Undrained stability of an active planar trapdoor in non-homogeneous clays with a linear increase of strength with depth

Finite element limit analysis was employed to determine the upper and lower bound solutions of the active failure of a planar trapdoor in non-homogeneous clays that have a linear increase of strength with depth. Influences of cover ratio, dimensionless strength gradient and trapdoor roughness on predicted failure mechanisms and stability factors were determined. In all cases, the exact stability factors were accurately bracketed by computed bound solutions within 1%. Accurate closed-form equations to predict the exact estimates of stability factors, trapdoor pressure and factor of safety using the new proposed factors for the cohesion and strength gradient are presented.     

云南和四川中小地震应力降时空特征研究

通过消除S波观测谱中的传播路径、场地响应、仪器响应、噪声等的影响,得到中小地震的震源谱。根据Brune震源模型,运用遗传算法计算了云南地区2121次ML2.0～5.3地震和四川地区323次ML3.0～5.1地震的应力降参数Δσ,分析了云南地区和四川地区中小地震应力降时空变化特征。结果表明:云南地区的地震应力降范围为0.03～47.55MPa,其中Δσ≥10.0MPa(高应力降)的地震占4.8%,Δσ的年均值在2.30～5.05MPa之间;四川地区应力降范围为0.19～47.47MPa,其中Δσ≥10.0MPa(高应力降)的地震占21.7%,Δσ的年均值在5.11～8.72MPa之间。Δσ≥10.0MPa(高应力降)的地震主要分布在滇西北至滇东北及川滇交界一带,尤其是在龙门山断裂带有较明显分布。龙门山断裂带Δσ≥10.0MPa的地震占35.8%,Δσ的年均值在5.20～12.09MPa之间,2004～2007年高应力降地震事件明显增多,反映了汶川8.0级大震前的高应力变化过程。     

基于多源数据的活动断裂遥感图像处理技术

本文在综合分析活动断裂遥感影像特征的基础上, 主要研究了活动断裂与隐伏断裂调查中遥感图像处理。基于SAR影像、 ETM+影像、 SPOT-5影像及高精度DEM数据, 运用SAR图像与ETM+多光谱图像融合方法、 ETM+图像纹理特征和光谱特征组合增强方法等, 结合断裂周围高分辨率影像及其三维影像, 综合分析解译了济南市周边活动断裂, 为该地区地震地质调查和精确定位活动隐伏构造提供了依据。     

松辽盆地北部反转构造的几何特征、变形机制及其地震地质意义——以大安-德都断裂为例

松辽盆地北部发育的中-新生代反转构造代表着盆地继伸展裂陷阶段、热冷却拗陷阶段之后的第3个构造演化阶段。系统收集了布设在覆盖大安-德都断裂及其附近的14个3维地震工区,30条区域地震反射大剖面,在此基础上准确追踪解释了T06、T1、T11、T2、T3、T4、T5等7个地震反射层位。同时基于52口钻孔的资料对重点反射层的地质年代进行了重新厘定,分析了不同时期断层展布特征及分布规律,重点就松辽盆地中新生代反转构造的几何学形态、变形特征与机制进行了研究。研究结果认为,该反转构造为大安-德都断裂在中生代末期和新生代早期的主要变形模式,符合"逆断层-褶皱"构造的几何形态和变形机制。松辽盆地内部的构造变形主要集中在该构造反转带上。此外,重点选择了2条典型剖面开展了野外实验性浅层人工地震勘探。根据勘探结果并结合该地区第四纪地层厚度分析认为,广泛发育在背斜顶部且断错T06界面的小断裂可能代表了大安-德都断裂强变形带的最新活动性,勘探剖面揭示的上断点断错最年轻地层为中更新统,并据此初步判定该断裂最新活动时代可能为中更新世。此外,综合人工地震勘探结果、现代地震活动性和震源机制解研究结果认为,大安-德都断裂的"逆断层-褶皱"构造反转带最新的活动已明显影响到了近地表的反射层,清楚断错了早-中更新世地层,控制着断裂附近中强地震的发生,是松辽盆地内部或整个东北地区重要和典型的发震构造之一。     

Radon concentrations in soil gas,considering radioactive equilibrium conditions with application to estimating fault-zone geometry

