Size and shape evolution of pores in a viscoplastic matrix under compression

The frequent use of soils and earth materials for hydraulic capping and for geo‐environmental waste containment motivated our interest in detailed modelling of changes in size and shape of macro‐pores to establish links between soil mechanical behaviour and concurrent changes in hydraulic and transport properties. The objective of this study was to use finite element analysis (FEA) to test and extend previous analytical solutions proposed by the authors describing deformation of a single macro‐pore embedded in linear viscoplastic soil material subjected to anisotropic remote stress. The FEA enables to consider more complex pore geometries and provides a detailed picture of matrix yield behaviour to explain shortcomings of approximate analytical solutions. Finite element and analytical calculations agreed very well for linear viscous as well as for viscoplastic materials, only limited for the case of isotropic remote stress due to the simplifications of the analytical model related to patterns and onset of matrix‐yielding behaviour. FEA calculations were compared with experimental data obtained from a compaction experiment in which pore deformation within a uniform modelling clay sample was monitored using CAT scanning. FEA predictions based on independently measured material properties and initial pore geometry provided an excellent match with experimentally determined evolution of pore size and shape hence lending credence to the potential use of FEA for more complex pore geometries and eventually connect macro‐pore deformation with hydraulic properties. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Depositional and post‐depositional history of warm stage deposits at Knocknacran,Co. Monaghan,Ireland: implications for preservation of Irish last interglacial deposits

Organic‐rich deposits, uncovered during overburden removal from mantled gypsum karst at Knocknacran opencast gypsum mine, Co. Monaghan, are the best candidate to date for a last interglacial record in Ireland. The two till and organic‐rich deposits (preserved at different quarry elevations) were emplaced on to a Tertiary dolerite surface during high‐energy flood events and subsequently folded and faulted by movement towards sinkholes in underlying gypsum. Uranium–thorium disequilibrium dating suggests that the organic‐rich deposits in the upper section were hydrologically isolated at ca. 41 ka and those in the lower section at ca. 86 ka. Interpretation of the pollen content, although tentative because of the depositional and post‐depositional history of the material, suggests that the organic material originated in a warm stage possibly warmer than the post‐Eemian interstadials. The unusual setting of preservation may indicate that in situ, last interglacial deposits have generally been removed by erosion in Ireland. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

爆炸液化场地中浅埋钢筋混凝土结构动力响应的现场试验研究

饱和砂土地基在爆炸荷载作用下会发生液化,地基上的结构物将受到爆炸荷载及地基液化的双重作用,从而产生不均匀沉降和破坏性变形。基于大型现场爆炸液化试验,对场地上钢筋混凝土(RC)结构的动力响应和地基液化后RC结构的变形进行了分析研究。结果表明:液化场地中浅埋RC结构产生了明显的不均匀沉降,且最大沉降量达到结构高度的10%,结构差异沉降达到最大沉降量的1/5,结构沉降变形在液化后15 h时基本稳定;RC结构表面未产生明显的裂缝,动态拉、压应变均在400??以内,不会对结构造成显著破坏;结构动力响应表现为柱侧加速度峰值明显大于梁侧,但柱侧动力稳定所需时间较梁侧短,即柱承受了更大的瞬时冲击力且其抵抗瞬时冲击力的能力更强。研究结果可以为在可液化地基中的浅埋RC结构稳定设计等工程情况提供参考。     

岩石变形破坏的熵突变过程与破坏判据

在岩石的变形破坏过程中,当进入不稳定的破裂发展阶段之后,系统不断调整结构抵抗外力的扰动,裂纹向局域集中的有序方向发展,应变能不断耗散,并以应变能的耗散为媒介,使系统与外扰动所追加的负熵流产生能量流通,也使系统熵值和系统的维数逐次降低,这一阶段岩石系统远离平衡态,岩石的破坏是系统熵的突变过程。基于这一认识,并在验证应变能分布与结构块度分布模式的一致性的基础上,推导出包含了结构因素和能量分布的熵表达式;对熵表达式进行平衡分析获得局部突变的分岔集,得到了岩石局部破坏的熵折迭突变破坏准则;同时,探讨了熵表达式所表征的结构有序度的尖点突变性,解出岩石系统的分岔集,这个分岔集就是岩石系统熵突变的整体破坏准则。     

Soil bentonite wall protects foundation from thrust faulting: analyses and experiment

