THM analysis of a large‐scale heating test incorporating material fabric changes

Engineered barriers are basic elements in the design of repositories for the isolation of high‐level radioactive waste. This paper presents the thermo‐hydro‐mechanical (THM) analysis of a clay barrier subjected to heating and hydration. The study focuses on an ongoing large‐scale heating test, at almost full scale, which is being carried out at the CIEMAT laboratory under well‐controlled boundary conditions. The test is intensely instrumented and it has provided the opportunity to study in detail the evolution of the main THM variables over a long period of time. Comprehensive laboratory tests carried out in the context of the FEBEX and NF‐PRO projects have allowed the identification of the model parameters to describe the THM behaviour of the compacted expansive clay. A conventional THM approach that assumes the swelling clay as a single porosity medium has been initially adopted to analyse the evolution of the test. The model was able to predict correctly the global THM behaviour of the clay barrier in the short term (i.e. for times shorter than three years), but some model limitations were detected concerning the prediction of the long‐term hydration rate. An additional analysis of the test has been carried out using a double structure model to describe the actual behaviour of expansive clays. The double structure model explicitly considers the two dominant pore levels that actually exist in the FEBEX bentonite and it is able to account for the evolution of the material fabric. The simulation of the experiment using this enhanced model provides a more satisfactory reproduction of the long‐term experimental results. It also contributes to a better understanding of the observed test behaviour and it provides a physically based explanation for the very slow hydration of the barrier. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On finite volume method implementation of poro‐elasto‐plasticity soil model

Accurate prediction of the interactions between the nonlinear soil skeleton and the pore fluid under loading plays a vital role in many geotechnical applications. It is therefore important to develop a numerical method that can effectively capture this nonlinear soil‐pore fluid coupling effect. This paper presents the implementation of a new finite volume method code of poro‐elasto‐plasticity soil model. The model is formulated on the basis of Biot's consolidation theory and combined with a perfect plasticity Mohr‐Coulomb constitutive relation. The governing equation system is discretized in a segregated manner, namely, those conventional linear and uncoupled terms are treated implicitly, while those nonlinear and coupled terms are treated explicitly by using any available values from previous time or iteration step. The implicit–explicit discretization leads to a linearized and decoupled algebraic system, which is solved using the fixed‐point iteration method. Upon the convergence of the iterative method, fully nonlinear coupled solutions are obtained. Also explored in this paper is the special way of treating traction boundary in finite volume method compared with FEM. Finally, three numerical test cases are simulated to verify the implementation procedure. It is shown in the simulation results that the implemented solver is capable of and efficient at predicting reasonable soil responses with pore pressure coupling under different loading situations. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

悬乳体进样-电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定油菜籽中的毒性低温元素砷锑镉铊

油菜籽品质及重金属污染程度直接关系到人类健康,对油菜籽中As、Sb、Cd和Tl等有毒元素含量进行监测有助于对食用油生产原材料的提前监控。避开强酸消解前处理的繁琐,为了实现快速测定菜籽中As、Sb、Cd和Tl等易挥发有毒元素的准确含量,以及解决粮油食品脂肪含量高对前处理的挑战,本文采用一种悬浮-乳化协同制样技术,详细考察了影响悬浮-乳化的诸多条件,制得均匀稳定的悬浮-乳化试液(Slurry-Emulsion Solution, SES)体系。在进样效率高的电热蒸发器(ETV)中,优化程序升温参数和改进剂硝酸钯的用量,SES直接进样,采用电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)测定了油菜籽中As、Sb、Cd和Tl。该方法对As、Sb、Cd和Tl的相对标准偏差(RSD)分别为10.1%、8.8%、8.9%、6.4%[c=0.5%(m/V),n=5]。在最佳实验条件下,As、Sb、Cd和Tl检出限(3σ)分别为40.0ng/L、20.0ng/L、50.0ng/L和10.0ng/L,对应原始固体样品的检出限(3σ)分别为8.0ng/g、4.0ng/g、10.0ng/g和2.0ng/g。菜籽样品中As...     

