An alternative Boussinesq equation considering the effect of hysteresis on coastal groundwater waves

This paper presents an alternative Boussinesq equation considering hysteresis effect via a third‐order derivative term. By introducing an improved moisture–pressure retention function, this equation describes, with reasonable precision, groundwater propagation in coastal aquifers subject to Dirichlet boundary condition of different oscillation frequencies. Test results confirmed that it is necessary to consider horizontal and vertical flows in unsaturated zone, because of their variable influences on hysteresis. Hysteresis in unsaturated zone can affect the water table wave number of groundwater wave motion, such as wave damping rate and phase lag. Oscillations with different periods exert different hysteresis effect on wave propagation. Truncation/shrinkage of unsaturated zones also affects the strength of hysteresis. These impacts can be reflected in the alternative Boussinesq equation by adjusting the parameter representing the variation rate of moisture associated with pressure change, as opposed to traditional computationally expensive hysteresis algorithms. The present Boussinesq equation is simple to use and can provide feasible basis for future coupling of groundwater and surface water models. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Three dimensional numerical simulation of residential building on shrink–swell soils in response to climatic conditions

Shrink–swell soils can cause distresses in buildings, and every year, the economic loss associated with this problem is huge. This paper presents a comprehensive system for simulating the soil–foundation–building system and its response to daily weather conditions. Weather data include rainfall, solar radiation, air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed, all of which are readily available from a local weather station or the Internet. These data are used to determine simulation flux boundary conditions. Different methods are proposed to simulate different boundary conditions: bare soil, trees, and vegetation. A coupled hydro‐mechanical stress analysis is used to simulate the volume change of shrink–swell soils due to both mechanical stress and water content variations. Coupled hydro‐mechanical stress‐jointed elements are used to simulate the interaction between the soil and the slab, and general shell elements are used to simulate structural behavior. All the models are combined into one finite element program to predict the entire system's behavior. This paper first described the theory for the simulations. A site in Arlington, Texas, is then selected to demonstrate the application of the proposed system. Simulation results are shown, and a comparison between measured and predicted movements for four footings in Arlington, Texas, over a 2‐year period is presented. Finally, a three‐dimensional simulation is made for a virtual residential building on shrink–swell soils to identify the influence of various factors. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Varying water utilization of Haloxylon ammodendron plantations in a desert‐oasis ecotone

Haloxylon ammodendron is a desert shrub used extensively in China for restoring degraded dry lands. An understanding of the water source used by H. ammodendron plantations is critical achieving sustainable vegetation restoration. We measured mortality, shoot size, and rooting depth in 5‐, 10‐, 20‐, and 40‐year‐old H. ammodendron plantations. We examined stable isotopic ratios of oxygen (δ¹⁸O) in precipitation, groundwater, and soil water in different soil layers and seasons, and in plant stem water to determine water sources at different shrub ages. We found that water acquisition patterns in H. ammodendron plantations differed with plantation age and season. Thus, the main water source for 5‐year‐old shrubs was shallow soil water. Water sources of 10‐year‐old shrubs shifted depending on the soil water conditions during the season. Although their tap roots could absorb deep soil water, the plantation main water sources were from soil water, and about 50% of water originated from shallow and mid soil. This pattern might occur because main water sources in these plantations were changeable over time. The 20‐ and 40‐year‐old shrubs acquired water mainly from permanent groundwater. We conclude that the main water source of a young H. ammodendron plantation was soil water recharged by precipitation. However, when roots reached sufficient depth, water originated mainly from the deep soil water, especially in the dry season. The deeply rooted 20‐ and 40‐year‐old shrubs have the ability to exploit a deep and reliable water source. To achieve sustainability in these plantations, we recommend a reduction in the initial density of H. ammodendron in the desert‐oasis ecotone to decelerate the consumption of shallow soil water during plantation establishment.     

