Full-scale model testing on a ballastless high-speed railway under simulated train moving loads

Model testing in laboratory, as an effective alternative to field measurement, provides valuable data to understand railway׳s dynamic behaviors under train moving loads. This paper presents comprehensive experimental results on track vibration and soil response of a ballastless high-speed railway from a full-scale model testing with simulated train moving loads at various speeds. A portion of a realistic ballastless railway comprising slab track, roadbed, subgrade, and subsoil was constructed in a larger steel box. A computer-controlled sequential loading system was developed to generate equivalent vertical loadings at the track structure for simulating the dynamic excitations due to train׳s movements. Comparisons with the field measurements show that the proposed model testing can accurately reproduce dynamic behaviors of the track structure and underlying soils under train moving loads. The attenuation characteristics of dynamic soil stresses in a ballastless slab track is found to have distinct differences from that in a ballasted track. The model testing results provide better understanding of the influence of dynamic soil–structure interaction and train speed on the response of track structure and soils.     

Spatial–temporal variability in water quality and macro-invertebrate assemblages in the Upper Mara River basin,Kenya

Tropical rivers display profound temporal and spatial heterogeneity in terms of environmental conditions. This aspect needs to be considered when designing a monitoring program for water quality in rivers. Therefore, the physico-chemical composition and the nutrient loading of the Upper Mara River and its two main tributaries, the Amala and Nyangores were monitored. Initial daily, and later a weekly monitoring schedule for 4 months spanning through the wet and dry seasons was adopted. Benthic macro-invertebrates were also collected during the initial sampling to be used as indicators of water quality. The aim of the current study was to investigate the physico-chemical status and biological integrity of the Upper Mara River basin. This was achieved by examining trends in nutrient concentrations and analyzing the structure, diversity and abundance of benthic macro-invertebrates in relation to varying land use patterns. Sampling sites were selected based on catchment land use and the level of human disturbance, and using historical records of previous water quality studies. River water pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity (EC), temperature, and turbidity were determined in situ. All investigated parameters except iron and manganese had concentration values within allowable limits according to Kenyan and international standards for drinking water. The Amala tributary is more mineralized and also shows higher levels of pH and EC than water from the Nyangores tributary. The latter, however, has a higher variability in both the total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations. The variability in TP and TN concentrations increases downstream for both tributaries and is more pronounced for TN than for TP. Macro-invertebrate assemblages responded to the changes in land use and water quality in terms of community composition and diversity. The study recommends detailed continuous monitoring of the water quality at shorter time intervals and to identify key macro-invertebrate taxa that can be used to monitor changes of the water quality in rivers of the Mara basin as a result of anthropogenic changes.     

Influence of confining pressure and impact loading on mechanical properties of amphibolite and sericite-quartz schist

In order to investigate the dynamic mechanical properties of amphibolite and sericite-quartz schist under confi ning pressure, two rocks are subjected to impact loadings with different strain rates and confi ning pressures by using split Hopkinson pressure bar equipment with a confi ning pressure device. Based on the experimental results, the stress-strain curves are analyzed and the effects of confi ning pressure and strain rates on the dynamic compressive strength, peak strain and failure mode are summarized. The results show that:(1) The characteristics of two rocks in the ascent stage of the stressstrain curve are basically the same, but in the descent stage, the rocks gradually show plastic deformation characteristics as the confi ning pressure increases.(2) The dynamic compressive strength and peak strain of two rocks increase as the strain rate increases and the confi ning pressure effects are obvious.(3) Due to the effect of confi ning pressure, the normal stress on the damage surface of the rock increases correspondingly, the bearing capacity of the crack friction exceeds the material cohesion and the slippage of the fractured rock is controlled, which all lead to the compression and shear failure mode of rock. The theoretical analysis and experimental methods to study the dynamic failure mode and other related characteristics of rock are useful in developing standards for engineering practice.     

Formation mechanism of in-situ volcanic reservoirs in eastern China:A case study from Xushen gasfield in Songliao Basin

A large number of in-situ volcanic reservoirs have been discovered from the Meso-Cenozoic rift basin group in eastern China.Based on drilling results in combination with geological and geophysical analysis,a case study from the Early Cretaceous Xujiaweizi fault-depression shows that the formation mechanism of in-situ volcanic reservoirs is characterized by"fault-controlled body,body-controlled facies,facies-controlled reservoir,and reservoir-controlled accumulation".In other words,deep faults control the volcanic eruption type,volcanic body,and gas reservoir distribution;the volcanic body determines the spatial distribution of volcanic facies and volcanic gas reservoir size;the volcanic facies control reservoir physical properties and effective thickness of gas formation;the volcanic reservoir properties control gas reservoir type and gas productivity.The result is useful to guiding the discovery of in-situ volcanic gas reservoirs in faulted basins in both theory and practice.     

多年冻土区活动层冻融状况及土壤水分运移特征

利用位于典型多年冻土区的唐古拉综合观测场2007年9月1日—2008年9月1日实测活动层剖面土壤温度和水分数据,对多年冻土区活动层的冻结融化规律进行研究;同时,对冻融过程中的活动层土壤液态水含量的变化特征进行分析,探讨了活动层内部土壤水分分布特征及其运移特点对活动层冻结融化过程的影响. 结果表明：活动层融化过程从表层开始向下层土壤发展,冻结过程则会出现双向冻结现象. 一个完整的年冻融循环中活动层冻结过程耗时要远远小于融化过程. 活动层土壤经过一个冻融循环,土壤水分整体呈现下移的趋势,土壤水分逐步运移至多年冻土上限附近积累. 同时,土壤水分含量和运移特征会对活动层冻融过程产生显著的影响.     