A calculation method for determining the amount of Rn isotopes and daughter products at the start of measurement (CRAS) is proposed as a more accurate means of estimating the initial Rn concentration in soil gas. The CRAS utilizes the decay law between ²²²Rn and ²²⁰Rn isotopes and the daughter products ²¹⁸Po and ²¹⁶Po, and is applicable to α-scintillation counter measurements. As Rn is both inert and chemically stable, it is useful for fault investigation based on the soil gas geochemistry. However, the total number of α particles emitted by the decay of Rn has generally been considered to be proportional to the initial Rn concentration, without considering the gas condition with respect to radioactive equilibrium. The CRAS method is shown to be effective to derive Rn concentration for soil gases under both nonequilibrium conditions, in which the total number of decays increases with time, and equilibrium conditions, which are typical of normal soil under low gas flux. The CRAS method in conjunction with finite difference method simulation is applied to the analysis of two active fault areas in Japan, and it is demonstrated that this combination could detect the sharp rises in ²²²Rn concentrations associated with faults. The method also allows the determination of fault geometry near the surface based on the asymmetry variation of the Rn concentration distribution when coupled with a numerical simulation of ²²²Rn transport. The results for the new method as applied to the two case studies are consistent with the data collected from the geological survey. It implies that the CRAS method is suitable for investigating the fault system and interstitial gas mobility through fractures. The present analyses have also demonstrated that high Rn concentrations require the recent and repeated accumulation of ²²²Rn parents (²³⁰Th and ²²⁶Ra) in fault gouges through deep gas release during fault movement.     

Constraints from precariously balanced rocks on preferred rupture directions for large earthquakes on the southern San Andreas Fault

We have compared near-fault ground motions from TeraShake simulations of M_w7.7 earthquake scenarios on the southern San Andreas Fault with precariously balanced rock locations. The TeraShake scenarios with different directions of rupture generate radically different ground motions to the northwest of the Los Angeles Basin, primarily because of directivity effects, and thus provide constraints on the ground motion and rupture direction for the latest (1690) large event on that section of the San Andreas Fault. Due to the large directional near-field ground motions predicted by the simulations, we expect the precariously balanced rocks to be located primarily in the backward rupture direction or near the epicenter. Preliminary results favor persistent nucleation at or slightly northwest of the San Gorgonia Pass fault zone for large earthquakes on the southern San Andreas Fault.     

A paleo-seismological study of the Dauki fault at Jaflong,Sylhet, Bangladesh: Historical seismic events and an attempted rupture segmentation model

A paleo-seismological study was conducted at Jaflong, Sylhet, Bangladesh, which is on the eastern part of the Dauki fault. The geomorphology around Jaflong is divided into the Shillong Plateau, the foothills, the lower terraces, and the alluvial plain from north to south. Because the foothills and lower terraces are considered to be uplifted tectonically, an active fault is inferred to the south of the lower terraces. This fault, which branches from the Dauki fault as a foreland migration, is known as the Jaflong fault in this paper. The trench investigation was conducted at the southern edge of the lower terrace. The angular unconformity accompanied by folding, which is thought to be the top of the growth strata, was identified in the trench. An asymmetric anticline with a steep southern limb and gentle northern limb is inferred from the back-tilted lower terrace and the folding of the gravel layer parallel to the lower terrace surface. The timing of the seismic event which formed the folding and unconformity is dated to between AD 840 and 920.The trench investigation at Gabrakhari, on the western part of the Dauki fault, revealed that the Dauki fault ruptured in AD 1548 (Morino et al., 2011). Because the 1897 great Indian earthquake (M ⩾ 8.0; Yeats et al., 1997) was caused by the rupture of the Dauki fault (Oldham, 1899), it is clear that the Dauki fault has ruptured three times in the past one thousand years. The timing of these seismic events coincides with that of the paleo-liquefactions confirmed on the Shillong Plateau. It is essential for the paleo-seismological study of the Dauki fault to determine the surface ruptures of the 1897 earthquake. The Dauki fault might be divided into four rupture segments, the western, central, eastern, and easternmost segments. The eastern and western segments ruptured in AD 840–920 and in 1548, respectively. The 1897 earthquake might have been caused by the rupture of the central segment.     