大尺度驱动因子对新疆极端冷事件的单一与耦合影响

全球变暖背景下,偶发极端冷事件产生的重大灾害损失不容忽视。探究区域极端冷事件的大尺度驱动因子的耦合影响,对预估和应对气候变化产生的极端灾害具有重要意义。本文基于新疆1961—2016年53个气象站点的逐日气温资料,通过反距离加权等方法对极端冷事件的时空演变特征进行分析;利用交叉小波变换对6个极端冷指数与大尺度驱动因子——北极涛动（AO）、北大西洋涛动（NAO）和厄尔尼诺-南方涛动（ENSO）进行多尺度分析;使用参数假设检验对大尺度驱动因子单一/耦合模态下的冷指数变化进行统计学显著性检验,随后对大尺度环流机制进行距平合成分析。结果表明：年均冷指数在时间尺度上均有显著性变化,新疆气温有明显的变暖趋势;空间尺度上冷指数在北疆、东疆和伊犁河谷地区的变化幅度远大于其他区域,存在空间差异性。AO、NAO与冷指数的相关性较强,ENSO与冷指数相关关系最弱但存在明显的时滞效应,大尺度驱动因子对极端冷指数的总体影响程度为AO>NAO>ENSO。单一模态下,极端冷事件在AO负位相、NAO负位相和La Ni?a事件期间易发生。耦合模态下,EI Ni?o-AO正位相和EI Ni?o-NAO正位相配置下冷日日数偏多;EI Ni?o-NAO负位相配置时极端低温值更小;La Ni?a-AO负位相和La Ni?a-NAO正位相时极端冷事件发生的可能性更大。EI Ni?o（La Ni?a）事件对AO（NAO）有一定的调制作用。新疆极端冷事件更易出现在La Ni?a-AO负位相、La Ni?a-NAO正位相时期,成因与亚欧大陆中高纬度位势异常导致冷空气路径偏西、乌拉尔阻塞加强与偏北气流影响新疆有关。     

Geochronology and geochemistry of Cretaceous–Eocene granites,Tengchong Block (SW China): Petrogenesis and implications for Mesozoic-Cenozoic tectonic evolution of Eastern Tethys

The Early Cretaceous–Early Eocene granitoids in the Tengchong Block record the evolutionary history of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic tectono-magmatic evolution of Eastern Tethys. (a) The Early Cretaceous granitoids with relatively low (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i ratios of 0.7090–0.7169 and ε_Nd(t) values of ?9.8 to ?7.8 display metaluminous, calc-alkaline dominated by I-type granite affinity and hybrid mantle–crust geochemical signatures. They may have been derived from melting of the subducted Meso-Tethyan Bangong-Nujiang oceanic crust with terrigenous sediments in an arc-continent collisional setting. (b) The Late Cretaceous–Paleocene granitoids with relatively high (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i ratios of 0.7109–0.7627, and ε_Nd(t) values of ?12.1 to ?7.9 exhibit metaluminous to peraluminous, calc-alkaline dominated by S-type granite affinity and hybrid Lower–Upper crust geochemical signatures, which may be originated from partial melting of the Meso-Proterozoic continental crust in the collision setting between the Tengchong Block and Baoshan Block. (c) The Early Eocene granitoids have metaluminous, calc-alkaline I-type and S-type granites dual affinity, with relatively high (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i ratios of 0.711–0.736, ε_Nd(t) values of ?9.4 to ?4.7, showing crust-mantle mixing geochemical signatures. They may have been originated from partial melting of the late Meso-Proterozoic upper crustal components mixed with some upper mantle material during the ascent process of mantle magma caused by the subduction of the Neo-Tethyan Putao–Myitkyian oceanic crust, and collision between the Western Burma Block and the Tengchong Block. It is these multi-stage subductions and collisions that caused the spatial and temporal distribution of the granitic rocks in the Tengchong Block.     

Crust–mantle interaction recorded by Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks within the southern margin of the North China Craton

