Breaching in fine sands and the generation of sustained turbidity currents in submarine canyons

Abstract Natural, moderately loosely packed sands can only erode from the surface of the bed after an increase in pore volume. Because of this shear dilatancy, negative pore pressures are generated in the bed. In cases of low permeability, these negative pressures are released relatively slowly, which retards the maximum rate of erosion. This effect is incorporated in a new, analytically derived, pick‐up function that can explain the observation of gradual retrogressive failure of very steep subaqueous slopes, sometimes more than 5 m high, in fine non‐cohesive sands. This process, termed ‘breaching’ in the field of sediment dredging, may produce large failures in sand bars or river banks. The analytical function that describes the breaching process in fine sand is incorporated in a one‐dimensional, steady‐state numerical model of turbidity currents describing the spatial development of flow. This model is applied to simulate a large ‘flushing’ event in Scripps Submarine Canyon, Pacific coast of California. Breach retrogradation and the successive evolution in time of the resulting turbidity current in the canyon are predicted in a sequence of discrete steps. Predicted velocities are compared with values measured during a flushing event. Implications for the interpretation of deep‐water massive sands are discussed.     

Découverte de structures périglaciaires (sand-wedges et composite-wedges) sur le site de stockage de déchets radioactifs de l'Aube (France)

Since 1990, a dense network of subvertical cracks has been observed at the upper part of the Albian sands of the site of radioactive waste storage operated by ANDRA. New studies carried out in 1999 during enlargement of the site of Soulaines and in 2003 on the nearby TFA site highlighted an especially well-developed network of periglacial features that are mainly of the sand-wedge type (subvertical stratified infill). These observations demonstrate the periglacial origin of these cracks, which are mainly superimposed on a dense network of former tectonic extension joints, and that rapidly disappear at the top of the underlying clays. In addition, these observations currently represent the only example of a large sand-wedge network developed during the Last Glacial in northern France. To cite this article: P. Antoine et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

Snow hydrology of a constructed watershed in the Athabasca oil sands region,Alberta, Canada

Wetlands are now being integrated into oil sands mining landscape closure design plans. These wetland ecosystems will be constructed within a regional sub‐humid climate where snowfall represents ~25% of annual precipitation. However, few studies focus on the distribution of snow and, hence, the storage of winter precipitation in reclaimed oil sands landscapes. In this study, the distribution, ablation and fate of snowmelt waters are quantified within a constructed watershed in a post‐mining oil sands environment. Basin‐averaged peak SWE was 106 mm, with no significant difference between reclaimed slopes with vegetation and those that were sparsely vegetated or bare. Snow depth was greatest and more variable near the toe of slopes and became progressively shallower towards the crest. Snow ablation started first on the vegetated slope, which also exhibited the maximum observed ablation rates. This enhanced melt was attributed to increased absorption of short‐wave radiation by vegetation stems and branches. Recharge to reclaimed slopes and a constructed aquifer during the snowmelt period was minimal, as the presence of ground frost minimized infiltration. Accordingly, substantial surface run‐off was observed from all reclaimed slopes, despite being designed to reduce run‐off and increase water storage. This could result in increased flashiness of downstream watercourses during the spring freshet that receive run‐off from post‐mining landscapes where large reclaimed slopes are prolific. Run‐off ratios for the reclaimed slopes were between 0.7 and 0.9. Thus, it is essential to consider snow dynamics when designing landscape‐scale constructed ecosystems. This research demonstrates that the snowmelt period hydrology within reclaimed landscapes is fundamentally different from that reported for natural settings and represents one of the first studies on snow dynamics in constructed watershed systems in the post‐mined oil sands landscape. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

具有饱和土沉积层的充水河谷对平面波的散射

把波函数展开方法用于地震波散射问题的研究中,首次在频域内给出了具有饱和土沉积层的圆弧形充水河谷对平面P波和SV散射问题的解析解答. 其中半空间场地用单相介质弹性动力理论模拟,河谷中的饱和土沉积层用饱和多孔介质的Biot动力学理论模拟,河谷中的水用无黏性流体(理想流体)介质模拟. 文中还给出算例,计算了不同高宽比的河谷谷底的位移幅值,分析表明河谷地形的存在使得半空间介质表面的位移幅值随着观察点位置的变化变化较大.     

