Using Sequential Self-Calibration Method to Identify Conductivity Distribution: Conditioning on Tracer Test data

An iterative inverse method, the sequential self-calibration method, is developed for mapping spatial distribution of a hydraulic conductivity field by conditioning on nonreactive tracer breakthrough curves. A streamline-based, semi-analytical simulator is adopted to simulate solute transport in a heterogeneous aquifer. The simulation is used as the forward modeling step. In this study, the hydraulic conductivity is assumed to be a deterministic or random variable. Within the framework of the streamline-based simulator, the efficient semi-analytical method is used to calculate sensitivity coefficients of the solute concentration with respect to the hydraulic conductivity variation. The calculated sensitivities account for spatial correlations between the solute concentration and parameters. The performance of the inverse method is assessed by two synthetic tracer tests conducted in an aquifer with a distinct spatial pattern of heterogeneity. The study results indicate that the developed iterative inverse method is able to identify and reproduce the large-scale heterogeneity pattern of the aquifer given appropriate observation wells in these synthetic cases.     

(ϖμ/ϖT) P of the lower mantle

We estimate (/T) _P of the lower mantle at seismic frequencies using two distinct approaches by combining ambient laboratory measurements on lower mantle minerals with seismic data. In the first approach, an upper bound is estimated for |(/T) _P | by comparing the shear modulus () profile of PREM with laboratory room-temperature data of extrapolated to high pressures. The second approach employs a seismic tomography constraint ( lnV _S / lnV _P ) _P =1.8–2, which directly relates (/T) _P with (K _S /T) _P . An average (K _S /T) _P can be obtained by comparing the well-established room-temperature compression data for lower mantle minerals with theK _S profile of PREM along several possible adiabats. Both (K _S /T) and (/T) depend on silicon content [or (Mg+Fe)/Sil of the model. For various compositions, the two approaches predict rather distinct (/T) _P vs. (K _S /T) _P curves, which intersect at a composition similar to pyrolite with (/T) _P =–0.02 to –0.035 and (K _S /T) _P =–0.015 to –0.020 GPa/K. The pure perovskite model, on the other hand, yields grossly inconsistent results using the two approaches. We conclude that both vertical and lateral variations in seismic velocities are consistent with variation due to pressure, temperature, and phase transformations of a uniform composition. Additional physical properties of a pyrolite lower mantle are further predicted. Lateral temperature variations are predicted to be about 100–250 K, and the ratio of ( lnp/ lnV _S ) _P around 0.13 and 0.26. All of these parameters increase slightly with depth if the ratio of ( lnV _S / lnV _P ) _P remains constant throughout the lower mantle. These predicted values are in excellent agreement with geodynamic analyses, in which the ratios ( ln / lnV _S ) _P and ( / lnV _S ) _P are free parameters arbitrarily adjusted to fit the tomography and geoid data.     

Spatial orientation of the spin vectors of the disk galaxies in the Virgo cluster I. A catalogue of the disk galaxies in the Virgo cluster

Based on four UK Schmidt Telescope (UKST) IIIa-j direct plates which had been digitized by the Automated Plate Measuring System (APM), a detailed identification of the disk galaxies in the Virgo cluster has been carried out. The certain and possible member galaxies are mainly selected from the updated Catalogue of 2096 Galaxies in the Virgo Cluster Area (VCC). The area of this identification covers a 85 square degree region centered on this cluster. As a result, we compiled a new catalogue of 340 certain and possible member disk galaxies, including 85 lenticulars (SO), 136 spirals (S) and 119 irregulars (Irr), where the APM-measured values of the position angle (P.A.) and diameters of 299 disk galaxies are provided. For at least 149 galaxies, the values of the P.A. and diameters are published for the first time.Comparison between the APM-measured P.A. and diameters of galaxies and those given by the Uppsala General Catalog of Galaxies (UGC) demonstrates the reliability of our data. The statistical properties and completeness of this database are also discussed. Compared with the UGC-given P.A. and diameters which were determined by eyes, our data has no selection effect owing to the instrument measurements. Within our searching region, this might be the largest and relatively complete photometric database published so far for investigating the spatial orientation of the spin vectors of galaxies in the Virgo cluster.     

Electron microscopy study of domain structure due to phase transitions in natural perovskite

Transmission electron microscopy on natural calcium metatitanate perovskite (dysanalyte) reveals the following twin laws in the orthorhombic (space group Pbnm) phase: reflection twins on the {110} and {112} planes, and 90° rotation twins about the [001] axis (referred to as [001]_90° twin). Single crystals that were heattreated and quenched from above 1585 K exhibit a dramatic change in domain structure compared with the starting material and specimens quenched from T < 1470=" k.=" mutually=" perpendicular=" {110}=" and=">_90° twins are observed throughout the crystal, forming a cross-hatched domain texture. 1/2[001] antiphase domains, which are very rarely observed in the starting material, also become dominant in the crystal. This change in domain structure is interpreted as due to a structural phase transition in perovskite at a temperature below 1585 K. From the point symmetry elements that describe the twin laws and the translational elements that relate the antiphase domains, the most likely phase near 1585 K is tetragonal with space group P4/mbm. These results are consistent with high-temperature powder X-ray diffraction study. On the other hand, density of the {112} twins is increased significantly in the crystal quenched from 1673 K. Twin domains are either bound by mutually perpendicular {110} and (001) walls, or by {112} walls with {110} twin domains within the polygonal {112} domains. Both twin density variation and domain morphology suggest that the crystal may be cubic at this temperature. Microstructure of a single crystal deformed at 1273 K and 3.5 GPa (within the orthorhombic stability field) is morphologically quite distinct from that of the heat-treated specimens. Dislocations dominate the microstructure and often interact with twin domain boundaries.A National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center     

