Modeling soil desiccation cracking by analytical and numerical approaches

An energy approach is proposed as a complement to the stress approach commonly considered for investigating soil desiccation cracking. The elastic strain energies before and after crack initiation are estimated by both numerical and analytical solutions. The energy released by cracking is then compared with the fracture energy to discuss crack initiation conditions. This leads to combined energy and stress conditions for crack initiation following Leguillon's theory. An approximate analytical solution is derived from a variational formulation of the porous elastic body equations. A cohesive zone model and finite element code are used to simulate crack propagation in an unsaturated porous body. This analysis shows that the energy criterion is reached before the stress criterion, and this can explain unstable crack propagation at the beginning. The approximate analytical solution allows predicting correctly the crack depth and opening in its initiation stage.     

脆性岩石三轴压缩渐裂过程中的渗透性演化规律研究

岩石渐进破坏伴随着裂纹的开展发育,岩石的渗透性演化与裂纹的开展规律有着密切的联系。运用三轴渗流伺服装置对凝灰岩进行了不同围压和渗压下的渗流-应力耦合试验,分析了岩石在渐裂过程中不同裂纹开展阶段渗透率的演化规律。结果表明：在裂纹的稳定扩展阶段,渗透率的变化不明显,起裂强度对应的渗透率可用于确定最小渗透率;进入裂纹非稳定扩展阶段后,渗透率出现明显增大,增大过程可以分为两个阶段,裂纹环向应变能较好地反映渗透率增大的两个阶段,其拐点可用于确定起始渗透率的位置;在峰后软化阶段,渗透率出现下降并进入残余稳定阶段,裂纹环向应变率可以反映渗透率的下降阶段,并可用于确定峰值渗透率的位置。     

A review on rill erosion process and its influencing factors

Rills are frequently observed on slope farmlands and rill erosion significantly contributes to sediment yields. This paper focuses on reviewing the various factors affecting rill erosion processes and the threshold conditions of rill initiation. Six factors, including rainfall, runoff, soil, topography, vegetation and tillage system, are discussed. Rill initiation and network are explored. Runoff erosivity and soil erodibility are recognized as two direct factors affecting rill erosion and other types of factors may have indirect influences on rill erosion through increasing or decreasing the effects of the direct factors. Certain conditions are necessary for rill initiation and the critical conditions are different with different factors. Future studies should be focused on 1) the dynamic changes of rill networks; 2) the combined effect of multiple factors; and 3) the relationships of threshold values with other related factors.     

FIELD STUDIES OF SAND PATCH INITIATION PROCESSES ON THE NORTHERN MARGIN OF THE NAMIB SAND SEA

Field studies of protodunes (sand patches) on the northern margin of the Namib Sand Sea suggest that they are initiated in a zone of spatially and temporally fluctuating winds on the distal plinth of one of the south–north linear dunes and migrate northward across granule to gravel substrates. The sand patches disperse as surface roughness increases in the net migration distance. Dispersal of the sand patches is also constrained by sand supply. These studies suggest the importance of interactions between surface and aerodynamic roughness, transport thresholds, and sand supply in the initiation of dunes.     

Variation in hydraulic geometry for stable versus incised streams in the Yazoo River basin-USA

The effects of basin hydrology on hydraulic geometry of channels variability for incised streams were investigated using available field data sets and models of watershed hydrology and channel hydraulics for the Yazoo River basin,USA.The study presents the hydraulic geometry relations of bankfull discharge,channel width,mean depth,cross-sectional area,longitudinal slope,unit stream power,and mean velocity at bankfull discharge as a function of drainage area using simple linear regression.The hydraulic geometry relations were developed for 61 streams,20 of them are classified as channel evolution model(CEM) Types Ⅳ and Ⅴ and 41 of them are CEM streams Types Ⅱ and Ⅲ.These relationships are invaluable to hydraulic and water resources engineers,hydrologists,and geomorphologists involved in stream restoration and protection.These relations can be used to assist in field identification of bankfull stage and stream dimension in un-gauged watersheds as well as estimation of the comparative stability of a stream channel.A set of hydraulic geometry relations are presented in this study,these empirical relations describe physical correlations for stable and incised channels.Cross-sectional area,which combines the effects of channel width and mean channel depth,was found to be highly responsive to changes in drainage area and bankfull discharge.Analyses of cross-sectional area,channel width,mean channel depth,and mean velocity in conjunction with changes in drainage area and bankfull discharge indicated that the channel width is much more responsive to changes in both drainage area and bankfull discharge than are mean channel depth or mean velocity.     

