Analytical and computational procedure for solving the consolidation problem of layered soils

One‐dimensional consolidation analysis of layered soils conventionally entails solving a system of differential equations subject to the flow conditions at the bounding upper and lower surfaces, as well as the continuity conditions at the interface of every pair of contiguous layers. Formidable computational efforts are required to solve the ensuing transcendental equations expressing the matching conditions at the interfaces, using this method. In this paper, the jump discontinuities in the flow parameters upon crossing from one layer to the other have been systematically built into a single partial differential equation governing the space–time variation of the excess pore pressure in the entire composite medium, by the use of the Heaviside distribution. Despite the presence of the discontinuities in the coefficients of the differential equation, a closed‐form solution in the sense of an infinite generalized Fourier series is obtained, in addition to which is the development of a Green's function for the differential problem. The eigenfunctions of the composite medium are the coordinate functions of the series, obtained computationally through the application of the extended equations of Galerkin. The analysis has been illustrated by solving the consolidation problem of a four‐layer composite, and the results obtained agree very well with the results obtained by previous researchers. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An Optimised 1,10‐Phenanthroline Method for the Determination of Ferrous and Ferric Oxides in Silicate Rocks,Soils and Minerals

A precise, accurate and rapid method for the sequential determination of FeO and Fe₂O₃ in rocks, soils and some non‐refractory minerals by 1,10‐phenanthroline spectrophotometry is described. Fe(II) and Fe(III) were leached from the sample (?200 mesh) using a mixture of NH₄HF₂ and H₂SO₄ at 40–80 °C for 10 min on a hot plate. Both Fe(II) and Fe(III) could be conveniently estimated sequentially from the same reaction mixture at the μg g^?1 to percentage level. The method is better than the existing wet chemical methods, including the commonly used Pratt's titrimetric redox method, for Fe(II) and Fe(III) determinations in rock and soil samples in terms of precision, accuracy and rapidity. The throughput of the method was very high; at least forty to fifty samples could be estimated easily in a day. The results obtained compare favourably with those obtained by Pratt's method, as well as for certified/recommended values of a set of eleven certified reference materials having FeO and Fe₂O₃ contents in the range 0.21–14.63% and 0.58–8.48%, respectively. The optimised 1,10 phenanthroline method was found to be accurate to within 0.21% m/m FeO and 0.30% m/m Fe₂O₃ compared with the literature values of the certified reference materials studied.     

Geotechnical characterisation of pyroclastic soils involved in huge flowslides

Landslides of the flow type involving granular geo-materials frequently result in casualties and damage to property because of the long travel distance and the high velocities that these may attain. This was true for the events that took place in Campania Region (Southern Italy) in May 1998, involving pyroclastic soils originating from explosive activities of the Somma-Vesuvius volcano. Although these phenomena have frequently affected various areas of the Campania region over the last few centuries, there were no useful geological and geotechnical references available in the aftermath of the May 1998 events. For this reason Salerno University, which was involved in the scientific management of the emergency, addressed the issue of acquiring data on the geological, geomorphological and hydrogeological features of the slopes where the landslides had taken place. The information acquired made it possible to set up a slope evolution model that is able to interpret, from a geological point of view, past and more recent landslides that had occurred in the same area. As preliminary geotechnical analyses had already validated the above model, more detailed investigations were performed both on the pore pressure regimen of the covers still in place as well as on the physical and mechanical properties of pyroclastic soils, in saturated and unsaturated conditions. The present paper begins by discussing the data acquired during the .rst phase of the studies and then goes on to illustrate the laboratory results so far obtained with the aid of approximate procedures. These help advance our knowledge of pyroclastic soils within a reasonable time frame, thus improving landslide triggering analysis.     

土的可恢复剪胀的一种解释

从土的各向异怀角度对土的可恢复剪胀现象进行了解释。基于各向异性情况下的土体弹性本构关系理论分析，认为土的可恢复剪胀现象可部分归因于土的各向异性引起的弹性剪胀。借助有关土体弹性参数实验结果，研究了应力诱导各迥异性对土体弹性剪胀的影响，结果表明：随土体应力诱导各向异性的增大，土体的弹性剪胀也增大。从土体弹性剪胀角度研究了土的卸荷体缩条件，认为土体卸荷体缩取决于加载应力路径的应力增量比，给出了土体出现卸荷体缩的区域。     

