A Study of Optimal Rock-Cutting Conditions for Hard Rock TBM Using the Discrete Element Method

The efficiency of TBM performance affected by the specific s/p (s: spacing and p: penetration) ratio of the disc cutter is a research issue in demand. This article presents a multi-indentation simulation using discrete element method (DEM) analysis to study the optimal rock-cutting phenomena in terms of the interaction of the s/p ratio with intact rock properties. The multi-indentation simulation attempts to represent a linear cutting machine (LCM) test, which is a full-scale test for evaluating the optimal rock-cutting condition and measuring required reaction forces based on the intact rock condition in general practice. A governing equation relating mechanical rock properties with geometric characteristics for the optimal rock-cutting condition is derived by the numerical simulation, and its performance is evaluated with the result of the laboratory LCM tests. The results of simulations and real LCM tests show that the effective rock-cutting condition corresponding to the minimum specific energy can be estimated by an optimized s/p ratio, which, in turn, is linearly proportional to the square of the material brittleness, B ², and cutter tip width, t (i.e., s/p?=?cB ² t, where c is coefficient). The limitation of the numerical simulation associated with the sample preparation is also discussed.     

Cross-application used to validate landslide susceptibility maps using a probabilistic model from Korea

A study of landslides in Youngin, Janghung and Boeun, Korea, using the geographic information system (GIS) validates a spatial probabilistic model for landslide susceptibility analysis. Locations were identified from aerial photographs, satellite images and field surveys. Topography, soil-type, forest-cover and land-cover maps were constructed from spatial data sets. Landslide occurrence is influenced by 13 factors, evidence for which was extracted from the database with the frequency ratio of each factor computed. Landslide susceptibility maps use frequency ratios derived not only from data for each area but also ratios, one from the probabilistic model, calculated from the other two areas (nine maps in all) as a cross-check of method validity. For validation, analytical results were compared in each study area with actual landslide locations: Boeun based on its frequency ratio showed the best accuracy (82.49%) whereas Janghung based on the Boeun frequency ratio showed the worst (69.53%).     

Assessment of ground subsidence hazard near an abandoned underground coal mine using GIS

This study constructs a hazard map for ground subsidence around abandoned underground coal mines (AUCMs) at Samcheok City in Korea using a probability (frequency ratio) model, a statistical (logistic regression) model, and a Geographic Information System (GIS). To evaluate the factors related to ground subsidence, an image database was constructed from a topographical map, geological map, mining tunnel map, Global Positioning System (GPS) data, land use map, lineaments, digital elevation model (DEM) data, and borehole data. An attribute database was also constructed from field investigations and reports on the existing ground subsidence areas at the study site. Nine major factors causing ground subsidence were extracted from the probability analysis of the existing ground subsidence area: (1) depth of drift; (2) DEM and slope gradient; (3) groundwater level, permeability, and rock mass rating (RMR); (4) lineaments and geology; and (5) land use. The frequency ratio and logistic regression models were applied to determine each factor’s rating, and the ratings were overlain for ground subsidence hazard mapping. The ground subsidence hazard map was then verified and compared with existing subsidence areas. The verification results showed that the logistic regression model (accuracy of 95.01%) is better in prediction than the frequency ratio model (accuracy of 93.29%). The verification results showed sufficient agreement between the hazard map and the existing data on ground subsidence area. Analysis of ground subsidence with the frequency ratio and logistic regression models suggests that quantitative analysis of ground subsidence near AUCMs is possible.     

北秦岭松树沟橄榄岩与铬铁矿矿床的成因关系

松树沟橄榄岩体是秦岭造山带中规模最大的赋存铬铁矿床的超基性岩体。松树沟橄榄岩主要由细粒橄榄岩质糜棱岩和中粗粒橄榄岩组成。本文通过对松树沟橄榄岩的岩相学、主微量、稀土元素地球化学的系统研究,认为松树沟细粒方辉橄榄岩为洋脊扩张过程中地幔岩减压-近分离熔融产生的残留体,细粒纯橄岩主要由地幔橄榄岩熔融残留橄榄石、消耗辉石的减压熔融反应:aCpx+bOpx+cSpl=dOl+1Melt生成的橄榄石和少量的地幔方辉橄榄岩残留体组成,但均受到了后期渗滤熔体的再富集作用;中粗粒纯橄岩和方辉橄榄岩主要为上述反应产生的渗滤熔体被圈闭在迁移通道或减压扩容带内在热边界层(TBL)通过反应:MeltA=Ol+MeltB冷凝结晶而成,属堆晶橄榄岩。Pb-Sr-Nd同位素地球化学的证据显示,松树沟橄榄岩与基性岩具有共同的地幔源区,二者同为松树沟蛇绿岩的重要组成部分。通过矿床地质特征及铬铁矿电子探针测试研究,认为松树沟铬铁矿床是产于中粗粒堆晶纯橄岩中的层状铬铁矿床,形成于格林威尔期松树沟洋盆的扩张过程中,是中粗粒纯橄岩在热边界层(TBL)的冷凝结晶过程中岩浆分异作用的产物。     

Sedimentological characteristics and new detrital zircon SHRIMP U–Pb ages of the Babulu Formation in the Fohorem area,Timor-Leste

