Expansion of Cavities Embedded in Cohesionless Elastoplastic Half-Space and Subjected to Anisotropic Stress Field

Cavity expansion theories are employed in a wide range of geotechnical applications including interpretation of pressure meter tests, evaluation of shaft capacity of piles, and pulling forces for horizontal directional drilling. Most of these theories assume infinite medium and isotropic stress field, which may not be justified for many applications. The main objectives of this paper are two folds: to investigate the effects of the free surface, stress gradient, and in situ stress anisotropy on the displacements during the expansion phase of cavities embedded in dilatant sands; and to establish correction factors to account for these effects. The investigation was conducted using two-dimensional finite element analyses. It was found that the cavity expansion theory due to Yu and Houlsby (Geotechnique 41:173–183, 1991) can be used reliably for cases subjected to an initial isotropic stress and embedment depth to diameter ratio of 20 or higher. However, it becomes inaccurate for shallow embedment depth and/or stress anisotropy conditions. An analytical procedure to account for the effects of embedment and/or stress anisotropy was proposed. The applicability of the proposed procedure was demonstrated for a wide range of soil properties and geometrical configurations. The results obtained confirmed its ability to estimate the cavity pressures within 10?% of the values obtained using FEA calculations.     

State of geoscientific research within the lorandite experiment (LOREX)

The LORandite EXperiment (acronym LOREX) is the only geochemical solar neutrino experiment still actively persued. The Tl-mineral lorandite, TlAsS₂, occurs in the ore deposit Allchar, Macedonia, close to the border of Greece. The polychronous and polygenetic Sb-As-Tl-Au Allchar deposit was formed by complex physico-chemical processes occurring in a heterogeneous geological environment and by interaction of polyphase hydrothermal fluids with the surrounding magmatic, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. The genesis of ore mineralization is related to the products of polyphase magmatic activity of Pliocene age (~6.5 to ~1.8?Ma) and its spatial location was controlled by magmatic, structural and lithological factors. The Allchar deposit comprises several orebodies of various shapes, textural-structural characteristics and element associations. Thallium mineralization, which is of significance for the LOREX project, has been proved in two locations: (i) ore body Crven Dol in the northern part and (ii) ore body Centralni Deo in the central part of the Allchar deposit. The age of Tl-mineralization is 4.22?Ma at the Crven Dol locality and 4.31?Ma at Rudina near to the Centralni Deo locality. The present depth of ore mineralization from the present soil surface is about 30?m to 140?m, whereas the paleodepth of its formation is considerably bigger. Using the method of quantitative geomorphological analysis, and AMS- and MS-measurements of cosmogenic radionuclides ²⁶Al, ²¹Ne, and ³He, the erosion rate has been established to be ~70?m/Ma in the broader area of the Crven Dol locality and ~130?m/Ma in the Centrani Deo of the Allchar deposit. On the basis of these erosion rates and ages of Tl-mineralization, we have calculated the paleo-depth of Lorandite to be ca 180?m?±?35?m to 420?m?±?80?m. Geochemical and mineralogical investigations on lorandite in particular its trace elements (Pb, U, and Th), the quantity of lorandite in the two ore bodies, the geological age and the paleo depth of Tl-mineralization have provided encouraging results and indicate the feasibility of the LOREX project.     

Impact of fertilizer application and urban wastes on the quality of groundwater in the Cambrai Chalk aquifer,Northern France

Since 1975, Europe sets up its policy to limit the degradation and the pollution of the aquatic environments through 30 directives and regulations. In the north of France, the nitrate concentrations measured in the groundwater exceed the water drinking limit fixed at 50 mg/L by the European framework directive in the field of water (2000/60/EC). This high concentration is due to intensive agriculture, industrialization and demographic growth. Several programs were launched in order to resolve this situation: “Ferti-better” or the use of fertilizer in moderation and installation and amelioration of wastewater collect and treatment systems. In order to estimate the influence of the anthropic activities on the quality of groundwater in the “Artois-Picardy” basin, a preliminary validation on parcel and district scale were necessary. The impact of these programs in the “Cambrai district” was evaluated using an integrated approach, which is based on the use of four numerical models: AgriFlux, VS2DT, Modflow and MT3D. The results illustrate an improvement due to the “Ferti-Better” program initiated in 1990 and punctual degradation under urbanized areas. Predictions (2015) show a spatial evolution of nitrates concentration varying with the thickness of unsaturated layer. The integrated model constitutes an efficient tool for predicting the evolution of the groundwater quality. This approach is important to control the application of the new European laws in the water field.     

浙江花岗岩的工程岩石学研究

对浙江省花岗岩的岩相学特征及力学性质进行了研究以确定它们之间的关系.矿物学研究显示出花岗岩的交代蚀变特征,这可以反映在岩石的力学性质上.岩石材料的物理性质决定其工程学性质,在相关定量参数确定的情况下,可以预测岩石材料的工程学性质.镜下观察、硬度、密度、孔隙度及点负荷强度均可作为所研究花岗岩的定量参数.上述每个因素都可提供岩石工程学的可靠预测.岩石的物理性质受岩石成分及蚀变状态控制,而岩石的工程学性质和力学特征是其物理性质的函数.     

