Discrete Element Modeling of Stick-Slip Instability and Induced Microseismicity

Using Particle Flow Code, a discrete element model is presented in this paper that allows direct modeling of stick-slip behavior in pre-existing weak planes such as joints, beddings, and faults. The model is used to simulate a biaxial sliding experiment from literature on a saw-cut specimen of Sierra granite with a single fault. The fault is represented by the smooth-joint contact model. Also, an algorithm is developed to record the stick-slip induced microseismic events along the fault. Once the results compared well with laboratory data, a parametric study was conducted to investigate the evolution of the model’s behavior due to varying factors such as resolution of the model, particle elasticity, fault coefficient of friction, fault stiffness, and normal stress. The results show a decrease in shear strength of the fault in the models with smaller particles, smaller coefficient of friction of the fault, harder fault surroundings, softer faults, and smaller normal stress on the fault. Also, a higher rate of displacement was observed for conditions resulting in smaller shear strength. An increase in b-values was observed by increasing the resolution or decreasing the normal stress on the fault, while b-values were not sensitive to changes in elasticity of the fault or its surrounding region. A larger number of recorded events were observed for the models with finer particles, smaller coefficient of friction of the fault, harder fault surroundings, harder fault, and smaller normal stress on the fault. The results suggest that it is possible for the two ends of a fault to be still while there are patches along the fault undergoing stick-slips. Such local stick-slips seem to provide a softer surrounding for their neighbor patches facilitating their subsequent stick-slips.     

Extraction of ocean wave parameters from HF backscatter received bya four-element array: analysis and application

An algorithm that would extend the capabilities of a four-element square array known as the Coastal Oceans Dynamics Applications Radar (CODAR) to include the yielding of directional wave-height spectra from backscattered radiation is addressed. General expressions for the first- and second-order broadbeam radar cross-sections of the ocean surface are applied to the array. A Fourier-basis-function approach allows the broadbeam cross-sections to be written as a system of integral equations. The second-order radar return involves a double integral whose integrand contains nonlinear combinations of the unknowns, namely, the Fourier coefficients of the ocean wave directional spectrum. The first-order portion of the radar spectrum is used to linearize this integral. The matrix system then formulated is solved using a singular value decomposition (SVD) approach, and the resulting ocean spectral coefficients are used to give the directional spectrum. Test results for the algorithm are reported and discussed     

Permutation Methods for Determining the Significance of Spatial Dependence

A class of multivariate nonparametric tests for spatial dependence, Multivariate Sequential Permutation Analyses (MSPA), is developed and applied to the analysis of spatial data. These tests allow the significance level (P value) of the spatial correlation to be computed for each lag class. MSPA is shown to be related to the variogram and other measures of spatial correlation. The interrelationships of these measures of spatial dependence are discussed and the measures are applied to synthetic and real data. The resulting plot of significance level vs. lag spacing, or P-gram, provides insight into the modeling of the semivariogram and the semimADogram. Although the test clearly rejects some models of correlation, the chief value of the test is to quantify the strength of spatial correlation, and to provide evidence that spatial correlation exists     

Interfacial tension studies between Fe-Cu-Ni sulfide and halo-norilsk basalt slag system

There are a lot of mafic and ultra-mafic bodies in the earth,but only a few of them include Cu-Ni-PGE deposits.Of interest has been the formation of such deposits as Cu-Ni-PGE sulfide;especially the separa-tion of sulfide liquid from silicate melts.A lot of re-searcher[1—11]have investigated into the tectonic back-ground of Cu-Ni-PGE deposits,the mechanism of the origin and evolution of magma,and the metal element partition coefficient in sulfide liquid and silicate magma.However,the da…     

Estimation of hydraulic conductivity in an alluvial system using temperatures

Well water temperatures are often collected simultaneously with water levels; however, temperature data are generally considered only as a water quality parameter and are not utilized as an environmental tracer. In this paper, water levels and seasonal temperatures are used to estimate hydraulic conductivities in a stream-aquifer system. To demonstrate this method, temperatures and water levels are analyzed from six observation wells along an example study site, the Russian River in Sonoma County, California. The range in seasonal ground water temperatures in these wells varied from <0.2 degrees C in two wells to approximately 8 degrees C in the other four wells from June to October 2000. The temperature probes in the six wells are located at depths between 3.5 and 7.1 m relative to the river channel. Hydraulic conductivities are estimated by matching simulated ground water temperatures to the observed ground water temperatures. An anisotropy of 5 (horizontal to vertical hydraulic conductivity) generally gives the best fit to the observed temperatures. Estimated conductivities vary over an order of magnitude in the six locations analyzed. In some locations, a change in the observed temperature profile occurred during the study, most likely due to deposition of fine-grained sediment and organic matter plugging the streambed. A reasonable fit to this change in the temperature profile is obtained by decreasing the hydraulic conductivity in the simulations. This study demonstrates that seasonal ground water temperatures monitored in observation wells provide an effective means of estimating hydraulic conductivities in alluvial aquifers.     

The Khyex River landslide of November 28, 2003, Prince Rupert British Columbia Canada

On November 28, 2003, at about 00:30 PST, 35 km east of Prince Rupert in northwestern British Columbia, an extremely rapid, retrogressive liquefaction earth flow, or a clay flow-slide, severed the natural gas pipeline. As a result, Prince Rupert residents were without natural gas heat for 10 days. The landslide has a steep main scarp that is 45 m high by 345 m wide. It consists of glaciomarine sediments mantled by rubbly colluvium lying on, and against smooth bedrock of the valley wall. It covers an area of 32 ha, and displaced about 4.7 M m³ of material. This displaced material flowed up and down river over a distance of 1.7 km, blocked the river, and caused flooding upstream for a distance of 10 km. This landslide is the most recent of four large landslides that have occurred over the last four decades in glaciomarine sediments in northwestern British Columbia.     

National-scale Assessment of Current and Future Flood Risk in England and Wales

In recent years, through the availability of remotely sensed data and other national datasets, it has become possible to conduct national-scale flood risk assessment in England and Wales. The results of this type of risk analysis can be used to inform policy-making and prioritisation of resources for flood management. It can form the starting point for more detailed strategic and local-scale flood risk assessments. The national-scale risk assessment methodology outlined in this paper makes use of information on the location, standard of protection and condition of flood defences in England and Wales, together with datasets of floodplain extent, topography, occupancy and asset values. The flood risk assessment was applied to all of England and Wales in 2002 at which point the expected annual damage from flooding was estimated to be approximately £1 billion. This figure is comparable with records of recent flood damage. The methodology has subsequently been applied to examine the effects of climate and socio-economic change 50 and 80 years in the future. The analysis predicts increasing flood risk unless current flood management policies, practices and investment levels are changed – up to 20-fold increase in real terms economic risk by the 2080s in the scenario with highest economic growth. The increase is attributable primarily to a combination of climate change (in particular sea level rise and increasing precipitation in parts of the UK) and increasing economic vulnerability.