This study presents new geochronological and geochemical data for Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks in the southern margin of the North China Craton (NCC), to discuss the crust–mantle interaction. The studied rocks include pyroxene andesites from Daying Formation, hornblende andesites and andesites from Jiudian Formation, and rhyolites from a hitherto unnamed Formation. These rocks formed in Early Cretaceous (138–120 Ma), with enrichment in light rare earth elements (REE), depletion in heavy REE and arc-like trace elements characteristics. Pyroxene andesites show low SiO₂ contents and enriched Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopic compositions, with orthopyroxene phenocryst and Paleoproterozoic (2320–1829 Ma) inherited zircons, suggesting that they originated from lithospheric mantle after metasomatism with NCC lower crustal materials. Hornblende andesites have low SiO₂ contents and high Mg# (Mg# = 100 Mg/(Mg + Fe²⁺)) values, indicating a lithospheric-mantle origin. Considering the distinct whole-rock Sr isotopic compositions we divide them into two groups. Among them, the low (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i andesites possess amount inherited Neoarchean to Neoproterozoic (2548–845 Ma) zircons, indicating the origin of lithospheric mantle with addition of Yangtze Craton (YC) and NCC materials. In comparison, the high (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i andesites, with abundant Neoarchean–Paleozoic inherited zircons (3499–261 Ma), are formed by partial melting of lithospheric mantle with incorporation of NCC supracrustal rocks and YC materials. Rhyolites have extremely high SiO₂ (77.63–82.52 wt.%) and low total Fe₂O₃, Cr, Ni contents and Mg# values, combined with ancient inherited zircon ages (2316 and 2251 Ma), suggesting an origin of NCC lower continental crust. Considering the presence of resorption texture of quartz phenocryst, we propose a petrogenetic model of ‘crystal mushes’ for rhyolites prior to their eruption. These constraints record the intense crust–mantle interaction in the southern margin of the NCC. Given the regional data and spatial distribution of Early Cretaceous rocks within NCC, we believe that the formation of these rocks is related to the contemporaneous far-field effect of the Paleo-Pacific Plate.     

Metamorphic stages in mountain belts during a Wilson cycle: A case study in the central Sanandaj–Sirjan zone (Zagros Mountains,Iran)

Polymetamorphic units are important constituents of continent–continent collisional orogens, and rift metamorphic assemblages are often overprinted by subsequent metamorphism during subduction and collision. This study reports the metamorphic conditions and evolution of the Dorud–Azna metamorphic units in the central part of the Sanandaj–Sirjan zone (SSZ), Iran. Here, new geothermobarometry results are integrated with ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar mineral and Th–U–Pb monazite and thorite ages to provide new insight of polyphase metamorphism in the two different basement units of the SSZ, the lower Galeh-Doz orthogneiss and higher Amphibolite-Metagabbro units. In the Amphibolite-Metagabbro unit, staurolite micaschist underwent a prograde P–T evolution from 640 ± 20 °C/6.2 ± 0.8 kbar in garnet cores (M1) to 680 ± 20 °C/7.2 ± 1.0 kbar in garnet rims (M2). Three Th–U–Pb monazite ages of 306 ± 5 Ma, 322 ± 28 Ma and 336 ± 39 Ma from the garnet-micaschists testify the Carboniferous age of M1 metamorphism. In the same unit, the metagabbro records P–T conditions of 4.0 ± 0.8 kbar and 580 ± 50 °C in the (magmatic) amphibole core (Late Carboniferous intrusion) to 7.5 ± 0.7 kbar and 700 ± 20 °C in the amphibole rim indicating a prograde P–T path during subsequent burial (M1). New ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of white mica from the staurolite micaschist yielded a staircase pattern ranging from 36 ± 12 Ma to 170 ± 2 Ma. This implies polymetamorphism with a minimum Late Jurassic cooling age through the Ar retention temperature of ca. 425 ± 25 °C after M2 metamorphism and a Paleogene low-grade metamorphic overprint (M3), while ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar white mica dating of garnet micaschist yielded a plateau age of 137.84 ± 0.65 Ma. We therefore interpret the amphibolite-grade metamorphism M2 to have predated 170 Ma and is likely between 180 and 200 Ma. Furthermore, it is overprinted at about 36 Ma under retrogressive low-grade M3 metamorphism (at temperatures of ~350–240 °C) during final shortening and exhumation. In the underlying Galeh-Doz unit, the Panafrican granitic orthogneiss intruded at P–T conditions of 3.2 ± 4 kbar and 700 ± 20 °C, then it was metamorphosed and deformed at 600 ± 50 °C and 2.0 ± 0.8 kbar (metamorphic stage M1) prior to Late Carboniferous intrusion of mafic dikes. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of amphibole from the Galeh-Doz orthogneiss gave plateau-like steps between 260 and 270 Ma, representing the age of cooling through ca. 500 °C after the M1 metamorphic event. Interestingly, the results of this study demonstrate polyphase metamorphic histories in both the Galeh-Doz orthogneiss and Amphibolite-Metagabbro units at different P–T conditions and final thick-skinned Paleogene emplacement of these units over the underlying low-grade metamorphic June Complex. Our findings suggest that both units are affected by high-T/low-P Late Carboniferous orogenic metamorphism along with the bimodal magmatism, as result of rifting. We propose that the Early Jurassic amphibolite-grade M2 metamorphism of the SSZ is correlated with the initial subduction of the Neotethyan Ocean. Eventually, the investigated units reflect various stages of a Wilson cycle, from rifting to initiation of the subduction in final plate collision.     

