Ephemeral stream chemistry below the elevation of near‐zero net infiltration

Stormwater along ephemeral arroyos and areal infiltration in nearby boreholes were studied in the Amargosa Desert Region of Southern Nevada, USA. Chemical composition of ephemeral stream runoff was measured at elevations below where areal infiltration generally occurs in arid environments using lysimeters designed for this study. Borehole cuttings from several wells were evaluated in terms of chloride migration. Analysis of the borehole data indicates that net areal infiltration has been insignificant for the past 10 000+ years. This is associated with an environment where chloride and other soluble salts accumulate in shallow sediments and potentially in runoff waters. Measured storm events during the 4‐year study period were small and localized but sufficient to produce surface runoff, at least near the lysimeters. Composition of storm runoff captured by the lysimeters was found to be a combination of the water chemistry types found in precipitation and from leaching tests of near‐surface sediments. All major cations and bicarbonate increased relative to chloride when precipitation interacted with sediments to form ephemeral stream runoff. The changes were consistent with calculated saturation indices. Despite the long‐term accumulation of chloride in soils and deep sediments caused by complete evapotranspiration of infiltrating precipitation, runoff waters were characterized by low chloride and total dissolved solids. This study presents a limitation of the chloride mass‐balance method, as chloride and water migration were disassociated from each other in the study area. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical simulation of fabric anisotropy and strain localization of sand under simple shear

This paper studies the effects of initial fabric anisotropy of dry sand in simple shear deformation. The effects of anisotropy are taken into consideration through the modification of the mobilized friction in the Mohr–Coulomb‐type yield surface as a function of a fabric parameter. In addition, the constitutive model uses a gradient term that directly incorporates the effects of material length scale. The constitutive formulation is implemented into ABAQUS finite element code and used to simulate shearing of the dry sand under various conditions of simple shear. The numerical simulations show that while the shear stress response is affected by fabric anisotropy, its effects on strain localization in simple shear are minimal. This is in contrast to other devices such as the biaxial shear. The strain localization in simple shear is controlled more by the imposed boundary conditions. The use of material length scale is shown to remove the effects of strain localization in the shearing response. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Diffuse failure in geomaterials: Experiments,theory and modelling

This paper presents a synthesis of the works performed by various teams from France, Italy and Canada around the question of second‐order work criterion. Because of the non‐associative character of geomaterials plastic strains, it is now recognized that a whole bifurcation domain exists in the stress space with various possible modes of failure. In a first part these failure modes are observed in lab experimental tests and in discrete element modelling. Then a theoretical study of second‐order work allows to establish a link with the kinetic energy, giving a basis to explain the transition from a prefailure (quasi)static regime to a postfailure dynamic regime. Eventually the main features of geomaterials failure are obtained by applying second‐order work criterion to five different constitutive rate‐independent models—three being phenomenological and two micromechanical. As a whole this paper tries to gather together all the elements for a proper understanding and use of second‐order work criterion in geomechanics. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A geoelectrical and hydrogeological study for the assessment of groundwater resources in Wadi Al Bih, UAE

Drilling information, historical water table levels, groundwater salinity records of the existing water wells in Wadi Al Bih area, United Arab Emirates, were stored in a geodatabase and used to characterize the geological and hydrogeological settings of this area. A 2D earth resistivity imaging survey was conducted for the first time in the Northern UAE to determine the potential of the Quaternary aquifer and its groundwater quality in the areas where there are no monitoring wells. The results of the chemical analyses of the collected groundwater samples together with the inversion results of the resistivity data were used to draw a total salinity map and determine the spatial variations in groundwater quality. The inversion results of the 2D earth resistivity imaging data indicated that the Quaternary aquifer in the study area is in a good connection with the underlying carbonate aquifer. It also indicated that the carbonate aquifer is of major regional and vertical extension and it contains the fresh water in this area. The data stored in the developed database were used to produce different types of geopotential maps.     

Study of cracks and fissures phenomenon in Central Saudi Arabia by applying geotechnical and geophysical techniques

This paper presents an approach to investigate the phenomenon of faults and cracks that appeared in the earth’s crust surface in Al-Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. Geophysical and geotechnical methods were used together in order to evaluate these cracks and identify the reasons that led to the emergence of such phenomenon. This type of faults and cracks can normally occur due to a geological or physical event or due to the nature and properties of the subsurface material. It was intended to use two different techniques at a time, compare, and integrate the outcome of the results. The geotechnical works included advancing rotary boreholes to depths of 25 to 31 m with sampling and testing. The geophysical method used included performing 2D electrical resistivity lines. The results of geophysical and geotechnical tests showed good agreement. The use of 2D electrical resistivity was found useful to establish the layer thicknesses of shale and highly plastic clay. This cannot be determined without deep and expensive direct boring investigation or other sophisticated methods. The results showed that the ground cracks and faults were mainly caused due to the nature of the soil in the area, which is considered as a high-risk soil type and classified within expansive soil groups. The subsurface formation contained excessive fines with high percentage of highly plastic clay materials. The volume changes due to humidity variations can result in either swelling or shrinking. These changes can have significant impact on engineering structures such as light buildings and roads. The possible mechanism of cracks formation is explained.     

Contribution of diffuse sources to the sediment and phosphorus budgets in Ben Chifley Catchment,Australia

Relative contribution of different diffuse sources to the sediment and phosphorous (P) budgets in the Ben Chifley Reservoir was estimated using a multivariate mixing model and geochemical indices and tracers. The influence of the underlying geology on land use characteristics and the dynamics of sediment and P in the catchment were discussed. Sediments currently in transport to the reservoir are derived mainly from areas underlain by Quaternary alluvium, accounting for 33% of the reservoir sediment budget. A major portion of the sediments from the Quaternary alluvium originates from pasture land which also contributes about 60% of sediment-bound P in the reservoir, followed by cropland (30%) and forest area (10%). Phosphorus-based fertiliser contributes more than 50% of the soil P in pasture and cropland and more than 60% in forest plantation area. The remaining P reaching the reservoir originates from natural soils (native sources). Phosphate from both fertiliser and native sources are transported to the water courses and ultimately the reservoir as a consequence of gully, stream bank and surface erosion. Erosion control, trapping of fertiliser runoff, establishing riparian vegetation and reducing application of P-based fertiliser by increasing native pasture cultivation in the risk areas should be considered as management options for controlling the impact of P and sediment in the reservoir.