Reliability assessment of granular filters in embankment dams

Empirical criteria have been used successfully to design filters of most embankment large dam projects throughout the world. However, these empirical rules are only applicable to a particular range of soils tested in laboratory and do not take into account the variability of the base material and filter particle sizes. In addition, it is widely accepted that the safety of fill dams is mainly dependent on the reliability of their filter performance. The work herein presented consists in a new general method for assessing the probability of fulfilling any empirical filter design criteria accounting for base and filter heterogeneity by means of first‐order reliability methods (FORM), so that reliability indexes and probabilities of fulfilling any particular criteria are obtained. This method will allow engineers to estimate the safety of existing filters in terms of probability of fulfilling their design criteria and might also be used as a decision tool on sampling needs and material size tolerances during construction. In addition, sensitivity analysis makes possible to analyse how reliabilities are influenced by different sources of input data. Finally, in case of a portfolio risk assessment, this method will allow engineers to compare the safety of several existing dams in order to prioritize safety investments and it is expected to be a very useful tool to evaluate probabilities of failure due to internal erosion. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design of stable drainage networks in upland forestry plantations

Erosion of man-made, forestry drainage channels occurs when the plough cuts through the surface peat layer into the underlying erodible mineral soil. A procedure is developed, based on hydraulic considerations, which will allow the drainage engineer to design stable drainage networks in upland forestry plantations. An example design chart is given for an erodible sandy loam type soil.     

Screening of polymers on selected Hawaii soils for erosion reduction and particle settling

In recent years, high‐molecular‐weight anionic polyacrylamides (PAMs) have been tested on a variety of soils, primarily in temperate climates. However, little information is available regarding the effectiveness of PAM for preventing soil loss through runoff in tropical settings. Screening tests were performed using three negatively charged PAMs and one positively charged PAM on five Hawaii soils (two Oxisols, one Vertisol, and two Aridisols) to determine erosion loss, sediment settling, and aggregate stability. A laboratory‐scale rainfall simulator was used to apply erosive rainfall at intensities from 5 to 8·5 cm h^?1 at various PAM doses applied in both dry and solution forms. Soil detachment due to splash and runoff, as well as the runoff and percolate water volumes, were measured for initial and successive storms. The impact of PAM on particle settling and aggregate stability was also evaluated for selected soil‐treatment combinations. Among the PAMs, Superfloc A‐836 was most effective, and significantly reduced runoff and splash sediment loss for the Wahiawa Oxisol and Pakini Andisol at rates varying between 10 and 50 kg ha^?1. Reduced runoff and splash sediment loss were also noted for PAM Aerotil‐D when applied in solution form to the Wahiawa Oxisol. Significant reductions in soil loss were not noted for either the Lualualei Vertisol or the Holomua Oxisol. It is believed that the high montmorillonite content of the Lualualei Vertisol and the low cation‐exchange capacity of the Holomua Oxisol diminished the effectiveness of the various PAMs tested. The polymers were also found to enhance sediment settling of all soils and helped improve their aggregate stability. This screening study shows the potential use of PAM for tropical soils for applications such as infiltration enhancement, runoff reduction, and enhanced sedimentation of detention ponds. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Soil degradation: a global problem endangering sustainable development

1 Introduction Soil is not only the major natural resource on which human being depends for the production of food, feed, fiber, renewable energy and raw materials, but also plays a key role in maintaining the complex terrestrial ecosystems and climate systems of this planet. Recent rapid increase in the human population is placing a great strain on the worlds soil resources. Only about 11% of the global land surface covered by the soils are being used to raise crops and livestock, in other …     

西藏自治区土壤侵蚀特点及现状

西藏自治区地域辽阔,土壤侵蚀复杂多样。本文在野外调查的基础上,对西藏自治区土壤侵蚀特点作了全面论述,并对西藏自治区不同类型土壤侵蚀区的土壤侵蚀现状做了较全面的分区评价。同时取雅江中游地区19个县作为典型区域,利用1999年1:20万TM遥感图像土壤侵蚀解译结果,对该典型区域的土壤侵蚀现状作了定量评价。最后根据评价结果,对西藏自治区土壤侵蚀的发展趋势做了预测。     

准格尔丘陵沟壑区五分地沟流域土地覆盖分析(英文)

以准格尔丘陵沟壑区五分地沟流域为研究区,应用彩红外航片和IKONOS卫星影像,绘制了1987、2002年土地覆盖/植被类型图,并数字化基于地面土地利用调查绘制的1979年土地利用图.利用景观格局指数,评价了研究区土地覆盖/植被空间格局现状及土地覆盖类型动态变化;并以ETM 数据为信息源,绘制了2002年土地覆盖/植被类型图.研究表明:2002年研究区土地覆盖/植被呈现出一个耕地、草地、人工乔木林和人工灌木林以及种植稀疏灌木的草地高度镶嵌的景观格局特征;20年内土地覆盖类型发生了显著的变化,景观异质性增强.基于研究区景观的高度破碎化,绘制小流域精细尺度土地覆盖图,高空间分辨率遥感数据十分必要.     

