Dynamic evolution of large-scale two-dimensional fractures and ruptures using coagulation methods

We consider the dynamic behavior of a large-scale, two-dimensional fibril fracture field embedded in a sedimentary pile which is resting on a tectonically active crustal basement. Fractures are treated statistically as a dilute gas composed of parallel, stressed fractures. The salient physical processes are annihilation/coalescence of fractures through binary collisions and their precipitation, diffusion, and advection caused by their motions. The analysis uses techniques of coagulation theory to follow evolution of fractures as they develop from small-scale, elementary ruptures (fibrils) to large-scale objects. The purpose is to study size distribution and temporal variations of emerging fractures at the sedimentary surface with fibril fractures throughout the sedimentary pile. Analysis suggests that transport and in situ coalescence/annihilation of fibril fractures through sediments may be responsible for the size spectrum and temporal variations observed in surface fractures and ruptures. We find that smaller-scale fractures advected to the sedimentary surface have a time lag relative to larger-scale precipitated fractures—suggestive of an after-shock type of behavior. We also find that annihilation reactions (approach to hydrostatic stress and/or cementation) can be effective in reducing the mean size of emerging fractures. Simple estimates indicate that if the annihilation rate is about 5–10 times the coalescence rate, then the coalescence process is virtually unable to produce any larger-scale fractures than the original elementary ruptures (fibrils).     

A lumped discrete population balance model for shear flocculation-model development

In the shear flocculation process, flocculation of ultrafine (size < 10 μm) hydrophobic particle occurs in the presence of a high shear field. Hence, it is necessary to consider both processes of coalescence and breakage, while modelling shear flocculation.In this paper, a lumped discrete population balance model is presented considering both processes of coalescence and breakage of flocs. A method is also proposed to convert discrete kernels to lumped discrete kernels by satisfying the constraints on them. The numerical solution of the model is compared with some special analytical solutions of the continuous population balance model, with which it is observed to be in agreement. The model equations are derived in such a way that it predicts correctly both the rate of change of number and the total volume of the flocs. The size distribution of a flocculating suspension can be predicted by this model.     

波浪作用下海上溢油潜浮于水的机理研究进展

从单油滴角度对波浪作用下漂浮溢油的入水过程(夹带、油滴的形成),演变过程(油滴的变形、破碎和聚并)和上浮过程的研究现状进行综述,介绍了溢油及相关领域的研究手段和实验方法,总结了海上溢油潜浮于水的行为机理及分布规律,并基于实验室和溢油现场的研究成果提出进一步需要探究的问题,为海上溢油污染的应急决策、追踪预测和损害评估等方面提供思路和借鉴。     

Morphological aspects of crack growth in rock materials with various flaws

Crack evolution is initiated by the occurrence of tensile wing cracks and is then further promoted due to the crack coalescence caused by the extension of a central tensile crack segment between two relatively adjacent flaws. To understand such progressive failures in rock, a parallelized peridynamics coupled with a finite element method is utilized. Through this method, the initiation position of tensile wing cracks is observed with respect to varying inclination angles of a flaw, and then its corresponding shifting mechanism is investigated. In addition, the phenomenon of the position shifting being sensitive to various flaw shapes is discussed. Moreover, it is observed that the inclination angle of a central flaw affects the initiation position of other flaws; therefore, the initiation positions of tensile wing crack emanating from other neighboring flaws are analyzed with their angles. Following tensile wing cracks, a central tensile crack segment occurs in the bridging region between a central flaw and other neighboring flaws; the developmental patterns caused by the crack segment are discussed as well. Finally, the role a central tensile crack segment plays in the formation of crack coalescence and specimen failure is investigated in detail. The numerical results in this paper demonstrate good fidelity with established physical test results and complement them, thereby expanding the understanding of fracturing morphology in rock specimens with various flaws.     

Misorientations of garnet aggregate within a vein: an example from the Sanbagawa metamorphic belt, Japan

In this study, the chemistry and microstructure of garnet aggregates within a metamorphic vein are investigated. Garnet‐bearing veins in the Sanbagawa metamorphic belt, Japan, occur subparallel to the foliation of a host mafic schist, but some cut the foliation at low angle. Backscattered electron image and compositional mapping using EPMA and crystallographic orientation maps from electron‐backscattered diffraction (EBSD) reveal that numerous small garnet (10–100 μm diameter) coalesce to form large porphyroblasts within the vein. Individual small garnet commonly exhibits xenomorphic shape at garnet/garnet grain boundaries, whereas it is idiomorphic at garnet/quartz boundaries. EBSD microstructural analysis of the garnet porphyroblasts reveals that misorientation angles of neighbour‐pair garnet grains within the vein have a random distribution. This contrasts with previous studies that found coalescence of garnet in mica schist leads to an increased frequency of low angle misorientation boundaries by misorientation‐driven rotation. As garnet nucleated with random orientation, the difference in misorientation between the two studies is due to the difference in the extent of grain rotation. A simple kinetic model that assumes grain rotation of garnet is rate‐limited by grain boundary diffusion creep of matrix quartz, shows that (i) the substantial rotation of a fine garnet grain could occur for the conditions of the Sanbagawa metamorphism, but (ii) the rotation rate drastically decreased as garnet grains formed large clusters during growth. Therefore, the random misorientation distribution of garnet porphyroblasts in the Sanbagawa vein is interpreted as follows: (i) garnet within the vein grew so fast that substantial grain rotation did not occur through porphyroblast formation, and thus (ii) random orientations at the nucleation stage were preserved. The extent of misorientation‐driven rotation indicated by deviation from random orientation distribution may be useful to constrain the growth rate of constituent grains of porphyroblast that formed by multiple nucleation and coalescence.     

