Lithospheric structure and continental geodynamics

This paper briefly reviews main progress in the research on lithospheric structure and continental geodynamics made by Chinese geophysicists during last 4 years since 22nd IUGG general assembly in July 1999. The research mainly covers the following fields: investigations on regional lithospheric structure, DSS survey of crust and upper mantle velocity structure, study on present-day inner movement and deformation of Chinese mainland by analyz-ing GPS observations, geodynamics of Qingzang plateau, geophysical survey of the Dabie-Sulu ultra-high pressure metamorphic belt and probing into its formation mechanism, geophysical observations in sedimentary basins and study on their evolution process, and plate dynamics, etc.     

Nonlinear Rate Dependent Model of High Damping Rubber Bearing

The accurate analysis of the response of isolated structures requires the application of appropriate models of isolation devices. The purpose of this paper is to analyse a nonlinear strain rate dependent model of a high damping rubber bearing which simulates the horizontal behaviour of the device under specified vertical load using a nonlinear elastic spring-dashpot element. The effectiveness of the model is checked by fitting the experimental data concerning three different rubber bearings. The results of the study show that the model can simulate the bearing behaviour over a wide shear strain range with small simulation errors. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Efficiency of base isolation systems in structural seismic protection and energetic assessment

This paper concerns the seismic response of structures isolated at the base by means of High Damping Rubber Bearings (HDRB). The analysis is performed by using a stochastic approach, and a Gaussian zero mean filtered non‐stationary stochastic process is used in order to model the seismic acceleration acting at the base of the structure. More precisely, the generalized Kanai–Tajimi model is adopted to describe the non‐stationary amplitude and frequency characteristics of the seismic motion. The hysteretic differential Bouc–Wen model (BWM) is adopted in order to take into account the non‐linear constitutive behaviour both of the base isolation device and of the structure. Moreover, the stochastic linearization method in the time domain is adopted to estimate the statistical moments of the non‐linear system response in the state space. The non‐linear differential equation of the response covariance matrix is then solved by using an iterative procedure which updates the coefficients of the equivalent linear system at each step and searches for the solution of the response covariance matrix equation. After the system response variance is estimated, a sensitivity analysis is carried out. The final aim of the research is to assess the real capacity of base isolation devices in order to protect the structures from seismic actions, by avoiding a non‐linear response, with associated large plastic displacements and, therefore, by limiting related damage phenomena in structural and non‐structural elements. In order to attain this objective the stochastic response of a non‐linear n‐dof shear‐type base‐isolated building is analysed; the constitutive law both of the structure and of the base devices is described, as previously reported, by adopting the BWM and by using appropriate parameters for this model, able to suitably characterize an ordinary building and the base isolators considered in the study. The protection level offered to the structure by the base isolators is then assessed by evaluating the reduction both of the displacement response and the hysteretic dissipated energy. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Lithology and palynology of Neogene sediments on the narrow edge of the Kitakami Massif (basement rocks), northeast Japan: Significant change for depositional environments as a result of plate tectonics

Abstract A controversial stratigraphic section, the Taneichi Formation, is exposed along the Pacific Coast of northeastern Honshu, the main island of the Japanese Archipelago. Although most sediments of the formation have long been dated as late Cretaceous, the northern section of it has been assigned to (i) the Upper Cretaceous; (ii) the Paleogene; or (iii) the Neogene. In the present report, we present the data of palynological and sedimentological studies, showing that the northern section should be assigned to the Neogene. A more important point in the present study is that we invoke some basic principles of fluvial sedimentology to resolve this stratigraphic subject. The lignite layers full of Paleogene–Miocene dinoflagellate cysts and pollen assemblages drape over the boulder‐sized (>40 cm in diameter) clasts in the northern section. However, the layers totally consist of aggregates of small lignite chips, indicating that the lignites are allochthonous materials. The mega‐clasts with derived microfossils in the lignites are thought to have been deposited as Neogene fluvial (flood) sediments in the newly formed Japanese Archipelago. Prior to the Miocene, the northern Honshu was part of the Eurasian Plate, thus the boulder‐sized clasts cannot be envisaged as long river flood deposits along the continental Paleogene Pacific Coast. Instead, the mega‐clasts with the draping lignites were probably derived from nearby Miocene highlands in the newly born island arc.     

