Density and visco-elasticity of Natrosol 250 HH solutions: Determining their suitability for experimental tectonics

Analogue models often require that materials with specific physical properties be engineered to satisfy scaling conditions. To achieve this goal we investigate the rheology of aqueous solutions of Natrosol 250 HH, a rheology modifier employed in various industries to thicken viscous solutions. We report the rheological properties as functions of the concentration and temperature and discuss the advantages and limitations of these materials in view of their use in analogue modelling experiments. The solutions are linear visco-elastic for low stresses (or strain-rates), becoming shear-thinning for larger stresses. For the typically slow analogue experiments of tectonics, the solutions can be considered linear visco-elastic with a Maxwell relaxation time much smaller than the characteristic observation time. This simplification is even more appropriate when the solutions are employed at temperatures higher than 20 °C, since the solutions then display a behaviour that is more viscous, less elastic at the same shear-rate, while the Newtonian viscosity reduces and the shear-rate limit between Newtonian and shear-thinning behaviours increases. The Newtonian viscosity is shown to increase non-linearly with concentration and decrease non-linearly with temperature. With concentrations between 0 and 3% and temperature between 20 and 40 °C, the viscosity varied between 10⁻¹ and 4000 Pa s, while the density remained close to the density of water. Natrosol 250 HH thus offers the possibility to control the viscosity of a solution without significantly affecting the density, thereby facilitating the design and setup of analogue experiments.     

Viscosity of andesitic melts—new experimental data and a revised calculation model

The viscosity of a synthetic andesite-like melt was measured in the low viscosity range (10¹-10⁶ Pa s) using the falling sphere(s) method and in the high viscosity range (10⁸-10¹³ Pa s) using parallel-plate viscometry. Falling sphere experiments with melts containing 2.3 and 5.6 wt.% H₂O were carried out in an internally heated gas pressure vessel (IHPV) at 500 MPa confining pressure. The sinking velocity of Pt and Pd spheres and in one case of a corundum sphere was used to measure the melt viscosity. In addition, a creep experiment was performed at ambient pressure using a glass containing 2.73 wt.% H₂O . A more water-rich glass (5.6 wt.% H₂O ) was investigated with a high pressure parallel-plate viscometer at 400 MPa confining pressure in an IPHV. By combining our new data with previous results for a similar melt composition we derived the following expression to describe the viscosity η (in Pa s) as a function of temperature T (in K) and water content w (in wt.%)

     

The effect of grain size on the viscosity and yield stress of fine-grained sediments

In debris flow modelling,the viscosity and yield stress of fine-grained sediments should be determined in order to better characterize sediment flow.In particular,it is important to understand the effect of grain size on the rheology of fine-grained sediments associated with yielding.When looking at the relationship between shear stress and shear rate before yielding,a high-viscosity zone（called pseudoNewtonian viscosity） towards the apparent yield stress exists.After yielding,plastic viscosity（called Bingham viscosity） governs the flow.To examine the effect of grain size on the rheological characteristics of fine-grained sediments,clay-rich materials（from the Adriatic Sea,Italy; Cambridge Fjord,Canada; and the Mediterranean Sea,Spain）,silt-rich debris flow materials（from La Valette,France） and silt-rich materials（iron tailings from Canada） were compared.Rheological characteristics were examined using a modified Bingham model.The materials examined,including the Canadian inorganic and sensitive clays,exhibit typical shear thinning behavior and strong thixotropy.In the relationships between the liquidity index and rheological values（viscosity and apparent yield stress）,the effect of grain size on viscosity and yield stress is significant at a given liquidity index.The viscosity and yield stress of debris flow materials are higher than those of low-activity clays at the same liquid state.However the viscosity and yield stress of the tailings,which are mainly composed of silt-sized particles,are slightly lower than those of low-activity clays.     

Oil viscosity limitation on dispersibility of crude oil under simulated at-sea conditions in a large wave tank

This study determined the limiting oil viscosity for chemical dispersion of oil spills under simulated sea conditions in the large outdoor wave tank at the US National Oil Spill Response Test Facility in New Jersey. Dispersant effectiveness tests were completed using crude oils with viscosities ranging from 67 to 40,100 cP at test temperature. Tests produced an effectiveness-viscosity curve with three phases when oil was treated with Corexit 9500 at a dispersant-to-oil ratio of 1:20. The oil viscosity that limited chemical dispersion under simulated at-sea conditions was in the range of 18,690 cP to 33,400 cP. Visual observations and measurements of oil concentrations and droplet size distributions in the water under treated and control slicks correlated well with direct measurements of effectiveness. The dispersant effectiveness versus oil viscosity relationship under simulated at sea conditions at Ohmsett was most similar to those from similar tests made using the Institut Francais du Pétrole and Exxon Dispersant Effectiveness (EXDET) test methods.     