Early‐stage aeolian protodunes: Bedform development and sand transport dynamics

Early‐stage aeolian bedforms, or protodunes, are elemental in the continuum of dune development and act as essential precursors to mature dunes. Despite this, we know very little about the processes and feedback mechanisms that shape these nascent bedforms. Whilst theory and conceptual models have offered some explanation for protodune existence and development, until now, we have lacked the technical capability to measure such small bedforms in aeolian settings. Here, we employ terrestrial laser scanning to measure morphological change at the high frequency and spatial resolution required to gain new insights into protodune behaviour. On a 0.06 m high protodune, we observe vertical growth of the crest by 0.005 m in two hours. Our direct measurements of sand transport on the protodune account for such growth, with a reduction in time‐averaged sediment flux of 18% observed over the crestal region. Detailed measurements of form also establish key points of morphological change on the protodune. The position on the stoss slope where erosion switches to deposition is found at a point 0.07 m upwind of the crest. This finding supports recent models that explain vertical dune growth through an upwind shift of this switching point. Observations also show characteristic changes in the asymmetric cross‐section of the protodune. Flow‐form feedbacks result in a steepening of the lee slope and a decline in lower stoss slope steepness (by 3°), constituting a reshaping of protodune form towards more mature dune morphology. The approaches and findings applied here, (a) demonstrate an ability to quantify processes at requisite spatial and temporal scales for monitoring early‐stage dune evolution, (b) highlight the crucial role of form‐flow feedbacks in enabling early‐stage bedform growth, alluding to a fluctuation in feedbacks that require better representation in dune models, and (c) provide a new stimulus for advancing understanding of aeolian bedforms. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

西沙群岛琛航岛全新世珊瑚礁的起始发育时间及其海平面指示意义

以西沙群岛琛航岛珊瑚礁钻孔为材料,通过高精度铀系测年技术测定了全新世底界的年代;同时利用MAT-253同位素质谱仪和电感耦合等离子体质谱仪测定了0~20 m层段δ¹³C、δ¹⁸O和锶元素的质量分数,以U-Th年龄为基础,结合δ¹³C、δ¹⁸O和锶元素的质量分数均在16~17 m之间明显降低这一特点,得到琛航岛全新世珊瑚礁的起始发育时间为距今7 900 a前,不整合于晚更新世的珊瑚礁体（年代老于110 ka）之上,全新世礁体的厚度为16.7 m。考虑研究区域新构造活动相对稳定,以及南海现代珊瑚礁的礁坪面与大潮低潮面基本一致,琛科2井的钻孔井位高于现代礁坪约2.9 m,推测其起始发育时的位置在现代海平面大潮低潮面之下约13.8 m,即西沙群岛海域7 900 a前的海平面在现代海平面以下约13.8 m,近7 900 a以来海平面上升了至少13.8 m。这一结果为理解全新世南海珊瑚礁的发育历史及海平面变化提供了新的信息。     

Drainage Network and Lineament Analysis： An Approach for Potwar Plateau （Northern Pakistan）

