Finite element models for rock fracture mechanics

A finite element model for the prediction of discrete fracture propagation in rock structures loaded in compression is presented. The model integrates any one of three theories for mixed-mode fracture initiation; it contains an energy balance algorithm for predicting crack increment length, and incorporates recent developments in finite element stress-intensity factor computation. The predictions of the model are compared with the observed fracture response of a real rock structure. Results show that the model accurately predicts both stable and unstable fracture progagations observed experimentally.     

Structure of a Large low-Latitude Coronal Hole

Coronal holes on the Sun are the source of high-speed solar wind streams that produce magnetic disturbances at the Earth. A series of multi-wavelength, multi-instrument observations obtained during the 1996 Whole Sun Month campaign examined a large coronal hole in greater detail than ever before. It appeared on the Sun in August, and extended from the north pole to a large active region in the southern hemisphere. Its physical and magnetic structure and subsequent evolution are described.     

Ferrihydrite dissolution by pyridine-2,6-bis(monothiocarboxylic acid) and hydrolysis products

Pyridine-2,6-bis(monothiocarboxylate) (pdtc), a metabolic product of microorganisms, including Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas stutzeri was investigated for its ability of dissolve Fe(III)(hydr)oxides at pH 7.5. Concentration dependent dissolution of ferrihydrite under anaerobic environment showed saturation of the dissolution rate at the higher concentration of pdtc. The surface controlled ferrihydrite dissolution rate was determined to be 1.2 × 10⁻⁶ mol m⁻² h⁻¹. Anaerobic dissolution of ferrihydrite by pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid or dipicolinic acid (dpa), a hydrolysis product of pdtc, was investigated to study the mechanism(s) involved in the pdtc facilitated ferrihydrite dissolution. These studies suggest that pdtc dissolved ferrihydrite using a reduction step, where dpa chelates the Fe reduced by a second hydrolysis product, H₂S. Dpa facilitated dissolution of ferrihydrite showed very small increase in the Fe dissolution when the concentration of external reductant, ascorbate, was doubled, suggesting the surface dynamics being dominated by the interactions between dpa and ferrihydrite. Greater than stoichiometric amounts of Fe were mobilized during dpa dissolution of ferrihydrite assisted by ascorbate and cysteine. This is attributed to the catalytic dissolution of Fe(III)(hydr)oxides by the in situ generated Fe(II) in the presence of a complex former, dpa.     

Diffusive-Shock-Accelerated Interplanetary Ions At Several Energies During the Solar Cycle 21 Maximum

The most intense energetic particle (mainly proton) events in the energy range 36–1600 keV, during the years of maximum activity of solar cycle 21 (1978 to 1982), have been studied with regard to their spectra, temporal profiles, source location at the Sun, interplanetary plasma parameters and interplanetary magnetic field topology. In all the events, the particles were accelerated by the 'Diffusive Shock' acceleration mechanism, because all the events were 'long-duration events', shock-associated, and their spectra fitted to a power-law energetic particle spectrum dJ/dE E^-\gamma with the exponent values ranging from 1.25 up to 1.94, with a mean value of 1.60 ± 0.06. We also show that the spectral indexes are related to the shock properties by a linear expression. The solar sources were located on a wide longitudinal belt extending from 50^ W up to 73^ E. Neither the spectral indexes nor the shock parameters present any dependence on the source location at the Sun. Finally, only one event showed the complete set of properties that characterize the presence of a magnetic cloud associated with the event.     

Hubble Space Telescope-WFPC2/Hα Observations of the Ejected Nebula M1-67

We present HST-WFPC2/Hα deep images of the ejected nebula M1-67. Our data suggest that M1-67 is the imprint of a previous, slow LBV wind ejected from the central star WR124, now a WN8 star. We find evidence that the LBV wind is highly variableand anisotropic. Some dense, persisting clumps have possibly been ejected directly from the stellar surface. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A clinoenstatite-bearing cumulate Olivine Pyroxenite from Howqua,Victoria

