Analysis of Wedge Stability Using Different Methods

Summary The stability problem of a rock slope containing a wedge resting on two intersecting discontinuities is of great interest in rock slope engineering. It is a statistically indeterminate problem with two extra unknowns according to the force (stress) equilibrium analysis. The widely used limit equilibrium methods in practice assume that the directions of the shear forces acting on the two discontinuities are parallel to their line of intersection. The validity of this assumption, however, has not been verified theoretically. This paper presents a general limit equilibrium method that determines the directions of the shear forces by using Pans Maximum principle and an upper bound method that applies the classic upper bound theorem of limit analysis to avoid making extra assumptions. The formulations of the two methods are derived. A non-symmetric wedge and a symmetric wedge are analyzed using the two derived methods. To further explore the influence on stability due to the direction of the shear force acting on the two discontinuities, three-dimensional finite-element analyses are also conducted. The results are compared and discussed.     

Building and Testing an <Emphasis Type="Italic">a priori</Emphasis> Geophysical Model for Western Eurasia and North Africa

We construct and evaluate a new three-dimensional model of crust and upper mantle structure in Western Eurasia and North Africa (WENA) extending to 700 km depth and having 1° parameterization. The model is compiled in an a priori fashion entirely from existing geophysical literature, specifically, combining two regionalized crustal models with a high-resolution global sediment model and a global upper mantle model. The resulting WENA1.0 model consists of 24 layers: water, three sediment layers, upper, middle, and lower crust, uppermost mantle, and 16 additional upper mantle layers. Each of the layers is specified by its depth, compressional and shear velocity, density, and attenuation (quality factors, Q _P and Q _S ). The model is tested by comparing the model predictions with geophysical observations including: crustal thickness, surface wave group and phase velocities, upper mantle _n velocities, receiver functions, P-wave travel times, waveform characteristics, regional 1-D velocities, and Bouguer gravity. We find generally good agreement between WENA1.0 model predictions and empirical observations for a wide variety of independent data sets. We believe this model is representative of our current knowledge of crust and upper mantle structure in the WENA region and can successfully be used to model the propagation characteristics of regional seismic waveform data. The WENA1.0 model will continue to evolve as new data are incorporated into future validations and any new deficiencies in the model are identified. Eventually this a priori model will serve as the initial starting model for a multiple data set tomographic inversion for structure of the Eurasian continent.     

Late Paleozoic volcanic rocks of the Intra-Sudetic Basin, Bohemian Massif: petrological and geochemical characteristics

Late Paleozoic volcanic rocks in the Intra-Sudetic Basin of the Bohemian Massif in the Czech Republic can be subdivided into two series: (I) a minor bimodal trachyandesite-rhyolite series of Upper Carboniferous age with initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of ca. 0.710 and ε_Nd values of −6.1 also characteristic of volcanics of the near Krkonoše Piedmont Basin (0.707 and −6.0, Ulrych et al., 2003) and (II) a major differentiated basaltic trachyandesite-trachyandesite-trachyte-rhyolite series of Lower Permian age with lower initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of ca. 0.705-0.708 and ε_Nd values ranging from −2.7 to −3.4/−4.1/. The newly recognized volcanic rocks of trachytic composition indicate that the rocks were formed by magmatic differentiation of similar parental melts rather than constituting a bimodal mafic-felsic sequence from different sources. Both series are generally of subalkaline affinity and calc-alkaline character with some tholeiitic tint (FeO/MgO vs. SiO₂, presence of orthopyroxene). The magmatic activity occurred in cycles in a layered chamber, each starting primarily with felsic volcanics and ending with mafic ones. The mafic rocks represent mantle-melt(s) overprinted by crust during assimilation-fractional crystallization. The Sr-Nd isotopic data confirm a significant crustal component in the volcanic rocks that may have been inherited from the upper mantle source and/or from assimilation of older crust during magmatic underplating and shallow-level melt fractionation.     

