Stresses due to vertical subsurface loading for an inhomogeneous cross‐anisotropic half‐space

In this article, we present the solutions for the stresses induced by four different loads associated with an axially loaded pile in a continuously inhomogeneous cross‐anisotropic half‐space. The planes of cross‐anisotropy are parallel to the horizontal surface of the half‐space, and the Young's and shear moduli are assumed to vary exponentially with depth. The four loading types are: an embedded point load for an end‐bearing pile, uniform skin friction, linear variation of skin friction, and non‐linear parabolic variation of skin friction for a friction pile. The solutions for the stresses due to the pile load are expressed in terms of the Hankel integral and are obtained from the point load solutions of the same inhomogeneous cross‐anisotropic half‐space which were derived recently by the authors (Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 2003; 40 (5):667–685). A numerical procedure is proposed to carry out the integral. For the special case of homogeneous isotropic and cross‐anisotropic half‐space, the stresses predicted by the numerical procedure agree well with the solutions of Geddes and Wang (Geotechnique 1966; 16 (3):231–255; Soils Found. 2003; 43 (5):41–52). An illustrative example is also given to investigate the effect of soil inhomogeneity, the type and degree of soil anisotropy, and the four different loading types on the vertical normal stress. The presented solutions are more realistic in simulating the actual stratum of loading problem in many areas of engineering practice. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

用天文方法建立商后期甲骨文年代序列的新途径—解析殷历月法

利用对具有月龄特征的历谱规律的研究成果，以推定甲骨文的绝对年代，从而提供了建立商后期甲骨文年代序列的新方法，并给出了13版卜辞的例证，通过分析殷历月的结构，得出殷历中“二癸月”和“四癸月”的月首分别为首甲日和首癸日，初步归纳出殷历月法，月首为初三，月长等于逆望月周期，建立固定，且找到建立丑之例，置闰规律未知，已存在年终，年中置闰两种闰法。     

A hybrid Bayesian back‐propagation neural network approach to multivariate modelling

There is growing interest in the use of back‐propagation neural networks to model non‐linear multivariate problems in geotehnical engineering. To overcome the shortcomings of the conventional back‐propagation neural network, such as overfitting, where the neural network learns the spurious details and noise in the training examples, a hybrid back‐propagation algorithm has been developed. The method utilizes the genetic algorithms search technique and the Bayesian neural network methodology. The genetic algorithms enhance the stochastic search to locate the global minima for the neural network model. The Bayesian inference procedures essentially provide better generalization and a statistical approach to deal with data uncertainty in comparison with the conventional back‐propagation. The uncertainty of data can be indicated using error bars. Two examples are presented to demonstrate the convergence and generalization capabilities of this hybrid algorithm. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Source signature and elastic waves in a half‐space under a momentary shear line impulse

The transient deformation of an elastic half‐space under a line‐concentrated impulsive vector shear load applied momentarily is disclosed in this paper. While in an earlier work, the author gave an analytical–numerical method for the solution to this transient boundary‐value problem, here, the resultant response of the half‐space is presented and interpreted. In particular, a probe is set up for the kinematics of the source signature and wave fronts, both explicitly revealed in the strained half‐space by the solution method. The source signature is the imprint of the spatiotemporal configuration of the excitation source in the resultant response. Fourteen wave fronts exist behind the precursor shear wave S: four concentric cylindrical, eight plane, and two relativistic cylindrical initiated at propagating centres that are located on the stationary boundaries of the solution domain. A snapshot of the stressed half‐space reveals that none of the 14 wave fronts fully extend laterally. Instead, each is enclosed within point bounds. These wave arresting points and the two propagating centres of the relativistic waves constitute the source signature. The obtained 14 wave fronts are further combined into 11 disparate wave fronts that are grouped into four categories: an axis of symmetry wave—so named here by reason of being a wave front that is contiguous to the axis of symmetry, three body waves, five surface waves and two inhibitor waves—so named here by reason that beyond them the material motion dies out. Of the three body waves, the first is an unloading shear wave, the second is a diffracted wave and the third is a reflected longitudinal two‐branch wave. Of the two inhibitor waves, the first is a two‐joint relativistic wave, while the second is a two‐branch wave. The wave system, however, is not the same for all the dependent variables; a wave front that appears in the behaviour of one dependent variable may not exist in the behaviour of another. It is evident from this work that Saint–Venant's principle for wave propagation problems cannot be formulated. Therefore, the above results are valid for the particular proposed model for the momentary line‐concentrated shear load. The formulation of the source signature, the wave system, and their role in the half‐space transient deformation are presented here. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Palaeoecological evidence of changes in vegetation and climate during the Holocene in the pre‐Polar Urals,northeast European Russia

