Morphodynamics and depositional signature of low‐aggradation cyclic steps: New insights from a depth‐resolved numerical model

Bedforms related to Froude‐supercritical flow, such as cyclic steps, are increasingly frequently observed in contemporary fluvial and marine sedimentary systems. However, the number of observations of sedimentary structures formed by supercritical‐flow bedforms remains limited. The low number of observations might be caused by poor constraints on criteria to recognize these associated deposits. This study provides a detailed quantification on the mechanics of a fluvial cyclic step system, and their depositional signature. A computational fluid‐dynamics model is employed to acquire a depth‐resolved image of a cyclic step system. New insights into the mechanics of cyclic steps shows that: (i) the hydraulic jump is, in itself, erosional; (ii) there are periods over which the flow is supercritical throughout and there is no hydraulic jump, which plays a significant role in the morphodynamic behaviour of cyclic steps; and (iii) that the depositional signature of cyclic steps varies with rate of aggradation. Previous work has shown that strongly aggradational cyclic steps, where most of the deposited sediment is not reworked, create packages of backsets, bound upstream and downstream by erosive surfaces. Here, the modelling work is focussed on less aggradational conditions and more transportational systems. The depositional signature in such systems is dominated by an amalgamation of concave‐up erosional surfaces and low‐angle foresets and backsets creating lenticular bodies. The difference between highly aggradational cyclic steps and low‐aggradation steps can be visible in outcrop both by the amount of erosional surfaces, as well as the ratio of foreset to backset, with backsets being indicative of more aggradation.     

Contact Partial Melting of Granitic Country Rock, Melt Segregation, and Re-injection as Dikes into Ferrar Dolerite Sills, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

Numerous, interconnected, granitic dikes (<30 cm in widthand hundeds of meters in length) cut Ferrar dolerite sills ofthe McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. The source of the graniticdikes is partial melting of granitic country rock, which tookplace in the crust at a depth of about 2–3 km adjacentto contacts with dolerite sills. Sustained flow of doleriticmagma through the sill generated a partial melting front thatpropagated into the granitic country rock. Granitic partialmelts segregated and collected at the contact in a melt-rich,nearly crystal-free reservoir adjacent to the initial doleritechilled margin. This dolerite chilled margin was subsequentlyfractured open in the fashion of a trapdoor by the graniticmelt, evacuating the reservoir to form an extensive complexof granitic dikes within the dolerite sills. At the time ofdike injection the dolerite was nearly solidified. Unusuallycomplete exposures allow the full physical and chemical processesof partial melting, segregation, and dike formation to be examinedin great detail. The compositions of the granitic dikes andthe textures of partially melted granitic wall rock suggestthat partial melting was characterized by disequilibrium mineraldissolution of dominantly quartz and alkali feldspar ratherthan by equilibrium melting. It is also unlikely that meltingoccurred under water-saturated conditions. The protolith granitecontains only 7 vol.% biotite and estimated contact temperaturesof 900–950°C suggest that melting was possible ina dry system. Granite partial melting, under closed conditions,extended tens of meters away from the dolerite sill, yet meltsegregation occurred only over less than one-half a meter fromthe dolerite chilled margin where the degree of partial meltingwas of the order of 50 vol.%. This segregation distance is consistentwith calculated length scales expected in a compaction-drivenprocess. We suggest that the driving force for compaction wasdifferential stress generated by a combination of volume expansionas a result of granite partial melting, contraction during doleritesolidification, and relaxation of the overpressure driving doleriteemplacement. On a purely chemical basis, the extent of meltsegregation necessary under fractional and batch melting tomatch the Rb concentrations between melt and parent rock isa maximum of 48 and 83 vol.% melt, respectively. KEY WORDS: Antarctica; dike injection; disequilibrium; granite partial melting; silicic melt segregation     

Calibration of cyclic constitutive models by oscillating functions

Most structures are subjected to more cyclic loads during their life time than static loads. These cyclic action could be a result of either natural or man-made activities and may lead to soil failure. In order to understand the response of the foundation and its interaction with these complex cyclic loadings, various researchers have over the years developed different constitutive models. Although a lot of research is being carried out on these relatively new models, little or no details exist in literature about the model-based identification of the cyclic constitutive parameters which to a large extent govern the quality of the model output. This could be attributed to the difficulties and complexities of the inverse modeling of such complex phenomena. A variety of optimisation strategies are available for the solution of the sum of least-squares problems as usually done in the field of model calibration. However, for the back analysis (calibration) of the soil response to oscillatory load functions, this article gives insight into the model calibration challenges and also puts forward a method for the inverse modeling of cyclic loaded foundation response such that high-quality solutions are obtained with minimum computational effort.     

