Discrete Element Modeling of a Subduction Zone with a Seafloor Irregularity and its Impact on the Seismic Cycle

Seafloor irregularities influence rupture behavior along the subducting slab and in the overriding plate, thus affecting earthquake cycles. Whether seafloor irregularities increase the likelihood of large earthquakes in a subduction zone remains contested, partially due to focus put either on fault development or on rupture pattern. Here, we simulate a subducting slab with a seafloor irregularity and the resulting deformation pattern of the overriding plate using the discrete element method. Our simulations illustrate the rupture along three major fault systems: megathrust, splay and backthrust faults. Our results show different rupture dimensions of earthquake events varying from tens to ca. 140 km. Our results suggest that the recurrence interval of megathrust events with rupture length of ca. 100 km is ca. 140 years, which is overall comparable to the paleoseismic records at the Mentawai area of the Sumatran zone. We further propose the coseismic slip amounts decrease and interseismic slip amounts increase from the surface downwards gradually.     

RB模式下砂土非极限主动土压力的离散元模拟与理论研究

针对刚性挡土墙绕墙底向外位移(RB)模式下砂土非极限主动土压力分布问题,采用离散元数值模拟对砂土的主动破坏过程进行分析。研究结果表明,非极限主动状态下,不同深度处土体内摩擦角变成极限值时,该点所需的水平位移近似相同,约为0.03%H,墙-土摩擦角至极限值时该点所需的水平位移S_δ近似与深度z呈线性关系,即S_δ=0.12%z;挡墙位移过程中,墙后土体中存在多个相互平行的“准滑动面”。根据模拟结果,在Liu提出的摩擦角调动值计算公式基础上进行了修正,并利用斜微分单元法,取墙后土楔体中平行于滑动面的薄层作为斜微分单元,建立了非极限主动状态下单元体静力平衡方程,得到了RB模式下挡墙不同位移量时非极限主动土压力计算公式。将计算结果与模拟结果和模型试验实测数据进行对比,验证了理论公式的合理性。     

砂土海床中海底管道贯入阻力演化特征及细观机制研究

理解海底管道竖向贯入过程是科学评估管道安装期间初始埋深及服役期间安全性和稳定性分析的关键。通过土工离心机模型试验,结合离散元数值分析研究了真实应力水平下不同密实度砂土中海底管道竖向贯入阻力演化特征及细观机制。研究结果显示,对于中密砂,管道贯入阻力曲线主要表现为硬化特征;对于密砂,贯入阻力曲线整体上呈现周期性软化特征,且埋深越大,软化程度越大。离散元计算分析表明,造成该现象的原因是不同密实度砂土中管道贯入的土体流动及破坏机制不同,且贯入阻力的演化与剪切带的形成与发展密切相关。利用现行海底管道设计规范评估密砂中管道埋深时应充分考虑其贯入阻力随深度的演化特征,当管道埋深初步评估大于0.1D(D为管径)时,应结合计算结果上下限值合理预测管道埋深。     

An explicitly coupled hydro‐geomechanical model for simulating hydraulic fracturing in arbitrary discrete fracture networks

Modeling hydraulic fracturing in the presence of a natural fracture network is a challenging task, owing to the complex interactions between fluid, rock matrix, and rock interfaces, as well as the interactions between propagating fractures and existing natural interfaces. Understanding these complex interactions through numerical modeling is critical to the design of optimum stimulation strategies. In this paper, we present an explicitly integrated, fully coupled discrete‐finite element approach for the simulation of hydraulic fracturing in arbitrary fracture networks. The individual physical processes involved in hydraulic fracturing are identified and addressed as separate modules: a finite element approach for geomechanics in the rock matrix, a finite volume approach for resolving hydrodynamics, a geomechanical joint model for interfacial resolution, and an adaptive remeshing module. The model is verified against the Khristianovich–Geertsma–DeKlerk closed‐form solution for the propagation of a single hydraulic fracture and validated against laboratory testing results on the interaction between a propagating hydraulic fracture and an existing fracture. Preliminary results of simulating hydraulic fracturing in a natural fracture system consisting of multiple fractures are also presented. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A bond contact model for methane hydrate‐bearing sediments with interparticle cementation

While methane hydrates (MHs) can be present in various forms in deep seabeds or permafrost regions, this paper deals with MH‐bearing sediments (MHBS) where the MH has formed bonds between sand grains. A bond model based on experimentally validated contact laws for cemented granules is introduced to describe the mechanical behavior of the MH bonds. The model parameters were derived from measured values of temperature, water pressure and MH density. Bond width and thickness adopted for each bond of the MHBS were selected based on the degree of MH saturation. The model was implemented into a 2D distinct element method code. A series of numerical biaxial standard compression tests were carried out for various degrees of MH saturation. A comparison with available experimental data shows that the model can effectively capture the essential features of the mechanical behavior of MHBS for a wide range of levels of hydrate saturation under drained and undrained conditions. In addition, the analyses presented here shed light on the following: (1) the relationship between level of cementation and debonding mechanisms taking place at the microscopic level and the observed macro‐mechanical behavior of MHBS and (2) the relationship between spatial distribution of bond breakages and contact force chains with the observed strength, dilatancy and deformability of the samples. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Calculating the macrodispersion coefficient of the ensemble averaged solute transport equation in the discrete domain

