Shear tests of interfaces between calcareous sand and steel

Abstract

Various modified direct shear tests on the interface between calcareous sand and steel with different degrees of roughness were conducted in this article, and the different interface property results between calcareous sand-steel and siliceous sand-steel were compared. It was found that: (1) Under various normal stresses, the limit shear stress at the interface reaches the peak value when the groove depth is at the critical value Rcr. Further, when the flat width is at a critical value Gcr, the limit interface shear stress reaches to that of a grooved surface with a flat width of zero. (2) The magnitudes of Rcr and Gcr are related to the gradation and grain size of sand. For the calcareous sand tested, Rcr and Gcr are three times and seven times the mean grain size, respectively. (3) When the intersection angle between the symmetrical V-shaped grooves and the direct shear direction equals to 45°, the limit interface shear stress reaches the peak value and no significant increase is observed at the larger intersection angle. (4) Under the same interface testing conditions with siliceous and calcareous sands, the interface friction angle of the calcareous sand is ～5°–6° greater than that of siliceous sand.     

Selenium levels in Lebanese environment

Very limited research has been conducted on selenium (Se) in Lebanese soils and forage crops but no work has been done on Se in water and locally produced vegetables and grains. This research was conducted in order to quantify Se levels and its availability in agricultural soils, vegetables and grains in Lebanon. Sixty-six (66) soil samples were collected from 33 selected sites in Lebanon: the Bekaa Valley, coastal and mountainous regions. Thirteen (13) different plant types (86 samples) were sampled from the same locations. Also, 13 spring water and 10 bottled water samples were collected. Soil samples were analyzed for their physical and chemical properties. Selenium was extracted from soils with: deionized–distilled water (Soluble-Se), KH₂PO₄-0.1 M (MKP-Se) and concentrated (HNO₃ + HCl) mixture (acid-Se). Plant Se was extracted by acid digestion on a hotplate. Selenium concentrations were measured by the inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrophotometer (ICP-MS). The values of Soluble-Se, MKP-Se and acid-Se ranged between 47 and 142, 147 and 400, and 1749 and 4713 μg/kg, respectively, with average values of 95, 306, and 3118 μg/kg and at a ratio of 1:3:30. Thus, Se extracted with deionized–distilled water is a good indicator for Se availability in the studied soils. The average Se concentration in plants was in the following order: radish > lettuce > cucumber > cabbage > parsley > alfalfa > onion (leaves) > broccoli > tomato > mint > chickpeas > wheat > onion (bulbs). The Se levels in water samples were in the safe range (less than 50 μg/L) and ranged between 2.14 and 17.6 μg/L. The levels of Se in the three soil extractants were positively correlated with each other and with organic matter content, salinity and phosphorus (P). Selenium levels in plant samples were positively correlated at a 0.01 significance level with clay and P content.     

藏南江孜地区早白垩世甲不拉组钙质超微化石的特征及其地层意义

藏南江孜一带的侏罗纪—白垩纪海相地层被划分为维美组和甲不拉组。通过偏光显微镜和扫描电镜观察和分析,发现甲不拉组黑色页岩中含有保存较为完好的钙质超微化石。研究区的生物丰度和分异度偏低,经鉴定以椭圆球石科（Ellip-sagelosphaeraceae）生物群为主,数量相对丰富,但属种比较单调。超微化石指示甲不拉组为早白垩世沉积的产物。结合菊石和双壳类化石,认为甲不拉组地层时代属于早白垩世贝利阿斯期至凡兰吟期（Berriasian-Valanginian）。这一发现标志着西藏特提斯东部早白垩世地层中钙质超微化石的存在。甲不拉组早白垩世钙质超微化石的发现,为该地区海相地层的时代划分、对比提供了新的资料,也为寻找海相侏罗纪—白垩纪地层界线指示了目标。