Analysis of parameters of ground vibration produced from bench blasting at a limestone quarry

The aim of this study is to predict peak particle velocity level at a limestone quarry located in Istanbul, Turkey. The ground vibration components were measured for 73 blast events during the bench blast optimization studies during a long period. In blasting operations; ANFO (blasting agent), gelatine dynamite (priming) and NONEL detonators (firing) were used as explosives at this site. Parameters of scaled distance (charge quantity per delay and the distance between the source and the station) were recorded carefully and the ground vibration components were measured by means of vibration monitors for every event. Then, the data pairs of scaled distance and particle velocity were analyzed. The equation of scaled distance extensively used in the literature was taken into consideration for the prediction of peak particle velocity. At the end of statistical evaluations, an empirical relationship with good correlation was established between peak particle velocity and scale distance for this site. The established relationship and the results of the study are presented.     

Investigation of upper crust anisotropy in Ghaen-Birjand region, east-central Iran

IntroductionWhenpropagatingthroughananisotropicmedium,ashearwavesplitsintotwo(quasi)shearwaveswithdifferentpropagationspeedsandpolarizedorthogonally.Owingtotherecentdevel-opmentofseismicobservationsystem,detectionofshearwavessplittingwithverysmalldelaytimesbetweenfasterandslowershearwavesbecameavailableandprovidedpowerfulapproachfordetectionofcrustalanisotropy.Crampin(1978)emphasizedtheroleofalignedmicrocracksasacauseofcrustalanisotropyandpointedoutthatforverticallyalignedmicrocracksthedirecti…     

北京市春夏季大气气溶胶的单颗粒分析表征

采集了北京市2000年春夏季大气气溶胶样品5个，采用扫描电镜X射线能谱技术分析大气气溶胶单颗粒约2500个。研究结果表明，沙尘期间，矿物尘是最主要的颗粒物种类，非沙尘期间，北京市大气气溶胶中主要检出矿物尘和含硫颗粒物。夏季随着颗粒物污染的加重，含硫颗粒物的数目百分数增加。是北京市大气颗粒物污染的重要特征。重点讨论了Ca-S颗粒、K-S颗粒和Ca-K-S颗粒三类典型含硫颗粒物的化学组成和粒径分布特征。数目可观的Ca-K-S颗粒以及其他硫酸盐颗粒的生成与相对湿度和云量等气象条件相关，这些颗粒物可能是云中过程的产物。减少SO2排放，减少含硫颗粒物，对于控制北京市的大气颗粒物浓度水平具有重要意义。     

采用DPIV技术研究浅水平板岛屿尾流

人们对于尾流的研究大都针对绕流体在展向非常长的情形,但是在天然环境和水利工程中出现的多为水深相对很浅的流动。由于槽底和自由水面的限制,浅水域中的尾流有着与深水尾流不同的流动规律。采用数字粒子图像测速(DPIV)技术,在长30m、宽3.5m、高1m的水槽中比较系统地量测了浅水中绕平板岛屿的尾流区流场。分析了大尺度旋涡的运动规律,得到了尾流流动形式随尾流稳定性参数的变化规律。目前如此大尺度浅水岛屿尾流的定量实验研究并不多见。     

Aeolian abrasion and modes of fine particle production from natural red dune sands: an experimental study

A series of experiments was conducted to determine the potential for aeolian abrasion of natural dune sands to produce fine particles (< 125 µm) by (1) the release of resident fines; (2) spalling, chipping and breakage of particles; and (3) the removal of grain surface coatings. Parent samples were obtained from the surfaces of four active continental dunes and abraded using a glass ‘test tube’ chamber for up to 120 h. The fine particles produced by this abrasion process were trapped at varying time intervals and subject to detailed particle‐size analyses using a Coulter Multisizer. The abrasion of untreated parent samples produced fine particles in one of two main size classes, < 10 µm and > 50 µm, but when the parent sample was sieved to exclude particles < 250 µm, relatively more material in the range 10–50 µm was produced. For unsieved parent samples, the size range associated with the dominant mode varied according to the length of the abrasion time. The coarsest mode (> 63 µm) was dominant during the first 16 h of abrasion, then became less significant and is thought to be associated with the release of resident fines into suspension. The finest mode (< 10 µm) was absent or very weak during the first 16 h of abrasion, then became more significant and, in some instances, dominated the distribution as abrasion continued. Removal of grain surface coatings is the main source of fine material < 10 µm, and this may be a significant source of fine material in areas where sands are dominated by subrounded and rounded particles. By comparison with previous studies of aeolian particle abrasion, these natural dune sands produced very low quantities of fine material (by weight), but their spatial extent makes them potentially a significant source of dust‐sized particles at the global scale.     

Blast Induced Damage and Dynamic Behaviour of Hangingwalls in Bench Stoping

This paper presents the results of a comprehensive monitoring program designed to investigate the extent of blast induced damage experienced by rock masses extracted by bench stoping methods. An array of triaxial geophones and extensometers were used to monitor blast vibration attenuation and measure hangingwall deformations during stope extraction. In addition, pre and post surveys of the hangingwall rock mass were conducted using a TV borehole camera and cavity survey instrumentation. These surveys were later used to calibrate damage profiles into the stope hangingwalls.

