Foreword

Protons of energy 10⁹ GeV and 10⁴ GeV accelerating by the magnetic field of very strongly magnetized neutron stars and of extreme Kerr-Newmann black holes (respectively) may undergo instantaneous decay.     

How well known are the thermodynamics of Fe–Mg–Ca garnet? Evidence from experimentally determined exchange equilibria

ABSTRACT Many thermodynamic calculations relating to metamorphic rocks hinge on the thermodynamic parameters of garnet. Though some models are widely used, it is not clear whether their underlying premise is correct: that a single set of equations can be written for the activities of the end-members of garnet covering the whole compositional range. A voluminous body of data can be used to constrain the thermodynamics of garnet, namely Fe–Mg exchange experimental data involving garnet and another mineral, particularly clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene and olivine. However, examination of these data reveals inconsistencies, apparently stemming from differences between the thermodynamics of low-Ca and high-Ca garnets, with a boundary of about X^g_Ca= 0.15. In the two regions, for the high P–T of the experimental data, the thermodynamics follow the regular model, with values for the interaction parameters in the low Ca region of about w^g_FeMg= 50R and w_aFe–w^g_MgCa=– 1300R, in which R is the gas constant, and in the high Ca region of about w^g_FeMg= 1100R and w^g_CaFe–w^g_MgCa=– 2200R. Using the subregular, rather than the regular, model does not remove the discrepancy. The cause of the discrepancy needs to be identified if reliable calculations on rocks are to be made.     

Application of thermodynamics to the global modelling of shallow foundations on frictional material

Soil–shallow foundation interaction has been theoretically analysed within the framework of thermomechanics. The design of a global interaction model has been achieved with an original treatment of the Clausius–Duhem inequality. The role of the gravity volume forces is emphasized. The paper is focused on a strip footing based on dense sand and subjected to time‐independent plastic processes. The theoretical approach has confirmed that an associated global flow rule cannot be expected to hold true. The analysis of the sources of dissipation has led to the development of a soil–footing interface model and a complete interaction model accounting for the interface constraints and the intrinsic frictional properties of the soil. Finally, the abilities of the complete model are checked by comparisons with experimental results found in the literature. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A constitutive model based on modified mixture theory for unsaturated rocks

Non-equilibrium thermodynamics and Biot poro-elasticity have been combined to give a coupled hydro-mechanical formulation for unsaturated rock. Darcy’s law for unsaturated flow has been derived from the dissipation process by using standard arguments of non-equilibrium thermodynamics, whereas Helmholtz free energy has been used to derive the relationship between stress and pore pressure changes. The resulting general framework accommodates both large and small deformation theories. When small deformations are assumed, the formulation is comparable with coupled equations derived using an alternative approach. For illustrative purposes, the formulation has been used to analyse a seasonally affected tunnel model. Numerical results for the desaturation in winter and resaturation in summer, of the zone near the tunnel wall, have been evaluated and compared with the findings of other researchers.     

THE MOST PERFECT EXAMPLE OF AN ALIEN ECOLOGY EVER CONSTRUCTED

Much science-fiction literature is based upon the creation and exploration of alternative environments. Stanley G. Weinbaum's short story, “Parasite Planet,”introduces an unusual environment that may be wrong in the light of recent evidence on Venus but still stimulates the geographical imagination.     

The truth and beauty of chemical potentials

This essay in honour of Mike Brown addresses aspects of chemical equilibrium and equilibration in rocks, with a focus on the role that chemical potentials play. Chemical equilibrium is achieved by diffusive flattening of chemical potential gradients. The idea of equilibration volume is developed, and the way equilibration volumes may evolve along a pressure–temperature path is discussed. The effect of the environment of an equilibration volume is key to understanding the evolution of the equilibration volume with changing conditions. The likely behaviour of equilibration volumes is used to suggest why preservation of equilibrium mineral assemblages and mineral compositions from metamorphism tends to occur. This line of logic then provides the conceptual support to conventional equilibrium thermodynamic approaches to studying rocks, using, for example, thermobarometry and pseudosections.     

岩土流动势的存在性及解耦性

基于不可逆热力学岩土损伤理论的流动势理论存在两个基本问题：（1）岩土材料是否存在流动势;（2）流动势可否分解为塑性势和损伤势,即塑性、损伤两种机制可否解耦,给出了流动势存在的充分必要条件并加以严格证明,结合岩土的基本变形性质,证明了岩土不存在流动势。进一步考察流动势的解耦性,给出了流动势的塑性流动与损伤流动可解耦的充分必要条件,并进行了严格论证,结合土体的基本变形性质,证明了岩土塑性流动和损伤流动机制不可解耦,从而也为其他固体材料流动势的存在性和解耦性提供判别依据。     

地幔对流与深部物质运移研究的新进展

现代固体地球科学已经认识到,地幔对流不再是少数动力学家的假想,它是地幔热动力系统的主要构架.地幔对流和板块运动驱动机理关系的研究已经从简单的主动或被动驱动的讨论转向对统一热动力系统的探讨.包括地幔热柱在内的地幔对流的深入研究不仅成为研究地幔热动力系统演化的主线,也成为研究大陆形成和演化驱动机理的主线.与此同时,以地震层析成像为主体的地震、地球物理观测资料和以地幔岩石化学组份为主体的地球化学观测成为认识地幔对流的强有力的工具.然而,地球化学和地球物理观测之间存在明显的差异,一些依赖于地球化学数据构思的新的热动力学框架对地幔对流的研究构成了强烈的挑战.     

Spatial and temporal variations in the thermodynamics since the Last Glacial Maximum at Jutulstraumen drainage basin,East Antarctica

A flow-line model is coupled to a 2D temperature model to simulate the thermodynamic changes of Jutulstraumen drainage basin due to grounding line retreat and increased surface temperature since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The basin consists of a plateau drained by an outlet glacier, and the simulated ice volume reductions are 1% and 2% respectively of the current grounded volume. The mountain ranges H.U. Sverdrupfjella and Neumayerskarvet fringing the plateau were not overridden by ice at the LGM, while the Nashornet nunataks closer to the grounding line were. Today the glacier is almost in balance with the current climate, with the highest thinning rate?<?5.0×10^?3 ma^?1 at the plateau. The simulated present-day thermal regime of the outlet glacier shows a basal layer at the pressure melting point and negative temperature gradients with depth due to horizontal advection of cold ice from the plateau. Sensitivity studies show that strain heating and horizontal advection are important for the basal temperatures in the fast flowing outlet glacier and for about half of the wide basin at the polar plateau. Increased strain heating and horizontal advection since the LGM control the response time required to readjust to the new conditions, and it controls the present-day volume.