Types,geological features and geodynamic significances of gold-copper deposits in the Kanggurtag metallogenic belt,eastern Tianshan,NW China

Occupying the middle of the central Asia Paleozoic accretionary and collisional orogenic belt, the eastern Tianshan area has a great economic potential due to Au-Cu mineralization during syn- and post- orogenic events. In the Kanggurtag Au-Cu metallogenic belt, three major types of gold deposits have been recognized: ductile-shear-zone-hosted gold deposits, magmatic hydrothermal gold deposits, and epithermal gold deposits. Four kinds of copper deposits have also been identified recently: the porphyry-type, the skarn-type, the magmatic type, and volcanic/sedimentary-type. Tectonically, the development of these late Paleozoic gold and copper deposits was closely associated with the subduction and collision of the ancient Tianshan ocean that intervened between the Tarim craton and the Siberian block. In the early to mid-Carboniferous, N-dipping subduction beneath the Dananhu arc generated magmatic intrusions, leading to formation of the porphyry Cu deposits. The magmatic front migrated southward to form the Yamansu arc upon the Kanggurtag accretionary wedge. In the latest Carboniferous to early Permian, during the closure of the ancient Tianshan ocean, large mafic-ultramafic complexes were emplaced, resulting in several magmatic copper-nickel deposits. Gold deposits of the shear-zone-type are controlled by the Kanggurtag ductile shear zone, which is related to collisional orogenesis. The epithermal gold deposits are associated with extensional tectonics and post-tectonic volcanic activity. The tectonic settings, geological features, and temporal and spatial distributions of these different types of gold and copper deposits reflect, to a great extent, the accretionary and collisional tectonics that occurred between the northern margin of the Tarim block and the southern margin of the Siberian block.     

The Saint-Georges-sur-Loire olistostrome,a key zone to understand the Gondwana-Armorica boundary in the Variscan belt (Southern Brittany,France)

In the southern part of the French Armorican massif, the Ligerian domain is located along the boundary between Gondwana and Armorica. Lithological, geochemical and structural data on the Saint-Georges-sur-Loire Unit, which is the northern part of the Ligerian domain, allow us to distinguish two sub-units. A southern sub-unit, formed by various blocks (chert, limestone, sandstone, rhyolite, mafic rocks) of Silurian to Middle Devonian age included as olistoliths in a Middle-Late Devonian terrigeneous matrix, overthrusts a sandstone-pelite northern sub-unit. Both units experienced two deformation events. The first one is a top-to-the-NW thrusting and the second one is a left-lateral wrenching. The Saint-Georges-sur-Loire Unit is an accretionary prism formed during the Late Devonian closure of the Layon rift, coeval with the main phase of the Variscan orogeny. The Layon rift, which according to the mafic olistoliths was partly floored by oceanic crust, appears as a buffer structural zone that accounts for the lack in Central Brittany of any tectonic or sedimentary echo of the closure of the Medio-European Ocean. The tectonic evolution of the Saint-Georges-sur-Loire Unit supports a polyorogenic model for this part of the Variscan Belt.     

近30 a华北地区高空温度时空演变特征

根据华北地区12个探空站近30 a(1979-2008年)的各标准等压面月平均气温资料,对该地区高空年、季气温时空演变特征进行了分析.结果表明:华北地区高空年、季平均气温变化均具有非常高的空间一致性,其中冬季的一致性特征最明显;华北地区高空年、季平均气温大致以150-100 hPa层为界,以上(平流层下层)和以下(对流层)的气温存在着不同的变化特征:从近地面到200 hPa冬(夏)季最低(高),但在年平均气温最低的100-70 hPa,气温季节变化位相与对流层相反,50 hPa层以上气温的年变化不大;近30 a来华北地区对流层中下层的年、季平均气温变化以上升为主,而对流层上层至平流层下层则以下降为主.低层的变暖始于20世纪80年代后期,高层的变冷普遍始于20世纪90年代.     

