库车坳陷却勒地区新生代盐构造特征、演化及变形控制因素

本文利用野外地质调查结果、遥感资料、地震资料和钻、测井数据,建立了两条库车坳陷却勒地区的区域大剖面,约束却勒地区盐构造特征和演化,分析东、西段变形差异及差异形成过程,探讨构造变形控制因素。却勒地区发育的盐构造样式主要有盐底辟、盐焊接、盐撤凹陷、大型盐推覆体、外来盐席、盐枕、盐背斜和滑脱褶皱,其中,盐撤凹陷、盐背斜和滑脱褶皱仅发育于东段,造成东、西段构造变形差异。却勒地区盐构造分为3期:①渐新世—中新世吉迪克期为构造平静期,发育盐撤凹陷和盐底辟;②中新世康村期—上新世早期构造挤压微弱,发生早期褶皱作用,却勒盐丘继续发育,北部盐底辟中新世末停止发育;③上新世晚期—现今发生大规模逆冲推覆,是褶皱-冲断带主要形成时期,发育大型盐撤凹陷、外来盐席、盐推覆构造、盐背斜和滑脱褶皱。却勒地区东、西段盐构造变形差异主要形成于上新世晚期—现今(第3期)。喀拉玉尔滚右旋走滑断层为薄皮构造,调节了却勒地区东、西段前缘的变形差异。却勒地区构造变形主要受控于盐岩沉积范围、区域构造应力及强度、上覆层应变强度和差异负载(沉积负载和局部构造负载)。     

关于3维矿山建模的探讨

在矿山3维可视化的过程中,最重要的是建模和可视化的研究。文中主要讨论了3维建模的一些常用方法。3维模型的建立主要基于以下数据结构,如规则格网法、TIN、3维栅格、3维矢量、八叉树、TEN等结构,通过这些数据结构可以实现不同特点的矿山3维表达与模拟。     

Implications of seismic pounding on the longitudinal response of multi-span bridges-an analytical perspective

Seismic pounding between adjacent frames in multiple-frame bridges and girder ends in multi-span simply supported bridges has been commonly observed in several recent earthquakes. The consequences of pounding include damage to piers, abutments, shear keys, bearings and restrainers, and possible collapse of deck spans. This paper investigates pounding in bridges from an analytical perspective. A simplified nonlinear model of a multiple-frame bridge is developed including the effects of inelastic frame action and nonlinear hinge behavior, to study the seismic response to longitudinal ground motion. Pounding is implemented using the contact force-based Kelvin model, as well as the momentum-based stereomechanical approach, Parameter studies are conducted to determine the effects of frame period ratio, column hysteretic behavior, energy dissipation during impact and near source ground motions on the pounding response of the bridge. The results indicate that pounding is most critical for highly out-of-phase frames and is not significant for frame period ratios greater than 0.7. Impact models without energy dissipation overestimate the displacement and acceleration amplifications due to impact, especially for elastic behavior of the frames. Representation of stiffness degradation in bridge columns is essential in capturing the accurate response of pounding frames subjected to far field ground motion. Finally, it is shown that strength degradation and pounding can result in significant damage to the stiffer frames of the bridge when subjected to large acceleration pulses from near field ground motion records.     

A Quick Method for Estimating the Propagation Direction of Coronal Mass Ejections Using STEREO-COR1 Images

We describe here a method to obtain the position of a coronal moving feature in a three-dimensional coordinate system based on height – time measurements applied to STEREO data. By using the height – time diagrams from the two SECCHI-COR1 coronagraphs onboard STEREO, one can easily determine the direction of propagation of a coronal mass ejection (i.e., if the moving plasma is oriented toward or away from the Earth). This method may prove to be a useful tool for space weather forecasting by easily identifying the direction of propagation as well as the real speed of the coronal mass ejections.     

