Recent applications of sliding block theory to geotechnical design

The sliding block theory was proposed by Newmark for determining the permanent displacement of embankments and dams under earthquake loading. This paper highlights recent applications of sliding block theory to different geotechnical structures. The equations to determine seismic factor of safety, yield acceleration and permanent displacement are given for rock block, soil slope, landfill cover, geosynthetic-reinforced soil retaining wall, and composite breakwater. The presented equations for seismic stability degenerate to that of static stability in the absence of earthquake. The permanent displacement for various structures can be obtained from that of a horizontal sliding block through a correction factor. A simplified procedure is included for the permanent displacement under vertical acceleration. The sliding block approach is rational for design under high seismic load.     

Model of rigid and elastic-plastic motion in intraplate blocks and strain status of principal blocks in Chinese mainland

Introduction The Chinese mainland is located in the southeastern part of Eurasia plate and encircled by India, Eurasia, Pacific and Philippine Sea plates. It is one of areas with the strongest tectonic de-formation, especially Qingzang (QinghaiXizang) plateau and NS tectonic zone where the tec-tonic activity is more intensive and intricate. The main part of tectonic activity of Chinese mainland includes a series of tectonic zones and active blocks divided by them. Therefore, the research…     

Post-earthquake investigation on several geosynthetic-reinforced soil retaining walls and slopes during the Ji-Ji earthquake of Taiwan

This paper gives an overview on the application of geosynthetic-reinforced soil structures in Taiwan. Taiwan has an unique topography and geotechnical conditions that rendered a less conservative and more challenging design compared to that of North America, Europe and Japan. The Ji-Ji (Chi-Chi) earthquake of 1999 gave an opportunity to examine the behavior of reinforced soil structures. The performance of several modular-block reinforced soil retaining walls and reinforced slopes at the vicinity of the fault was evaluated. Reinforced structures performed better than unreinforced soil retaining walls. The failure cases were highlighted and the cause of failure was identified. The lack of seismic design consideration could be a major cause of failure. The compound failure mode, the inertia force of the blocks, and the connection stiffness and strength relative to the large dynamic earth pressure, were among major items that would warrant further design consideration.     

Modeling,ray tracing,and block nonlinear travel-time inversion in 3D

We describe an integrated forward and inverse three-dimensional modeling system that can deal with complex geological structures. The system has been designed to handle large-scale problems by using a distributed approach. It uses seismic ray tracing for forward simulation, time-to-depth mapping, and nonlinear travel-time inversion.A novel decomposition method is our tool to attack large-scale problems in a parallel approach. The system is fully implemented and we demonstrate its performance with synthetic examples.This research was partially supported by the National Science Foundation under SBIR Grant III-9300992.     

Aseismio fault slip and block deformation in North China

In North China, the tectonic fault-block system enables us to use the Discontinuous Deformation Analysis (DDA) method to simulate the long-term cross-fault survey and other geodetic data related to aseismic tectonic deformation. By the simulation we have found that: (1) Slips on faults with different orientation are generally in agreement with the ENE-WSW tectonic stress field, but the slip pattern of faulting can vary from nearly orthogonal, to pure shear along the strike of the faults, this pattern cannot be explained by simple geometric relation between the strike of the fault and the direction of the tectonic shortening. This phenomenon has been observed at many sites of cross-fault geodetic surveys, and might be caused by the interactions between different blocks and faults. (2) According to the DDA model, if the average aseismic slip rate along major active faults is at the order of several tenths of millimeter per year as observed by the cross-fault geodetic surveys, the typical strain rate inside a block is at the order of 10^–8 year^–1 or less, so that the rate of 10^–6 year^–1, as reported by observations in smaller areas, cannot be the representative deformation rate in this region. (3) Between the slips caused by regional compression and block rotation, there is a possibility that the sense of slip caused by rigid body rotation in two adjacent blocks is opposite to the slip caused by the tectonic compression. But the magnitude of slip resulting from the tectonic compression is much larger than that due to the block rotation. Thus, in general, the slip pattern on faults as a whole agrees with the sense of tectonic compression in this region. That is to say, the slip caused by regional compression dominates the entire slip budget. (4) Based on (3), some observed slips in contradiction to ENE tectonic stress field may be caused by more localized sources, and have no tectonic significance.     

鄂尔多斯及其周缘地热分布的某些特征

利用鄂尔多斯及其周缘的大地热流、地温梯度和地温分布等资料研究了其展布特征和差异性变化，并讨论了地热分布与地壳深浅构造的关系。认为，鄂尔多斯块体内大地热流、地温梯度值整体偏低，而其周缘地区则呈现出环状高值异常带。该区地震活动主要集中分布在鄂尔多斯周缘地区，即鄂尔多斯周缘存在着高热流、高地温梯度和地震丛集分布相统一的现象。这一现象说明，地热和地震活动之间存在着某种必然的联系。     

武夷山古环境的变迁与土壤发育的关系

在综合研究了武夷山主峰黄岗山的地质、地貌、植被、气候及第四纪孢粉分析资料后认为,黄岗山在晚第三纪至第四纪的数百万年间,曾经历了至少三次断块抬升运动,每次抬升幅度300—400m,总上升量可达千米之巨。黄岗山的土壤之所以在若干重要分类指标上产生变异,其原因很可能是古环境遗留的特征仍居主导地位,近代成土作用只不过是在原来脱硅富铝化基础上的附加成土过程。     

中国大陆及其周边块体的现时运动、变形及其动力学解释

运用块体不连续变形分析方法 ,对利用GPS测量数据解算中国大陆及其周边块体的位移进行分析。结果显示 ,除块体 2、10、13为近东西方向的运动 ,块体 15为近北东向的运动外 ,其余块体均朝南东或南东东方向运动。同时 ,各块体还以各自的角速度绕其重心旋转。整个研究区在南北方向是压缩的 ,所得的最大主应力方向与利用震源机制解与原地应力测量的结果总的来说大体一致。最后 ,对产生中国大陆及周边块体运动与变形的动力源进行了讨论     

准噶尔海槽西准噶尔地段板块构造演化特征

准噶尔地块为前震旦纪地块。古生代,本区进一步演化成为一个由大陆裂谷发育起来的不成熟洋壳——准噶尔海槽。该海槽向西可与苏联巴尔喀什相通,并将哈萨克斯坦古板块肢解为南、北两大陆块。早石炭世末,本区结束了洋壳历史,重新成为大陆克拉通,托里北——达拉布特一线为缝合线位置。中石炭世以后,以碰撞后构造为主导,发生过三次明显的块断运动和A型俯冲。北东向的达拉布特断裂系就是在本区地壳缩短的背景下产生的走滑断层和推覆构造     

川青块体及其向南东方向运动的新证据

根据近二十年地震活动性、震源机制、活断层及深部探测等方面研究进展提供的新证据,进一步论证了笔者(1980)提出的由鲜水河断裂带、舒尔干—花石峡断裂带、岷江断裂带和龙门山断裂带围限的川青地壳块体的存在及其向南东方向运动的合理性。