Drainage responds rapidly to tectonic changes and thus it is a potential parameter for teetonogeomorphological analysis. Drainage network of Potwar is a good geological record of movement, displacements, regional uplifts and erosion of the tectonic units. This study focuses on utilizing drainage network extracted from Shuttle Radar Digital Elevation Data （SRTM-DEM） in order to constrain the structure of the Potwar Plateau. SWAN syncline divides Potwar into northern Potwar deformed zone （NPDZ） and southern Potwar platform zone （SPPZ）. We extracted the drainage network from DEM and analyzed 112 streams using stream power law. Spatial distribution of concavity and steepness indices were used to prepare uplift rate map for the area. DEM was further utilized to extract lineaments to study the mutual relationship between lineaments and drainage patterns. We compared the local correlation between the extracted lineaments and drainage network of the area that gives us quantitative information and shows promising prospects. The streams in the NPDZ indicate high steepness values as compared to the streams in the SPPZ. The spatial distribution of geomorphic parameters distinctive deformation and uplift rates suggest the among eastern, central and western parts. The local correlation between drainage network and lineaments from DEM is strongly positive in the area within I km of radius.     

Discrete element model for quasi‐brittle rupture under tensile and compressive loading

In the absence of initial cracks, the material behavior is limited by its strength, usually defined in homogeneous conditions (of stress and strain). Beyond this limit, in quasi‐brittle case, cracks may propagate and the material behavior tends to be well described by fracture mechanics. Discrete element approaches show consistent results dealing with this transition during rupture. However, the calibration of the parameters of the numerical models (i.e., stiffness, strength, and toughness) may be quite complex and sometimes only approximative. Based on a brittle rupture criterion, we analyze the biaxial response of uncracked samples. Thus, tensile and compressive strengths are analytically identified and become direct parameters of our discrete model. Furthermore, a physically reliable crack initiation (and subsequent propagation) is shown to be induced during rupture and verified by the simulation of three‐point bending and diametral compression tests. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

松花江早更新世水系演化:来自TIMA矿物和地球化学的证据

水系演化研究是揭示流域地貌—构造—气候演化之间相互作用的重要途径。松花江水系演化研究目前还相对薄弱,尤其是第四纪松花江中上游是否发生流向反转存在争议。自动定量矿物分析系统TIMA(TESCAN Integrated Mineral Analyzer)在源区识别和古地理重建方面有极大的应用潜力。为此,本文利用TIMA技术对位于松花江T2阶地的哈尔滨荒山岩心沉积物进行重矿物及全岩矿物地球化学组成分析。结果表明,以深度62.3 m为界,岩心上、下地层沉积物的重矿物(例如,锆石、磷灰石、金红石、榍石、石榴石、钛铁矿、铁磁矿物和硅铁矿)及全岩矿物地球化学组成均存在明显差异。62.3 m以上地层沉积物的重矿物组合是闪石类+帘石类+榍石+铁磁矿物,硅铁锂钠石在上段地层中出现,全岩矿物地球化学元素较为稳定,波动幅度较小;62.3 m以下地层沉积物的重矿物组合是闪石类+帘石类+钛铁矿+榍石,方解石、铬铁矿、蛇纹石、黄铁矿和磁黄铁矿仅在下段地层中出现,全岩矿物地球化学元素波动幅度较大。TIMA重矿物和全岩矿物地球化学组成反映了岩心沉积物的物源发生明显变化,进而指示了松花江的水系演化。结合在依兰发现的河湖相地层,我们提出了松花江水系演化的新模式。早更新世时期,佳依(佳木斯—依兰)分水岭将松嫩水系和三江平原水系分隔开,作为松花江上游的牡丹江向东流经依兰—通河—哈尔滨,最终注入松嫩古湖。在0.94 Ma B. P.之后,松辽分水岭局部隆升,古松花江发生反转,从西向东流至通河—依兰地区形成古大湖。湖泊水位不断升高致使湖水溢流切穿佳依分水岭,形成现代松花江水系的基本格局。这挑战了以前的向源侵蚀导致佳依分水岭被切穿的水系演化模式。