Geotechnical properties of submarine sediments in the Seto Inland Sea

Abstract

Sampling of submarine sediments by an improved piston corer and a bucket dredger has been carried out since 1973. The length of the core samples ranged from 0.9 m to 5.4 m. The recovery ratio ranged from 39.1 percent to 98.9 percent. The physical and engineering properties of 16 sediment cores and the physical properties of 125 dredged samples were determined, and variation of these properties was analyzed.

Clayey silts and silty clays cover the floor of relatively wide bays and sea areas. Sands and sandy silts blanket the floor of channels that have swift currents, and are also found in the vicinity of estuaries.

The piston core samples showed considerable sample disturbance, which should be estimated quantitatively in the future.     

Monotonic and cyclic behaviors of loose anisotropically consolidated calcareous sand in torsional shear tests

ABSTRACT

The behavior of loose anisotropically consolidated calcareous sand obtained from an island in the South China Sea was investigated under undrained monotonic and cyclic loading in a hollow cylinder torsional apparatus. The tests were conducted on specimens which consolidated under various initial effective confining pressures and consolidation stress ratios. The monotonic test results show that the failure and phase transformation line are essentially independent of the consolidation conditions, while the initial contractive tendency of the specimens decreases with an increasing consolidation stress ratio. During monotonic loading of the anisotropically consolidated specimens, a same major principal stress direction is observed at the constant stress ratio lines up to the phase transformation line, irrespective of initial effective confining pressure. The cyclic strength of the sand increases with an increasing consolidation stress ratio. Moreover, a pronounced stress dependence is observed in the sand with higher consolidation stress ratio. During cyclic loading, the generated excess pore water pressure presents considerable fluctuations. The normalized terminal excess pore water pressure is described as a function of consolidation stress ratio. The tests show that the particle shape, rather than particle crushing, plays an important role in the monotonic and cyclic behaviors of the calcareous sand.     

钙质砂室内载荷试验研究

为保护和开发海洋资源,在珊瑚礁上进行工程建设时必须要查明岛礁上钙质砂地基的承载力和变形特性。室内载荷试验的结果表明,相同密实度的钙质砂具有比石英砂大得多的承载力和变形模量,变形量则小得多;钙质砂的承载力随着相对密实度的增大而增大,破坏时的变形量显著减小;相同密实度下饱和钙质砂比干燥钙质砂的承载力和变形模量低很多。钙质砂地基中土压力随深度急剧衰减,荷载的有效影响深度为2～3倍基础宽度;随着荷载的增大,土压力从表层逐渐传递到更深的土层。     

三角波卸载段作用下钙质砂岩毫秒量级变形速率预测模型研究

针对现阶段岩体循环加载下力学响应研究中的不足之处,以宜昌地区钙质中-细砂岩为研究对象和以RMT-150C岩土力学试验系统为试验平台,开展了毫秒(ms)量级三角波卸载段变形速率预测率模型研究。将卸载过程分为非滞后时间段和滞后时间段,给出各段判别依据,提出所需相关参数。定量指出滞后时间段带来的影响,给出滞后时间段的预测模型。在非滞后时间段提出表观弹性模量的概念,试验数据分析表明未出现加载破坏前,岩样表观弹性模量和即时垂向力始终保持线性关系。在该基础上建立三角波卸载段非滞后时间段的变形速率预测率模型模型,由于加载仪器不能精确输入三角波,将加载速率平均值修正和载荷速率中加入常数项修正后,该模型的预测变形速率和应力-应变曲线与实测值精确吻合,表明所建模型的合理性。     

