ISA model: A constitutive model for soils with yield surface in the intergranular strain space

In this article, a new constitutive model for soils is proposed. It is formulated by means of plasticity, but in contrast to the precedent works, it presents a yield function describing a surface within the intergranular strain space. This latter is a state variable providing information of the recent strain history. An expression for the plastic strain rate has been proposed to guarantee the stress rate continuity. Under the application of medium or large strain amplitudes, the constitutive equation becomes independent of the intergranular strain and delivers a mathematical structure similar to some Karlsruhe hypoplastic models. Some simulations of monotonic and cyclic triaxial test are provided to evaluate and analyze the model performance. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crustal observations beneath the southern North Sea and their tectonic and geological implications

In 1991, a deep seismic reflection line, MPNI-9101, was acquired in the southern North Sea from the Mesozoic Broad Fourteens Basin, across the West Netherlands Basin onto the London-Brabant Massif (LBM). The resultant section shows a strongly reflective lower crust beneath the area of Mesozoic basin development. This lower crustal reflectivity continues to be strong beneath the LBM. The travel time to the base of the reflective zone increases from approximately 11.0 s beneath the Mesozoic basins to 12.5 s beneath the LBM, suggesting a southward thickening of the crust (Rijkers et al., 1993). Based on these travel times and information from deep wells and refraction surveys. Moho depth is estimated to increase from about 31 km beneath the Mesozoic basins to about 38 km beneath the LBM. This difference in depth to the Moho can partly be explained by coaxial stretching of the crust beneath the Mesozoic basins. In comparison with the Mesozoic basins, the crust beneath the LBM was thickened during the Caledonian and Variscan orogenies.     

Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds from Sunflower and Beech: Dependence on Temperature and Light Intensity

Emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. giganteus) were measured in a continuously stirred tank reactor. The compounds predominantly emitted from sunflower were: isoprene, the monoterpenes -pinene, -pinene, sabinene, 3-carene and limonene, an oxygenated terpene, not positively identified so far and the sesquiterpene -caryophyllene. Emission rates ranged from 0.8 x 10^–16 to 4.3 x 10 ^–15 mol cm^–2 s^–1 at a temperature of 25°C and at a light intensity of 820 µEm^–2 s^–1. A dependence of the emission rates on temperature as well as on light intensity was observed. The emission rates of -pinene, sabinene and thujene from beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) were also affected by temperature as well as by light intensity. Our results suggest that an emission algorithm for all compounds emitted from sunflower and beech has to consider temperature and light intensity simultaneously. The observations strongly indicate that the emissions of VOCs from sunflower and beech are in part closely coupled to the rate of biosynthesis and in part originate from diffusion out of pools. The emission rates can be described by an algorithm that combines the model given by Tingey and coworkers with the algorithm given by Guenther and coworkers after slight modification.     

A laser-photolysis fragment-fluorescence (LPFF) method for the detection of gaseous nitric acid in ambient air

The development and first tests of a novel method for the direct, sensitive, selective, and fast detection of gaseous nitric acid in air are described. The detection method is based on the laser-photolysis fragment-fluorescence (LPFF) method using 193 nm (ArF) laser light. The photolysis process yielding OH fluorescence has been thoroughly investigated. Up to now, the method has been found to be practically free of interferences. The mixing ratio for nitric acid is measured on-line with a detection limit of about 0.1 ppbv for an accumulation time of the signal of 10–15 min. A number of tests and field measurements were performed to demonstrate the feasibility and limits of the described detection method.     

Field verification of a theoretical model to predict the dynamic response of a soft clay deposit

A 40-m thick clay deposit was subjected to sinusoidal excitations using a foundation block and an eccentric mass type vibrator. The response of the foundation block and the surrounding soil was measured using geophones inside the soil and on the surface. The phase shift between the excitation signal and the response signal, the accelerations of the foundation block and the particle velocities in the soil are compared with those obtained from a frequency-dependent numerical model based on the exact analytical solution for the boundary value problem of a rectangular foundation resting on a linear elastic halfspace.     

The June 2013 Alberta catastrophic flooding event – part 2: fine‐scale precipitation and associated features

Data obtained from a variety of sources including the Canadian Lightning Detection Network, weather radars, weather stations and operational numerical weather model analyses were used to address the evolution of precipitation during the June 2013 southern Alberta flood. The event was linked to a mid‐level closed low pressure system to the west of the region and a surface low pressure region initially to its south. This configuration brought warm, moist unstable air into the region that led to dramatic, organized convection with an abundance of lightning and some hail. Such conditions occurred in the southern parts of the region whereas the northern parts were devoid of lightning. Initially, precipitation rates were high (extreme 15‐min rainfall rates up to 102 mm h^?1 were measured) but decreased to lower values as the precipitation shifted to long‐lived stratiform conditions. Both the convective and stratiform precipitation components were affected by the topography. Similar flooding events, such as June 2002, have occurred over this region although the 2002 event was colder and precipitation was not associated with substantial convection over southwest Alberta. Copyright © 2016 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. Hydrological Processes. © John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Relations between metamorphism and orogeny in a typical section of the Indian Himalayas

Summary A comprehensive geological and petrological investigation has been undertaken in an area of about 10 000 km² in the Indian Himalaya (S-Lahul, Himachal Pradesh). The development of mineral assemblages in metamorphic rocks of medium grade is considered to be a dominant Alpine event, although almost exclusively Paleozoic and Precambrian rocks have been involved. The Barrowian type of this metamorphism, ranging from the anchi- to the sillimanite zone, took place under the elavated T-gradient of about 4°C/100 m. It is suggested that normal geothermal conditions prevailed only in the outermost zone of this orogenic belt. In the Late Tertiary this metamorphic series has been moved as a huge nappe upon the Lower Himalaya. During this process a unique feature of reverse metamorphism has been formed. It can be shown that this feature was caused by a combination of metamorphism and very rapid tectonic movements.

