Identification of strength equilibrium rock slopes: Further statistical considerations

Strength equilibrium slopes are rock slopes whose gradient θ and rock mass strength (RMS) are in adjustment. The identification of such slopes depends on the accurate specification of the strength equilibrium envelope. Previous attempts to delimit the envelope are reviewed and modifications are proposed that permit its more rigorous statistical definition. Because θ can be measured much more reliably than RMS, the structural relation between these variables is estimated by regressing RMS on θ, and the strength equilibrium envelope is defined by the 95 per cent confidence limits. The analysis is performed on a data set of 268 rock slopes, representing all the data on RMS and θ hitherto employed in published studies of strength equilibrium slopes.     

Source mechanisms and microfracturing during uniaxial cycling of rock

Focal mechanisms for 116 acoustic emission events associated with uniaxial cyclic loading of Westerly granite have been investigated using P-wave first-motions. Polarities were observed at eight transducers positioned on the sample to provide good azimuthal coverage. The P-wave radiation patterns can be fit by a quadrupole source but not by a simple pure tensional source. The predominant orientations of the two nodal planes for the quadrupole fit were subparallel to and perpendicular to the ₁ direction. Events with close hypocenters, i.e., within a radius of 3 mm, display a remarkable similarity in focal mechanisms irrespective of the cycle or time within a cycle at which they occur. The polarity observations of 48 of 116 acoustic emission events could be fit with the simple quadrupole indicating that the microfracturing processes even in uniaxial compression often simplistically portrayed as propagating axial cracks are indeed quite complex.     

Centrifuge Modeling of Rock Slopes Susceptible to Block Toppling

Summary This paper presents the results of centrifuge tests that were aimed at validating the Goodman-Bray method for rock slope toppling analysis. The Goodman-Bray method was extended by the authors to accommodate non-persistent basal planes of rock columns. Two gypsum column models, with and without anchors were used to represent the failure modes. Measured critical centrifuge accelerations were in agreement with the results obtained from numerical modeling. A background of the toppling slope failures associated with a large hydropower project in China instigated the need for the centrifuge study. The centrifuge model tests used an artificial rock. The observed failure mode did not follow a straight failure plane as proposed by Goodman and Bray. The failures revealed a bi-planar slip surface with a deep-seated portion near the toe of the slope. The outcomes of the centrifuge tests illustrated the need to search for the critical failure surface when performing a toppling analysis. The search technique is similar to that usually performed in a conventional sliding analysis.     

永平水泄铜钴矿控矿因素

水泄铜钴矿区地质条件较为复杂,控矿因素较多,通过分析认为主要受断层及岩性控制,地层初始富集,构造及区域变质作用提供通道及热源。水的循环、溶解作用形成热卤水成矿。     

X-ray imagery and physical core logging as a proxy of the content of sediment cores in cold-water coral mound provinces: a case study from Porcupine Seabight,SW of Ireland

Three provinces, characterized by the presence of carbonate mounds interpreted as cold-water coral banks have been reported in Porcupine Seabight, SW of Ireland and were recently subjected to many detailed studies. This contribution discusses the use of X-ray imagery and physical properties in deciphering palaeoceanographic, sedimentological and biological processes. Physical property core logging and X-ray imagery are used to identify and describe sedimentation regimes and so their respective palaeoceanographic and palaeoclimatological settings in two mound provinces, respectively the Belgica mound province and the Magellan mound province. Both provinces show at present time clear differences in the hydrodynamic environment. This study confirms that also during the past the oceanographic and sedimentological environment of both provinces differ clearly. Impacts of glacial–interglacial variations and locally derived ice rafting events (IRE), comparable with the North Atlantic Heinrich events (HE) have been recognized in both provinces. Moreover, the combination of X-ray imagery, magnetic susceptibility, gamma density and P-wave velocity makes it possible to estimate the coral content and coral distribution in unopened cores localized on top of carbonate mounds. A comparison between on-mound and off-mound cores in both provinces allowed revealing some mechanisms of mound evolution and coral growth versus time.     