Peak particle velocity, hangingwall deformation measurements and stope surveys were used to develop a site specific damage model that allowed engineers to asses drilling and blasting configurations to minimise the extent of pre-conditioning and damage. In addition the study included the analysis of the frequency response, displacements and accelerations experienced by the excavation as extraction and mine filling progressed. This work aimed at improving our understanding of the influence of blasting on the dynamic behaviour of stope hangingwalls.

The study demonstrated that estimates of the maximum extent of rock mass pre-conditioning and/or damage made through the application of the Holmberg-Persson approach compared well with measured results. In addition, the study found that dynamic loading imparted on an exposed hangingwall from subsequent stope blasting was also expected to contribute to rock mass weakening and that mine filling was crucial to arrest further deterioration. Hangingwall accelerations were used to demonstrate that larger openings may be more susceptible to dynamic loading.     

Dust production and the release of iron oxides resulting from the aeolian abrasion of natural dune sands

Global dust trajectories indicate that signi?cant quantities of aeolian‐transported iron oxides originate in contemporary dryland areas. One potential source is the iron‐rich clay coatings that characterize many sand‐sized particles in desert dune?elds. This paper uses laboratory experiments to determine the rate at which these coatings can be removed from dune sands by aeolian abrasion. The coatings impart a red colour to the grains to which previous researchers have assigned variable geomorphological signi?cance. The quantities of iron removed during a 120 hour abrasion experiment are small (99 mg kg^?1) and dif?cult to detect by eye; however, high resolution spectroscopy clearly indicates that ferric oxides are released during abrasion and the re?ectance of the particles alters. One of the products of aeolian abrasion is ?ne particles (<10 µm diameter) with the potential for long distance transport. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Testing a statistical curve‐fitting procedure for quantifying sediment populations within multi‐modal particle‐size distributions

This paper describes a series of tests designed to evaluate the capacity of a personal computer (PC) based statistical curve‐fitting program called MIX to quantify composite populations within multi‐modal particle‐size distributions. Three natural soil samples were analysed by a Coulter Multisizer, and their particle‐size distributions analysed using MIX software to identify the modes, standard deviations and proportions of their composite populations. The particle‐size distributions of the three natural soil samples were then numerically combined in equal proportions using a spreadsheet program to create synthetic particle‐size distributions of known populations. MIX was then tested on the synthetic particle‐size distributions to see if the modes and proportions it identified were similar to those modes and proportions known to characterize the synthetic particle‐size distributions. The main outcome is that MIX can very accurately describe the modal particle size and proportions of the major composite populations within a particle‐size distribution. However MIX has difficulty in identifying small populations (those contributing <10 per cent of a total particle‐size distribution), particularly when they are located in the central sections of particle‐size distributions, overlain by larger populations, or when positioned in the fine tails of distributions. Despite these minor shortcomings, MIX is a valuable tool for the examination and interpretation of particle‐size data. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Laser Ablation ICP-MS Developments and Trends for 2003

This annual review of laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) covers the year 2003. Significant advances were made in understanding laser-sample interactions. In particular, research defined the distribution of particle sizes produced by the interplay of laser wavelength, laser pulse width and the gas environment of ablation. A link between particle sizes and elemental and isotopic fractionation at both the ablation site and in the ICP was established. Experimental 15 7 nm and femtosecond laser systems were tested with promising results. The number of applications of LA-ICP-MS in geology and environmental Earth science continued to grow with particular interest in element concentration and isotope ratio profiling of materials, linking composition to time scales. In situ isotopic ratio measurements were increasingly made using multicollector magnetic sector ICP-MS instruments. Other applications of wide interest included bulk sampling of rocks and ores prepared as lithium borate glasses; low level analysis of platinum-group elements, rhenium and gold in sulfides, metal and silicates; in situ uranium-lead zircon geochronology; and melt and fluid inclusion analysis.     

Investigation into the effect of fault properties on wave transmission

The estimation of wave transmission across the fractured rock masses is of great importance for rock engineers to assess the stability of rock slopes in open pit mines. Presence of fault, as a major discontinuity, in the jointed rock mass can significantly impact on the peak particle velocity and transmission of blast waves, particularly where a fault contains a thick infilling with weak mechanical properties. This paper aims to study the effect of fault properties on transmission of blasting waves using the distinct element method. First, a validation study was carried out on the wave transmission across a single joint and different rock mediums through undertaking a comparative study against analytical models. Then, the transmission of blast wave across a fault with thick infilling in the Golgohar iron mine, Iran, was numerically studied, and the results were compared with the field measurements. The blast wave was numerically simulated using a hybrid finite element and finite difference code which then the outcome was used as the input for the distinct element method analysis. The measured uplift of hanging wall, as a result of wave transmission across the fault, in the numerical model agrees well with the recorded field measurement. Finally, the validated numerical model was used to study the effect of fault properties on wave transmission. It was found that the fault inclination angle is the most effective parameter on the peak particle velocity and uplift. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.