基于离散元方法对走滑拉分盆地演化及次级断裂扩展过程研究

拉分盆地是一种与走滑断裂带密切相关的特殊拉张构造,因其重要的构造意义,及其与火山活动、中小地震群集、特殊的成矿作用间的伴生关系而受到研究者的高度重视。关于拉分盆地的形成演化过程,已有较多的研究成果,但是由于研究手段的限制,缺少对盆地演化中次级断裂扩展过程的研究。基于离散元的数值计算方法是研究断裂扩展方式的理想方法。本文采用基于离散元的颗粒流方法,揭示纯走滑拉分盆地发育过程中的断裂扩展和连接过程,为拉分盆地演化机理和断裂扩展提供新的研究方法。同时,根据主走滑断层与块体运动方向的夹角不同,建立不同的张扭性拉分盆地模型,系统研究张扭性盆地的断裂扩展和演化机理。将上述理论研究结果与死海盆地等经典拉分盆地实例相结合,探讨了死海盆地、土耳其Cinarcik盆地、哥伦比亚El Paraiso盆地等的形成演化机理和断裂扩展方式。      

Bonded-particle model-based simulation of artificial rock subjected to cyclic loading

A nonlinear parallel-bonded stress corrosion (NPSC) model is proposed to simulate the fatigue characteristics of artificial rock (concrete) during cyclic loading. Numerical simulations of fatigue tests replicate the main mechanical features of concrete specimens subjected to cyclic loading observed in the laboratory. A nonlinear reduction speed of the bond diameter between two bonded particles represents the damage rate induced by the fatigue load. The damage rate is proportional to the maximum cyclic load level when the minimum cyclic load level is fixed. Compared with laboratory data, a logarithmic function of bond diameter in the NPSC model resulted in the best fit to simulate the fatigue behaviour of concrete. The simulation includes acoustic emission (AE) monitoring during fatigue tests. The axial strain of the assembly is governed by the evolution of bond breakages. The sum of released bond strain energy is documented as value proportional to cumulative AE energy. The simulation results show very similar evolution compared with laboratory data, which verifies the effectiveness of AE energy simulation.

     

European Surface Pressure Patterns for Months with Outstanding Climatic Anomalies During the Sixteenth Century

Monthly mean surface pressure patterns in the European area are reconstructed for those winter and summer seasons of the 16th century with outstanding climatic anomalies being either widespread over Europe or remarkably intensive in some European regions. From the available documentary information about weather characteristics and their sequences, it proved possible to infer prevalent processes of lower tropospheric advection of typical air masses and to assess the position and strength of major surface pressure centres on a monthly scale. For comparison with modern pressure patterns, monthly mean sea level pressure (SLP) grids from the 20th century have been selected for seasons with similar climatic anomalies. There are broad coincidences between these pressure patterns of the 16th and the 20th centuries except for cold summer seasons. Finally, results from the 16th century are discussed in terms of circulation dynamics (different phases of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) in winter, decreasing frequency of anticyclonic ridging in summer).     

Mitigation of Oceanic Tidal Aliasing Errors in Space and Time Simultaneously Using Different Repeat Sub-Satellite Tracks from Pendulum-Type Gravimetric Mission Candidate

This contribution investigates two different ways for mitigating the aliasing errors in ocean tides. This is done, on the one hand, by sampling the satellite observations in another direction using the pendulum satellite mission configuration. On the other hand, a mitigation of the temporal aliasing errors in the ocean tides can be achieved by using a suitable repeat period of the sub-satellite tracks.The findings show, firstly, that it is very beneficial for minimizing the aliasing errors in ocean tides to use pendulum configuration; secondly, optimizing the orbital parameter to get shorter repeat orbit mode can be effective in minimizing the aliasing errors. This paper recommends the pendulum as a candidate for future gravity mission to be launched in longer repeating orbit mode with shorter “sub-cycle” repeat periods to improve the temporal resolution of the satellite mission.     

Automated mapping of rock slope geometry,kinematics and stability with RSS-GIS

A GIS-implemented, deterministic approach for the automated spatial evaluation of geometrical and kinematical properties of rock slope terrains is presented. Based on spatially distributed directional information on planar geological fabrics and DEM-derived topographic attribute data, the internal geometry of rock slopes can be characterized on a grid cell basis. For such computations, different approaches for the analysis and regionalization of available structural directional information applicable in specific tectonic settings are demonstrated and implemented in a GIS environment. Simple kinematical testing procedures based on feasibility criteria can be conducted on a pixel basis to determine which failure mechanisms are likely to occur at particular terrain locations. In combination with hydraulic and strength data on geological discontinuities, scenario-based rock slope stability evaluations can be performed. For conceptual investigations on rock slope failure processes, a GIS-based specification tool for a 2-D distinct element code (UDEC) was designed to operate with the GIS-encoded spatially distributed rock slope data. The concepts of the proposed methodology for rock slope hazard assessments are demonstrated at three different test sites in Germany.     

Lippmann Diagrams: Theory and Application to Carbonate Systems

Since 1980 when F. Lippmann's seminal paper appeared, ourunderstanding of solubility equilibria involving ionic solidsolutions has been advanced by theoretical considerations as wellas careful experimental studies designed to determine excess Gibbsfunctions. A unified theory of solid-solution aqueous-solutionequilibria as well as the thermodynamic background of thephenomenon of ``stoichiometric saturation' are reviewed.It is shown that Lippmann diagrams effectively summarize thethermodynamic basis of solid-solute aqueous-solution equilibria ofsparingly soluble metal carbonate systems. Clearly, the predictivepower of these diagrams may be limited due to kineticrestrictions. Only when dissolution and precipitation areessentially reversible, favourable conditions to synthesizehomogeneous solid phases can be derived from studies of equilibria.     

Delimiting the eastern extent of the Altyn Tagh Fault: Insights from structural analyses of seismic reflection profiles

The Altyn Tagh Fault (ATF) serves as a key continental‐scale controlling structural element of the Tibetan Plateau. However, its eastward extent remains controversial. Here we use high‐resolution seismic reflection profiles to investigate the subsurface structures of the easternmost ATF and use these to delimit the easternmost extent of the fault. The structural analyses show an eastward geometric change from transpressional positive flower structures to compressional thrusts, with transpression‐induced shortening magnitudes decreasing eastwards from a maximum of ~5.3 km to being absent. Stratigraphic controls indicate that the deformation took place over the last ~<1.2 Ma. Our wider findings lead us to: (a) reject the suggestion that the ATF previously extended beyond the Kuantan Shan‐Hei Shan to link with the Alxa‐East Mongolia Fault; and (b) propose that the rigid block model used to describe the Tibetan Plateau crust is not consistent with the extent and structural details of the easternmost ATF.