Strain analysis of a seismically imaged mass‐transport complex,offshore Uruguay

Strain style, magnitude and distribution within mass‐transport complexes (MTCs) are important for understanding the process evolution of submarine mass flows and for estimating their runout distances. Structural restoration and quantification of strain in gravitationally driven passive margins have been shown to approximately balance between updip extensional and downdip contractional domains; such an exercise has not yet been attempted for MTCs. We here interpret and structurally restore a shallowly buried (c. 1,500 mbsf) and well‐imaged MTC, offshore Uruguay using a high‐resolution (12.5 m vertical and 15 × 12.5 m horizontal resolution) three‐dimensional seismic‐reflection survey. This allows us to characterise and quantify vertical and lateral strain distribution within the deposit. Detailed seismic mapping and attribute analysis shows that the MTC is characterised by a complicated array of kinematic indicators, which vary spatially in style and concentration. Seismic‐attribute extractions reveal several previously undocumented fabrics preserved in the MTC, including internal shearing in the form of sub‐orthogonal shear zones, and fold‐thrust systems within the basal shear zone beneath rafted‐blocks. These features suggest multiple transport directions and phases of flow during emplacement. The MTC is characterised by a broadly tripartite strain distribution, with extensional (e.g. normal faults), translational and contractional (e.g. folds and thrusts) domains, along with a radial frontally emergent zone. We also show how strain is preferentially concentrated around intra‐MTC rafted‐blocks due to their kinematic interactions with the underlying basal shear zone. Overall, and even when volume loss within the frontally emergent zone is included, a strain difference between extension (1.6–1.9 km) and contraction (6.7–7.3 km) is calculated. We attribute this to a combination of distributed, sub‐seismic, ‘cryptic’ strain, likely related to de‐watering, grain‐scale deformation and related changes in bulk sediment volume. This work has implications for assessing MTCs strain distribution and provides a practical approach for evaluating structural interpretations within such deposits.     

URANS investigation of the interaction between the free surface and a shallowly submerged underwater vehicle at steady drift

An axisymmetric underwater vehicle (UV) at a steady drift angle experiences the complex three-dimensional crossflow separation. This separation arises from the unfavorable circumferential pressure gradient developed from the windward side toward the leeward side. As is well known, the separated flow in the leeward side gives rise to the formation of a pair of vortices, which affects considerably the forces and moments acting on the UV. In this regard, the main purpose of the present study is to evaluate the role of the leeward vortical flow structure in the hydrodynamic behavior of a shallowly submerged UV at a moderate drift angle traveling beneath the free surface. Accordingly, the static drift tests are performed on the SUBOFF UV model using URANS equations coupled with a Reynolds stress turbulence model. The simulations are carried out in the commercial code STARCCM+ at a constant advance velocity based on Froude number equal to F_n = 0.512 over submergence depths and drift angles ranging from h = 1.1D to h = ∞ and from β = 0 to β = 18.11°, respectively. The validation of the numerical model is partially conducted by using the existing experimental data of the forces and moment acting on the totally submerged bare hull model. Significant interaction between the low-pressure region created by the leeward vortical flow structure and the free surface is observed. As a result of this interaction, the leeward vortical flow structure appears to be largely responsible for the behavior of the forces and moments exerted on a shallowly submerged UV at steady drift.     

An improved analytical approach for simulating the lateral kinematic distress of deepwater offshore pipelines

Offshore pipelines are critical infrastructures and any possible damage may have devastating financial and environmental consequences. Earthquake-related geohazards (such as strong ground motion, active seismic faults, submarine landslides and debris flows) consist crucial threats that an offshore pipeline has to overcome. The main aim of the current study is to examine analytically a seabed-laid offshore pipeline subjected to a lateral kinematic distress due to a submarine landslide or a debris flow. Extra emphasis is given on the impact of pipe-soil interaction on the pipe response, by the realistic representation of the soil resistance via a tri-linear model. Firstly, the proposed analytical model is validated with a numerical model utilizing the finite-element method. Subsequently, various combinations of soil parameters and loading conditions that affect the examined problem are investigated with realistic input data taken from the offshore section of the high-pressure natural-gas pipeline TAP (Trans Adriatic Pipeline) in the Adriatic Sea. Finally, useful conclusions are drawn regarding the applicability and the efficiency of the proposed approach.     

空间互相关方法在分析海底沙波迁移规律中的应用

海底沙波具有显著的活动性并能够对海底工程设施造成潜在威胁,因此对海底沙波活动性的评估一直以来受到广泛关注。目前大多数研究者仍利用平面剖面对比来分析海底沙波的迁移特征。然而,该方法难以全面高效地获取海底沙波二维平面迁移矢量。本文基于2007年和2009年的高分辨率多波束测深数据,详细阐述了空间互相关方法在分析北部湾东南海域海底沙波迁移规律中的应用过程。利用实测数据进行对比分析,获得了研究区海底沙波的活动特征,并进一步讨论了空间互相关算法中不同参数的选取对结果的影响。结果显示,利用空间互相关分析方法能够有效获取海底沙波二维迁移矢量,获得的海底沙波迁移速率和迁移方向与前人研究成果吻合,表明了该方法的可行性和可靠性。但在对实际DTM数据进行空间互相关分析时,需根据海底沙波形态、数据质量等因素选取合适的参数及矢量获取方法。本研究实验了一种确定海底沙波迁移规律的新方法,该方法将有效提升获得海底地形变化规律的效率和准确度,可获得更加精细的海底地形动力过程。     

