Response of unconfined turbidity current to normal‐fault topography

Turbidity currents descending the slopes of deep‐water extensional basins or passive continental margins commonly encounter normal‐fault escarpments, but such large‐magnitude phenomena are hydraulically difficult to replicate at small scale in the laboratory. This study uses advanced computational fluid dynamics numerical simulations to monitor the response of large, natural‐scale unconfined turbidity currents (100 m thick and 2000 m wide at the inlet gate) to normal‐fault topography with a maximum relief of nearly 300 m. For comparative purposes, the turbidity current is first released on a non‐faulted pristine slope of 1·5° (simulation model 1). The expanding and waxing flow bypasses the slope without recognizable deposition within the visibility limit of 8 vol.% sand grain packing. Similar flow is then released towards the tip (model 2) and towards the centre (model 3) of a normal‐fault escarpment. In both of these latter models, the sand carried by flow tends to be entrapped in four distinct depozones: an upslope near‐gate zone of flow abrupt expansion and self‐regulation; a flow‐transverse zone at the fault footwall edge; a flow‐transverse zone at the immediate hangingwall; and a similar transverse zone near the crest of the hangingwall counter‐slope, where some of the deposited sand also tends to be reshuffled to the previous zone by a secondary reverse underflow. The near‐bottom reverse flow appears to be generated on a counter‐slope of 1·1°, increased to 2·0° by deposition. The Kelvin–Helmholtz interface instability plays an important role by causing three‐dimensional fluctuations in the flow velocity magnitude and sediment concentration. The thick deposits of large single‐surge flows may thus show hydraulic fluctuations resembling those widely ascribed to hyperpycnal flows. The study indicates further that the turbiditic slope fans formed on such fault topographies are likely to be patchy and hence may differ considerably from the existing slope‐fan conceptual models when it comes to the spatial prediction of main sand depozones.     

Numerical investigation on the impact resistance of road barriers of Micropile-MSE Wall for subgrade

The Micropile-MSE Wall, specially designed for mountain roadways, is used to simultaneously increase the MSE wall’s local stability, global stability and impact resistance of road barriers. Model tests were conducted first to validate the viability of the Micropile-MSE Wall. The impact resistance of the road barrier is then studied numerically. The test results indicate that the surcharge-induced earth pressure, base pressure and lateral displacement of Micropile-MSE Wall panels are effectively reduced. The impact loading on the barriers of the Micropile-MSE Wall is actually supported by the whole retaining structure, which increases the impact resistance of the road barrier significantly.     

The topographic imprint of a transient climate episode: the western Andean flank between 15·5° and 41·5°S

Mountain‐range topography is determined by the complex interplay between tectonics and climate. However, often it is not clear to what extent climate forces topographic evolution and how past climatic episodes are reflected in present‐day relief. The Andes are a tectonically active mountain belt encompassing various climatic zones with pronounced differences in rainfall, erosion, and glacier extent under similar plate‐boundary conditions. In the central to south‐western Andes, climatic zones range from hyperarid desert with mean annual rainfall of 5 mm/a (22·5°S) to year‐round humidity with 2500 mm/a (40°S). The Andes thus provide a unique setting for investigating the relationship between tectonics, climate, and topography. We present an analysis of 120 catchments along the western Andean watersheds between 15·5° and 41·5°S, which is based on SRTMV3‐90m data and new medium‐resolution rainfall, tropical rainfall measurement mission (TRMM) dataset. For each basin, we extracted geometry, relief, and climate parameters to test whether Andean topography shows a climatic imprint and to analyze how climate influences relief. Our data document that elevation and relief decrease with increasing rainfall and descending snowline elevation. Furthermore, we show that local relief reaches high values of 750 m in a zone between 28°S to 35°S. During Pleistocene glacial stages this region was affected by the northward shifting southern hemisphere Westerlies, which provided moisture for valley‐glacier formation and extended glacial coverage as well as glacial erosion. In contrast, the southern regions between 35°S to 40°S receive higher rainfall and have a lower local relief of 200 m, probably related to an increased drainage density. We distinguish two different, climatically‐controlled mechanisms shaping topography: (1) fluvial erosion by prolonged channel‐hillslope coupling, which smoothes relief, and (2) erosion by valley glaciers that generates relief. Finally, Our results suggests that the catchment‐scale relief of the Andes between 28°S to 35°S is characterized by a pronounced transient component reflecting past climatic conditions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effectiveness of grass strips in trapping suspended sediments from runoff