高温高压下含水矿物脱水对斜长岩纵波速度的影响

在1GPa、室温至880℃条件下对斜长岩的纵波速度进行了测量，并对实验产物进行了鉴定分析，讨论了含水矿物脱水对岩石纵波速度的影响。实验结果表明，在680℃左右，由于斜长岩中的含水矿物绢云母和黝帘石开始脱水，矿物脱水产生的流体及其所引起岩石结构的变化可使岩石纵波速度降低10％左右。这意味着通过矿物脱水这一机制可以形成壳内低速层。     

高填方路堤互锚式薄壁挡土墙土压力试验研究

在山区修建高等级公路工程中，挡土墙结构广泛应用于高填方路堤工程。在提出一种新型互锚式薄壁挡土墙结构的基础上，通过埋设土压力盒的方法对该种挡土墙的结构型式进行了力学模型试验，并进行了模型土压力强度特性分析。试验及分析表明，该挡土墙结构成本低廉，施工方便，结构合理，可以应用于高填方路堤实际工程。     

非活动大陆边缘的天然气水合物及其成藏过程述评

非活动陆缘是板块活动相对较弱的地区，也是水合物发育的有利地区。通过对世界各地非活动陆缘地区水合物富集情况的系统分析，发现断褶组合构造、底辟构造以及“麻坑”地貌（Pockmark)与水合物的关系密切。尽管模拟海底反射层（Bottom Simulating Reflector,简称BSR，下同）是最重要的水合物识别标志，但水合物与BSR之间并不存在严格的一一对应关系。非活动陆缘具有丰富的烃类物质来源和适宜的温压条件，而断裂－褶皱组合构造、垒堑式构造和底辟构造等则为烃类气体的运移、富集和成藏提供了有利的构造环境，便于最终形成水合物。非活动陆缘的深水区往往发育有多期叠合盆地，因其物源、温压、构造和沉积条件的内在关联性，常常形成深部石油、中部天然气、浅部水合物的“三位一体”烃类能源结构模式。     

论构造耦合作用

构造耦合作用是一种普遍存在的地质现象。现今东、西太平洋的构造差异及古太平洋和现今太平洋大陆边缘构造差异与俯冲的洋壳板块性状有关,即:①俯冲角度;②俯冲角度的改变;③俯冲速率;④俯冲速率的改变;⑤俯冲深度;⑥俯冲板块前缘与海沟间的水平距离;⑦俯冲板块在670km上、下地幔界线处的构造形态;⑧俯冲板块的位移及位移方向。这种深部构造活动对浅部构造形成的制约和影响,是活动大陆边缘构造耦合现象的具体表现。中国西北部的盆山耦合现象是大陆内部的构造耦合作用,印度板块与欧亚板块碰撞产生的远距离效应,导致中亚地区产生陆内A型俯冲,A型俯冲是造成盆地消亡、山系形成的重要因素。     

武汉市高层建筑岩土工程问题分析

武汉市是华中地区最大的城市,改革开放以来,兴建了许多高层建筑。高层建筑尤其是超高层建筑的主要特点是高度大、重心高、基底压力大及基础埋深大等。而武汉地区的地质条件又比较复杂,就第四纪地层而言,从最新沉积的各类软土如人工填土、淤泥类土、软塑状粘性土等,到全新世(Q4)沉积的各类砂土与卵砾石,直至晚更新世(Q3)及其以前沉积的老粘土均有分布。各类土层的厚度、深度及性质均变化较大。因此武汉地区高层建筑的岩土工程问题就显得复杂与多样,在众多复杂的岩土工程问题中,本文主要分析了比较突出的基础持力层与基础类型的确定,深基坑开挖中的边坡滑移、基坑涌水、流砂、突涌以及基坑防护等。通过对这些问题的分析,从中可以得出一些规律,对今后高层建筑的兴建具有一定的指导作用。     

Flexure of the Indian plate and intraplate earthquakes

The flexural bulge in central India resulting from India's collision with Tibet has a wavelength of approximately 670 km. It is manifest topographically and in the free-air gravity anomaly and the geoid. Calculations of the stress distribution within a flexed Indian plate reveal spatial variations throughout the depth of the plate and also a function of distance from the Himalaya. The wavelength (and therefore local gradient) of stress variation is a function of the effective elastic thickness of the plate, estimates of which have been proposed to lie in the range 40–120 km. The imposition of this stress field on the northward moving Indian plate appears fundamental to explaining the current distribution of intraplate earthquakes and their mechanisms. The current study highlights an outer trough south of the flexural bulge in central India where surface stresses are double the contiguous compressional stresses to the north and south. The Bhuj, Latur and Koyna earthquakes and numerous other recent reverse faulting events occurred in this compressional setting. The N/S spatial gradient of stress exceeds 2 bars/km near the flexural bulge. The overall flexural stress distribution provides a physical basis for earthquake hazard mapping and suggests that areas of central India where no historic earthquakes are recorded may yet be the locus of future damaging events.