Petrography and uplift history of the Quaternary Takidani Granodiorite: could it have hosted a supercritical (HDR) geothermal reservoir?

The Quaternary Takidani Granodiorite (Japan Alps) is analogous to the type of deep-seated (3–5 km deep) intrusive-hosted fracture network system that might support (supercritical) hot dry/wet rock (HDR/HWR) energy extraction. The I-type Takidani Granodiorite comprises: porphyritic granodiorite, porphyritic granite, biotite-hornblende granodiorite, hornblende-biotite granodiorite, biotite-hornblende granite and biotite granite facies; the intrusion has a reverse chemical zonation, characterized by >70 wt% SiO₂ at its inferred margin and <67 wt% SiO₂ at the core. Fluid inclusion evidence indicates that fractured Takidani Granodiorite at one time hosted a liquid-dominated, convective hydrothermal system, with <380°C, low-salinity reservoir fluids at hydrostatic (mesothermal) pressure conditions. ‘Healed’ microfractures also trapped >600°C, hypersaline (35 wt% NaCl_eq) fluids of magmatic origin, with inferred minimum pressures of formation being 600–750 bar, which corresponds to fluid entrapment at 2.4–3.0 km depth. Al-in-hornblende geobarometry indicates that hornblende crystallization occurred at about 1.45 Ma (7.7–9.4 km depth) in the (marginal) eastern Takidani Granodiorite, but later (at 1.25 Ma) and shallower (6.5–7.0 km) near the core of the intrusion. The average rate of uplift across the Takidani Granodiorite from the time of hornblende crystallization has been 5.1–5.9 mm/yr (although uplift was about 7.5 mm/yr prior to 1.2 Ma), which is faster than average uplift rates in the Japan Alps (3 mm/yr during the last 2 million years). A temperature–depth–time window, when the Takidani Granodiorite had potential to host an HDR system, would have been when the internal temperature of the intrusive was cooling from 500°C to 400°C. Taking into account the initial (7.5 mm/yr) rate of uplift and effects of erosion, an optimal temperature–time–depth window is proposed: for 500°C at 1.54–1.57 Ma and 5.2±0.9 km (drilling) depth; and 400°C at 1.36–1.38 Ma and 3.3±0.8 km (drilling) depth, which is within the capabilities of modern drilling technologies, and similar to measured temperature–depth profiles in other active hydrothermal systems (e.g. at Kakkonda, Japan).     

Physical model for dynamic analysis of structures with FPS isolators

This article presents a physical model for frictional pendulum isolators (FPS) that is ready to be implemented in most commercial software. The model is capable of accounting for effects such as large deformations, sticking, and uplift and impact by sensing the normal loads in the isolators through a gap element. Sticking has been incorporated into the model by extending the Park–Wen hysteretic model to the case of large deformations. The proposed model has been tested against a theoretically ‘exact’ formulation leading to essentially identical results. To facilitate its use, the physical FPS model has been cast into a typical non‐linear structural element format, i.e. with deformation as input and restoring force as output. Examples of a building and a bridge have been chosen to show the potential of the element and to provide further insight into the earthquake response of structures with FPS isolators; in particular, in aspects such as the orientation in placement of the isolator, sticking, P? Δ, and other large deformation effects. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of extended distinct element method with lattice model to collapse analysis of RC bridges

This paper proposes a simple lattice model for collapse analysis of RC bridges subjected to earthquakes by using the extended distinct element method (EDEM). In the model, a concrete element consists of lumped masses connected to one another by springs, and a reinforcement bar is represented by a discrete model or an integrated model. The proposed lattice model is simple but its parameters are reasonably defined. It has fewer element nodes and connecting springs, which will be of benefit by shortening the CPU time. The processes to determine the initial stiffness of concrete and steel springs, the parameters of the constitutive model and the fracture criteria for springs are described. A re‐contact spring model is also proposed to simulate the re‐contact of the concrete after fracture of springs; and a general grid searching method is used to decrease the CPU time for judging re‐contact after fracture. The lattice model is assessed by numerical simulations and experiments. As an application, a damaged single‐column pier subjected to the Kobe Earthquake in 1995 is analysed by EDEM with the proposed model. The simulation results indicate that the proposed model predicts well qualitatively the collapse process of RC bridges. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismic risk assessments and GIS technology: applications to infrastructures in the Friuli–Venezia Giulia region (NE Italy)