Impact of control structures on assimilative capacity of rivers and fish habitat

This research studies the impact of water level control structures on self-assimilative capacity of rivers and on fish habitat. Constructing a water level control structure in a river reach will alter its hydraulics as well as its water quality, thermal regime and fish habitat. A mathematical model is developed to simulate river hydraulics, water quality, temperature and fish habitat. Diurnal dissolved oxygen concentrations are investigated to show their impact on fish. A case of a Nile River reach was studied to investigate the impact of the existence of the Esna barrage on the water quality and fish in its upstream reach. The barrage has negative impacts on the upstream self-assimilative capacity of the rivers. The waste load that the river could absorb was only 54 % (at low flow) and 78 % (at high flow) of the entire load if no barrage was present. Including in the simulation of the effects of photosynthesis and respiration, the above mentioned percentages were raised to 54 % and 91 %, respectively. Although water level control structures have negative impacts on the upstream self-assimilative capacity of the rivers, they have positive effect on downstream dissolved oxygen concentrations due to reaeration that happens across them. Downstream dissolved oxygen concentration increased by 6 % from its upstream concentration value. The barrage has a positive effect on fish habitat in the upstream section. The weighted usable area of Tilapia fish is doubled in case of barrage existence. The barrage causes a slight decrease in water temperature that reaches an average of 0.13 degree in the month of June.     

Liquefaction susceptibility mapping using geotechnical laboratory tests

The soil liquefaction potential has been evaluated for the Ariana Region because of its important socio-economic interest and its location. Liquefaction susceptibility mapping is carried out using a decisional flow chart for evaluation of earthquake-induced effects, based on available data such as paleoliquefaction, geological, groundwater depth, seismotectonic, sedimentary features and geotechnical parameters in particular laboratory testing like grain size analyses and state parameters. Survey results showed that some of these localities are considered as possible sites to soil liquefaction. Indeed, Quaternary alluvium deposits, paleo beaches and recent deposits that edge the lake and the sebka constitute the most susceptible locations to liquefaction. In the east and the west sides of the studied zone, Quaternary deposits are less susceptible to the liquefaction due to the groundwater level deepening and to the relatively old age of the deposits. Elsewhere sedimentary formations are classified as non-liquefiable as they are heavily compacted and old.     

Analogue modeling of the role of multi-level decollement layers on the geometry of orogenic wedge: an application to the Zagros Fold–Thrust Belt,SW Iran

International Journal of Earth Sciences - The presence of evaporate and incompetent formations (i.e., decollement horizons) within the sedimentary sequence of fold-thrust belts can control their...     

Landslide-hazard mapping through multi-technique activity assessment: an example from the Betic Cordillera (southern Spain)

Landslide hazard in a region limited to data from a regional scale about triggering factors is assessed via cross tabulation between determining factors and landslides with recent activity. Firstly, landslide susceptibility was evaluated and validated through a bivariate statistical method between the previously identified stability conditioning factors and the mapped landslides. In this way, the most susceptible areas for assessing landslide hazards were selected. The main problem to solve in this type of research is the landslide activity. For this purpose, several techniques were applied: news reports, differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar, digital photogrammetry, light detection and ranging, photointerpretation, and dendrochronology. Both the strong and weak points of these techniques are also mentioned. The landslide return period was computed via the association between landslide activity and triggering factors, in this case annual rainfall. Finally, landslide hazard was mapped solely based on landslides with recent activity and their computed return period. The relationship between landslide occurrence and triggering factors shows that, according to both the considered assumptions and the observations made, deep-seated landslides are triggered or reactivated together with superficial landslides once every 18 years, while superficial landslides as flows or falls occur once every 5 years. The results show that there is generally a low landslide hazard in the study zone, especially when compared to landslide susceptibility. This means that landslides are mainly dormant from a natural evolution point of view, but could be reactivated as a result of geomorphological, climate, or human changes. In any case, the landslide hazard is successfully assessed, with a prediction of a 6% annual probability of a high hazard in 5% of the area, intersecting with the main infrastructures of the region; thus, control strategies are justified in order to avoid damage in extraordinary rainfall periods.     

Application of quantitative mineralogy on the neutralization–acid potential calculations within µm-scale stratified mine tailings

Estimation of the long-term environmental impact of mining wastes is of socio-economic interest. Bulk analytical approaches of the neutralizing (NP) and acid potentials (AP) provide in general worst-case scenarios for acid rock drainage (ARD) predictions and long-term evaluation. Taking individual graded layers with variable reactive mineral ratios into consideration, alternating zones, highly contrasting in their neutralizing and acid potential, can be identified and quantified using scanning electron microscope–mineral liberation analyzer (SEM–MLA) and μ-energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF)–petrographic analyst (PA) for the first time. The bulk NP and AP values increased by a factor of 2.13 and 1.37, respectively, compared to the average values of the mineralogical NP/AP. At the contrasting boundaries, precipitation of pore-clogging secondary phases might be enhanced. These new information can be used as input parameters to model the future behavior of a non-homogeneous multiplied laminated body with reactive transport modeling.