轴压作用下双金属复合管组合作用与承载力分析

为探究轴压作用下双金属复合海底管道的组合作用与承载性能,对双金属复合海底管道进行了试验研究和理论分析。开展了不锈钢衬管材料性能试验,对比了国际主流不锈钢本构关系模型和试验结果。利用ABAQUS建立了精细化的双金属复合管道轴压试验有限元模型,系统研究了关键参数如复合工艺产生的环向复合应力、钢管初始缺陷幅值等对双金属复合管在轴压作用下力学性能的影响规律。通过对比已有轴压双金属复合管道试验结果,验证有限元模型。基于验证的有限元模型,对轴压作用下双金属复合管道的组合作用以及径厚比和材料强度对承载力的影响进行了分析。结果表明双金属复合管道的轴压极限承载力主要取决于基管的截面屈服荷载,并随着管径和材料强度的提高而增大。并依据分析结果对双金属复合海底管道的设计提出建议。     

深海滑坡灾害的物质点法模拟

深海滑坡可以沿着斜坡搬运大量沉积物,是危害巨大的海洋地质灾害之一。评估深海滑坡的流滑机制并量化分析其对海底结构物的冲击对海洋资源的开发利用至关重要。采用物质点法对滑坡的滑动特性进行了总应力分析。设计了三组不同的土体、海床参数,展现了三种不同的滑动形态:延展、块体和扩张。随后复现了流滑体对部分暴露管线的冲击过程,并对冲击力的稳定值进行了分析,分析中考虑了流滑体的惯性、抗剪强度和静压力的影响。研究表明,物质点法能够用于模拟深海滑坡的流滑过程及其对海底结构物的冲击,可以为海洋工程中的实际设计工作提供服务。     

海底玄武岩中次生组分HCl溶解实验研究

次生组分沉淀是海底岩石中普遍存在的现象,次生组分去除是减少次生组分干扰、获取海底岩石高质量数据的关键。选择西太平洋麦哲伦海山区MK海山相对新鲜的玄武岩作为研究对象,经研磨、均一化后将粉末样品分为49份,其中48份分别以0.25,0.50,1.00,1.50,2.00,2.50 mol/L六种浓度的足量HCl溶解0.5,1,2,4,8,16,32和64 h后,选取溶解残渣测定主要氧化物和特征微量元素质量分数,确定HCl溶解法在去除次生组分的同时不会对海底新鲜玄武岩中原生组分造成影响的HCl浓度-时间组合。结果表明,在HCl浓度为1.00～2.50 mol/L,溶解时间为0.5～2 h的12种HCl浓度-时间组合均可保证海底玄武岩中原生组分的安全,并可有效去除次生组分。综合海底蚀变玄武岩次生组分去除实验研究,推荐使用1.00～2.00 mol/L HCl,溶解时间在0.5～1 h的实验方案。     

潜艇指挥台围壳对阻力和伴流场影响数值研究

采用Reynolds平均Navier-Stokes(RANS)方法计算潜艇三维粘性流场,分析潜艇指挥台围壳对潜艇水动力性能的影响.采用全附体SUBOFF模型验证了CFD方法,通过将螺旋桨盘面处的实效伴流场、艇体表面压力分布以及模型总阻力的模拟结果与Taylor船池的实验结果进行对比.比较结果显示CFD计算结果与实验数据具有很好的一致性,表明CFD方法可以用于潜艇指挥台围壳设计的水动力计算.通过数值计算研究指挥台围壳的高度和在艇上的分布位置对其后方的流场、螺旋桨盘面处的伴流场和阻力的影响.     

BTEX异常对海域油气藏指示作用的研究

常规的油气化探方法一般是应用烷烃类作为油气勘探的基本指标,但是烷烃类易受人类活动和生物活动的干扰,使常规的化探技术在油气勘探中一直受到限制。人们开始考虑采用直接的生物标记化合物来预测油气藏,如芳烃系列中的苯系化合物苯(benzene)、甲苯(toluene)、乙苯(ethylbenzene)、二甲苯(xylem),简称BTEX。国内外研究表明,BTEX基本不受人类活动和生物活动的干扰,对油气藏具有良好的指示作用。依据南海某区的实测资料,采用自主研发的油气化探可视化评价软件进行数据处理,剥离背景异常,圈出有效的BTEX异常,并与靶区地层剖面进行了对比,结果证实了BTEX对海域油气藏具有良好的指示作用。     

Submarine canyons on the north of Chiwei Island:influenced by recent extension of the southern Okinawa Trough

Based on new multibeam bathymetric data and about 300 km long single seismic profiles, three topographic units were identified： the canyons, fractural valley and submarine terrace on the north of Chiwei Island where is a structural transition zone between the southern trough and the middle trough. The Chiwei Canyon and the North Chiwei Canyon are two of the largest canyons in the East China Sea （ECS） slope. Topographic features and architectures of them are described. The study shows that both of them are originated along faults. The evolution and spatial distribution of topographic units in the study area are controlled mainly by three groups of faults which were formed and reactive in the recent extensional phase of Okinawa Trough. The Chiwei Canyon was initia- ted during the middle Pleistocene and guided by F4 that is a N--S trending fault on the slope and F1, a large NW--SE trending fault on the trough. The pathway migration from the remnant channel to the present one of Chiwei Canyon is the result of uplift of tilted fault block that is coupled to the recent extension movements of the southern trough. The submarine terrace is detached from the ECS slope by the NEE -trending fault. The North Chiwei Canyon, developing during the late Pleistocene, is guided by FS, a N-S trending fault, diverted and blocked by the submarine terrace.