Strain rates at high temporal resolution from curved inclusion trails in garnet,Passo del Sole,Central Swiss Alps

Quantitative strain rates at outcrop scale are very difficult to obtain, but they may be estimated from crystals with curved inclusion trails by calculating rotation rates from growth rates and corresponding deflections of the internal foliation. Garnet in a quartzose pelite at Passo del Sole in the central Swiss Alps is extraordinarily valuable for calculation of strain rates during Alpine orogenesis, because the unusual zoning patterns clearly define the kinetics of its nucleation and growth. Complex concentric zoning patterns can be correlated from one crystal to another in a hand sample, based on compositional and microstructural similarities; the ubiquity of these features demonstrates that all garnet crystals nucleated at nearly the same time. Compositional bands whose radial widths are proportional to crystal size provide evidence for growth governed by the kinetics of intergranular diffusion of locally sourced nutrients. Together, these constraints increase the reliability of estimates of rates of garnet growth, and the strain‐rate calculations that depend on them. To obtain growth rates, P–T conditions during garnet crystallization were modelled in a series of pseudosections, and compositional evolution was connected to rates of garnet growth by means of an independently determined heating rate. These growth rates, combined with measured amounts of curvature of inclusion trails, indicate that the time‐averaged strain rate at Passo del Sole during Alpine metamorphism was on the order of 10^?14 s^?1. Strain rates calculated using rotational v. non‐rotational models are similar in magnitude. The constraints on crystallization kinetics also allow direct calculation of strain rates during individual stages of garnet growth, revealing short‐term increases to values on the order of 10^?13 s^?1. These higher strain rates are correlated with the growth of concentric high‐Ca or high‐Mn zones in garnet, which implies that strain softening associated with the transient passage of fluids is responsible for acceleration of deformation during these intervals.     

Crust restoration for the western Lachlan Orogen using the strain-reversal,area-balancing technique: implications for crustal components and original thicknesses

Strain reversal of structural/stratigraphic profiles at different scales in the western Lachlan Orogen provides a perspective on original crustal thickness estimates, the former depositional basin width of the proto-western Lachlan Orogen, the original sedimentary-fan thickness, and the possible length extent of lower crust lost by subduction. Retrodeformation using strain-reversal techniques allows basin reconstruction giving an original width of the western Lachlan Orogen basin receptor of between 800 km (minimum) and ～1150 km (maximum), depending on the amount of stratal duplication allowed in the turbidites. Crude area balancing of the regional cross-section, adding in sectional volume lost by erosion and assuming strain compatibility between the upper and lower crust, suggests that the predeformation crustal thickness ranges between 15 km and ～21 km, with a lower crustal thickness (oceanic lithosphere) of ～9 km and a turbidite fan thickness of ～6 km (minimum) and ～12 km (maximum allowable), respectively. Disparity between the calculated fan thickness and that derived from measured stratigraphic sections adjusted for strain (～6 km) indicates that some form of crustal stacking must be important in structural thickening of the turbidite crustal component. By varying shortening due to fault stacking, mass balance dictates the mismatch of the upper crustal (uc) and lower crustal (lc) retrodeformed lengths, and therefore provides an estimate of lower crustal loss by subduction. End members range from: (i) a 12 km-thick fan without fault duplication, a basin width of ～800 km where uc = lc giving no lower crustal loss by subduction; to (ii) a ～6 km fan, requiring duplication by faulting, a basin of ～1150 km where uc > lc, and ～360 km of lower crust length (～30%) lost by subduction. This suggests that the total thickness of underplated igneous material in the western Lachlan Orogen is low, probably < ～2 km.     

Limited flow characteristics of sand with fines under cyclic loading

Experimental studies on a sand with a well-graded low plasticity fines were conducted to study a number of issues related to limited flow. Cyclic behaviour in relation to instability and limited flow are compared with corresponding monotonic behaviour. A single set of rules for a range of fines contents was proposed to correlate cyclic and monotonic behaviour.     

Numerically observed shear bands in soft sensitive clays

The numerical challenges that arise in modelling shear bands in soft sensitive (SS) clays have not yet been fully resolved. Convincing and well-accepted solutions have yet to be found. This paper presents some novel information related to the shear band phenomenon in SS clays. In this study, the hypothesis is that the generation and dissipation of excess pore pressure from shear bands could regularise the strain softening and result in a mesh independent shear band thickness. The generation and dissipation of excess pressure is modelled by a coupled consolidation process. The simulation aims at modelling two counteracting mechanisms in the SS clay. First, the shear band narrows because of strain softening. Second, the internal pore water pressure drainage reduces the rate of strain softening. This counteracting mechanism provides an inherent regularisation technique for SS clays. This study presents some numerical results involving these two counteracting mechanisms. This study also shows that an inherent internal parameter applicable for SS clays can be defined by the ratio between soil permeability and the applied strain rate. In the case of SS clays, the range of this parameter varies from 0 to 0.0002 mm.     

