A simple approach to evaluating leakage through thin impervious element of high embankment dams

Internal erosion is the most common reason which induces failure of embankment dams besides overtopping. Relatively large leakage is frequently concentrated at defects of impervious element, and this will lead to eventual failure. The amount of leakage depends not only on integrity of impervious element, but also on dam height, shape of valley, shape of impervious element and water level in reservoir. The integrity of impervious element, which represents the relative level of seepage safety, is not easy to be determined quantitatively. A simple method for generalization of steady seepage state of embankment dams with thin impervious element is proposed in this paper. The apparent overall value of permeability coefficient for impervious element can be obtained by this method with reasonable accuracy and efficiency. A defect parameter of impervious element is defined as an index to characterize seepage safety of embankment dams. It equals the ratio of the apparent overall value of permeability coefficient to the measured value in laboratory for intact materials. Subsequently, seepage safety of three dams is evaluated and the evolution of defect level of impervious element of dams is investigated. It is proved that the newly proposed method in this paper is feasible in the evaluation of relative seepage safety level of embankment dams with thin impervious element.     

Spatial and temporal variations of suspended solid concentrations from 2000 to 2013 in Poyang Lake,China

Concentrations of suspended solids in lakes can affect the latter’s primary productivity and reflect changes in sediment deposition. Determining the temporal and spatial distribution of suspended solid concentrations has important significance in lake water environmental management; this is particularly urgent for Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China. In this study, suspended solid concentration inversion models for Poyang Lake were created using a semi-empirical method with regression analysis between continuously measured suspended solid concentration data and multi-band moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer images for spring, summer, autumn, and winter from 2009 to 2012. The coefficient of determination (R²) is from 0.6 to 0.9 and the average relative error for the accuracy verification was between 10 and 30%. The seasonal distributions of suspended solid concentrations in Poyang Lake from 2000 to 2013 were then obtained using optimal reversal models. The results showed that the seasonal variation in suspended solid concentrations had a “W” shape in which high spring and autumn and low summer and winter values. The suspended solid concentrations increased annually from 2000 to 2013 and were mainly distributed in the northern and central portions of the lake, with lower values along the shorelines. Further analysis indicated that the large difference in water level between the wet and dry seasons is an important factor in explaining these seasonal variations. Moreover, the suspended solid concentrations were poorly correlated with water temperature and chlorophyll-a concentration but more highly correlated with the deferred chlorophyll-a concentration.     

Effect of climate change on water resources in the Yuanshui River Basin: a SWAT model assessment

The Yuanshui River Basin is one of the most important river basins ensuring food production and livelihoods in the Hunan and Guizhou Provinces of China. Based on digital elevation model, land use, soil, and meteorological data, the soil and water assessment tool was used to analyze the response of water resources in the basin to climate change. Specifically, the monthly runoff from the Yuanshui River Basin was simulated. Runoff measurements from the 1961–1990 series were used to calibrate model parameters, and measurements from the 1991–2010 series were used for model validation. The Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient, correlation coefficient, and water balance error were used to evaluate the simulation results; the values obtained for these parameters were 0.925, 0.929, and 2.0%, respectively, indicating that the established model can be applied successfully to runoff simulations. To evaluate the effects of climate change and human activities on runoff, 24 different climate scenarios were modeled. By comparing the model simulation results with the baseline scenario, the effects of climate change were analyzed by year, during the dry season, and during extremely dry conditions. The results showed that runoff decreased with increasing air temperature and decreasing precipitation, and that the effects of rainfall on runoff were greater than those of air temperature. Under the same baseline conditions, the effects of climate change on runoff were most pronounced during extremely dry months.     

Research on mining-induced deformation and stress,insights from physical modeling and theoretical analysis

The dynamic change of mining-induced stress is the main reason for large deformation of surrounding rock. To investigate the influence of mining-induced stress and deformation is important for appropriate supportive design. It also helps to raise the safety and productivity of longwall mining operations. In this paper, Weijiagou Coal Mine in Southwest China was selected as the case study. In order to research on the deformation and breakage of overlying strata, physical modeling test was carried out on the self-developed rotatable physical similar test system. By using digital image correlation (DIC) technique, the deformation of strata and development of cracks in the process of coal seam excavation were acquired, meanwhile, mining-induced stress was also monitored by pressure cell and strainmeter. According to the mechanical structure of stope, the height of the destressed zone has a significant influence on stress distribution. In order to minimize the discrepancy between the physical model test and theoretical analysis, the dimension of the plastic zone of roadway was added into the mining panel width, and the gap between the experimental and theoretical results reduced.     