This study investigated Holocene tree‐line history and climatic change in the pre‐Polar Urals, northeast European Russia. A sediment core from Mezhgornoe Lake situated at the present‐day alpine tree‐line was studied for pollen, plant macrofossils, Cladocera and diatoms. A peat section from Vangyr Mire in the nearby mixed mountain taiga zone was analysed for pollen. The results suggest that the study area experienced a climatic optimum in the early Holocene and that summer temperatures were at least 2°C warmer than today. Tree birch immigrated to the Mezhgornoe Lake area at the onset of the Holocene. Mixed spruce forests followed at ca. 9500–9000 ¹⁴C yr BP. Climate was moist and the water level of Mezhgornoe Lake rose rapidly. The hypsithermal phase lasted until ca. 5500–4500 ¹⁴C yr BP, after which the mixed forest withdrew from the Mezhgornoe catchment as a result of the climate cooling. The gradual altitudinal downward shift of vegetation zones resulted in the present situation, with larch forming the tree‐line. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical solutions for flow in porous media

A numerical approach is proposed to model the flow in porous media using homogenization theory. The proposed concept involves the analyses of micro‐true flow at pore‐level and macro‐seepage flow at macro‐level. Macro‐seepage and microscopic characteristic flow equations are first derived from the Navier–Stokes equation at low Reynolds number through a two‐scale homogenization method. This homogenization method adopts an asymptotic expansion of velocity and pressure through the micro‐structures of porous media. A slightly compressible condition is introduced to express the characteristic flow through only characteristic velocity. This characteristic flow is then numerically solved using a penalty FEM scheme. Reduced integration technique is introduced for the volumetric term to avoid mesh locking. Finally, the numerical model is examined using two sets of permeability test data on clay and one set of permeability test data on sand. The numerical predictions agree well with the experimental data if constraint water film is considered for clay and two‐dimensional cross‐connection effect is included for sand. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The key‐group method

This paper proposes an extension to the key‐block method, called ‘key‐group method’, that considers not only individual key blocks but also groups of collapsable blocks into an iterative and progressive analysis of the stability of discontinuous rock slopes. The basics of the key‐block method are recalled herein and then used to prove how key groups can be identified. We reveal that a key group must contain at least one basic key block, yet this condition is not entirely sufficient. The second block candidate for grouping must be another key block or a block whose movement‐preventing faces are common to one or more single key blocks. We also show that the proposed method yields more realistic results than the basic key‐block method and a comparison with results obtained using a distinct element analysis demonstrates the ability of this new method. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

<Superscript>40</Superscript>Ar/<Superscript>39</Superscript>Ar chronology and geochemistry of high-K volcanic rocks in the Mangkang basin,Tibet

Our two newly obtained high-quality ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages suggest that the high-K volcanic rocks of the Lawuxiang Formation in the Mangkang basin, Tibet were formed at 33.5 ± 0.2 Ma. The tracing of elemental and Pb-Sr-Nd isotopic geochemistry indicates that they were derived from an EM2 enriched mantle in continental subduction caused by transpression. Their evidently negative anomalies in HFSEs such as Nb and Ta make clear that there is an input of continental material into the mantle source. The high-K rocks at 33.5 ± 0.2 Ma in the Mangkang basin may temporally, spatially and compositionally compare with the early one of two-pulse high-K rocks in eastern Tibet distinguished by Wang J. H. et al., implying that they were formed in the same tectonic setting.