郑州市两次不同背景下特大暴雨诊断分析

利用NCEP资料,根据降水实况分布及各物理量分层平面分布,每隔6 h对特大暴雨中心区所在经、纬向带各物理量场作经、纬向垂直剖面图,结合高空观测图对郑州市两次特大暴雨发生的大环流形势场、触发特大暴雨发生的各物理量场进行诊断分析。结果表明:1)连续性特大暴雨区出现在低空急流轴的前方,一方面是由于低空急流前方水平辐合较强,另一方面低空急流对暖湿空气的输送,使大气不稳定度加强;局地短时性特大暴雨过程主要是冷空气侵入使冷暖湿空气团在郑州上空交汇,其对流不稳定能量释放所致。2)辐合线对暖湿空气的抬升运动起到动力加强作用,是触发中尺度雨团的根源,也是特大暴雨产生的根源。3)连续性暴雨发生、发展时,高空的反气旋起主导作用;局地短时性暴雨发生时,中低空的气旋辐合起主导作用。4)短时性特大暴雨天气,前期有较强的不稳定层结;连续性暴雨天气刚发生时,其前期存在较强的不稳定层结,在暴雨连续发生过程中不一定有强不稳定层结。5)连续性暴雨需要较强的水汽输送带,局地短时性暴雨不要求有明显的水汽输送。     

ANALYSIS OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF SUSTAINED TORRENTIAL RAINS IN JUNES DURING 1958-2000

Day-to-day precipitation data of Junes during the 43 years of 1958-2000 from stations to the south of Yangtze River are used to divide regions and run statistical analysis of sustained torrential rainfall processes. A preliminary analysis is then made based on it and the results show that June is the month in which torrential rains in the southern half of China take place frequently and sustained torrential rains occur at the same time in South China and the area to the south of Yangtze River. In addition, the analysis gives the basic features of sustained torrential rains of June in China and their interannual variability patterns, with the suggestion that the amount of these events increases significantly after the 1990s. Lastly, the sustained torrential rains occurring in Junes of 1994, 1998 and 2005 in the southern half of China are taken as examples in the research on the basic patterns and formation mechanisms of the evolution of double rain-bands during the rain season in South China and the area to the south of Yangtze River. The analysis shows that the large scale environment field in which sustained torrential rains occur is related to the stable sustaining of the South Asia High and upper level jet streams.     

Research progress on layered seismic anisotropy - A review

Seismic anisotropy is an effective feature to study the inner structure of the Earth. In complex tectonic area, the assumption of single-layer anisotropy is sometimes not well consistent with the observed data; thus, the assumption of multi-layered (i.e. stratified) anisotropy should be considered. At present, the main methods to study anisotropy include receiver functions, shear wave splitting from local and teleseismic events (SKS, SKKS, and PKS, hereafter collectively called XKS), P- and Pn wave travel time inversion, surface wave inversion from far-field earthquakes and ambient noise. Each of the above method has its own advantages and limitations. Thus, one or more of the above methods are often combined to characterize multi-layered anisotropy, of which the depth range of anisotropic layers are different. This paper reviews the research progress of multi-layered anisotropy for the purpose of providing a basis for future seismic anisotropy investigations.     

豆荚状铬铁矿豆状结构成因机制探讨--以遵化地区豆荚状铬铁矿为例

豆荚状铬铁矿是蛇绿岩套地幔构造岩中特征的矿产 ,其矿石发育丰富的岩浆 -变形结构构造类型 ,对认识大洋上地幔成因及其成矿过程具有重要意义。对遵化新太古代豆荚状铬铁矿的深入研究 ,发现它们发育了丰富的岩浆结构 (豆状结构、豆壳状结构等 ) ,还保留了大量凝缩标志和旋转特征。对比分析其各种特征结构发现豆状结构是由浸染状结构逐步演化形成的 ,并且旋转和凝缩是形成豆状结构的主要机理。豆荚状铬铁矿以其独特而稳定的物理化学特性 ,记录了大洋地幔深部岩浆活动(特别是扩张中心原始岩浆活动 )以及大洋岩石圈运动过程。因此 ,研究其成因机制能够为研究大洋上地幔动力学机制提供重要线索