Recognizing the spatial heterogeneity of hydraulic parameters, many researchers have studied the solute transport by both groundwater and channel flow in a stochastic framework. One of the methodologies used to up‐scale the stochastic solute transport equation, from a point‐location scale to a grid scale, is the cumulant expansion method combined with the calculus for the time‐ordered exponential and the calculus for the Lie operator. When the point‐location scale transport equation is scaled up to the grid scale, using the cumulant expansion method, a new dispersion coefficient emerges in the dispersive term of the solute transport equation in addition to the molecular dispersion coefficient. This velocity driven dispersion is called ‘macrodispersion’. The macrodispersion coefficient is the integral function of the time‐ordered covariance of the random velocity field. The integral is calculated over a Lagrangian trajectory of the flow. The Lagrangian trajectory depends on the following: (i) the spatial origin of the particle; (ii) the time when the macrodispersion is calculated; and (iii) the mean velocity field along the trajectory itself. The Lagrangian trajectory is a recursive function of time because the location of the particle along the trajectory at a particular time depends on the location of the particle at the previous time. This recursive functional form of the Lagrangian trajectory makes the calculation of the macrodispersion coefficient difficult. Especially for the unsteady, spatially non‐stationary, non‐uniform flow field, the macrodispersion coefficient is a highly complex expression and, so far, calculated using numerical methods in the discrete domains. Here, an analytical method was introduced to calculate the macrodispersion coefficient in the discrete domain for the unsteady and steady, spatially non‐stationary flow cases accurately and efficiently. This study can fill the gap between the theory of the ensemble averaged solute transport model and its numerical implementations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A discrete thermodynamic approach for anisotropic plastic–damage modeling of cohesive‐frictional geomaterials

A discrete plastic–damage model is developed for cohesive‐frictional geomaterials subjected to compression‐dominated stresses. Macroscopic plastic strains of material are physically generated by frictional sliding along weakness planes. The evolution of damage is related to the evolution of weakness planes physically in connection with the propagation of microcracks. A discrete approach is used to account for anisotropic plastic flow and damage evolution, by introducing two stress invariants and one plastic hardening variable for each family of sliding weakness planes. Plastic flow in each family is coupled with damage evolution. The proposed model is applied to typical geomaterials and comparisons between numerical predictions and experimental data are presented. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A two‐mechanism elastoplastic model for shakedown of unbound granular materials and DEM simulations

An elastoplastic model has been developed for the finite elements modelling of repeated load triaxial tests. This model is based on the shakedown theory established by Zarka for metallic structures. To the previous works, which were based on the Drucker–Prager yield surface and the plastic potential of Von Mises, a compression cap has been added to each one. The model straightforwardly determines the purely elastic state or the elastic shakedown state or the plastic shakedown state and calculates the deviatoric and the volumetric plastic strains. The calibration of the elastoplastic model has been carried out with DEM simulations and an unbound granular material for roads under repeated load triaxial tests using finite element method. The calculations underline the capabilities of the model to take into account, with a unique formalism, the accumulation of the deviatoric and volumetric plastic strains along the loading cycles. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于全球离散网格框架的局部网格划分

从全球离散网格系统的应用需求出发,分析全球框架下建立局部网格的重要性,在此基础上提出全球离散网格系统下同构化的局部网格生成的基本思路,详细分析局部网格的复杂球面边界问题,从点与球面三角形的位置关系入手,讨论点与任意球面多边形的相对位置关系,研究基于球面任意多边形的边缘简化算法、判断点与球面任意多边形相互关系的算法、考虑跨面问题的网格区域裁减以及网格数据的层次生成算法.通过实验证明这些方法的效率和准确性.

Abstract：

Firstly, the paper analyzed the essentiality of generating partial grids based on the application and requirement of discrete global grid systems. And then, we brought forward the fundermental thought of generating partial grid which is under the discrete global grid frame, and discussed the detailed edge problems of partial highprecision grid. Started with the ubiety between a point and a spherical triangle, we discussed the ubiety between a point and a spherical random polygon, and then edge simplifying algorithm of spherical random polygon are studied, as well as co-relationship between points and spherical random polygon, grid district clipping based on spanning the developed surface and grid data hierarchical creating algorithm. In the end we prove exactness and efficiency of the algorithm through the experiments.     

GRACE��SLR J2 ��ʱ�����е�С������

????С????????????????С???任????CNES/GRGS??CSR??GFZ???о???????????GRACE???????λ????J2????????н???????????????????????????????SLR???????????J2????????е????????????????????????SLR??????????? J2?????GRACE J2????и???????????仯??????GRACE ???????λ???? J2???л???????161???????????????????????д?????????????S2????????????