Extreme deformation characteristics and countermeasures for a tunnel in difficult grounds in southern Shaanxi,China

The Qingling–Bashan (QB) mountain region in southern Shaanxi mainly consists of strongly compressive zones from east to west, with tight folds and compressive fractures. There is a wide distribution of soft rocks of various types, such as phyllite and slate, accompanied by complex geological structures. Ironically, tunnel construction in these difficult grounds with complicated geological conditions embraces a high risk of extreme deformation due to various unpredictable reasons, which can frequently cause collapse and result in budget overruns during the construction period. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct effective countermeasures to eliminate or avoid such adverse impacts. This paper provides a case study on the “Yingfeng tunnel” (a tunnel constructed in soft rock consisting of a slate ground) based on a geological survey, indoor experiments and in situ monitoring. A successive rock mass deformation resulted in the tunnel lining seriously intruding into construction clearance and some other sections, even collapsing during the construction. The maximum displacement amount was 62.5 cm, while the maximum deformation speed reached as high as 34.18 mm/day. Additionally, to evaluate the construction impacts of tunnelling-induced geo-hazards, an investigation on extreme deformation was conducted. Considering the time-dependent features of the rock mass deformation, the constraint-convergence method was used to put forward applicable countermeasures in this paper. Finally, from the feedbacks of monitoring results, extreme deformation of the Yingfeng tunnel was effectively controlled.     

Use of photo-based 3D photogrammetry in analysing the results of laboratory pressure grouting tests

This paper presents a non-destructive, low-cost, photo-based, 3D reconstruction technique for characterizing geo-materials with irregular shapes of a relatively large size. After being validated against two traditional volume measurement methods, namely the vernier caliper method and the fluid displacement method for regular and irregular shapes, respectively, 3D photogrammetry was used to analyse the grout bulbs formed in laboratory pressure grouting tests. The reconstructed 3D mesh model of the sample provides accurate and detailed 3D vertex data, which allowed the volume, densification efficiency and bleeding behaviour of the grout bulbs to be analysed. Comparing the bulb section views at different grouting pressures also offers an intuitive observation of the grout development and propagation process. Moreover, the 3D vertex data and surface area included in the model are of great importance in validating numerical predictions of the pressure grouting process and analysing the interface shear resistance of grouted soil nails or anchors. Compared to existing approaches, the new 3D photogrammetry method possesses several key advantages: (a) it does not require expensive, specialized equipment; (b) samples are not destroyed or modified during testing; (c) it allows to reconstruct objects of various scales and (d) the software is public domain. Therefore, the adoption of this 3D photogrammetry method will facilitate research in the pressure grouting process and can be extended to other problems in geotechnical engineering.     

Basin-wide Holocene environmental changes in the marginal area of the Asian monsoon,northwest China

In arid regions, because of spatial variability, using single climate records is difficult to reconstruct the past climate change for the drainage basins. Holocene environmental records were collected from the upper, middle and lower regions of the Shiyang River drainage basin in the marginal area of the Asian monsoon (northwest China). The main objective of this paper was to compare the records from the terminal lake and the middle and upper reaches of the basin to study the basin-wide environmental changes. During the early Holocene the vegetation was sparse, and the effective moisture was relatively low in the basin. The Holocene Climatic Optimum started between 7.0 and 8.0 cal ka BP, during which the lake level reached the highest level in the terminal lake; the vegetation density and the effective moisture reached the highest level during the Holocene in the drainage basin. From 4.7 cal ka BP the terminal lake began to shrink, while the vegetation density decreased dramatically. In the middle and upper regions of the drainage, the effective moisture began to decrease since 3.5 cal ka BP, and the arid tendency was earlier in the terminal lake than it was in the middle and upper regions of the drainage basin. During the early Holocene the relatively arid environment was affected by the gradually intensifying East Asian monsoon and the dry westerly winds. The mid-Holocene Optimum benefited from the intensive East Asian monsoon and the humid westerly winds. Then, the East Asian monsoon retreated since the late-Holocene. In the basin the arid tendency may be related to the retracting of the East Asian monsoon. However, the intensifying acidification after 1.5 cal ka BP may be correlated to the increasing dryness of the westerly winds.     

