Numerical estimation of REV and permeability tensor for fractured rock masses by composite element method

The Monte Carlo method is used to generate parent stochastic discrete fracture network, from which a series of fractured rock samples of different sizes and orientations are extracted. The fracture network combined with a regular grid forms composite element mesh of the fractured rock sample, in which each composite element is composed of sub‐elements incised by fracture segments. The composite element method (CEM) for the seepage is implemented to obtain the nodal hydraulic potential as well as the seepage flow rates through the fractured rock samples. The application of CEM enables a large quantity of stochastic tests for the fractured rock samples because the pre‐process is facilitated greatly. By changing the sizes and orientations of the samples, the analysis of the seepage characteristics is realized to evaluate the variation of the permeability components, the existence of the permeability tensor and the representative element volume. The feasibility and effectiveness are illustrated in a numerical example. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Biaxial test simulations using a packing of polygonal particles

The mechanical response of cohesionless granular materials under monotonic loading is studied by performing molecular dynamic simulations. The diversity of shapes of soil grains is modelled by using randomly generated convex polygons as granular particles. Results of the biaxial test obtained for dense and loose media show that samples achieve the same void ratio at large strains independent of their initial density state. This limit state resembles the so‐called critical state of soil mechanics, except for some stress fluctuations, which remain for large deformations. These fluctuations are studied at the micro‐mechanical level, by following the evolution of the co‐ordination number, force chains and the fraction of the sliding contacts of the sample. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Flexural isostatic response of the Alps to increased Quaternary erosion recorded by foreland basin remnants,SE France

We test the hypothesis that flexural isostatic compensation of the mass removed by enhanced Quaternary erosion is responsible for uplift of the Western European Alps and their forelands. We use two well‐preserved and well‐dated (1.8 Ma) abandonment surfaces of foreland basin remnants in SE France (the Chambaran and Valensole plateaux) as passive benchmarks for tilting of the foreland. Estimating their initial slope from morphometric scaling relationships, we determine bulk post‐depositional tilting of 0.5–0.8% for these surfaces. The calculated isostatic response of the Alpine lithosphere to erosional unloading, using the method recently proposed by Champagnac et al. [Geology 35 (2007) 195–198] , yields a predicted tilting of 0.3–0.4% in the considered areas, explaining approximately half of the determined post‐depositional tilting. Such long‐term deformation being insensitive to cyclic loading/unloading because of glaciations, we suspect the other half to be related to as yet undetermined long‐wavelength and long‐lived tectonic process(es).     

The age of the Nantuo Formation and Nantuo glaciation in South China

A U–Pb sensitive high‐resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) age of 654.5 ± 3.8 Ma from an ash bed immediately below the Nantuo Formation in South China provides the lowest age constraint for the Nantuo glaciation, which has been correlated with the global ‘Marinoan’ glaciation. A U–Pb SHRIMP age of 636.3 ± 4.9 Ma from a fallout tuff within the basal layer of the Nantuo Formation, along with the existing age of 635.2 ± 0.6 Ma from its overlying Doushantuo cap carbonate, suggests that the traditionally defined Nantuo Formation may have been deposited in a short time period at the end of the Nantuo glaciation. In combination with available ages globally, the data support a relatively short duration and rapid termination of ‘Marinoan’ glaciations.     

树木年轮重建阿勒泰西部1481-2004年6-9月降水量序列

根据采自阿勒泰西部地区5个采点的树木年轮样本, 建立了该地区的树轮年表. 通过相关普查发现, 其差值年表序列与该地区当年6-9月的降水量存在明显的负相关关系, 且具有明确的树木生理学意义. 用沙勒哈(t, t 1)两个树轮差值年表序列可较好地重建该地区1481-2004年524 a来的当年6-9月的降水量, 且经过交叉检验表明重建方程稳定可靠. 分析发现, 阿勒泰西部地区524 a来的重建降水量序列具有9个偏干阶段和9个偏湿阶段, 并且具有34.8 a、 5.0～5.1 a、 4.3～4.4 a、 3.9～4.0 a、 3.7 a和3.4 a的显著干湿变化准周期. 重建降水量序列在1518年、 1548年、 1634年、 1765年、 1856年前后发生过突变.     