基于CDIO的遥感专业GIS原理课程教学改革

GIS课程是集计算机技术、测绘科学、应用数学、信息科学、地球科学于一身的交叉学科,也是遥感类专业重要的核心课程。培养具有"3S"素质的创新型遥感应用人才是遥感专业建设的科学目标。CDIO教学模式在一定程度上较好地解决了工程教育中理论与实践脱节的问题,因此,本文提出运用CDIO工程教育模式,改革教学内容、教学方法和考核方式,提高遥感专业学生处理综合性专业问题的能力。     

Numerical investigation of the hydrodynamic response of an impermeable sea-wall subjected to artificial submarine landslide-induced tsunamis

Landslides - Landslide-induced tsunamis are common natural hazards that potentially affect the safety and stability of waterfront structures. A numerical tank was constructed using FLOW-3D to...     

喜马拉雅东部三叠系涅如组地球化学和碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学特征及构造意义

喜马拉雅中—新生代地层沉积于印度被动大陆边缘,三叠系沉积物物源分析是冈瓦纳大陆裂解和古地理研究的重要载体.特提斯喜马拉雅东段上三叠统涅如组碎屑岩的物质来源和沉积背景具有较大的争议,本次研究采集隆子县斗玉乡晚三叠世粉砂质板岩进行碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学和全岩主微量元素地球化学分析.涅如组碎屑锆石年龄具有两个明显的峰值:206～224Ma(峰值213 Ma)和462～567Ma(峰值512 Ma),表明涅如组沉积时代为晚三叠世诺利期.涅如组w(SiO2)含量较低(平均值为57.7％),w(Al2O3)值较高(17.2％),轻稀土元素富集,重稀土元素亏损,轻稀土/重稀土元素平均值为8.1.高场强元素中Nb,Ta,Ti亏损,Zr,Hf,Th,U富集;大离子亲石元素中Ba,Sr亏损,Rb和K富集.综合分析认为源区岩石以酸性岩浆岩为主.本次研究认为上三叠统涅如组浊流相沉积形成于裂谷环境,代表新特提斯洋的打开;标志着拉萨板块从冈瓦纳大陆北缘裂解,并开始向北漂移.     

Arsenic contamination caused by roxarsone transformation with spatiotemporal variation of microbial community structure in a column experiment

Arsenic contamination from roxarsone in livestock manure is common, and livestock manure continuously accumulates in the open environment. Evaluations of the environmental processes of As mobilization and transformation are critical for predicting the fate of As compounds after roxarsone degradation. In this study, spatiotemporal variations in As species and microbial community structure were characterized using laboratory column experiments with background soil collected from Yanggu County (northern Shandong Plain, China), a region of intense poultry production. Organic and inorganic arsenic were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and HPLC with hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HPLC-HG-AFS), respectively. High-throughput sequencing technology was used to describe microbial diversity. Results showed that roxarsone was transformed completely within 7 days, and As(Ⅲ) and As(Ⅴ) were the major degradation products. The concentration of As(Ⅲ) was much lower than that of As(Ⅴ). The As(Ⅲ) concentration increased significantly after Day 14, whereas the As(Ⅴ) concentration increased significantly after Day 84, indicating that As(Ⅲ) was initially produced. The microbial community structure changed significantly as roxarsone transformed into various As compounds. A critical and dominant bacterial strain, norank_f__Family_XVⅢ, was found to be related to the degradation of roxarsone into As(Ⅲ). This study improves our understanding of the fate of As species released from poultry litter to soil and groundwater, which is a threat to human health and environment.     

Machine learning reveals the influences of grain morphology on grain crushing strength

Acta Geotechnica - Grain morphology has significant impacts on the mechanical behaviors of granular materials. However, its influences on grain breakage are still poorly understood due to the...     

地面观测资料地形高度订正对我国东部暴雨数值模拟的影响

采用中尺度气象模式 WRFv3.8.1(Weather Research and Forecasting Model)和 GSI 同化系统(Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation System),建立了一套循环同化系统,开展了一个月的地面观测资料、探空资料、雷达资料和卫星资料的同化试验....