Mechanical transitional behavior of binary mixtures via DEM: Effect of differences in contact-type friction coefficients

This report presents a numerical investigation of the shear behavior of binary mixtures via a two-dimensional discrete element method. The effect of the coarse particle content on the peak shear strength of mixtures is investigated for different contact-type friction coefficients. A detailed analysis on the anisotropies enables us to understand the microscopic mechanisms that result in the dependency of the peak shear strengths on the coarse particle content. The contributions of different contact types to the peak shear strength are quantified. Lastly, the inter-particles structures are examined when the binary mixtures become coarse-particle-supported structures.     

Calibration of paired watersheds: Utility of moving sums in presence of externalities

Historically, paired watershed studies have been used to quantify the hydrological effects of land use and management practices by concurrently monitoring 2 similar watersheds during calibration (pretreatment) and post‐treatment periods. This study characterizes seasonal water table and flow response to rainfall during the calibration period and tests a change detection technique of moving sums of recursive residuals (MOSUM) to select calibration periods for each control–treatment watershed pair when the regression coefficients for daily water table elevation were most stable to minimize regression model uncertainty. The control and treatment watersheds were 1 watershed of 3–4‐year‐old intensely managed loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) with natural understory, 1 watershed of 3–4‐year‐old loblolly pine intercropped with switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), 1 watershed of 14–15‐year‐old thinned loblolly pine with natural understory (control), and 1 watershed of switchgrass only. The study period spanned from 2009 to 2012. Silvicultural operational practices during this period acted as external factors, potentially shifting hydrologic calibration relationships between control and treatment watersheds. MOSUM results indicated significant changes in regression parameters due to silvicultural operations and were used to identify stable relationships for water table elevation. None of the calibration relationships developed using this method were significantly different from the classical calibration relationship based on published historical data. We attribute that to the similarity of historical and 2010–2012 leaf area index on control and treatment watersheds as moderated by the emergent vegetation. Although the MOSUM approach does not eliminate the need for true calibration data or replace the classic paired watershed approach, our results show that it may be an effective alternative approach when true data are unavailable, as it minimizes the impacts of external disturbances other than the treatment of interest.     

Arsenic and lead mobility: From tailing materials to the aqueous compartment

This study concerns the mineralogy of the tailings of a former Ag–Pb mine (Auzelles district, France) and the contribution of the waste materials to the heavy metal dissemination in the environment. Accumulation of metals in fish flesh was reported and this pollution is attributed to past mining activities. Tailings were studied to establish the major transfer schemes of As and Pb in order to understand their mobility that leads to contamination of a whole ecosystem. Mineralogical investigation, solubility and compliance tests were performed to assess the stability of the metal-bearing phases. Among the various metallic elements measured, As and Pb show the highest bulk concentrations (up to 0.7% and 6.3% respectively) especially for samples presenting near neutral pH values. According to X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM-EDX), Electron Probe Micro-Analysis (EPMA) and micro-Raman spectrometry (μRS), tailings mineralogy still contain primary minerals such as sulfides (e.g., galena, pyrite), phosphates (monazite, apatite) and/or carbonates (e.g., (hydro-)cerussite, dolomite, siderite). Sulfates (e.g., anglesite, lanarkite, plumbojarosite and beudantite) are the main secondary metal-bearing phases with other interesting phases accounting for metals mobility such as Fe and/or Pb and/or Mn oxides (e.g., lepidocrocite, goethite -up to 15 wt% of Pb was measured-, plumboferrite-type phase, mimetite). The lowest Pb solubilities were obtained at pH 8–9 and at a larger range than for As for which the lowest solubilities are reached around pH 6–7. At this minimum solubility pH value, Pb concentrations released still over exceed the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS), whatever the samples. The highest solubility is reached at pH 2 for both elements whatever the considered sample. This represents up to 51% of total Pb and up to 46% of total As remobilized and concentrations exceeding the NEQS. As and Pb released mainly depends on the Fe/Mn oxides (e.g., goethite, lepidocrocite) and carbonates (cerussite) which are the less stable phases. Compliance tests also show that Pb concentrations released are higher than the upper limit for hazardous waste landfills. Determination of the mineralogy allows understanding both the solubility and leaching test experiments results, as well as to forecast the impact of the residues on the water quality at a mid-term scale.     