Effects of geological structures on rainfall-runoff responses in headwater catchments in a sedimentary rock mountain

Clarifying rainfall-runoff responses in mountainous areas is essential for disaster prediction as well as water resource management. Although runoff is considered to be significantly affected by topography, some previous studies have reported that geological structures also have significant effects on rainfall-runoff characteristics. Particularly in headwater catchments located in sedimentary rock mountains, dips and strikes may significantly affect rainwater discharge. In this study, the effects of geological structures on rainfall-runoff characteristics were investigated based on observed discharge hydrographs from 12 catchments, which lie radially from the summit of a sedimentary rock mountain. The results obtained were as follows: (1) Even though the topographic wetness index (TWI) distributions of the 12 catchments were similar, there were significant differences in their runoff characteristics; (2) Catchments with average flow direction oriented towards the strike direction (strike-oriented catchments) are characterized by large baseflows; (3) Catchments with average flow direction oriented towards the opposite dip direction (opposite dip-oriented catchments) are steep, and this results in quick storm runoff generation; (4) Catchments with average flow direction oriented toward the dip direction (dip-oriented catchments) are gentle, and this results in delayed storm runoff generation. It was presumed that in strike-oriented catchments, large quantities of groundwater flowing along the bedding planes owing to hydraulic anisotropy, exfiltrate and sustain the large amount of the observed baseflow, that is, in strike-oriented catchments, runoff is directly controlled by geological structures. Conversely, in opposite dip-oriented and dip-oriented catchments, runoff is indirectly controlled by geological structures, that is, geological structures affect slope gradients, which result in differences in storm runoff generation. Thus, this study clearly illustrates that geological structures significantly affect rainfall-runoff responses in headwater catchments located in sedimentary rock mountains.     

Impacts of forest structure on precipitation interception and run‐off generation in a semiarid region in northern China

Water resource scarcity and uneven distribution are 2 major environmental issues in China today. Forest structure is a dominant factor that influences hydrological processes, but the specific interactions remain uncertain due to the predominant use of individual or 1‐dimensional forest structure metrics in previous studies. In this study, forest structures in 8 run‐off plots on Mount Miaofeng in north China were parameterized by metrics of different dimensionalities. The relation between canopy interception and forest structure, shrub/litter interception, and forest structure as well as run‐off and forest structure were analysed by regression method and validated by leave‐one‐out cross test. The results showed that canopy interception rates ranged from less than 0.10 all the way to 0.80, affected by forest structure and precipitation, with interception rate decreasing logarithmically as precipitation increased. Forests with a larger canopy area (CA), leaf area index (LAI), and higher average height (H) had a narrow range of canopy interception rates, and forest with larger value of diameters at breath height (DBH), H, LAI, vertical heterogeneity coefficient (T), and structure complexity index (SCI) had higher interception rates. Forests with higher value of DBH, H, and horizontal heterogeneity coefficient (R) had higher shrub/litter interception rates on the forest floor. The run‐off coefficient was only significantly associated with LAI, T, and SCI. The validation test indicated that regression analysis of canopy interception rates and shrub interception are reliable and SCI is a key factor to influence the run‐off coefficient. However, the regression results of litter interception have a relatively large error. According to the results, to reduce the risks of the landslides and floods, forest managers should complicate the canopy and preserve trees with thicker stems and larger canopies. By contrast, to obtain more water resource from run‐off in arid regions, forest managers should harvest trees with large canopies and construct complex vertical structures by intermediate cutting.     