地铁循环荷载作用下交叉隧道沉降分析

采用FLAC3D软件建立了交叉隧道的三维有限差分模型,以人工数定激励力模拟列车荷载,计算列车动荷载作用下土体的变形和应力。采用修正动偏应力长期沉降计算模型,结合分层总和法计算软土的沉降,预测交叉隧道的长期沉降规律。分析3种不同行车工况下地基长期沉降,工况1为一辆列车单独通过1#隧道,工况2为一辆列车单独通过2#隧道,工况3为两辆列车同时通过1#和2#隧道。对比不同的列车行驶速度、隧道衬砌刚度及厚度对隧道地基的长期影响。结果表明,由列车荷载引起的地基沉降主要集中在距隧道中心轴20 m范围内;在工况3下土体沉降大于工况1、2沉降之和;车速越快,沉降越小;衬砌刚度和厚度越小,沉降越大,且衬砌厚度对沉降的影响较大,衬砌刚度影响较小。     

环流分解及其在沉积地层旋回分析中的应用

本文应用马尔柯夫链进行地层序列分析。当一个地层序列形成一个具有马尔柯夫性质和极限概率分布的马尔柯夫链时,它的转移概率矩阵可分解为细致平衡部分和环流部分。根据环流矩阵可确定该序列中的主要沉积旋回趋势,为地层序列分析提供重要依据。本文给出了两个研究实例。     

A new bounding surface model for thermal cyclic behaviour

To accurately predict soil volume changes under thermal cycles is of great importance for analysing the performance of many earth structures such as the energy pile and energy storage system. Most of the existing thermo‐mechanical models focus on soil behaviour under monotonic thermal loading only, and they are not able to capture soil volume changes under thermal cycles. In this study, a constitutive model is proposed to simulate volume changes of saturated soil subjected to cyclic heating and cooling. Two surfaces are defined and used: a bounding surface and a memory surface. The bounding surface and memory surface are mainly controlled by the preconsolidation pressure (a function of plastic volumetric strain) and the maximum stress experienced by the soil, respectively. Under thermal cycles, the distance of the two surfaces and plastic modulus increase with an accumulation of plastic strain. By adopting the double surface concept, a new elastoplastic model is derived from an existing single bounding surface thermo‐mechanical model. Comparisons between model predictions and experimental results reveal that the proposed model is able to capture soil volume changes under thermal cycles well. The plastic strain accumulates under thermal cycles, but at a decreasing rate, until stabilization. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

氨基氰在高温高压水流体中反应化学的实验研究

氨基氰在水热环境,尤其在超临界水中的反应化学实验结果表明,氨基氰可以通过自聚合作用,生成较高分子量的氮杂环混合物,进而水解并最终转化成ＣＯ２和ＮＨ３。实验还证明,超临界水可以有效地破坏那睦含有危险的或剧毒的有机资料,使之转化成无毒无在的Ｈ２Ｏ,ＣＯ２,ＮＨ３和无机盐等,根据实验结果,提出水解反应的可能机制是水的亲核加合。     

放射性测量技术在油气勘查中的应用

本文介绍的油气勘查中的放射性测量，是一种油气普查新方法。它是利用油田上出现的负异常（或叫偏低场），反映了油气田的大体轮廓的基本原理进行的。前人及作者都取得了一定的工作成果。虽然取得了初步效果，但对机理等问题仍需进一步研究和完善。     

The influence of turbidity currents and contour currents on the distribution of deep‐water sediment waves offshore eastern Canada

Sediment waves are commonly observed on the sea floor and often vary in morphology and geometry according to factors such as seabed slope, density and discharge of turbidity currents, and the presence of persistent contour currents. This paper documents the morphology, internal geometry and distribution of deep‐water (4000 to 5000 m) bedforms observed on the sea floor offshore eastern Canada using high‐resolution multibeam bathymetry data and seismic stratigraphy. The bedforms have wavelengths of >1 km but fundamentally vary in terms of morphology and internal stratigraphy, and are distinguished into three main types. The first type, characterized by their long‐wavelength crescentic shape, is interpreted as net‐erosional cyclic steps. These cyclic steps were formed by turbidity currents flowing through canyons and overtopping and breaching levées. The second type, characterized by their linear shape and presence on levées, is interpreted as net‐depositional cyclic steps. These upslope migrating bedforms are strongly aggradational, indicating high sediment deposition from turbidity currents. The third type, characterized by their obliqueness to canyons, is observed on an open slope and is interpreted as antidunes. These antidunes were formed by the deflection of the upper dilute, low‐density parts of turbidity currents by contour currents. The modelling of the behaviour of these different types of turbidity currents reveals that fast‐flowing flows form cyclic steps while their upper parts overspill and are entrained westward by contour currents. The interaction between turbidity currents and contour currents results in flow thickening and reduced sediment concentration, which leads to lower flow velocities. Lower velocities, in turn, allow the formation of antidunes instead of cyclic steps because the densiometric Froude number (Fr′) decreases. Therefore, this study shows that both net‐erosional and net‐depositional cyclic steps are distributed along channels where turbidity currents prevail whereas antidunes form on open slopes, in a mixed turbidite/contourite system. This study provides insights into the influence of turbidity currents versus contour currents on the morphology, geometry and distribution of bedforms in a mixed turbidite–contourite system.