A fragmentation criterion for highly viscous bubbly magmas estimated from shock tube experiments

When a highly viscous bubbly magma is sufficiently decompressed, layer-by-layer fracturing propagates through the magma at a certain speed (fragmentation speed). On the basis of a recent shock tube theory by Koyaguchi and Mitani [Koyaguchi, T., Mitani, N. K., 2005. A theoretical model for fragmentation of viscous bubbly magmas in shock tubes. Journal of Geophysical Research 110 (B10), B10202. doi:10.1029/2004JB003513.], gas overpressures at the fragmentation surface are estimated from experimental data on fragmentation speed in shock tube experiments for natural volcanic rocks with various porosities. The results show that gas overpressure at the fragmentation surface increases as initial sample pressure increases and sample porosity decreases. We propose a new fragmentation criterion to explain the relationship between the gas overpressure at the fragmentation surface, the initial pressure and the porosity. Our criterion is based on the idea that total fragmentation of highly viscous bubbly magmas occurs when the tensile stress at the midpoint between bubbles exceeds a critical value. We obtain satisfactory agreement between our simulation and experiment when we assume that the critical value is inversely proportional to the square root of bubble wall thickness. This fragmentation criterion suggests that long micro-cracks or equivalent flaws (e.g., irregular-shaped bubbles) that reach the midpoints between bubbles are a dominant factor to determine the bulk strength of the bubbly magma.     

Flood‐based analysis of high‐magnitude sediment transport using a non‐parametric method

Upland erosion and the resulting reservoir siltation is a serious issue in the Isábena catchment (445 km² Central Spanish Pyrenees). During a three‐month period, water and sediment fluxes have been monitored at the catchment outlet (Capella), two adjacent subcatchments (Villacarli, 41 km²; Cabecera, 145 km²) and the elementary badland catchment Torrelaribera (8 ha). This paper presents the results of the monitoring, a method for the calculation of a sedigraph from intermittent measurements and the derived sediment yields at the monitored locations. The observed suspended sediment concentrations (SSCs) demonstrate the role of badlands as sediment sources: SSCs of up to 280 g l^?1 were encountered for Villacarli, which includes large badland areas. SSCs at the Cabecera catchment, with great areas of woodland, barely exceeded 30 g l^?1. SSCs directly at the sediment source (Torrelaribera) were comparable to those at Villacarli, suggesting a close connection within this subcatchment. At Capella, SSCs of up to 99 g l^?1 were observed. For all sites, SSC displayed only a loose correlation with discharge, inhibiting the application of a simple sediment rating curve. Instead, ancillary variables acting as driving forces or proxies for the processes (rainfall energy, cumulative discharge, rising/falling limb data) were included in a quantile regression forest model to explain the variability in SSC. The variables with most predictive power vary between the sites, suggesting the predominance of different processes. The subsequent flood‐based calculation of sediment yields attests high specific sediment yields for Torrelaribera and Villacarli (6277 and 1971 t km^?2) and medium to high yields for Cabecera and Capella (139 and 410 t km^?2) during the observation period. In all catchments, most of the sediment was exported during intense storms of late summer. Later flood events yield successively less sediment. Relating upland sediment production to yield at the outlet suggests considerable effects of sediment storage within the river channel. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The behavior of specific sediment yield in different grain size fractions in the tributaries of the middle Yellow River as influenced by eolian and fluvial processes

Based on data from 35 stations on the tributaries of the Yellow River, annual specific sediment yield (Y_s) in eight grain size fractions has been related to basin‐averaged annual sand–dust storm days (D_ss) and annual precipitation (P_m) to reveal the influence of eolian and fluvial processes on specific sediment yield in different grain size fractions. The results show that Y_s in fine grain size fractions has the highest values in the areas dominated by the coupled wind–water process. From these areas to those dominated by the eolian process or to those dominated by the fluvial process, Y_s tends to decrease. For relatively coarse grain size fractions, Y_s has monotonic variation, i.e. with the increase in D_ss or the decrease in P_m, Y_s increases. This indicates that the sediment producing behavior for fine sediments is different from that for relatively coarse sediments. The results all show that Y_s for relatively coarse sediments depends on the eolian process more than on the fluvial process, and the coarser the sediment fractions the stronger the dependence of the Y_s on the eolian process. The Y_s–D_ss and Y_s–P_m curves for fine grain size fractions show some peaks and the fitted straight lines for Y_s–D_ss and Y_s–P_m relationships for relatively coarse grain size fractions show some breaks. Almost all these break points may be regarded as thresholds. These thresholds are all located in the areas dominated by the coupled wind–water process, indicating that these areas are sensitive for erosion and sediment production, to which more attention should be given for the purpose of erosion and sediment control. A number of regression equations were established, based which the effect of rainfall, sand–dust storms and surface material grain size on specific sediment yield can be assessed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Coeval strombolian and vulcanian-type explosive eruptions at Panarea (Aeolian Islands,Southern Italy)