Influences of the NAO on the North Atlantic CO_2 Fluxes in Winter and Summer on the Interannual Scale

The differences in the influences of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) on the air–sea CO_2 fluxes (f CO_2) in the North Atlantic (NA) between different seasons and between different regions are rarely fully investigated. We used observation-based data of f CO_2, surface-ocean CO_2partial pressure (p CO_(2sea)), wind speed and sea surface temperature(SST) to analyze the relationship between the NAO and f CO_2 of the subtropical and subpolar NA in winter and summer on the interannual time scale. Based on power spectrum estimation, there are significant interannual signs with a 2–6 year cycle in the NAO indexes and area-averaged f CO_2 anomalies in winter and summer from 1980 to 2015. Regression analysis with the 2–6 year filtered data shows that on the interannual scale the response of the f CO_2 anomalies to the NAO has an obvious meridional wave-train-like pattern in winter, but a zonal distribution in summer. This seasonal difference is because in winter the f CO_2anomalies are mainly controlled by the NAO-driven wind speed anomalies, which have a meridional distribution pattern, while in summer they are dominated by the NAO-driven SST anomalies, which show distinct zonal difference in the subtropical NA. In addition, in the same season, there are different factors controlling the variation of p CO_(2sea)in different regions. In summer, SST is important to the interannual variation of p CO_(2sea)in the subtropical NA, while some biogeochemical variables probably control the p CO_(2sea) variation in the subpolar NA.     

The Optimal Precursors for ENSO Events Depicted Using the Gradientdefinition-based Method in an Intermediate Coupled Model

The predictability of El Ni?o?Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has been an important area of study for years. Searching for the optimal precursor (OPR) of ENSO occurrence is an effective way to understand its predictability. The CNOP (conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation), one of the most effective ways to depict the predictability of ENSO, is adopted to study the optimal sea surface temperature (SST) precursors (SST-OPRs) of ENSO in the IOCAS ICM (intermediate coupled model developed at the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences). To seek the SST-OPRs of ENSO in the ICM, non-ENSO events simulated by the ICM are chosen as the basic state. Then, the gradient-definition-based method (GD method) is employed to solve the CNOP for different initial months of the basic years to obtain the SST-OPRs. The experimental results show that the obtained SST-OPRs present a positive anomaly signal in the western-central equatorial Pacific, and obvious differences exist in the patterns between the different seasonal SST-OPRs along the equatorial western-central Pacific, showing seasonal dependence to some extent. Furthermore, the non-El Ni?o events can eventually evolve into El Ni?o events when the SST-OPRs are superimposed on the corresponding seasons; the peaks of the Ni?o3.4 index occur at the ends of the years, which is consistent with the evolution of the real El Ni?o. These results show that the GD method is an effective way to obtain SST-OPRs for ENSO events in the ICM. Moreover, the OPRs for ENSO depicted using the GD method provide useful information for finding the early signal of ENSO in the ICM.     

Exploring the extent to which fluctuations in ice-rafted debris reflect mass changes in the source ice sheet: a model–observation comparison using the last British–Irish Ice Sheet

The British and Irish Ice Sheet (BIIS) was highly dynamic during the Late Quaternary, with considerable regional differences in the timing and extent of its change. This was reflected in equally variable offshore ice-rafted debris (IRD) records. Here we reconcile these two records using the FRUGAL intermediate complexity iceberg–climate model, with varying BIIS catchment-level iceberg fluxes, to simulate change in IRD origin and magnitude along the western European margin at 1000-year time steps during the height of the last BIIS glaciation (31–6 ka bp ). This modelled IRD variability is compared with existing IRD records from the deep ocean at five cores along this margin. There is general agreement of the temporal and spatial IRD variability between observations and model through this period. The Porcupine Bank off northwestern Ireland was confirmed by the modelling as a major dividing line between sites possessing exclusively northern or southern source regions for offshore IRD. During Heinrich events 1 and 2, the cores show evidence of a proportion of North American IRD, more particularly to the south of the British Isles. Modelling supports this southern bias for likely Heinrich impact, but also suggests North American IRD will only reach the British margin in unusual circumstances.