Sedimentological characteristics and zircon provenance dating of the Babulu Formation in the Fohorem area, Timor-Leste, provide new insights into depositional process, detailed sedimentary environment and the distribution of source rocks in the provenance. Detrital zircon sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U–Pb ages range from Neoarchean to Triassic, with the main age pulses being Paleozoic to Triassic. In addition, the maximum deposition ages based on the youngest major age peak (ca 256–238 Ma) of zircon grains indicate that the basal sedimentation of the Babulu Formation occurred after the early Upper Triassic. The formation consists predominantly of mudstone with minor sandstone, limestone and conglomerate that were deposited in a deep marine environment. These deposits are composed of six lithofacies that can be grouped into three facies associations (FAs) based on the constituent lithofacies and bedding features: basin plain deposits (FA I), distal fringe lobe deposits (FA II) and medial to distal lobe deposits (FA III). The predominance of mudstone (FA I) together with intervening thin-bedded sandstones (FA II) suggest that the paleodepositional environment was a low energy setting with slightly basin-ward input of the distal part of the depositional lobes. Discrete and abrupt occurrences of thick-bedded sandstone (FA III) within the FA I mudstone suggests that sandstone originated from a collapse of upslope sediments rather than a progressive progradation of deltaic turbidites. This combined petrological and geochronological study demonstrates that the Babulu Formation in the Fohorem area of the Timor-Leste was initiated as a submarine lobe system in a relatively deep marine environment during the Upper Triassic and represents the extension of the Gondwana Sequence at the Australian margin.     

Geostatistical integration of seismic velocity and resistivity data for probabilistic evaluation of rock quality

This study applied a geostatistical approach to integrate various geophysical results for the probabilistic evaluation of rock quality designation (RQD) in regions between boreholes. Two of the geophysical survey results, electrical resistivity and seismic velocity, were transformed into a probabilistic distribution with the directly observed RQD values at the boreholes using an indicator value method. The initial spatial distribution of RQD, inferred from indicator kriging of observations from the boreholes, was improved by support of the geophysical results based on the integration by a permanence ratio. The integration was good enough to produce results that compensated for the defection of each exploration method. Also, the probabilistic feature of the final product of the RQD distribution made it possible to assess a more quantitative rock quality evaluation and better decision making for safety design.     

Foregrounds for 21-cm observations of neutral gas at high redshift

We investigate a number of potential foregrounds for an ambitious goal of future radio telescopes such as the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) and the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR): spatial tomography of neutral gas at high redshift in 21-cm emission. While the expected temperature fluctuations due to unresolved radio point sources is highly uncertain, we point out that free–free emission from the ionizing haloes that reionized the Universe should define a minimal bound. This emission is likely to swamp the expected brightness temperature fluctuations, making proposed detections of the angular patchwork of 21-cm emission across the sky unlikely to be viable. Hα observations with JWST could place an upper bound on the contribution of high-redshift sources to the free–free background. An alternative approach is to discern the topology of reionization from spectral features due to 21-cm emission along a pencil-beam slice. This requires tight control of the frequency-dependence of the beam in order to prevent foreground sources from contributing excessive variance. We also investigate potential contamination by galactic and extragalactic radio recombination lines (RRLs). These are unlikely to be show-stoppers, although little is known about the distribution of RRLs away from the Galactic plane. The mini-halo emission signal is always less than that of the intergalactic medium (IGM), making mini-haloes unlikely to be detectable. If they are seen, it will be only in the very earliest stages of structure formation at high redshift, when the spin temperature of the IGM has not yet decoupled from the cosmic microwave background.     

Seasonal export fluxes of particulate organic carbon from <Superscript>234</Superscript>Th/<Superscript>238</Superscript>U disequilibrium measurements in the Ulleung Basin<Superscript>1</Superscript> (Tsushima Basin) of the East Sea<Superscript>1</Superscript> (Sea of Japan)

Export fluxes of particulate organic carbon (POC) were estimated from the ²³⁴Th/²³⁸U disequilibrium in the Ulleung Basin¹ (UB) of the East/Japan Sea¹ (EJS) over four seasons. The fluxes were calculated by multiplying the average POC/²³⁴Th ratio of sinking particles larger than 0.7 μm at 100- and 200-m water depths to ²³⁴Th fluxes by the integrated ²³⁴Th/²³⁸U disequilibrium from the surface to 100-m water depth. In spring, the ²³⁴Th profiles changed dramatically with sampling time, and hence a non-steady-state ²³⁴Th model was used to estimate the ²³⁴Th fluxes. The ²³⁴Th flux estimated from the non-steady-state model was an order of magnitude higher than that estimated from the steady-state model. The ²³⁴Th fluxes estimated using the steady-state model showed distinct seasonal variation, with high values in summer and winter and low values in autumn. In spring, the phytoplankton biomass had the highest value, and primary production was higher than in summer and autumn, but the ²³⁴Th fluxes were moderate. However, these values might have been significantly underestimated, as the ²³⁴Th fluxes were estimated using the steady-state model. The POC export fluxes estimated in autumn were about four times lower than those in other seasons when they were rather similar. The annually averaged POC flux was estimated to be 161 ± 76 mgC m⁻² day⁻¹, which was somewhat lower than that in highly productive coastal areas, and higher than that in oligotrophic regions. The export/primary production (ThE) ratios ranged from 7.0 to 56.1%, with higher values in spring and summer and lower values in autumn and winter. In summer, a high ThE ratio of 48.4 ± 7.0% was measured. This may be attributed to the mass diatom sinking event following nitrate depletion. In the UB¹, the annually averaged ThE ratio was estimated to be 34.4 ± 12.9%, much higher than that in oligotrophic oceans. The high ThE ratio may have contributed to the high organic carbon accumulation in the UB¹.