The Howqua Olivine Pyroxenite of eastern Victoria, Australia, intrudes a metamorphosed sequence of Cambrian high-Mg lavas. It crystallized an unusual mineral assemblage: Cr-rich magnesiochromite, olivine (Fo₉₄), and protoenstatite (now inverted to polysynthetically-twinned clinoenstatite). Residual liquid crystallized strongly-zoned interstitial pyroxenes followed by pargasite. Pargasite, often showing quench habit, crystallized in interstitial glass which is now altered to serpentine.The extremely refractory nature of the cumulus phases indicates a very high temperature of crystallization for liquidus olivine and chromite from a high-MgO, low-Al₂O₃ parent liquid similar in some respects to Archaean peridotitic komatiites. The suggested origin by hydrous melting of depleted mantle peridotite, plus other compositional and mineralogical similarities (especially the olivine-liquid reaction producing protoenstatite) indicate that the parent magma of the Howqua Olivine Pyroxenite had many features in common with the high-SiO₂, high-MgO clinoenstatite-bearing boninitic lavas of the Western Pacific. It is interpreted as a more extreme melt with affinities to boninite and it demonstrates that ultramafic magmas existed in the Cambrian.     

Subsolidus and melting relationships for calcite,magnesite and the join CaCO3-MgCO3 36 kb

Subsolidus and melting relations for the CaCO₃-MgCO₃ join at 30 kb have been determined using piston-cylinder apparatus. Data are also presented for the melting curve of CaCO₃ to 30 kb, the decomposition and melting curves of MgCO₃ to 36 kb, and the calcite-aragonite transition at 800°C, 950°C and 1100°C. At 30kb, the melting loop for the CaCO₃-MgCO₃ join extends from 1610°C (CaCO₃) to 1585°C (MgCO₃) through a liquidus minimum at 1290°C (near 42 mole% MgCO₃). The dolomite-magnesite solvus barely intersects the 30 kb melting loop to produce a peritectic reaction at 1385°C. Integration of the new experimental data with other published data permits construction of a complete P-T projection and a sequence of isobars for the CaCO₃-MgCO₃ join for pressures between 5 and 30 kb. The phase relations for this join provide part of the essential framework of the model peridotite system CaO-MgO-SiO₈-CO₂-H₂O, which has particular application to the origin of carbonatitic and kimberlitic magmas. In light of the accumulating evidence for CO₂ in various forms within the upper mantle and of its effect on magmatic processes, analysis of the melting relations in this system is of considerable importance.     

Effect of freezing and thawing on the permeability and structure of soils

The permeability and structure of four fine-grained soils were observed to be changed by freezing and thawing. In all cases freezing and thawing caused a reduction in void ratio and an increase in vertical permeability. The increase in permeability is attributed to the formation of polygonal shrinkage cracks and/or to the reduction of the volume of fines in the pores of the coarse fraction, the mechanism controlling the process depending on material type. No definite relationships are established; however, it appears that the largest increase in permeability occurs for the soil of highest plasticity.     

Characterization of the chemical structures of natural and synthetic aluminosilicate gels and sols by infrared spectroscopy

Infrared spectra in the 300–1400 cm^?1 region indicate that the non-crystalline products of interaction between hydroxyaluminium species and orthosilicic acid in dilute aqueous solutions of pH < 5 differ markedly in structure from those formed in near-neutral and alkaline solutions of pH > 6. The compound formed in acid solution has an infrared spectrum similar to imogolite, and is termed proto-imogolite; like imogolite, it contains orthosilicate groups and 6-coordinated aluminium, and has an ideal Si:Al ratio of around 0.5, but it can incorporate some excess alumina or silica and it does not have the regular tubular structure of imogolite. Compounds formed in alkaline solutions that are not too dilute have infrared spectra resembling the feldspathoid group of minerals and are termed hydrous feldspathoids. They incorporate a condensed tetrahedral framework with an Si:Al ratio greater than one, but can also contain 6-coordinated aluminium.Natural allophanes of the proto-imogolite and hydrous feldspathoid types exist. The allophane of weathered pumice, however, contains a condensed silicate anion that incorporates little tetrahedral aluminium. Proto-imogolite forms stable sols at pH < 5 and must play an important role in the transport of aluminium in acidic natural waters containing dissolved silica.