Role of fluvial and structural processes in the formation of the Wahiba Sands, Oman: A remote sensing perspective

The Wahiba Sands in northeastern Oman are bordered on the north, south and west by highlands. Remote sensing data are used to characterize the region between 19–23.5°N and 56.5–60°E by mapping surface and near-surface drainage, faults and fractures and aeolian features. It is suggested that the sands were originally deposited with surface runoff from the principal wadis and fluvially reworked fault zones, which define the northeastern and southwestern margins. These fluvial processes resulted in the accumulation of the vast groundwater resources now stored there. During dry climates, wind became the principal modification regime and it began to sort and shape the sediments into the dune forms that characterize today's Wahiba region. The thickness of the sands reflects the depth of the basin in which they lie. The center of the basin is filled with the thickest sand (the High Sands) and contains the highest groundwater concentrations. Presently, aeolian reworking dominates in the Wahiba region, although the Low and the Peripheral Sands continue to experience some fluvial action from occasional, seasonal rainfall. Even though dry conditions dominate today, it is clear that similar to the Sahara of North Africa, the surface sands of the Wahiba basin are indicators of groundwater occurrence.     

地铁行车荷载作用下饱和软粘土的变形特性研究

在现场实测数据基础上,对上海地铁2号线隧道周围饱和软粘土试样进行循环加载试验,对地铁振动荷载下的饱和软粘土的变形特性进行分析研究。试验结果表明在地铁振动荷载开始作用以后,隧道侧壁饱和软粘土的先发生微量的竖向回弹变形,在地铁运营后一段时间内隧道侧壁土体不会产生较大变形,但随着运营时间的推移,仍会产生可观的不均匀沉降;地铁隧道底部的饱和软粘土竖向变形回弹阶段非常短暂,而后立即进入塑性变形阶段,并产生较大的竖向变形,其变形量是隧道侧壁处饱和软粘土变形的近30倍。试验结果对地铁轴线变形和地铁线路附近地面沉降的预测评价和灾害防治等具重要的参考价值。     

近50年黄河乌兰布和沙漠段辫状河道演变

依据水沙资料和断面资料,对黄河乌兰布和沙漠段辫状河道形态近50年演变特征及趋势进行探讨分析。结果表明：在大流量条件下（1966-1993年）,河流横向侵蚀、搬运堆积过程强烈,风沙入黄（河）量大,河道横向摆动频繁,辫状河道发育强烈。当黄河流量减小时（1993-2013年）,河流横向摆动能力减弱,黄河主河槽远离左岸乌兰布和沙漠沙丘,河流输沙能力减弱,汊道泥沙淤积导致心滩边滩相连,河流分汊数量明显减少,辫状河道萎缩,黄河乌兰布和沙漠段辫状河型有向弯曲型河道转变的趋势。     

冲击碾压模拟试验设备研制

冲击压路机已大量用于各种原位地基土以及填土的压实处理,压实深度明显大于传统压路机和平板压实设备。但冲击压路机在冲击碾压过程中的能量传递过程、土中应力和位移的分布情况等尚不清楚。为探讨冲击碾压加固地基的机制和加固效果的主要影响因素,研制了冲击碾压模拟试验设备。该设备主要由模型箱、模型冲击轮、简易缓冲装置以及支架与牵引系统四部分组成,其中核心组成部分是具有不同外接圆尺寸大小和质量的三边形模型冲击轮。模型冲击轮可通过牵引系统中电机的牵引作用,在试验土体表面沿直线滚动,对土体施加冲击碾压作用。采用该设备进行了不同尺寸的模型冲击轮冲击碾压砂土的模型试验,并采用直径为2.5 cm的小型静力触探仪对冲击碾压加固效果进行检测。结果表明：该试验设备可用于实现对非圆形冲击轮冲击压实土体过程的模拟,同时显示冲击轮尺寸对冲碾加固效果的影响与冲碾遍数有关,且该影响在不同深度的土体中会有不同的响应,增大冲击轮的尺寸可以在土体的浅层深度范围内获得更好的加固效果。     

Three-dimensional multilayer cylindrical tunnel model for calculating train-induced dynamic stress in saturated soils

This study proposes an improved tunnel model for evaluating train-induced dynamic stress in saturated soils, which can consider multiple moving loads, grouting layer and pore-water pressure. Using Shanghai Metro’s actual parameters for train speed, tunnel, grouting layer and soils, the analysis of the spatial distribution of dynamic stress for soils and stress state of various locations under moving train loads shows that neglecting effects such as pore-water pressure can lead to underestimating dynamic normal stress and overestimating dynamic shear stress in the soils below tunnel. This model can be further extended to investigate principal stress axes rotations and tunnel settlement.