POPULATION EXPANSION IN CHINA''''S METROPOLISES AND ITS SCALE-CONTROL

Metropolises are centers of politics, economy, culture and information, and also economic growth poles in comparatively large areas. After 1949, China's urban structure have changed greatly, from original "pyramid" shape into "upside -down pyramid" shape, that is, more megalopolises and metropolises, fewer medium-sized and small cities. The most distinguishing feature of urban population growth was the remarkable increase of population in megalopolises and metropolises. The key reason for urban population expansion is to want to obtain the benefits of scale -agglomeration economy of metropolises. The number of urban functions directly determines the quality and quantity of urban population. Metropolises appeal not only agricultural population but also the population of medium-sized and small cities, which put much more population pressure on metropolises. The ideal goals of scale-control of metropolitan population are discussed in terms of economy, society and ecollogy. In order to control the metropoli     

Objective prism survey of qsos in the field centered at 10h40m + 00°00′

QSO objective prism survey was done for the field centered at 10^h40^m + 00°00. For the 348 objects selected, we present in this paper their positions,B _J magnitudes, spectra, and finding charts. Based on the sample containing 163 QSO candidates with higher reliabilities (F 3), the surface density of QSO candidates withB _J 20 is estimated to be about 4.5 per square degree.Work based on UKST plates.     

船式支护在基坑中的应用

在深厚软土地区的基坑,对基坑底软土进行搅拌加固形成强度较高的底板而保证坑底稳定,侧壁采用支护桩支护保证侧壁的稳定使其不倾倒,支护桩与加固底板两者共同作用形成的船状结构支护体系类似轮船的船侧壁及船底板,以保证基坑的稳定。结合具体的工程实例,介绍了船式支护的侧壁及底板的设计方法。工程案例成功实施,监测结果表明,船式支护既可避免支护桩嵌固深度过长,又利于软土的土方施工及工程桩的保护,是安全可靠的,对类似工程有一定的参考意义。     

Slip-weakening constitutive relation and the structure in the vicinity of a shear crack tip

Shear-crack model with a cohesive zone (or breakdown zone) is appropriate for the analysis of a fault surface in which slip distribution is strongly nonuniform. As the slipped portion advances, slip-weakening occurs over the so-called cohesive zone, a distance behind the fault tip. For a prescribed strength vs. displacement constitutive relation, however, the zone structure is difficult to determine by an analytical method except for some simple cases, thus it often requires a certain numerical procedure. This work proposes a numerical procedure to obtain approximated solutions of the problem by combining a series of elastic solutions derived bySmith (1974). The series is linearly combined and the unknown coefficients are determined by a nonlinear least square method. This method can fit a wide range of prescribed strength vs. displacement relations which may be simple algebraic relations or curves obtained by laboratory tests. By examining the residual errors and in comparison with a derived result in which linear stress is assumed within the zone, it could be concluded that the results provide good accuracy. Moreover, because the results are written in formulae, they can be easily referred to or used. By fitting constitutive curves in many different shapes, it is found that the stress distribution within the zone is more sensitive to the constitutive curve shape than the displacement. The most interesting fact is that the zone size is not sensitive to the curve shape, i.e., the zone size can be estimated by $$R = 3\mu \zeta \upsilon _c /\{ 2(1 - \upsilon )(\tau _c - \tau _f )\}$$ with ζ=1±0.11 for most cases.     

Strength and stability of frictional sliding of gabbro gouge at elevated temperatures

To investigate the strength of frictional sliding and stability of mafic lower crust, we conducted experiments on oven-dried gabbro gouge of 1 mm thick sandwiched between country rock pieces (with gouge inclined 35° to the sample axis) at slip rates of 1.22 × 10^− 3 mm/s and 1.22 × 10^− 4 mm/s and elevated temperatures up to 615 °C. Special attention has been paid to whether transition from velocity weakening to velocity strengthening occurs due to the elevation of temperature.Two series of experiments were conducted with normal stresses of 200 MPa and 300 MPa, respectively. For both normal stresses, the friction strengths are comparable at least up to 510 °C, with no significant weakening effect of increasing temperature. Comparison of our results with Byerlee's rule on a strike slip fault with a specific temperature profile in the Zhangbei region of North China shows that the strength given by experiments are around that given by Byerlee's rule and a little greater in the high temperature range.At 200 MPa normal stress, the steady-state rate dependence a − b shows only positive values, probably still in the “run-in” process where velocity strengthening is a common feature. With a normal stress of 300 MPa, the values of steady-state rate dependence decreases systematically with increasing temperature, and stick-slip occurred at 615 °C. Considering the limited displacement, limited normal stress applied and the effect of normal stress for the temperatures above 420 °C, it is inferred here that velocity weakening may be the typical behaviour at higher normal stress for temperature above 420 °C and at least up to 615 °C, which covers most of the temperature range in the lower crust of geologically stable continental interior. For a dry mafic lower crust in cool continental interiors where frictional sliding prevails over plastic flow, unstable slip nucleation may occur to generate earthquakes.