高围压下冻土强度弱化的机理分析

围压作用下,影响冻结砂土强度弱化的主要原因是孔隙冰的压融,矿物颗粒细化的微裂隙的发育。影响冻结粉质粘土强度弱化的主要原因是孔隙冰的压融和微裂隙的发育,这些过程是不独立存在的,而是共同影响,共同作用,从而导致了冻土强度的弱化。     

基质吸力变化引起的体积应变研究

与降雨有关的边坡表层变形位移,其根源是基质吸力降低引起的非饱和土体积应变。利用某滑坡体的原状样及其重塑样,分别在100kPa、200kPa围压作用下,采用单纯增加基质吸力的应力路径,对基质吸力引起的体积应变,进行试验测试。结果显示: (1)试样的体应变,随基质吸力的增大,单调增大,服从对数函数关系;(2)围压由100kPa增加到200kPa的试样体积模量,随基质吸力的增大,单调增大,服从幂函数关系;(3)与基质吸力有关的体积变化系数,随基质吸力的增大,单调减小,服从幂函数关系;并且当基质吸力大于200kPa以后,随基质吸力增大,体积变化系数接近于常数,约为0.0059左右。在此基础上,本文针对这种由单纯基质吸力变化引起的非饱和土体积应变规律及机理,进行了探讨。     

根际环境锌镉镍的形态变化与植物有效性

以抚顺西露天采场60平盘5种修复植物根际与非根际土为研究对象，运用顺序提取实验和数理统计分析方法研究了根际与非根际土中Zn、Cd、Ni的形态分布与植物有效性。结果表明，Zn、Ni在根际与非根际土中主要以硫化物态存在；而Cd在非根际土中以硫化物态为主，在根际土中以可交换态和松、紧有机态为主。与Ni相比，非根际土中Zn的紧有机态、氧化物态和Cd的紧有机态、氧化物态、可交换态比例明显偏大；与非根际土相比，根际土中Zn的铁锰氧化物态和硫化物态含量增加，碳酸盐态含量降低，松有机态、紧有机态和可交换态Zn在不同植物根际变化不同。Cd的硫化物态降低，可交换态、松有机态、碳酸盐态、氧化物态和紧有机态含量在不同植物根际变化不同。Ni的紧有机态显著增加，可交换态、碳酸盐态和硫化物态明显降低，松有机态在不同植物根际变化不同；根际Cd的碳酸盐态增加和氧化物态降低有利于植物Cd的吸收；碳酸盐态Zn的减少可促进植物Zn的增高。     

A first Holocene leaf wax isotope-based paleoclimate record from the semi-humid to semi-arid south-eastern Caucasian lowlands

The Holocene paleoclimate of the Caucasus region is rather complex and not yet well understood: while existing studies are mainly based on pollen records from high-altitude and humid lowland regions, no records are available from the semi-humid to semi-arid south-eastern Caucasian lowlands. Therefore, this study investigated compound-specific δ²H and δ¹³C isotopes of leaf wax biomarkers from Holocene floodplain soils in eastern Georgia. Our results show that the leaf wax δ²H signal from the paleosols mostly reflects changes in the moisture source and its isotopic composition. Depleted δ²H values before ~8 cal ka bp change towards enriched values after ~5 cal ka bp and become again depleted after ~1.6 cal ka bp. This trend could be caused by Holocene changes of the isotopic compositions of the Black and eastern Mediterranean Sea, and/or by varying contribution of both moisture sources linked with the North Atlantic Oscillation. The leaf wax δ¹³C signal from the paleosols directly indicates varying local water availability and drought stress. Depleted δ¹³C values before ~8 and after ~5 cal ka bp indicate wetter local conditions with higher water availability, whereas more enriched values during the middle Holocene (~8 until at least 5 cal ka bp ) indicate drier conditions with increased drought stress.     

安康汉江二桥南侧膨胀土滑坡特征分析

膨胀土是具有较大胀缩变形能力的特殊性粘土，膨胀土斜坡地区极易发生滑坡等地质灾害，本文根据安康汉江二号桥南侧滑坡勘察资料，较全面地介绍了该膨胀土滑坡特征，为滑坡根治提供了充分的地质依据。     

南阳膨胀土的宏观结构与路堑边坡病害治理

南阳盆地是我国膨胀土主要分布地区之一,在宁(南京)西(西安)铁路施工工程地质调查中,发现南阳地区上第三系中新统湖相沉积膨胀土中发育的构造裂隙、中更新统冲洪积膨胀土中发育的卸荷裂隙和全新统湖沼相膨胀土中发育的收缩裂隙控制了路堑边坡病害的形式、规模和破坏特征。施工过程中采取了针对性措施治理边坡病害,取得了明显的工程效果。