Boundary setting method for the seismic dynamic response analysis of engineering rock mass structures using the discontinuous deformation analysis method

Large deformations and discontinuous problems can be calculated using the discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) method by solving time steps, and this method is suitable for simulating the seismic dynamic response of engineering rock mass structures. However, the boundary setting must be carefully analyzed. In this paper, four boundary settings for the DDA method are investigated. First, the contributions to the DDA equations for nonreflecting boundaries (including the viscous boundary and the viscoelastic boundary) are deduced based on the Newmark method. Second, a free‐field boundary is introduced in the DDA method with boundary grid generation and coupling calculation algorithms to accurately simulate external source wave motion, such as earthquakes. Third, seismic input boundary treatments are intensively examined, and the force input method is introduced based on nonreflecting boundaries. Finally, the static‐dynamic unified boundary is implemented to ensure consistent boundary transformation. The boundary setting method in the DDA method is discussed, and the suggested treatments are used to analyze the seismic dynamic response of underground caverns. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Overview of continuum and particle dynamics methods for mechanical modeling of contractional geologic structures

Mechanically-based numerical modeling is a powerful tool for investigating fundamental processes associated with the formation and evolution of both large and small-scale geologic structures. Such methods are complementary with traditional geometrically-based cross-section analysis tools, as they enable mechanical validation of geometric interpretations. A variety of numerical methods are now widely used, and readily accessible to both expert and novice. We provide an overview of the two main classes of methods used for geologic studies: continuum methods (finite element, finite difference, boundary element), which divide the model into elements to calculate a system of equations to solve for both stress and strain behavior; and particle dynamics methods, which rely on the interactions between discrete particles to define the aggregate behavior of the system. The complex constitutive behaviors, large displacements, and prevalence of discontinuities in geologic systems, pose unique challenges for the modeler. The two classes of methods address these issues differently; e.g., continuum methods allow the user to input prescribed constitutive laws for the modeled materials, whereas the constitutive behavior ‘emerges’ from particle dynamics methods. Sample rheologies, case studies and comparative models are presented to demonstrate the methodologies and opportunities for future modelers.     

On the Evolution and Structure of a Radiation Fog Event in Nanjing

An extremely dense radiation fog event during 10-11 December 2007 was studied to understand its macro-micro-physics in relation to dynamic and thermodynamic structures of the boundary layer, as well as its structural evolution in conjunction with the air-surface exchange of heat and water vapor. The findings are as follows. The extreme radiation fog process was divisible into formation, development, mature, and dissipation phases, depending on microstructure and visibility. This fog event was marked by rapid evolution that occurred after sunrise, when enhanced surface evaporation and cold air intrusion led to a three order of magnitude increase in liquid water content (LWC) in just 20 minutes. The maximum droplet diameter (MDD) increased four-fold during the same period. The fog structure was two-layered, with the top of both the surface-layer and upper-layer components characterized by strong temperature and humidity inversions, and low-level jets existed in the boundary layer above each fog layer. Turbulence intensity, turbulent kinetic energy, and friction velocity differed remarkably from phase to phase: these features increased gradually before the fog formation and decreased during the development phase; during the mature and dissipation phases these characteristics increased and then decreased again. In the development and mature stages, the mean kinetic energy of the lower-level winds decreased pronouncedly, both in the horizontal and vertical directions.     

Performance‐based earthquake engineering assessment of a self‐centering,post‐tensioned concrete bridge system

Highway bridges in highly seismic regions can sustain considerable residual displacements in their columns following large earthquakes. These residual displacements are an important measure of post‐earthquake functionality, and often determine whether or not a bridge remains usable following an earthquake. In this study, a self‐centering system is considered that makes use of unbonded, post‐tensioned steel tendons to provide a restoring force to bridge columns to mitigate the problem of residual displacements. To evaluate the proposed system, a code‐conforming, case‐study bridge structure is analyzed both with conventional reinforced concrete columns and with self‐centering, post‐tensioned columns using a formalized performance‐based earthquake engineering (PBEE) framework. The PBEE analysis allows for a quantitative comparison of the relative performance of the two systems in terms of engineering parameters such as peak drift ratio as well as more readily understood metrics such as expected repair costs and downtime. The self‐centering column system is found to undergo similar peak displacements to the conventional system, but sustains lower residual displacements under large earthquakes, resulting in similar expected repair costs but significantly lower expected downtimes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.