Identity building and social transformation: the cases of Namibia and Botswana compared

Namibia and Botswana differ from other sub-Saharan nations in their record of stable political performance. However, both countries have to face increasing social problems. In the case of Namibia these are still mainly related to the process of post-apartheid national reconciliation and identity building, in the case of Botswana they refer to issues of growing tribal tensions and of a gradual interior restructuring of society. This paper analyzes the various patterns of social transformation in the two countries and examines in what ways state-society relations are different from other African nations. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Reliability of shallow foundations designed against bearing failure using LRFD

Worldwide, there is growing interest in the development of a rational reliability-based geotechnical design code. The reasons for this interest are at least two-fold; first, geotechnical engineers face significantly more uncertainties than those faced in other fields of engineering, therefore there is a need to properly characterize and deal with these uncertainties. Second, for decades, structural engineers have used a reliability-based design code, and there is a need to develop the same for geotechnical engineers, in order that the two groups can ‘speak the same language’. This paper develops a theoretical model to predict the probability that a shallow foundation will exceed its supporting soil's bearing capacity. The footing is designed using characteristic soil properties (cohesion and friction angle) derived from a single sample, or ‘core’, taken in the vicinity of the footing, and used in a load and resistance factor design approach. The theory predicting failure probability is validated using a two-dimensional random finite element method analysis of a strip footing. Agreement between theory and simulation is found to be very good. Therefore, the theory can be used with confidence to perform risk assessments of foundation designs and develop resistance factors for use in code provisions.     

Composition and assemblage characteristics of magnetic minerals in layer S<Subscript>5-1</Subscript> of Xifeng and Duanjiapo sections

Relatively strongly magnetic fine components (< 30μm, XS-4J and DS-4J) which are most environmentally sensitive were separated from layer S_5-1 in the Xifeng and Duanjiapo loess sections and analyzed by MPV-3 for their morphometric characteristics and reflectance, SEM-ESD for their element contents and XRD for their mineral phases, respectively. The results showed that minerals in both samples are dominated by detrial Fe-Ti oxides of aeolian origin. In sample XS-4J the reflectance and iron contents of magnetic minerals are usually high. In addition to magnetite (Fe₃O₄), maghemite (γFe₂O₃) and hematite (Fe₂O₃), some Fe-high oxide (72.25 wt%–86.67 wt%), ilmenite (FeTiO₃), and magnetite-ulvöspinel [Fe(FeCr)O₄, Fe (FeNi)O₄] were also detected. In sample DS-4J obvious negative linear correlations were found between Ti and Fe, and the contents of Mn, Si, Al and Ca are usually high and the minerals are dominated by magnetite (maghemite), goethite (FeOOH) and limonite (containing Si and OH). In addition, the signs of corrosion of magnetic minerals and newly crystallized magnetite (maghemite) were recognized. Differences in the composition and assemblage characteristics of magnetite minerals between XS and DS reflect significant differences in source rocks and preserving conditions.     

Triaxial stress state deep in orogenic belts: an example from Turkey

A rare metachert pebble containing amphibole grains with microboudin structures in a wide range of orientations provides an opportunity to perform stress analysis in two orthogonal orientations on the foliation surface. The sample was analysed by the microboudin method to infer the triaxial stress state during microboudinage. Stress parameters proportional to the far-field differential stress were determined for sodic amphibole grains in the two orientations. The ratio of the stresses in the two orthogonal orientations (σ₁−σ₂)/(σ₁−σ₃) was calculated to be 0.64, indicating that σ₂ lies closer to the midpoint between σ₁ and σ₃ than to σ₃.     

柯树背岩体的副矿物特征及地质意义

本文详细研究了柯树背岩体的岩石学及副矿物学特征，研究发现F9大断裂以西部分(西体)与F9大断裂以东部分(东体)在岩性、矿物组成、副矿物特征、锆石群型特征上存在很大差别，副矿物特征、锆石群型特征指示东体与寨背岩体类似，为同熔系列花岗岩；西体为重熔再生岩浆成因的改造型花岗岩。这一认识对于该区的铀金找矿具有一定的指导意义。     

颗粒大小对颗粒材料力学行为影响初探

利用一种特殊颗粒材料-玻璃珠进行了一系列室内直剪试验,研究颗粒大小对颗粒材料力学行为的影响。试验一共考虑了3条近乎平行的级配曲线和4种颗粒摩擦情况：干燥状态、水浸润状态、水淹没状态和油浸润状态。试验结果表明,颗粒大小对颗粒材料的力学行为有显著影响,剪胀性随着粒径的增大而增强。为考虑颗粒大小对剪胀性的影响,提出了一种新的剪胀关系式。在该剪胀关系式中,剪胀系数为依赖于颗粒大小和颗粒摩擦等颗粒基本性质的变量。试验研究同时表明临界状态摩擦角随着颗粒大小的增加而增加。此外,从颗粒细观运动的角度提出了颗粒滑动的功能模型,推导出了功能方程,并以此揭示了颗粒大小对临界状态摩擦角影响的细观机制。     

复杂应力条件下掺砾黏土真三轴试验

采用新型真三轴仪器,对掺砾黏土进行了复杂应力条件下加载试验,近似模拟了土石坝填筑期心墙土体单元的加荷过程。试验结果表明,由于土体单元处于复杂应力状态,即使是单向加载这样的简单加荷应力路径,在不同应力方向上的应力和变形也都呈现显著的应力各向异性。土石坝应力变形分析中坝体单元处于三向应力条件下,由于加载引起的应力各向异性对心墙乃至整个坝体的应力变形规律都有较大影响,合理的本构模型应该能够反映并描述这种复杂应力状态下的应力各向异性。     

Types and genesis of manganese oxide ores in Guangxi, Southwest China

Systematic studies are diven to the genesis and spatial distribution of manganese oxide deposits in Guangxi,Southwest China.The deposits are classified as 3 types and 7 subtypes among which the karst depression type is regionally characteristic an of reat potential.A genetic model is presented for the mineralization on the basis of proto-rock,tectonic background,topographic features and climatic and hydrogeological conditions.     

Iron(II) oxide determination in rocks and minerals

The determination of FeO of geologic materials by modern instrumental methods (such as atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), etc.) cannot distinguish between different oxidation states of elements. In many cases, the oxidation state of Fe has to be known in order to perform several chemical calculations (norms, etc.) and discuss the reactions that occur during weathering, hydrothermal alteration and other processes. A modified Wilson method is proposed, giving reproducible results in a much shorter time than the classical method. Back-titration with potassium dichromate and an Fe(II) and ammonia sulphate solution is used, after dissolution of the sample powder in a heated HF/H₃PO₄ mixture and an ammonium vanadate solution. This modified method, tested with several international reference materials, gives reliable results, equivalent to the ones cited in the literature for the reference materials.     

自重固结与土层的固结状态初探

介绍了沉积厚度与时问平方根和沉积厚度与时间呈直线关系、底面不排水时沉积过程中固结的Gibson理论解答以及不考虑沉积时固结作用、底面不排水时沉积后自重固结的Terzaphi理论解答，据此分析了上述两种沉积模式不同沉积速率时目前仍处于沉积过程的土层的固结状态，求算出了停止沉积后土层固结所需的最长时问，指出业已停止沉积数百年以上的土层一般不应处于欠固结状态。