Exploring the influence of biofilm on short‐term expansion and contraction of supratidal rock: an example from the Mediterranean

Previous geomorphological investigations using the traversing micro‐erosion meter (TMEM) have identified daily and hourly contractions and expansions of littoral rock on a range of lithologies. While organic influences on these patterns have been inferred, this has rarely been tested in a controlled way. Here, a TMEM was used to measure micro‐scale (<mm) topographic changes on supratidal limestone of the Massif des Calanques, southern France. Four TMEM monitoring sites (each 64 cm²) were set up in total, two in the Calanque de Morgiou and two in the Presqu'ile de Cassis. On both shores one TMEM bolt site was positioned on bare rock and the other on colonized rock. TMEM data were collected and the surface micro‐topography mapped for each site at two‐hourly intervals from early morning to late evening across one day in mid‐summer. Significant relative expansion and contraction was observed between measurement periods at all four sites, regardless of biofilm colonization (P < 0.001 in all instances), and sometimes between adjacent zones on the rock surface (at a scale of centimetres). Rock with and without biofilm behaved broadly similarly, but the magnitude of topographic change varied: average movement from one interval to the next was 0.03 mm on bare sites and 0.06 mm on biofilm‐colonized sites. As expected, patterns of surface change related largely to insolation, with greatest movement occurring in the morning and evening when thermal gradients were steepest. Interestingly, the presence of a biofilm intensified rock expansion, but delayed surface response to microclimatic variability. We largely attribute this effect to biofilm influences on surface albedo, and hypothesize that episodes of contraction and expansion are superimposed onto longer (annual to decadal) episodes of surface movement and downwearing. Short‐term TMEM studies therefore need to be coupled with longer‐term seasonal and annual measurements to improve understanding of rock surface dynamics. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

四川前兆钻孔应变观测数据质量影响因素分析

钻孔应变观测的目的是为地震预测及地震科学研究提供高质量的观测数据,台站钻孔应变观测受到不同外界因素干扰时,观测数据的完整率和观测数据内精度也会不同程度地受到影响,对各种干扰因素的认识、分析、排除,是提高观测数据质量最好、也是最有效的途径。     

影响康定地震台形变观测数据的主要干扰因素

对康定地震台地质环境及仪器安装作了简要介绍。整理、分析了康定地震台JB3M金属水平摆倾斜仪及VS型垂直摆倾斜仪在日常工作中观测数据受到的干扰影响,截取了相关干扰记录波形并且作出了对应说明。为台站工作人员在日常观测数据处理中提供实例参考,为地震分析预测人员提取康定台形变观测数据时剔除其中的干扰因素提供有效依据。     

Seismic performance of an existing bridge with scoured caisson foundation

This paper presents in-situ seismic performance tests of a bridge before its demolition due to accumulated scouring problem. The tests were conducted on three single columns and one caisson-type foundation. The three single columns were 1.8 m in diameter,reinforced by 30-D32 longitudinal reinforcements and laterally hooped by D16 reinforcements with spacing of 20 cm. The column height is 9.54 m,10.59 m and 10.37 m for Column P2,P3,and P4,respectively. Column P2 had no exposed foundation and was subjected to pseudo-dynamic tests with peak ground acceleration of 0.32 g first,followed by one cyclic loading test. Column P3 was the benchmark specimen with exposed length of 1.2 m on its foundation. The exposed length for Column P4 was excavated to 4 m,approximately 1/3 of the foundation length,to study the effect of the scouring problem to the column performance. Both Column P3 and Column P4 were subjected to cyclic loading tests. Based on the test results,due to the large dimension of the caisson foundation and the well graded gravel soil type that provided large lateral resistance,the seismic performance among the three columns had only minor differences. Lateral push tests were also conducted on the caisson foundation at Column P5. The caisson was 12 m long and had circular cross-sections whose diameters were 5 m in the upper portion and 4 m in the lower portion. An analytical model to simulate the test results was developed in the OpenSees platform. The analytical model comprised nonlinear flexural elements as well as nonlinear soil springs. The analytical results closely followed the experimental test results. A parametric study to predict the behavior of the bridge column with different ground motions and different levels of scouring on the foundation are also discussed.     

Formation mechanism of in-situ volcanic reservoirs in eastern China:A case study from Xushen gasfield in Songliao Basin

A large number of in-situ volcanic reservoirs have been discovered from the Meso-Cenozoic rift basin group in eastern China.Based on drilling results in combination with geological and geophysical analysis,a case study from the Early Cretaceous Xujiaweizi fault-depression shows that the formation mechanism of in-situ volcanic reservoirs is characterized by"fault-controlled body,body-controlled facies,facies-controlled reservoir,and reservoir-controlled accumulation".In other words,deep faults control the volcanic eruption type,volcanic body,and gas reservoir distribution;the volcanic body determines the spatial distribution of volcanic facies and volcanic gas reservoir size;the volcanic facies control reservoir physical properties and effective thickness of gas formation;the volcanic reservoir properties control gas reservoir type and gas productivity.The result is useful to guiding the discovery of in-situ volcanic gas reservoirs in faulted basins in both theory and practice.     