Advances in Oxygenation Theory and Technology in Deep Lakes

Deep lakes always maintain vertical thermal stratification due to their physical structure. The thermocline prevents the transfer of oxygen from epilimnion to hypolimnion, leading to the formation of anoxic conditions in deeper water, the enhanced release of endogenous pollutants and the deterioration of water quality. Oxygenation is an effective measure to improve the water quality of deep lakes and mitigate the release of endogenous pollutants via the increase of the oxygen level in water. This paper provided an overview of the method and theory of oxygenation in deep lakes. Advantages and limitations of different methods of oxygenation, including artificial destratification, airlift aerators, Speece cone and bubble plume diffusers, were discussed. In addition, challenges and prospects of oxygenation were assessed based on the analyzing of typical examples of oxygenation in deep lakes and the difference in oxygenation system used in deep lakes and shallow lakes.     

Phosphorus speciation in surface sediments of a hypertrophic lake,Southwestern China: insights from fractionation and 31P NMR

Acta Geochimica - Phosphorus (P) species in surface sediments from a shallow, hypertrophic lake, Lake Dianchi, China, were investigated by P fractionation and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)...     

Effects of soil–plant-biochar interactions on water retention and slope stability under various rainfall patterns

Landslides - Due to climate change, extreme rainfalls happen more frequently with different patterns. Biochar and plant roots can affect soil water retention curve (SWRC) and hence slope stability....     

典型滑坡监测点优化布置

利用数值模拟技术与模糊模式识别算法提出了滑坡监测点优化布置的基本方法。以链子崖危岩体为例,以Ⅳ-Ⅳ′剖面作为滑坡监测点优化布置的典型剖面,根据监测变量（位移）对外界干扰因素作用下的灵敏度大小与监测信息量获取大小之间的关系,对该危岩体的监测变量（位移）进行了灵敏度分区研究,进而对该典型剖面的监测点进行了优化设计。研究结果表明,链子崖危岩体地表位移监测点宜布置在位移量明显和状态变化灵敏度较高的部位,深部位移监测钻孔宜穿越所有水平位移变化的灵敏区域。     

Multielemental Neutron Activation Analysis of Chinese Geochemical Reference Samples

The concentrations of 36 elements in geochemical reference samples issued by the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources of China were determined by neutron activation analysis. Three main variants of the technique, instrumental, epithermal, and nreirradiation separation neutron activation analysis (INAA, ENAA, PNAA), were employed in a systematic study of the samples by three laboratories: the Institute of Atomic Energy of the Academia Sinica (INAA, ENAA), the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Academia Sinica (INAA), and the Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Prosnecting of the Ministry of Geology and Mineral resources (INAA,PNAA). Both long and short irradiations and both Ge(Li) and HPGe detectors were used. A supplementary software nackage for data processing was developed. About 81% of the data determined by neutron activation agreed with recomended values with in 15%.     

硫化矿中铜镍的浸取研究

采用三氯化铁作为浸取剂,在盐酸介质中对硫化矿中铜镍的浸取进行了研究,最佳的浸出条件为三氯化铁１２０ｇ／Ｌ、盐酸２ｍｏｌ／Ｌ、温度９５～９８℃、时间８ｈ及矿样粒度小于０．０４４ｍｍ。在此条件下,铜镍的浸出率分别达到９８．９３％和９１．０７％。并对残渣进行了成分分析,发现未被浸出的矿物多为硅酸盐矿物,因此可以说该方法对硫化矿中铜镍的浸出比较完全。     

周口店洞穴及岩溶发育

<正> 一、概 述 中国猿人化石产地位于北京西南约50公里处的周口店龙骨山,它是西山向华北平原过渡的丘陵地区。地势由西北向东南倾斜,附近最高山岭为猫耳山,海拔1307米,向东南至龙骨山、14地点、南鱼岭及鸡骨山一带降至150米,而再向东南至华北平原,海拔只有50米左右了。 本区为侏罗系地层组成核部的北岭向斜的西南翼,它不是简单的翼部地层,成为次一级的倾伏背斜,龙骨山附近的洞穴则发育在这倾伏背斜的西北翼上,由中奥陶统马家沟灰岩组成。