元谋干热河谷坡耕地土壤侵蚀造成的土地退化

在元谋干热河谷土壤侵蚀特征分析的基础上，对坡耕地土壤侵蚀造成的土地退化进行了模拟研究。结果表明，土壤侵蚀造成表层耕作土壤的物理性能下降、养分流失和水分入渗能力降低。表层耕作土壤的容重比下层土壤低12．7％，总孔隙度高10．9％，有机质高37．3％，120min累计入渗总量是下层土壤的1．6-2．2倍。模拟土壤侵蚀与土地生产力关系的小区试验结果显示，坡耕地每流失1cm表土，土地生产力水平平均下降4．54％。     

开鲁盆地奈曼凹陷北部地区下白垩统地层剥蚀量恢复及其对油气藏的影响

恢复地层剥蚀厚度是研究盆地演化史和进行油气资源评价的重要基础工作。奈曼凹陷作为开鲁盆地中一个重要的沉积凹陷,整体勘探程度不高。本文运用地震地层厚度趋势法辅之以构造沉积综合法恢复了奈曼凹陷北部地区下白垩统九佛堂组上段和下段的古地层厚度及地层剥蚀量分布范围;同时结合奈曼地区构造演化特征和沉积相特征确定了奈曼凹陷北部地区的沉降中心位于奈10井区域,明确了九佛堂组时期原始沉积相展布特征。在物源供给方面,北部物源受搬运距离远及剥蚀难以存留的影响未能沉积,主要来自于西部陡坡带发育的扇三角洲相沉积及东部缓坡带发育的辫状河三角洲相沉积。此外,研究还发现奈曼凹陷北部地区下白垩统古地层厚度地质模型特征为北东向受抬升剥蚀最严重,剥蚀范围广,剥蚀厚度大。此次研究对于揭示该区域的构造演化历史及油气成藏过程有一定的参考价值。同时,本次研究方法的应用对于类似沉积盆地的剥蚀量恢复研究也具有借鉴意义。

     

The impacts of urbanization on soil erosion in the Loess Plateau region

The accelerated urbanization has resulted in new soil erosion in the Loess Plateau region since the 1980s. A concept of urban erosion and its impacts on environment are discussed. The experimental studies and field investigations show that those loose silt and earth piles formed by urban construction can be eroded seriously: Under stormy rain, the amount of sediment from steep man-dumped slope is 10.8-12.2 times that of from uncovered slope land; the result of experiments with the wind tunnel also shows that the damage to the surface structure of dry loess can cause serious soil erosion by wind in some cities of the region. Even if in the urban built-up area, there are many loose sandy soil, mud and silt, which are washed into rivers by city’s ground flow in the rainy season. So, anthropogenically induced soil erosion has made soil erosion more serious around the urban areas. And the urban eroded environment has several characteristics such as fragility, complexity, seasonality and quick variability. Urban areas witness a quick economic growth and have more construction projects than rural areas, which brings more intensive changes of environments during a short period of time or adds some new elements to the erosion system. Therefore erosion has experienced more intensive impact by human activities. So, the possible impact of urbanization on erosion environment must be taken into consideration when designing or planning to exploit natural resources or to develop urban areas in the Loess Plateau.     

基于GIS的小流域土壤侵蚀与产沙的简化模拟

将泥沙输移能力公式与USLE公式相结合,建立了一个简化的分布式小流域产沙模型,并将其应用于川中丘陵区小流域的土壤侵蚀与泥沙输移的空间分布模拟。得到的主要结论:1.该模型适用于川中丘陵区小流域产沙的模拟;2.魏城河流域1980—1987年8 a平均土壤侵蚀量为16.8×104t,侵蚀模数为675.8 t/(km2.a),模拟得到的输沙模数为238.6 t/(km2.a),泥沙输移比为0.35;3.魏城河流域主要以微度侵蚀为主,占到全流域总面积的68%,强度侵蚀占流域面积的1%,主要分布在坡度较陡的流域边缘地带;4.相对其他因子,降雨与坡度对该流域侵蚀产沙的影响更为突出。