PROGRESSIVE COALESCENCE MODEL FOR BRITTLE FAULT FORMATION AND ITS MECHANISM

In shallow crust, faults often consist of a series of secondary fractures. Based on experimental micro-features in rock mechanics and macro-structures in field, the progressive coalescence model, in which a brittle fault evolved from micro-crack, stylolitic fracture, large fault to super-large fault, is founded, and its forming mechanism is discussed by variation of stress field. At last the undulation,branches of faults and the phenomenon that the angle between fractures and the principal stress axis decreases gradually are explained by the G. C. Sih model.     

Factors influencing the height of Hawaiian lava fountains: implications for the use of fountain height as an indicator of magma gas content

The heights of lava fountains formed in Hawaiian-style eruptions are controlled by magma gas content, volume flux and the amounts of lava re-entrainment and gas bubble coalescence. Theoretical models of lava fountaining are used to analyse data on lava fountain height variations collected during the 1983–1986 Pu'u 'O'o vent of Kilauea volcano, Hawaii. The results show that the variable fountain heights can be largely explained by the impact of variations in volume flux and amount of lava re-entrainment on erupting magmas with a constant gas content of 0.32 wt.% H₂O. However, the gas content of the magma apparently declined by 0.05 wt.% during the last 10 episodes of the eruption series and this decline is attributed to more extensive pre-eruption degassing due to a shallowing of the sub-vent feeder dike. It is concluded that variations in lava fountain height cannot be simply interpreted as variations in gas content, as has previously been suggested, but that fountain height can still be a useful guide to minimum gas contents. Where sufficient data are available on eruptive volume fluxes and extent of lava entrainment, greatly improved estimates can be made of magma gas content from lava fountain height.     

断续三裂隙砂岩强度破坏和裂纹扩展特征研究

利用岩石力学伺服试验机,对尺寸为80 mm×160 mm×30 mm的断续三裂隙砂岩试样进行了单轴压缩试验,研究了岩桥倾角? 2对断续三裂隙砂岩（? = 30°和? 1 = 60°）强度破坏和裂纹扩展特征的影响规律。与完整砂岩试样相比,断续三裂隙砂岩试样应力-应变曲线显示了较多的应力跌落,其峰值强度也呈显著降低趋势,但降低程度与? 2密切相关,随着? 2从75°增加到90°,峰值强度从82.04 MPa 降低到77.82 MPa,而当? 2从90°增加到120°,其峰值强度无明显变化。完整砂岩试样呈现轴向劈裂脆性破坏,而断续三裂隙砂岩试样是由许多从裂隙尖端产生的裂纹扩展与汇合,导致了其失稳破坏。通过照相量测技术,探讨了? 2对断续三裂隙砂岩试样裂纹扩展特征的影响：? 2为75°、90°和105°的断续三裂隙试样中裂隙①、③和②、③之间均出现了贯通,而裂隙①、②之间无任何贯通;? 2为120°的断续三裂隙试样中裂隙①、③和①、②之间均出现了贯通,而②、③之间无任何贯通。最后给出了断续三裂隙砂岩试样宏观变形特性与裂纹扩展过程之间的关系。     

Supercooled drizzle formed by condensation–coalescence in the mid-winter season of the Canadian Arctic

Supercooled drizzle (freezing drizzle) was observed at Inuvik, N.W.T., Canada (68°22′N, 133°42′W) on December 20, 21 and 27, 1995. Meteorological conditions in which the supercooled drizzle could form under low temperatures (colder than −20°C) in the mid-winter season of the Canadian Arctic were examined from the sounding data and data measured by a passive microwave radiometer at ground level. The following results were obtained. (1) Supercooled drizzle fell to the ground with ice pellets and frozen drops on snow crystals. (2) The maximum size of supercooled drizzle particles increased as the depth of cloud layer saturated with respect to water increased. (3) Because a layer of air temperature higher than 0°C was not detected from the sounding data at Inuvik, melting of snow particles was impossible. It was concluded, therefore, that supercooled drizzle was formed by the condensation–coalescence process below freezing temperature.     

磁岛合并研究

本文采用二维全粒子模拟来研究无碰撞等离子体中的磁岛合并过程.结果表明,磁岛合并分为两个阶段,在第一个阶段,两个磁岛因同向电流丝之间的吸引力而缓慢地相互靠近,在这个过程中,合并线附近的电子被面外电场加速,形成薄电流片,同时电流片两侧形成磁场堆积.第二个阶段为快速重联阶段,合并线附近的电磁场结构和以Harris电流片为初态的重联扩散区的电磁场结构很相似,其中最显著的特点为面外磁场的四极型结构.