When seismic thrust faults emerge on the ground surface,they are particularly damaging to buildings,bridges and lifelines that lie on the rupture path.To protect a structure founded on a rigid raft,a thick diaphragm-type soil bentonite wall(SBW) is installed in front of and near the foundation,at sufficient depth to intercept the propagating fault rupture.Extensive numerical analyses,verified against reduced–scale(1 g) split box physical model tests,reveal that such a wall,thanks to its high deformability and low shear resistance,"absorbs" the compressive thrust of the fault and forces the rupture to deviate upwards along its length.As a consequence,the foundation is left essentially intact.The effectiveness of SBW is demonstrated to depend on the exact location of the emerging fault and the magnitude of the fault offset.When the latter is large,the unprotected foundation experiences intolerable rigid-body rotation even if the foundation structural distress is not substantial.     

Effect of non-linear soil deformation on the interaction among energy piles

This study investigates the effect of non-linear soil deformation on the displacement interaction among energy piles. The work is based on interaction factor analyses of full-scale pile group tests, whose results are compared with experimental evidence. The results presented highlight the tendency of interaction factor analyses that ignore non-linear soil deformation to overestimate the interaction and the displacement of energy pile groups. This outcome, in accordance with previous studies for conventional pile groups subjected to mechanical loads, may be considered in the analysis and design of energy pile groups subjected to thermal (and mechanical) loads through the interaction factor method.     

Superposition of gold mineralisation on pre‐existing carbonate alteration: Structural evidence from the Mulgarrie gold deposit,Yilgarn Craton

Carbonate alteration at the Mulgarrie gold mine in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia, is represented by porphyroblasts, veins and pervasive, texturally destructive, carbonatisation. Two foliations, S_1M and S_2M, were produced by two separate deformation events at the mine‐scale, D_1M and D_2M. D_1M and D_2M both occurred in response to regional D₂ tectonism. Carbonate alteration was the product of two separate episodes of fluid ingress: the earlier produced magnesite and the latter Fe‐dolomite. Both periods of carbonate alteration occurred pre‐ to early syn‐D_2M, when mafic to ultramafic komatiitic rocks reacted with fluids that moved along regional faults and pre‐date the alteration associated with regional peak metamorphism. Gold at Mulgarrie overprints pre‐ and late syn‐D₂ quartz veins in zones of massive carbonate alteration, suggesting it has a late‐ to post‐D₂ timing. This late timing agrees with the generally accepted syn‐D₃ (and younger) age for gold mineralisation in the Eastern Goldfields. We suggest that carbonate alteration at Mulgarrie is not a product of the hydrothermal event responsible for the gold mineralisation. Rather, the different relative timing of magnesite, Fe‐dolomite and gold indicates there were two carbonate‐producing fluid systems and a fluid transporting the gold overprinted these. Similarly, early carbonate alteration may play a role in localising auriferous vein deposits throughout the Yilgarn and other Archaean cratons.     

青藏高原形变对中国西部边界的影响

基于青藏高原GPS形变1991-1999年间的测量成果,通过对中尼(中国与尼泊尔)、中印(中国与印度)边界及中不(中国与不丹)边界附近GPS测站地壳水平运动速率的统计分析,运用平均速度法估算了近10a西部边境地区的形变面积。初步计算结果表明,青藏高原形变对我国西部边界存在影响,在1991-1999年之间西部边界的不均匀形变导致国土面积缩小0.37km2。     

城市CORS参考站稳定性监测与区域地表变形分析

以常州市CZCORS监测网的数据处理为例,探讨城市CORS参考站稳定性监测的方法,对比分析不同参考框架和变形监测基准对计算参考站三维位移结果的影响.利用CZCORS监测成果,建立精确的城市水平位移速度场,并对区域地表垂直位移变化规律进行分析,给出一些有益的结论和建议.     

基于C#与MATLAB混合编程实现变形预测分析

工程项目的施工期、运营期均需要进行变形监测观测,以便全方位掌握构筑物的稳定性,但其中数据分析的实现方式、方法各有不同。本文采用C#与MATLAB混合编程,结合两种编程语言的优势,详细叙述了混合编程的实现方法,并以灰色模型为例,验证了可行性,证实了该模式可以快速开发满足项目需求的程序,实现对监测数据的分析、预测。