Numerical simulation of groundwater and early warnings from the simulated dynamic evolution trend in the plain area of Shenyang,Liaoning Province (P.R. China)

Groundwater level is the most direct factor reflecting whether groundwater is in a virtuous cycle. It is the most important benchmark for deciding whether a balance can be struck between groundwater discharge and recharge and whether groundwater exploitation will trigger problems pertinent to environment, ecology and environmental geology. According to the borehole and long-term monitoring wells data in the plain area of Shenyang, a numerical groundwater model is established and used to identify and verify the hydrogeological parameters and balanced items of groundwater. Then the concept of red line levels, the control levels of groundwater is proposed, the dynamic evolution trend of groundwater under different scenarios is analyzed and predicted and groundwater alerts are given when groundwater tables are not between the lower limit and the upper limit. Results indicated: (1) The results of identification and verification period fitted well, and the calculation accuracy of balanced items was high; (2) with the implementation of shutting wells, groundwater levels in urban areas of Shenyang would exceed the upper limit water level after 2020 and incur some secondary disasters; (3) under the recommended scenario of water resources allocation, early-warnings for groundwater tables outside the range would occur in the year of 2020, 2023, 2025 respectively for successive wet, normal and dry years. It was imperative to reopen some groundwater sources and enhance real-time supervision and early-warning to prevent the occurrence of potential problems.     

Field Evaluation of the Vertical Bearing Capacity of a Screw Pretensioned Spun High-Strength Concrete Pile

This study has evaluated the vertical bearing capacity by conducting static load tests for noise-free and vibration-free screw pretensioned spun high-strength concrete (PHC) piles installed using two different methods (end-squirting shoe and pre-boring methods). Vertical bearing capacity differences seem to occur due to the displacement of soils near the external circumference of a pile, depending on the installation method. A method by which to evaluate the bearing capacity of screw concrete piles is suggested by considering the equations that already have been used to calculate the bearing capacity of piles. Based on static load tests and analysis, the pile installed using the end-squirting shoe method was assumed to be a bored pile and it was reasonable to use the equation proposed by the Japanese Geotechnical Society. At the same time, the pile installed using the pre-boring method was deemed a low soil displacement pile and so it was reasonable to apply the equations proposed for calculating the bearing capacity of the driven pile suggested by the Architectural Institute of Japan.     

Development of Prebored Screw Pile Method and Evaluation of Its Bearing Characteristics

The pile-driving method produces considerable noise and vibrations. Hence, an auger-drilled pile method was developed as a low-noise and -vibration substitute. However, this method does not guarantee the bearing capacity of the pile unless some amount of pile-driving is performed. Therefore, the noise and vibration problems cannot be completely solved. In this study, a prebored screw pile method is proposed to solve these problems. In this method, piles are constructed by the rotary penetration of a screw pile into a prebored hole filled with some cement milk and whose diameter is smaller than that of the screw pile. To determine the shape of the screw pile, laboratory tests with model screw piles were conducted. Also, field load tests were conducted on an actual screw pile fabricated based on the laboratory test result and on a smooth-surfaced pile. In addition, the behavior of the screw pile was estimated by using three-dimensional finite element analysis. The results of the field load test and the numerical simulation showed that the ultimate bearing capacity and the unit skin friction of the screw pile are very superior to those of the smooth-surfaced pile and the cement milk is an important factor in the prebored screw pile method.     

Helical probe tests in residual soils of the Appalachian Piedmont

Helical probe tests (HPT) are a quick and economical means for manual field testing of soils to depths of 1.5 m with readings taken at 0.15-m intervals in only 10 min. The equipment is lightweight (only 2 kg) and thus amenable to deploy on initial site reconnaissance explorations, shallow pavement projects, earth retention walls, and/or compaction of fills. Although suitable for use in a variety of geomaterials: sands, silts, clays, and mixed soils, the specific application to residual fine sandy silts and silty fine sands of the Appalachian Piedmont and Blue Ridge geologic provinces is shown here. Existing relationships for converting the measured HPT torque reading to equivalent cone penetration testing (CPT) tip resistances are reviewed, as well as other trends.