马兰黄土剪应力松弛特性研究

运用Riemann-Liouville的分数阶导数理论及经典模型理论相结合的方法,采用Abel黏壶取代在经典模型理论中的Newton黏壶,得出了分数阶标准线性体模型剪应力松弛的解析表达式。采用不同含水量马兰黄土在不同正压力条件下进行直接剪切松弛试验,并对得到的9组剪应力松弛曲线特征进行了研究。考虑到最小二乘法对分数阶标准线性体模型参数进行拟合无法获得确切的结果,采用Monte Carlo方法对试验结果拟合。拟合结果表明,马兰黄土的松弛特性可由分数阶标准线性体模型有效的表征。确定了马兰黄土的松弛时间和粘滞系数,揭示了马兰黄土在直接剪切试验条件下的松弛特性。     

华北克拉通热结构差异性特征及其意义

华北克拉通破坏存在空间上的差异性,至今其内在的动力学机制仍存在较大的争议,这种差异性在岩石圈热结构上必然有所表现.广义上岩石圈热结构包括热流结构、温度场结构和热岩石圈厚度,是揭示岩石圈演化及其内在动力学过程的重要基础.基于二维地震剖面和大地热流数据,建立二维稳态热传导有限元模型,对华北克拉通东部岩石圈热结构进行模拟计算并与西部进行对比分析,在此基础上对比热岩石圈与地震岩石圈厚度差异的变化.结果显示,华北克拉通东、西部岩石圈热结构有着较为明显的差异,地幔热流值波动范围分别在24~44/20.5~24.5mW·m~(-2),壳幔比1.61~0.70/1.84~1.51,以1300℃等温线计算得到的热岩石圈厚度变化范围在75~139km/128~162km.华北克拉通东部相对西部有着较高的深部地幔热流值和较小的地震/热岩石圈厚度差异,这可能意味着东部软流圈地幔有效黏度相比西部低,估算差异可达2~3个数量级.     

剪切产热不稳定性及其在研究深源地震发生机理上的应用

本文运用稳定性分析的方法,研究在粘弹性介质(Maxwell体)中剪切产热不稳定性的发生条件,并讨论其对于深源地震发生机理的应用.结果表明,在板块向下俯冲的过程中,由粘滞损耗产热将会发生剪切不稳定性,这为解释深源地震发生提供了一个基础.     

剪切产热不稳定性及其在研究深源地震发生机理上的应用

本文运用稳定性分析的方法,研究在粘弹性介质（Maxwell体）中剪切产热不稳定性的发生条件,并讨论其对于深源地震发生机理的应用.结果表明,在板块向下俯冲的过程中,由粘滞损耗产热将会发生剪切不稳定性,这为解释深源地震发生提供了一个基础.     

One-dimensional modelling of mantle flow

A one-dimensional model of flow between a fixed boundary at the bottom and a moving one on top with no net flow through vertical sections is tested for geophysically interesting mantle viscosity-depth functions. Such a model, although simplistic, may help in answering the question to what depth the return flow extends, at least in the case of moving plates measuring many thousand kilometers across, such as the Pacific plate.It the viscosity in the asthenosphere is less than three orders of magnitude smaller than that of the mantle below, the return flow extends to great depth and the asthenosphere is a zone of concentrated shear. If the viscosity contrast is greater, the return flow is concentrated in the asthenosphere. For a wide range of model parameters typical flow velocities below the asthenosphere are about one-tenth of the plate velocity. The pressure gradient required by the mantle flow may be manifest in gravity trends across moving plates, but no excessive gravity anomalies are required by the model if the absolute viscosity values conform to those inferred from post-glacial rebound data. A thinner and lower-viscosity layer is favored over a thicker and more viscous layer if both fit glacial rebound evidence. The present model may not be applicable if down to the core the viscosity is as low as about 10²¹ N s m^–2 with a free-slip bottom boundary.     

Viscosity of albite melt at high pressure and high temperature

 The viscosity of albite (NaAlSi₃O₈) melt was measured at high pressure by the in situ falling-sphere method using a high-resolution X-ray CCD camera and a large-volume multianvil apparatus installed at SPring-8. This system enabled us to conduct in situ viscosity measurements more accurately than that using the conventional technique at pressures of up to several gigapascals and viscosity in the order of 10⁰ Pa s. The viscosity of albite melt is 5.8 Pa s at 2.6 GPa and 2.2 Pa s at 5.3 GPa and 1973 K. Experiments at 1873 and 1973 K show that the decrease in viscosity continues to 5.3 GPa. The activation energy for viscosity is estimated to be 316(8) kJ mol⁻¹ at 3.3 GPa. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that a gradual decrease in viscosity of albite melt at high pressure may be explained by structural changes such as an increase in the coordination number of aluminum in the melt. Received: 6 January 2001 / Accepted: 27 August 2001