Identification of buried sinkholes using refraction tomography at Ft. Campbell Army Airfield,Kentucky

Karst aquifers are highly susceptible to contamination, with numerous points of entry for contaminants through recharge features such as sinkholes, swallow holes and solutionally enlarged fractures. These recharge features may be filled or obscured at the surface, requiring the use of geophysical or remote sensing techniques for their identification. This study uses seismic refraction data collected at the Ft. Campbell Army Airfield (CAAF), Kentucky, USA, to test the hypothesis that refraction tomography is a useful tool for imaging bedrock depressions beneath thick overburden (greater than 20 m of unconsolidated sediment). Southeast of the main taxiway of CAAF seismic velocity tomograms imaged a bedrock low, possibly a closed depression, at a depth of 25 m that had been earlier identified through delay-time analysis of the same refraction data. Tomography suggests the bedrock low is about 250-m wide by 10-m deep at its widest point. High rates of contaminant vapor extraction over the western extension of this feature suggest a high concentration of contaminants above, and within, this filled bedrock low, the base of which may contain solutionally enlarged fractures (i.e. karst conduits) that could funnel these contaminants to the upper or lower bedrock aquifers. This study thus demonstrates the viability of seismic refraction tomography as a tool for identification of filled sinkholes and bedrock depressions in karst areas.     

Collapse of caves at shallow depth in Gaziantep city center,Turkey: a case study

This paper focuses on an investigation of the possible causes for the collapse of limestone caves in Gaziantep, Turkey. The city contains a lot of man-made caves, at a shallow depth, of various width and length. These caves were mainly excavated to provide work or storage space. As the city has been growing fast with increased population, many structures were constructed over these caves. Recently, two caves collapsed and five houses were damaged. These caves are all made of limestone and it was observed after the collapse that the limestone was saturated with water due to sewer pipe leakage and surface water. Tests were carried out on the limestone and it was determined that the compressive strength of limestone decreases by about 50% and the tensile strength decreased by about 80% when saturated with water. It was concluded that the reduced strength of the limestone combined with additional loads due to the factors mentioned above seem to be the main reason for these collapses.     

青海湖碳酸盐氧同位素环境记录再认识

青海湖是我国内陆最大的闭流型水体,地处东亚季风和西风的交汇影响区,对区域降水的改变等气候变化反应敏感,其水位变化历史是研究区域季风环境演变极其宝贵和重要的环境档案。青海湖Q14B孔岩芯介壳δ18Oc变化曲线自1991年发表以来,受到国内外同行的广泛关注和继续探讨。依据近年来青海湖气候与环境演变研究的最新研究结果和个人对闭流型湖泊同位素地球化学的认识,对介壳δ18Oc变化曲线进行了重新判读并得出以下结论:14.5~10.5 ka B.P.,青海湖区气候已逐渐从干冷向温湿过渡,季风降水逐渐增加;10.8~10.5 ka B.P.,青海湖处于碳酸盐滩湖环境,湖水深度从几米演变到接近干涸;10.5~9.5 kaB.P.,季风降水增加;9.5~8 ka B.P,湖水位从此前的接近干涸演变到此间的2~8 m,δ18Oc值跌落到一个较低的位置;8~3.5ka B.P,气候条件相对稳定,湖水不断蒸发引起重同位素的富集;3.5~0ka B.P,湖水处于同位素稳定阶段。研究结果还显示,δ18Oc值的短期波动与湖泊水位短期变化关系密切且明显,即水位高低分别对应δ18Oc的低值与高值。δ18Oc值的长期变化与湖泊水位长期变化关系不明显,水位较浅时,二者几乎无关联;水位较深时,水位的长期缓慢下降自然会导致δ18Oc逐渐攀升,而水位的长期缓慢上升也可以伴随δ18Oc逐渐攀升。