山东大汶河流域中上游古近系含水岩组水文地质特征

利用古近系大汶口组及朱家沟组含水岩组5眼施工钻孔及55眼井孔调查资料,通过岩心、地下水常规离子组分及氢氧同位素样品测试结果,研究大汶河流域中上游莱芜盆地、大汶口盆地古近系含水岩组分布特征、物性及富水性、地下水化学及补给循环特征。结果表明:富水较好的大汶口组上段位于盆地腹部偏北,含水层岩性为半固结砂砾岩,水化学类型HCO_3-Ca·Mg型为主;朱家沟组含水岩组位于盆地边界断裂下降盘,含水层岩性为溶蚀发育的灰质砾岩,水化学类型复杂多变。现代大气降水作为地下水主要补给来源,蒸发浓缩作用,方解石、白云石和石膏溶解及人类污染活动参与了地下水化学组分的形成。归纳总结3种古近系不同类型含水岩组地下水富集规律:构造裂隙控水模式、半固结含水岩组裂隙孔隙水富集模式和灰质砾岩裂隙岩溶水富集模式。     

钙质砂中毛细水高度与影响因素试验研究

钙质砂是指富含碳酸钙或其他难溶碳酸盐类的海洋成因的特殊介质,具有形状不规则、多孔隙且富含内孔隙等特点;土体因孔隙特性而存在广泛的毛细现象,植物根茎内的导管有如极细的毛细管,能由此吸收土壤里的水分,故钙质砂地层毛细水上升高度研究对岛礁生态研究有重要的意义。采用竖管法研究级配、粒径、干密度、盐度等因素对钙质砂毛细水上升高度的影响,结果显示：细颗粒含量越多、级配越好的连续级配钙质砂试样毛细水上升高度越高;单一粒径钙质砂试样毛细水上升高度随粒径的增大而减小;随着钙质砂干密度增加,粒径小于0.075 mm时毛细水上升高度逐渐减小,而粒径为0.075～0.250 mm时毛细水上升高度逐渐增大;与淡水相比,在低盐度下NaCl溶液对毛细水上升有抑制作用,海水对毛细水上升有促进但效果微弱。钙质砂中毛细水上升高度随时间变化关系符合双对数坐标下的二次多项式关系,其参量与钙质砂的物理性质以及溶液类型相关。     

Late Viséan–Serpukhovian foraminiferans and calcareous algae from the Adarouch region (central Morocco), North Africa

Three Upper Viséan to Serpukhovian limestone formations from the Adarouch region (central Morocco), North Africa, have been dated precisely using foraminiferans and calcareous algae. The lower and middle part of the oldest formation, the Tizra Formation (Fm), is assigned to the latest Asbian (upper Cf6γ Subzone), and its upper part to the Early Brigantian (lower Cf6δ Subzone). The topmost beds of this formation are assigned to the Late Brigantian (upper Cf6δ Subzone). The lower part of the succeeding Mouarhaz Fm is also assigned to the Late Brigantian (upper Cf6δ Subzone). The Akerchi Fm is younger than the other formations within the region, ranging from the latest Brigantian (uppermost Cf6δ Subzone) up to the Serpukhovian (E₁–E₂). The base of the Serpukhovian (Pendleian Substage, E₁) is repositioned, to coincide with the appearance of a suite of foraminiferans including Archaediscus at tenuis stage, Endothyranopsis plana, Eostaffella pseudostruvei, Loeblichia ukrainica, Loeblichia aff. minima and Biseriella? sp. 1. The upper Serpukhovian (Arnsbergian Substage, E₂) is marked by the first appearance of Eostaffellina ex. gr. paraprotvae and Globoomphalotis aff. pseudosamarica. The biostratigraphical scheme used for the reassessment of the foraminiferal zones and subzones in the Adarouch area closely compares with that for the British succession in northern England (Pennine Region), where the stratotypes of the Upper Viséan (Asbian and Brigantian) and Early Serpukhovian (Pendleian) substages are located. Thus, a succession equivalent to an interval from the Melmerby Scar Limestone to the Great (or Little) Limestone is recognized. These assemblages are also compared to other foraminiferal zones proposed in other regions of Morocco. Several foraminiferans have been identified that are proposed as potential Serpukhovian markers for other basins in Western Europe, and compared to sequences in Russia and the Donets Basin, Ukraine. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nature of sedimentary deposits in the western Makgadikgadi basin, Botswana

