSC were shown to successfully decreasing the total amount of swell while increasing the rate of swell.     

渤海、黄海强温跃层数值预报模式

文中对前人关于水温垂直结构计算、模拟和预报研究成果进行了评价，并在此基础上建立了考虑海面吸收辐射和透射辐射、地形、风、海流、界面摩擦及其引起的混合作用的强温跃层三维数值预报模式。该模式运行的驱动量仅为风和气温场资料，因而具有较好的实用性；此外，从试报的结果看，效果是令人满意的。     

海岸侵蚀灾害管理中的几项基础工作

讨论了作为海岸带管理工作中一项重要管理内容──海岸侵蚀灾害管理中的几项基础性工作,主要讨论了灾害评估的意义;海岸侵蚀灾害管理基础图件和专业图件的名称及主要内容;建立海岸侵蚀灾害信息系统的意义和主要内容;关于海岸侵蚀灾害管理法的意义和急迫性;提出了建立禁建区和禁采区的意义和紧迫性,并指出在海岸带开发建设中要统一管理,全面规划,注意到海岸带生态环境的特殊性。总之在海岸侵蚀灾害管理中,首先要做好基础工作,在此基础上做好法制建设和依法管理。     

硫酸盐渍土膨胀规律的综合影响因素的试验研究

对含氯化钠硫酸盐渍土的膨胀规律作了综合影响因素的研究，首次提出了５因素盐胀率的计算公式，并得出了盐胀率的单因素和交互作用影响的规律；另外找出了某些因素的定量指标。