丰满台水管仪记录到的8级大地震前兆波特征浅析

总结了丰满台水管仪两个测项在4次≥8级大震前记录的前兆波,对其特征进行初步分析,认为可能是断层预滑或断裂预扩展产生的,可能是大地震孕育过程中的一种反应,对大震的预报有一定的参考意义。通过对前兆波特征的深入研究可以为地震预测提供有力的依据。     

基于现场热响应测试方法的地下岩土热物性分析

目前获取导热系数的主要方法是现场热响应试验,但该方法缺乏统一的技术标准,导致计算结果可比较性差,难以应用。笔者开展了不同热响应试验设备的原位热物性测试系列试验,分析了测试与数据处理方法对测试结果的影响,探讨了试验过程中需要注意的问题。结果显示：为减少试验误差,两次热响应试验测试的时间间隔不应少于10 d;应尽量避免循环水与岩土介质以外的其他介质产生热量交换;对于恒热流热响应试验,导热系数值与舍弃时间（1.0~12.0 h）成正相关关系;而对于定进回循环水温差的热响应试验,导热系数值与舍弃时间（0.0~12.0 h）成负相关关系;舍弃时间大于12.0 h时,导热系数变化趋于稳定。按统一标准舍弃前12.0 h的测试数据进行导热系数计算,6家单位的导热系数计算值都在2.2～2.8 W/(m·℃)范围内,测试结果合理可靠。     

静水压力取样器冲击头冲击速度的理论与试验研究

介绍了一种用于海底沉积物取样的静水压力取样器,它能依次利用重力势能和静水压力能,将其转换为冲击动能,以冲击形式将取样管插入海底沉积物进行取样。结合既定取样器对其冲击头的冲击速度进行了理论推导,并提出相关经验公式。通过取样器冲击试验,验证了静水压力取样器冲击头冲击速度理论模型的正确性和合理性。在理论推导和实验验证的基础上,对影响取样器冲击头冲击速度三个主要因素进行了探讨,并提出了提高冲击头冲击速度的具体措施。     

Seismic and Petrophysical Relationships from UK Continental Shelf Rocks at Elevated Pressures

Abstract

There are few published seismic (P- and S-waves) properties for seafloor bedrocks. At low pressures (1 to 10 MPa), velocities and attenuations are determined mainly by open microcracks. At higher pressures, the microcracks close, and the velocities and attenuations depend primarily on the matrix porosity. We have investigated both the relationships between the acoustic, petrophysical, and geological properties of the rocks at 40 MPa pressure and the effect of microcracks on the acoustic properties at 10 MPa pressure. In this paper we discuss the former; the latter will be discussed separately.

P- and S-wave velocity and attenuation measurements were carried out on a suite of seabed sedimentary and igneous rocks at effective pressures from 10 to 40 MPa at ultrasonic frequencies. The porosities and permeabilities of the rocks ranged from 0% to 32% and 0 to 110 mDarcy, respectively. Characterization of the rocks revealed that most of the sandstones have a substantial clay content (kaolinite, illite, and chlorite) and fractures. Most of the igneous rocks are chloritized.

The seismic properties of the rocks are markedly lower than those of similar continental rocks because of the microporosity formed by the alteration of feldspars, micas, and mafic minerals to clays (e.g., chloritization of pyroxenes) and the corresponding reduction of the elastic moduli. The results of this study suggest that the values of velocities and quality factors used for ocean acoustic propagation models are lower than normally assumed.     

Cement Deep Soil Mixing (CDSM) for Solidification of Soft Estuarine Sediments

A preliminary study was conducted to determine the potential for cement deep soil mixing (CDSM) technology as a method for in-situ solidification of contaminated river and estuarine sediments. The study was conducted in Newark Bay, near the mouth of the Passaic River, New Jersey. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the viability of CDSM for the in-situ S/S with a focus on: 1) determining the correct mix of the cement slurry, which provides rapid stabilization of the sediment matrix, 2) potential resuspension of solids during CSDM operations, 3) the effects of high organic content on the solidification process, and 4) the feasibility of using conventional dredging/extraction methods once the sediments have been stabilized and allowed to cure. The results of the study show CDSM slurry mixtures, as low as 7% in cement content, result in significant solidification and strength gain of in-situ sediments under ambient conditions. In sediments with very high organic contents (> 20%), the slurry mix would need to be adjusted to account for retardation effects of organics on cement hydration. Sediment resuspension during application was shown to be minimal at a distance of as little as 75 feet from the mixing head. Strength gains were considerable, effectively consolidating the sediment particles in a secure matrix, but not so high as to preclude extraction of solidified sediments with conventional dredging equipment. Dredged solidified sediment exhibited characteristics of a stiff glacial clay, and as such was easier to handle and transport than untreated dredged sediments. This technique has high potential to be used as an interim remedial measure prior to either extraction and decontamination/disposal or proper capping.