This paper illustrates the seismic risk preliminary estimates of two different groups of structures located on the territory of the Friuli–Venezia Giulia region (NE Italy) : the first group includes some special industrial plants, and the second group includes bridges and tunnels belonging to the regional highway network. The part of the study on special industrial plants tries to evaluate the degree of expected damage, taking into account their structural typology and ground shaking expressed in terms of macroseismic intensity. The second part of the study is an application of the HAZUS methodology to the tunnels and bridges of a highway network: the combination of expected ground shaking and the construction characteristics lead to very different risk levels, especially when considering the bridges. The resulting damage levels to bridges and tunnels are still only indicative because of the fragility curves used in the evaluations: they were developed for existing bridge and tunnel structural typologies in the U.S.A. Moreover, both examples show the power of GIS technology in storing, elaborating, and mapping spatial data. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cyclic tests on large‐scale models of existing bridge piers with rectangular hollow cross‐section

Cyclic tests on two large‐scale models of existing bridge piers with rectangular hollow cross‐section were performed in the ELSA laboratory. The prototype structure is an existing reinforced concrete highway bridge constructed in Austria in 1975. The piers presented several seismic deficiencies and consequently they showed poor hysteretic behaviour and limited deformation capacity as well as undesirable failure modes that do not comply with the requirements of modern codes for seismic‐resistant structures. Experimental data are compared to numerical and empirical predictions. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

大同市区二十年地下水动态研究

本文首先分析了大同市地下水开采与地下水降深之间的对应关系，同时分析了影响地下水动态的其它因素，然后将地下水开采和大气降水量这两个影响地下水动态的主要因素与地下水动态进行复相关计算，求出相关方程，并进行不同开采量的地下水降深预测，最后根据这些地下水动态研究结果提出了解决大同市水问题几项对策建议。本文的研究结果同时表明，地下水动态研究非常必要且现实意义明显。通过动态变化可以了解地下水的补排及储水介质的变化情况，利用动态变化规律可以预测水文地质条件的变化趋势，根据地下水动态变化特点可采取有针对性的、灵活的取水方案。可以说，地下水动态研究成果在水资源的开发、利用、保护中具有极大的可利用价值。     

最优化的矿物扩散地质速率计:北大别黄土岭麻粒岩缓慢冷却的证据

对北大别黄土岭麻粒岩中石榴子石进行了详细的电子探针工作，并根据一颗石榴子石的成分环带，建立了扩散模型并进行了数值模拟，结合最优化的方法，得到了极其缓慢的冷却速率0.1℃/a。从扩散动力学数值模拟的角度对大别山造山带的冷却速率进行了探索性研究。该结果表明，黄土岭麻粒岩在受麻粒岩相改造后经历的是一个极其缓慢、持续时间很长的冷却过程。     

Lateral tidal mixing in the Antarctic marginal seas

Tidal mixing plays an important role in the modification of dense water masses around the Antarctic continent. In addition to the vertical (diapycnal) mixing in the near-bottom layers, lateral mixing can also be of relevance in some areas. A numerical tide simulation shows that lateral tidal mixing is not uniformly distributed along the shelf break. In particular, strong mixing occurs all along the Ross Sea and Southern Weddell Sea shelf breaks, while other regions (e.g., the western Weddell Sea) are relatively quiet. The latter regions correspond surprisingly well to areas where indications for cross-shelf exchange of dense water masses have been found. The results suggest that lateral tidal mixing may account for the relatively small contribution of Ross Sea dense water masses to Antarctic Bottom Water.     

Aseismic negative dislocation model and deformation analysis of crustal horizontal movement during 1999——2001 in the northeast margin of Qinghai-Xizang block

Through numerical simulation for GPS data, aseism/c negative dislocation model for crustal horizontal movement during 1999-2001 in the northeast margin of Qinghai-Xizang block is presented, combined with the spatial distri-bution of apparent strain field in this area, the characteristics of motion and deformation of active blocks and their boundary faults, together with the place and intensity of strain accumulation are analyzed. It is shown that: a) 9 active blocks appeared totally clockwise motion from eastward by north to eastward by south. Obvious sinistral strike-slip and NE-NEE relative compressive motion between the blocks separated by Qilianshan-Haiyuan fault zone was discovered; b) 20 fault segments (most of them showed compression) locked the relative motion between blocks to varying degrees, among the total, the mid-east segment of Qilianshan fault (containing the place where it meets Riyueshan-Lajishan fault) and the place where it meets Haiyuan fault and Zhuanglanghe fault, more favored accumulation of strain. Moreover, the region where Riyueshan-Lajishan fault meets north boundary of Qaidam block may have strain accumulation to some degree, c) Obtained magnitude of block velocities and locking of their boundaries were less than relevant results for observation in the period of 1993-1999.