In this paper, we document the evolution of the emergent Panarea dome in the Aeolian islands (Southern Italy), placing particular emphasis on the reconstruction of the explosive events that occurred during the final stage of its evolution. Two main pyroclastic successions exposing fall deposits with different compositions have been studied into detail: the andesitic Palisi succession and the basaltic Punta Falcone succession. The close-in-time deposition of the two successions, the dispersal area and grain-size distribution of the deposits account for their attribution to vents located in the western sector of the present island and erupting almost contemporaneously. Vents could have been aligned along NNE-trending regional fracture systems controlling the western flank of the dome and possibly its collapse. Laboratory analyses have been devoted to the characterization of the products of the two successions that have been ascribed to vulcanian- and to strombolian-type eruptions respectively. The vulcanian eruption started with a vent-clearing phase that occurred by sudden decompression of a pressurized magma producing ballistic bombs and a surge blast and the development of a vulcanian plume. Vulcanian activity was almost contemporaneous to strombolian-type fall-out eruptions. The coeval occurrence of basaltic and andesitic eruptions from close vents and the presence of magmatic basaltic enclaves in the final dacitic lava lobe of the dome allow us to speculate that the intrusion of a basaltic dyke played a major role in triggering explosive eruptions. The final explosive episodes may have been caused by extensional tectonics fracturing the roof of a zoned shallow magma chamber or by the intrusion of a new basaltic magma into a more acidic and shallow reservoir. Intrusion most likely occurred through the injection of dykes along the western cliff of the present Panarea Island inducing the collapse of the western sector of the dome.     

Modelling blue and green water resources availability in Iran

Knowledge of the internal renewable water resources of a country is strategic information which is needed for long‐term planning of a nation's water and food security, among many other needs. New modelling tools allow this quantification with high spatial and temporal resolution. In this study we used the program Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) in combination with the Sequential Uncertainty Fitting program (SUFI‐2) to calibrate and validate a hydrologic model of Iran based on river discharges and wheat yield, taking into consideration dam operations and irrigation practices. Uncertainty analyses were also performed to assess the model performance. The results were quite satisfactory for most of the rivers across the country. We quantified all components of the water balance including blue water flow (water yield plus deep aquifer recharge), green water flow (actual and potential evapotranspiration) and green water storage (soil moisture) at sub‐basin level with monthly time‐steps. The spatially aggregated water resources and simulated yield compared well with the existing data. The study period was 1990–2002 for calibration and 1980–1989 for validation. The results show that irrigation practices have a significant impact on the water balances of the provinces with irrigated agriculture. Concerning the staple food crop in the country, 55% of irrigated wheat and 57% of rain‐fed wheat are produced every year in water‐scarce regions. The vulnerable situation of water resources availability has serious implications for the country's food security, and the looming impact of climate change could only worsen the situation. This study provides a strong basis for further studies concerning the water and food security and the water resources management strategies in the country and a unified approach for the analysis of blue and green water in other arid and semi‐arid countries. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

爆炸应力波作用下缺陷介质裂纹扩展的动态分析

采用透射式焦散线测试系统,进行爆炸应力波作用下缺陷介质裂纹扩展试验,研究了含与炮孔共线的预制裂隙介质裂纹扩展速度、加速度、裂纹尖端动态应力强度因子和动态能量释放率的变化规律以及它们之间的变化关系。试验结果表明,在爆炸应力波作用下裂隙两端产生了两条翼裂纹A、B,翼裂纹A的长度较翼裂纹B长,两条翼裂纹向相反的方向扩展;在翼裂纹扩展过程中,存在着加速与减速的过程,扩展速度瞬间达到峰值,其后逐渐振荡下降;动态应力强度因子也呈现瞬间达最大值到逐渐减小连续振荡变化的趋势,动态应力强度因子 > ;翼裂纹尖端的动态能量释放率对裂纹扩展具有驱动作用。     

黏性土剪切带的形成与其屈服的内在联系的探索

为了深入了解黏性土的应力应变特性,对黏性土进行了量测侧向变形的不排水平面应变压缩试验。分析试验结果发现,黏性土局部化变形的起始点与黏性土样中的孔隙水压力的突然增长的转折点非常接近,而孔隙水压力开始急剧增长变化的转折点为其屈服点,说明黏性土剪切带开始形成的偏应力为其屈服点,超过此点后黏性土局部化变形加剧,这个发现将有助于土体在强度理论、变形和稳定分析等方面的深入研究。     

建筑垃圾填埋场沉降计算中模型参数灵敏度分析

建筑垃圾土的变形机理复杂,它不同于传统意义上的土体。通过大量的非线性有限元计算,找到了双屈服面模型中影响建筑垃圾填埋场沉降的主要参数,并给出了各参数与沉降之间的定性关系,为建筑垃圾填埋场沉降计算和参数灵敏度分析奠定了基础。     

粘弹塑本构模型及用于冻土数值计算的柔度矩阵

随着寒区经济发展及冻结法施工技术在工程中的推广应用,对冻土蠕变的深入研究显得尤为重要.对冻土单轴流变试验结果分析,用非线性牛顿体替代线性牛顿体,从而对西原模型进行了改进,得到了冻土三向应力状态下的本构方程;并利用D-P屈服准则推导出应用与数值计算的柔度矩阵.通过有限元程序的二次开发,将本构模型添加到大型非线性程序ADINA中.用三轴蠕变试验检验了粘弹塑本构模型,获得相应的试验拟合曲线.结果表明:三轴蠕变试验与理论计算结果吻合良好,说明粘弹塑本构模型可以描述冻土在高应力下反映的非衰减性蠕变变形特征.