Quaternary sedimentation in the western Makgadikgadi basin of north central Botswana is evaluated on the basis of new evidence from satellite imagery and sedimentological analyses. Thematic Mapper imagery interpretation, combined with field evidence, has led to the identification of geomorphological features which are mainly composed of light grey calcareous sandstones (formerly calcretes) overlain by dark grey sands. The literature suggests that palaeolake Makgadikgadi I formed and developed intermittently after initial downwarping in the early–mid Pleistocene. The calcareous sandstones were formed when calcium carbonate precipitation took place in pre-existing Kalahari sands along the western shoreline of Makgadikgadi I. Field evidence, supported by X-ray diffraction and SEM analyses, indicates that CaCO₃precipitated mainly in marshy conditions around plant roots and stems and in association with bacteria in embayments along the lakeshore. The sandstones thickened and became partially indurated as a result of increasing palaeolake levels. Deposition was terminated by renewed tectonism which uplifted the shoreline zone relative to the lake basin, leading to falling palaeolake levels. Post-uplift reworking led to case hardening and pedogenic calcrete formation in the upper sections of the calcareous sandstones. Sedimentary conditions altered during the late Pleistocene. Extensive distributaries from the proto-Okavango system incised the shoreline ridge contributing to the filling of Makgadikgadi II. Satellite data suggest that the proto-Okavango rivers formed a series of fan deltas at this time along the western Makgadikgadi basin. Widespread dispersal of fluvial grey sands took place as a result of basin tilting which led to anastomosing channels flowing southward possibly around 18,000 B.P. These results, although preliminary in nature, augment previous geomorphological analyses by adding some detail in terms of depositional environments and by providing a tentative age and origin for the ubiquitous grey sands.     

TDR测定喀斯特地区石灰土含水量的标定研究

土壤含水量是气候、水文、土壤侵蚀等研究中的一个重要参数。TDR法因具有方便、快速、精确且不扰动土壤等优点而得到广泛应用,但因受土壤质地、容重、温度等物理因素的影响而必须对其进行标定。本研究采用室内标定(壤土)和田间标定(粗、中、细质土以及三者的组合)相结合的方式,对用TDR法测定的喀斯特地区不同质地石灰土含水量进行了标定。结果表明:（1)TDR法测定的土壤含水量比烘干法测定值要小,两者最大绝对偏差在室内标定条件下为10.6%,田间标定为12.2%;相应的相对偏差最高分别可达60.3%和32.8%。因此,必须在使用前对TDR进行标定。（2)标定后TDR法测定的土壤含水量精度明显提高,平均绝对偏差低至1.4%~3.1%;室内标定曲线精度略低于田间标定曲线。（3)不同质地组合的TDR法土壤含水量标定曲线的标定精度较高(平均绝对偏差为1.5% ~ 2.6%),可用于不同质地土壤含水量标定。本研究结果可用于修订校正研究区及类似区域TDR法测定土壤含水量的结果。      

Microstructural changes accompanying the opal-A to opal-CT transition: new evidence from the siliceous sinters of Geysir, Haukadalur, Iceland

Opaline silica (opal-A) has formed in marine, lacustrine and geothermal environments throughout geological time. During diagenesis opal-A normally changes to opal-CT, then opal-C, and finally to quartz. Such changes commonly destroy the original fabrics and any fossils that opal-A contained. The physical changes that accompany the opal-A to opal-CT transition, however, are known poorly. X-ray diffraction analyses, electron microprobe analyses and high-resolution, high-magnification scanning electron microscope imagery of siliceous sinters from the Geysir geothermal area in Iceland show that opal-A is formed of heterometric arrays of randomly packed microspheres (up to 5  μ m diameter) with neighbouring spheres commonly being joined by small connection pads. In contrast, enlarged spheres, lepispheres, inverse opal (two types) and spindle frameworks with hexagonal motifs characterize opal-CT. The textures in opal-CT, which vary on a microscale, reflect the complex interplay between dissolution (e.g. inverse opal) and precipitation (e.g. enlarged spheres, spindle frameworks) that probably was mediated by groundwater in a near-surface environment. The processes deciphered from these young rocks should, however, be applicable to sedimentary opal-A and opal-CT of all ages, irrespective of their origin.