冻融循环作用下黄土孔隙率变化规律

冻融循环作用通过破坏黄土颗粒的大小和土体的骨架及组构影响黄土的孔隙率. 通过颗粒分析实验发现冻融循环后土体颗粒有变小趋势,且集中分布在0.01～0.05 mm,在冻融10次后颗粒大小趋于稳定. 对经历冻融循环后的黄土进行压汞实验,发现随着冻融次数的增加,土体孔隙中的大孔径先减少,后增多;小孔径先增多,后减少,最后向5～10 μm范围内集中. 土的孔隙率也随冻融次数的增加而发生变化. 原状黄土的孔隙率在冻融5次时达到最小值,在冻融10次时达到最大值,冻融10次之后原状黄土的孔隙率在40%上下波动,达到稳定状态. 重塑黄土在冻融3次时孔隙率减少了6%并达到最小值,在冻融5次时孔隙率增加3%并达到最大值,最后在40%上下波动,达到稳定状态. 渗透系数的变化曲线与通过压汞实验获得的孔隙率变化曲线相似,印证了随着冻融次数的增加黄土的孔隙率呈先减小,后增大,然后趋于稳定的变化规律.     

高压条件下土的冻融试验装置研制及应用

深部土体冻融后的物理力学性质对深部人工冻结工程意义重大. 针对该问题, 在以往土的冻融试验装置的基础上, 设计出适用于高压条件下土的室内冻融试验装置, 并给出了高压条件下土的冻融试验方法. 基于该装置, 对有压条件下兰州黄土在不同冷端温度下的单向冻结特征进行了试验研究. 结果表明: 无压单向冻结过程中土的变形以冻胀为主, 而高压情况下则主要表现为压缩变形. 在有压单向冻结过程中, 试样内部仍然存在着明显的水分重分布过程. 试验分析表明, 该试验装置能够为高压条件下土的冻结特征及冻融作用后土的物理力学性质研究提供技术支持.     

添加沸石对黏性土-膨润土竖向隔离墙材料压缩和渗透特性的影响

土-膨润土系竖向隔离墙广泛应用于工业污染场地和地下水修复工程。通过坍落度和一维压缩固结试验研究添加沸石对黏性土-膨润土竖向隔离墙材料的工作性,以及压缩和渗透特性。黏性土选用高岭土,沸石-高岭土-膨润土试样中沸石掺量为2%～40%。试验结果与以往沸石-砂-膨润土竖向隔离墙材料以及击实沸石-膨润土混合土研究结果进行对比,明确沸石掺量和粒径对压缩和渗透特性的作用规律。试验结果显示,满足隔离墙材料施工要求的含水率范围随沸石掺量增加而增大,并处于液限的0.96～1.18倍。添加细颗粒沸石对试样的压缩指数和渗透系数影响较小,渗透系数小于10-9 m/s。相反,添加粗颗粒沸石将导致微孔隙尺寸增大,并形成水能够通过的沸石网架结构,将显著增大渗透系数。试样渗透系数能够通过考虑孔隙比和液限的经验公式进行良好的预测。     

快速测量非饱和土渗透系数的湿润锋前进法适用性研究

非饱和土渗透系数函数是非饱和土体渗流分析中必不可少的参数。然而非饱和土渗透系数函数测量非常困难,其中稳态法测量范围过于狭小,而瞬时截面法耗时动辄数月,难以应用。为此,提出了湿润锋前进法,有望在一周内测得渗透系数函数。采用数值模拟手段检验湿润锋前进法的测量精度和适用范围。数值模拟结果显示：对于砂土、粉土、黏土,湿润锋前进法得到的渗透系数函数均与输入的理论渗透曲线一致,但测量范围限于高吸力范围（大于进气值）。此外,还采用瞬时截面法计算了渗透系数函数,结果表明：瞬时截面法计算的渗透系数在理论渗透曲线附近波动,其精度取决于监测截面的间距,间距越大,精度越低。在给出的20、60、100 mm这3种间距中,20 mm间距时计算得到的渗透系数精度最高,但与湿润锋前进法的精度仍有一定差距。因此,湿润锋前进法是一种可靠的能够快速得到渗透系数函数的测量手段。     

考虑吸力变化的非饱和高液限黏土-土工织物界面剪切特性研究

以高液限土为填料的加筋挡墙广泛在南方地区应用,加筋挡墙土体吸力经常随气候变化而发生变化,直接影响筋土界面强度特性,考虑吸力变化的非饱和高液限黏土-土工织物界面强度特性亟待深入研究。利用ZFY-1A型非饱和土应变控制式直剪仪对非饱和高液限黏土-土工织物界面进行控制吸力的剪切试验,探讨吸力循环变化（干湿循环）对筋-土界面剪切特性的影响。研究表明,高液限黏土-土工织物界面的抗剪强度随着净法向应力的增加而增大;随着循环次数的增加,界面强度呈现先升高而后衰减的变化规律。经历3次干湿循环的界面强度低于未经历干湿循环的强度。随着循环次数的增加,界面强度总体上呈降低趋势。吸力增加的速率 随吸力循环次数的增加先增大后减小,有效界面摩擦角 、界面有效黏聚力 、界面综合摩擦系数 、综合摩擦系数比K与此类似。 含水率变化量的最大值随着净法向应力、循环次数的增加而增大。最大剪胀量 随循环次数的增加先增大后减小,随净法向应力的增大而减小。最后通过对数拟合,得出经历若干次基质吸力循环后的界面强度计算公式。