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Beziehungen zwischen Metamorphose und Orogenese in einem typischen Querschnitt des Indischen Himalaya

Zusammenfassung Ein etwa 10 000 km² großes Gebiet des Indischen Himalaya (S-Lahul, Himachal Pradesh) wurde einer umfassenden geologischen und petrographischen Bearbeitung unterzogen. Die Ausbildung der in den mittelgradig metamorphen Gesteinen vorliegenden Mineralparagenesen wird als ein dominant alpines Ereignis betrachtet, obwohl fast nur paläozoische und präkambrische Gesteine einbezogen wurden. Die Metamorphose selbst ist von Barrow-Typus und reicht von der Anchi- bis zur Sillimanitzone. Sie fand unter einem erhöhten Temperaturgradienten von etwa 4°C/100 m statt. Nur in der äußersten Zone des Orogens entsprach der Gradient etwa normalen geothermischen Verhältnissen. Im Spättertiär wurde diese alpin-metamorphe Serie in Form einer mächtigen Kristallindecke dem Niedrigen Himalaya aufgeschoben. Dabei wurde eine einzigartige Zone inverser Metamorphose ausgebildet. Es konnte gezeigt werden, daß diese inverse Metamorphose durch das Zusammenwirken von Metamorphose und sehr rasch ablaufender Tektonik entstand.

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With 13 Figures

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Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c.B. Sander on the occasion of his 90th birthday.     

»Late Jurassic« petroleum geology of the Dutch Central North Sea Graben

The Callovian to Ryazanian (late Middle Jurassic to earliest Cretaceous; here referred to as »Late Jurassic«) sediments of the Dutch Central North Sea Graben, comprising the Central Graben and Scruff Groups, form several potential reservoirs. Source rocks are present within both these groups and the Carboniferous and Late Triassic-Early Jurassic.The structural development of the area is illustrated by a number of cross-sections. A structural subdivision has been made into platform, intermediate platform, outer graben, and inner graben. The complex history of rifting, wrench-faulting, halokinesis, and structural inversion strongly influenced the palaeogeography and ensuing sandstone developments. A few selected burial-history plots are presented as examples of the relationship between the structural subdivision and the hydrocarbon potential of the area.

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Zusammenfassung Die Sedimente des Callov bis zum Ryazan (oberer Mitteljura bis unterste Kreide, hier als »Oberjura« bezeichnet) des zentralen niederländischen Nordsee-Grabens, der den Zentralgraben und die Scruff-Gruppe umfaßt, stellen mehrere potentielle Erdölspeichergesteine dar. In jeder dieser beiden Gruppen sowie im Karbon und von der Obertrias bis zur Unterkreide existieren Speichergesteine.Die strukturelle Entwicklung des Gebietes wird anhand mehrere Profile veranschaulicht. Außerdem schien eine Untergliederuntg in Plattform, Zwischenplattform, äußerer sowie innerer Graben sinnvoll. Die komplexe Entwicklungsgeschichte, die durch Riftingphasen, Wrench-Tektonik, Halokinese und Strukturinversion bestimmt wurde, hat die Paläogeographie und die resultierende Sandsteinbildung intensiv beeinflußt. Eine Anzahl ausgewählter Darstellungen der Geschichte der Sedimentüberlagerung dienen als Beispiele für den Zusammenhang zwischen den strukturell bestimmten Untergruppen und dem Kohlenwasserstoffpotential des Untersuchungsgebietes.

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Résumé Dans le secteur néerlandais du Graben Central de la Mer du Nord, plusieurs réservoirs potentiels sont constitués par les sédiments calloviens à ryazaniens (ensemble allant du sommet du Jurassique moyen au Crétacé inférieur et désigné ici par «Late Jurassic»). Ces sédiments comprennent le groupe du Graben central et le groupe de Scruff. Des rochesmères existent dans chacun de ces deux groupes ainsi que dans le Carbonifère et dans la série Trias terminal-Eojurassique.La constitution structurale de cette région est illustrée par une série de coupes. On distingue, au point de vue structural: une plate-forme, une plate-forme intermédiaire, un graben externe et un graben interne. L'histoire géologique complexe, avec ses processus de rifting, de décrochement, d'halokinèse et d'inversion structurale, s'est répercutèe de manière significative sur la paléogéographie et, par voie de conséquence, sur l'extension des faciès arénacés. Quelques reconstitutions de l'histoire sédimentaire sont présentées à titre d'exemple de manière à illustrer la relation entre les unités structurales et le potentiel en hydrocarbure de la région.

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