Little information is available concerning the performance of grass strips for erosion control from steep cropland. An experiment was conducted on 5‐m‐long grass strips with slopes of 3°～15° that were subjected to silt laden runoff and simulated rainfall, to investigate the sediment trapping processes. The grass strips had three treatments including intact grass control (C), no litter (dead grass material covering the soil surface was removed) (NL), and no litter or leaves (only 2～3 cm grass stems and roots were reserved) (NLL). Generally the grass strips had a high effectiveness in trapping sediment from steep cropland runoff. Sediment trapping efficiency (STE) decreased with increasing slope gradient, and even for a 15° slope, STE was still more than 40%. Most sediment deposited in the backwater region before each grass strips. The removal of grass litter or/and leaves had no significant influence on STE. The sediment median size (D₅₀) in inflow was greater than that in outflow, and the difference (ΔD₅₀) decreased with increasing slope. A positive power relationship between STE and ΔD₅₀ can be obtained. Grass strips were more effective in trapping sediments coarser than 10 or 25 µm, but sediments finer than 1 µm were more readily removed from runoff than particles in the range of 2 to approximately 10 µm. Grass litter had less influence on flow velocity than leaves because the deposited sediment partially covered the litter layer. Mean flow velocity and its standard deviation were negatively correlated with STE, and they can help make good estimation of STE. Results from this study should be useful in planting and managing forage grass to effectively conserve soil loss by runoff from steep slopes on the Loess Plateau of China. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Topographic changes of a supply‐limited inland parabolic sand dune during the incipient phase of stabilization

Topographic surveys on an inland parabolic sand dune over a six‐year period provide insight into the effects of diminishing local sand supply on dune stabilization. During the interval (2003–2009) sparse vegetation cover (Psoralea lanceolata) increased despite drier than normal moisture conditions and steady wind power during the growing season. Whereas these climatic conditions are typically ascribed to sustaining or increasing dune activity, here they coincide with stabilization. Through the use of geographic information system (GIS) analysis of volumetric changes it is shown that the increase of P. lanceolata can be attributed to the reduction of local sand supply from two blowouts along the arms of the parabolic dune during the six‐year period. These results show that climate is not the only control on dune activity in vegetated inland dunefields. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

强震作用下多层土质边坡破坏规律与变形特征

通过对汶川地震受灾区北川县陈家坝地区的地质灾害调查,根据现场松散土质边坡破坏情况,由工程地质类比法选择了计算模型和地震波,采用岩土弹塑性理论和FLAC3D软件分析了多层土质边坡在动荷载作用下边坡单元的剪切拉伸破坏和剪切应变动力响应规律。研究表明,在水平和竖直地震波联合作用下,地震边坡单元首先在坡体内产生剪切破坏。随着震动时间的增加,剪切破坏单元向坡脚和坡肩处延伸,而在坡肩处主要产生拉破坏,一旦剪切破坏面和拉破坏面贯通,将导致边坡失稳。强震过后边坡坡脚鼓出,坡肩下凹,整个坡体呈弧形破坏。      

Engineering geological conditions and features of geologic hazards in Wudongde reservoir of Jinshajiang River valley

There is a great difference between the distribution and evolvement characteristics of slope geological hazard in the same geographical location and climatic conditions,taking the similar structural-genetic connection in Wudongde reservoir area of Jinshajiang River valley for example.In all engineering geological conditions,the chronologic age and attitude of strata,and the lithologic association factors control the distributions and evolvement characteristics of slope geological hazard in the studied area.The study shows that the slopes in geological evolution are in different stages.The conclusion helps to understand the types and the intensity of geological disasters.     

边坡锚固工程中广义Burgers模型的应用研究

流变是岩土材料的基本力学特性,流变效应是影响边坡变形及稳定性的重要因素。边坡锚固工程中,坡体介质应力调整和锚固力松弛直接影响加固坡体工程的稳定性,对工程安全性起着制约作用。考虑到坡体蠕变影响与锚固应力松弛的相互作用,结合工程实践,采用弹簧和Burgers并联模型进行锚索加固坡体的耦合蠕变分析,探讨其理论模型,获得了蠕变耦合模型的黏弹性流变参数。流变模型与试验结果的比较,显示了所建模型的正确性与合理性。     

边坡模型边界效应及材料孔隙率敏感性研究

通过自制的新型试验装置进行不同边界情况下的边坡模型变形破坏研究。探讨了边坡模型破坏开始时的坡角（破坏角）与边界条件的关系。试验结果表明,该破坏角会与模型厚度成一定的反比关系,但随着模型厚度超过一定值,边界条件造成的影响将趋于弱化,同时,运用数学手段定量地印证了这种关系形式。另外,还通过试验验证了相比于边界条件而言,破坏角的变化幅度会对模型材料的孔隙率更加敏感。基于所得结果,可对试验装置进行改进,并优化试验手段。