DETERMINATION OF SLIP RATE ON THE SOUTHERN SEGMENT OF THE ANNINGHE FAULT

The Anninghe Fault has been suggested as an important segment of the fault system along the eastern boundary of the Sichuan-Yunnan faulted block in the southeastern region of the Tibetan plateau. Reliable determination of the Late Quaternary slip rate on the Anninghe Fault is very helpful and significant for revealing deformation mechanism and kinematic characteristics of the Sichuan-Yunnan faulted block, which further helps us understand fault activity and seismic potential of the region. However, previous studies were focused mainly on the northern segment of the Anninghe Fault, while slip rate on its southern segment has been less studied. Therefore, in this paper, we chose two sites at Dashuigou and Maoheshan on the southern segment of the Anninghe Fault, and used high-resolution images of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)photogrammetry technology, detailed field survey, multiple paleoseismic trenching and radiocarbon dating methods to constrain slip rate on the southern fault segment of the Anninghe Fault. Specifically, we suggest that the slip rate at the Dashuigouo site is narrowly constrained to be~4.4mm/a since about 3^￣￣300a^￣￣BP based on a linear regression calculation method, and speculate that a slip rate of 2.6~5.2mm/a at the Maoheshan site would be highly possible, although we poorly constrained the whole deformation amount of the two branch faults at the Maoheshan site from multiple paleoseismic trenching. The data at the two sites on the southern segment show a consistent slip rate compared with that of the northern segment of the Anninghe Fault. Moreover, considering a similar paleoseismic recurrence interval on the two segments of the Anninghe Fault from previous studies, we further suggest that the fault activity and deformation pattern on the two segments of the Annignhe Fault appears to be well consistent, which is also in agreement with the regional tectonic deformation.     

光缆布设方式对DAS主、被动源记录的影响

近年来分布式光纤声波传感器在近地表结构的主、被动源地震成像中得到了广泛应用,前人研究发现不同布设方式光缆记录的数据质量差别较大,有可能影响成像结果.因此本文针对光缆布设方式对分布式光纤声波传感器记录的主、被动源数据的影响开展了观测实验,设计了水泥胶结、路面摆放、架空三种布设方式模拟实际情况中的光缆,开展了主、被动源信号观测.基于光缆记录的被动源信号计算噪声互相关函数,采用多道面波分析法测量不同光缆的相速度频散曲线,并对比三种布设方式的光缆记录的主动源信号波形与到时等信息.结果表明水泥胶结和路面摆放布设方式可以提供质量较好且一致的主、被动源数据,但是悬空光缆的信号质量与频谱受到光缆自振的影响. 利用滤波去除光缆自振影响后,其频散曲线与水泥胶结和地面摆放光缆提取的频散曲线误差在5 m·s^-1以内. 通过相应优化手段后,三种布设方式的光缆记录的主、被动源数据都可以用于面波和体波走时成像,而主动源信号波形信息差异较大,难以直接用于相关成像研究,有待开展进一步工作.

     

Potential Tsunami Hazard Associated with the Kerepehi Fault,Firth of Thames,New Zealand

Geophysical data have identified four submarine segments of the Kerepehi Fault, roughly bisecting a back-arc rift (Hauraki Rift). These segments have been traced through the shallow waters of the Firth of Thames, which lies at the southern end of the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. No historical or paleotsunami data are available to assess the tsunami hazard of these fault segments.Analysis of the fault geometry, combined with paleoseismic data for three further terrestrial segments of the Fault, suggest Most Credible Earthquake (MCE) moment magnitudes of 6.5–7.1. Due to the presence of thick deposits of soft sediment, and thesemi-confined nature of the Firth, the MCE events are considered capable of generating tsunami or tsunami-like waves. Two numerical models (finite element and finite difference), and an empirical method proposed by Abe (1995), were used to predict maximum tsunami wave heights. The numerical models also modelled the tsunami propagation.The MCE events were found not to represent a major threat to the large metropolitan centre of Auckland City (New Zealand's largest population centre). However, the waves were a threat to small coastal communities around the Firth, including the township of Thames, and 35,000 ha of low-lying land along the southern shores of the Firth of Thames.The Abe method was found to provide a quick and useful method of assessing the regional tsunami height. However, for sources in water depths < 25 m the Abe method predicted heights 2–4 times larger than the numerical models. Since the numerical models were not intended for simulating tsunami generation in such shallow water, the Abe results are probably a good guide to the maximum wave heights.