砂泥岩间互地层等效岩石力学参数计算模型及其应用

以地层岩石的变形分析为基础,从能量的角度出发,利用应变能理论及能量守恒定律推导出了等效岩石力学参数的一般计算公式,并建立了测井资料计算模型;利用该模型计算了库车坳陷克拉A气田目的层系巴什基奇克组的等效岩石力学参数,并以计算结果为基础进行了应力场及储层裂缝的数值模拟;最后讨论了等效岩石力学参数测井资料计算模型的优点及适用条件。模拟结果显示,储层裂缝集中发育在背斜高点及单斜构造部位,与气田目前的开发实践基本一致,表明了所建模型的合理性;等效岩石力学参数适用于区域性的横向应力场及储层裂缝预测,不适于预测局部或垂向上的储层裂缝分布规律。     

Nonlinear elastic behavior of fiber-reinforced soil under cyclic loading

Experimental investigations and modeling of nonlinear elasticity of fiber-reinforced soil under cyclic loading at small strain are conducted in this paper. The investigations include three aspects. First, cyclic shear tests are conducted using conventional triaxial apparatus. Twenty-seven specimens with three different fiber contents are employed to conduct triaxial cyclic shear tests under different confining pressure and loading repetition. Effects of geofiber, confining pressure and loading repetition on elastic shear modulus of reinforced soil are studied and analyzed. Second, a hyperbolic function is introduced to describe the nonlinear stress–strain skeletal curve under cyclic loading. Nonlinear elastic modulus is expressed as a function of shear strain and two variables A and B that are related to the initial tangential modulus and ultimate cyclic loading stress, respectively. In the present paper, variables A and B both are further assumed to be functions of geofiber content, confining pressure and loading repetition. Finally, eight constitutive coefficients of the nonlinear elastic model are calibrated using stress–strain curves from cyclic triaxial shear tests. The calibration of parameters is conducted using the technique of the linear regression for multiple variables. Impacts and effects of geofiber, confining pressure and loading repetitions on soil nonlinear elastic behavior are discussed.     

断层滑动速率,地震重复时间和平均应力降

本文综述了国内外大地震复发间隔研究的现状，系统整理了中国大陆活断层滑运速率，已发现的古地震遗迹及古地震复发间隔，结果表明，在滑动速率较在的活断层发现的古地震复发间隔较短，Ｋａｎａｍｏｒｉ和Ａｌｌｅ（１９８５）研究了具有大范围重复时间（２０年到几千年）的板内大地震的震源参数，发现复发间隔较长的大地震具有较高的平均应力降，我们在实验室内研究了应变速率不同时固体围压三轴压缩下完整花岗岩破裂后的粘滑现象。     

利用加密GNSS数据和震源机制解分析川滇块体南部现今地壳活动特性

利用多源项目获得的补充加密GNSS观测资料计算研究区高空间分辨率的GNSS水平运动速度场和应变率场,采用地震波形资料,通过CAP方法求解震源机制解,在此基础上使用阻尼区域应力反演方法分析川滇地块区域构造应力场的空间分布特征。结合主要断裂的活动特性,综合分析川滇地区的地壳形变特征。结果表明：1）块体浅部的最大主压应力与地表的最大主压应变率由SSE向转变为近SN向,呈现出较好的一致性,GNSS观测至少可反映20 km以内的地壳形变;2）川滇块体南部的东向滑移和顺时针旋转,可能受青藏高原推挤、华南块体阻挡及印度板块与欧亚板块之间北向运动速率自西向东递减而形成的右旋剪切拖拽作用的顺时针力偶的综合影响;3）川滇块体在综合力偶作用下SE向挤出和顺时针旋转的同时,受到走滑逆冲断裂带的吸收转换,使得青藏高原物质SE向挤出有限。     

由GPS资料讨论中国大陆块体运动与应变模型的建立及检验

目前很多文献基于弹性力学假设,以小形变、均匀应变场为前提,利用GPS资料建立了中国大陆块体的整体旋转与均匀应变模型,并对模型进行了相关检验.但上述对模型的检验侧重从模型的拟合效果上进行分析和比较,忽略了对模型的适用性和假设条件合理性的检验.实际上,不同块体由于自身构造和外部条件的不同,其运动状况与应变状态并不完全一致,模型的适用性需进一步的验证.本文提出了两步检验方法对所建立的模型在中国大陆6个主要块体上进行了检验：第一步对应变参数进行显著性检验,第二步对应变均匀性进行检验,结果表明：根据所用数据精度,华南块体的刚性程度在95% 的置信水平上可以认为显著的,建立模型时不必考虑内部形变;其他块体内部形变显著,整体旋转与均匀应变模型并不能反映真实的地壳运动状态,必须考虑其形变的不均匀性.