阿勒泰地区降水量、可降水量及降水转化率分析

根据1961-2007年47 a阿勒泰地区7个地面站每日4个频次的水汽压和日降水量资料, 分析了阿勒泰地区降水量的变化. 结果表明: 过去47 a阿勒泰地区年降水有增多趋势, 夏、冬季节降水呈明显增加趋势, 而春、秋季则增加较缓慢;降水空间分布表现为自南向北递增, 自西向东递减. 运用整层大气可降水量的经验计算公式, 计算了阿勒泰地区大气可降水量和降水转化率. 结果得出: 阿勒泰地区可降水量时间分布为夏季多、 冬季少;空间分布表现为自山区外围向山区中心递增, 降水量的大值区与可降水量的小值区对应. 降水转化率的时空分布说明这47 a其呈递增趋势, 且冬季较高. 研究结果表明, 阿勒泰地区具有一定的增水潜力.     

长春季节性冻土地区土体微观结构与水分迁移的关系

利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)技术,从土体微观结构特征出发,对长春—吉林公路某路段季节冻土的粒度成分、结构单元体成分、孔隙特征及结构特征进行了定量分析,并对其与水分迁移的关系进行了讨论。从SEM图像定量分析中可以看出,研究路段的土体,其微观颗粒——结构单元体、孔隙的定向性均较差,粒内微小孔隙发育,土体尽管在粘粒含量较高的情况下,也表现出孔隙主要在1~2μm内分布,即毛细孔隙极发育,说明样品具有各向同性的特点,即在外界条件相同的情况下水分迁移的通道在水平和垂直方向上具有相同的性质。     

近190ka BP以来菲律宾海黑潮源区的碳酸盐旋回及其控制因素

对取自西菲律宾海黑潮源区的Ph05-5和WF3岩芯进行了CaCO3和钙质超微化石研究.在利用氧同位素曲线对比和AMS14C数据进行地层划分的基础上,结合钙质超微化石的碳酸盐溶解指数和初级生产力指标,分析了晚第四纪黑潮源区碳酸盐旋回特征及其控制因素.约190ka BP以来CaCO3含量整体上都表现为冰期高、间冰期低的"太平洋型"旋回特征,但菲律宾以东海区在末次冰期(MIS 4到MIS 2期)内部又显示出间冰段含量高、冰段含量低的"大西洋型"旋回特征.碳酸盐旋回的控制因素在黑潮源区内部也有明显的差异,菲律宾以东海区以碳酸盐溶解作用为主,初级生产力起次要作用;而台湾东南部海区的主要因素则是初级生产力变化引起的钙质生物输入量的波动.菲律宾以东海区末次冰期内部表现出的"大西洋型"旋回特征则是溶解作用和初级生产力共同影响的结果.     

北大别白垩纪镁铁－超镁铁岩的铂族元素地球化学研究

采用镍锍火试金法结合ICP-MS分析了12个北大别白垩纪镁铁-超镁铁岩样品的Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt和Pd的含量,结果显示铂族元素（PGE）的含量较低,原始地幔标准化后的PGE分布模式呈正斜率型,PPGE相对原始地幔略微亏损,而IPGE强烈亏损,Pd/Ir值远高于相应的地幔比值。这些镁铁-超镁铁岩中PGE的强烈分异是地幔低程度的部分熔融过程中,PPGE主要受硫化物控制,而Ir则存在于非硫化物相如尖晶石,可能还有合金之中造成的。同时,铂族元素的分布特征表明这些镁铁-超镁铁岩是岩浆结晶分异的产物。