Observation of shear zone development in ring-shear apparatus with a transparent shear box

Using a new ring-shear apparatus with a transparent shear box and video image analysis system, drained and undrained speed-controlled tests were conducted on coarse-grained silica sands to study the shear-zone formation process in granular materials. Velocity distribution profiles of grains under shear at various stages in the ring shear tests were observed through processing the video image by the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) program. Shear-zone thickness and type of shear mode (slide-like or flow-like) during shear were observed. Before reaching peak strength in low-speed and drained condition test, a comparatively major part of the sample in the upper shear box showed a velocity distribution profile of structural deformation and dilatancy behavior. After peak strength, the velocity profile changed into a slide-like mode and thereafter showed almost no change. In higher speed tests with drained and undrained conditions, an almost slide-like mode was observed, compared to low-speed test. Apparent shear-zone thicknesses of high-speed tests are thinner than low-speed tests. Unexpectedly, almost no difference was observed in the shear-zone thickness and mode of shear (slide or flow-like) between drained and undrained tests. This study was conducted as part of the International Programme on Landslides (IPL) M101 “Areal prediction of earthquake and rain induced rapid and long-traveling flow phenomena (APERITIF)” of the International Consortium on Landslides (ICL). These results will contribute to understanding the mechanism of shear-zone development in granular materials as a basic knowledge for disaster risk mitigation of rapid long run-out landslides.     

Tunnelling through squeezing rock in two large fault zones of the Enasan Tunnel II

Summary In spite of the high content of clay in the rock, blasting technique had to be adopted for excavation because the hydrothermally altered clay was interbedded in the hard rock. Problems with groundwater did not arise owing to the dewatering effect of the pilot tunnel.     

Theory of electronic structures of chemisorption on oxide surfaces

Surface electronic structures of metal oxides such as MgO, TiO₂, SrTiO₃, ReO₃ and transition-metal monoxides are discussed based on the first-principles DV-Xα cluster and slab methods. Particular attention is paid to the origin and properties of intrinsic and extrinsic surface states. A close correlation between the surface structure and electronic states is confirmed. Some exotic properties of polar oxide surfaces, for example the formation of a two-dimensional metallic band, are predicted.     

The influence of multiple diffraction on the space group determination of orthopyroxene,spodumene, low omphacite and pigeonite

Forbidden reflections of some pyroxenes described as having a lower symmetry than Pbca or C2/c have been examined, mainly using the detailed ψ-scanning method of the four-circle automated diffractometer. All reflections violating the systematic absences of Pbca orthopyroxene, C2/c spodumene, P2/n omphacite and P2₁/c pigeonite were found to be due to the Umweganregung process of multiple diffraction; the Umweganregung peaks observed for the ψ azimuth were indexed in terms of a four-circle geometry. Thus, the space groups of orthopyroxene, α spodumene, low omphacite and low pigeonite were confirmed to be Pbca, C2/c, P2/n and P2₁/c, respectively.     

Three-dimensional mapping of red stingray (Dasyatis akajei) movement with reference to bottom topography

Most demersal fishes maintain strong relations with bottom substrates and bottom depths and/or topography during their lives. It is important to know these relations to for understand their lives. In Tokyo Bay, red stingray, Dasyatis akajei, classified as near-threatened species by IUCN, has increased since the 1980s. It is a top predator and engages in ecosystem engineer by mixing the sand bed surface through burring behavior, and greatly influences a coastal ecosystem. It is reported that this species invades in plage and tidal flats and has sometimes injured beachgoers and people gathering clams in Tokyo bay. Thus, it is necessary to know its behavior and habitat use to avoid accidents and to better conserve the biodiversity of ecosystems. However, previous studies have not examined its relationship with the bottom environment. This study aims to describe its behavior in relation to the bottom environment. We sounded three dimensional bottom topography of their habitat off Kaneda Cove in Tokyo Bay with interferometric sidescan sonar system and traced the movement of red stingrays by attaching a data logger system to survey their migration. The results revealed that red stingray repeated vertical movement between the surface and bottom, and used not only sand beds but also rocky beds.

     

Effects of a physical librations of the moon caused by a liquid core,and determination of the fourth mode of a free libration

An analytical theory of lunar physical librations based on its two-layer model consisting of a non-spherical solid mantle and ellipsoidal liquid core is developed. The Moon moves on a high-precision orbit in the gravitational field of the Earth and other celestial bodies. The defined fourth mode of a free libration is caused by the influence of the liquid core, with a long period of 205.7 yr, with amplitude S = 0″0395 and with an initial phase Π₀ = ?134° (for the initial epoch 2000.0). Estimates of dynamic (meridional) oblatenesses of a liquid core of the Moon have been estimated: ?_D = 4.42 × 10^?4, μ_D = 2.83 × 10^?4 (?_D + μ_D = 7.24 × 10^?4). These results have been obtained as a result of comparison of the developed analytical theory of physical librations of the Moon with the empirical theory of librations of the Moon constructed on the basis of laser observations.     

Estimation of urban heat island intensity using biases in surface air temperature simulated by a nonhydrostatic regional climate model

This study demonstrates that urban heat island (UHI) intensity can be estimated by comparing observational data and the outputs of a well-developed high-resolution regional climate model. Such an estimate is possible because the observations include the effects of UHI, whereas the model used does not include urban effects. Therefore, the errors in the simulated surface air temperature, defined as the difference between simulated and observed temperatures (simulated minus observed), are negative in urban areas but 0 in rural areas. UHI intensity is estimated by calculating the difference in temperature error between urban and rural areas. Our results indicate that overall UHI intensity in Japan is 1.5 K and that the intensity is greater in nighttime than in daytime, consistent with the previous studies. This study also shows that root mean square error and the magnitude of systematic error for the annual mean temperature are small (within 1.0 K).     

Characterization of drying-induced deformation behaviour of Opalinus Clay and tuff in no-stress regime

The drying-induced deformation behaviour of Opalinus Clay and tuff, which are being investigated under international and local collaborative projects for nuclear waste disposal in Switzerland and Japan, was investigated under a no-stress condition in the laboratory to evaluate their generic susceptibility to the formation of excavation damaged zone. The cylindrical core samples of Opalinus Clay and tuff were prepared to a one-dimensional drying condition and submitted to an uncontrolled laboratory environment. The strain evolution, evaporative water loss and environmental entities, such as temperature and relative humidity, were recorded simultaneously and quasi-continuously. It was observed that the drying phase induced significant strain magnitude and damage in Opalinus Clay samples, which was evidenced by the formation of hairy cracks on the surface parallel to the bedding. On the contrary, the strain occurrences in tuff samples were relatively insignificant, and no tendency of cracking was observed. In addition, the quasi-continuous availability of volumetric strains was further used in poroelastic relation for the estimation of capillary suction evolution. The calculated results were validated with pore size distributions obtained from mercury intrusion porosimetry.