Testing and modeling of the mechanical behavior of dolomite in the Wudongde hydropower plant

In order to understand the mechanical behaviours of the surrounding rocks in the underground caverns of the Wudongde hydropower plant, triaxial tests are performed on a type of dolomite. It is revealed that damage induced by crack development is the main factor controlling the nonlinear plastic deformation and failure behaviour of the dolomite in both pre- and post-peak regimes. Based on this understanding, a coupled elastoplastic damage model is developed for capturing the dolomite’s mechanical behaviours. In the model, the effects of plasticity and damage on rocks is described by introducing plastic hardening and damage softening commonly in the plastic yield surface. Which are both derived from a suitable Helmholtz free energy function. The model is used to simulate the triaxial tests. Comparisons between test results and the numerical modelling show that the developed model is capable of describing the macro mechanical behaviours of the Wudongde dolomite.     

Laboratory Study for Influence of Clay Content (CC) on Wave-Induced Liquefaction in Marine Sediments

In this artice, the influence of clay content on the wave-induced liquefaction in marine sediments was reported. The one-dimensional (1-D) equipment was setup with a vertical cylinder and 1.8–m–thick clayey sandy deposit and 0.2–m–thick water above the deposit. Unlike the previous experimental study for a single soil layer, this study used sand-kaolin mixtures, sand-illite mixtures, and sand-bentonite mixtures as the experimental samples. A series of experiments with 3,000 wave cycles in each test were conducted under numerous wave and soil conditions, which allowed us to examine the influence of clay content (CC) on wave-induced liquefaction in marine sediments. The experimental results showed that the clayey sandy deposit will become prone to liquefaction with the increase of CC when CC is less than a critical value, which depends on the type of clay. However, when CC is greater than the critical value, liquefaction depth will decrease as CC increases. Furthermore, when the CC value reaches a certain level, liquefaction will not occur. For example, no liquefaction occurs when CC ≥ 33% for both kaolin-sand and illite-sand mixtures and CC ≥ 16.36% for bentonite-sand mixtures.     

Aspects of reproduction of the brown mussel Perna perna at the Iture rocky beach near Cape Coast,Ghana

Aspects of the reproductive biology of the brown mussel Perna perna at the Iture rocky beach near Cape Coast, Ghana, were studied from September 2014 to August 2015. The current study was aimed at providing information useful for managing the mussel fishery in this locality and also that would form the basis for designing appropriate culture methods for the species. Microscopic examination of fresh smears of gonadal material, as well as histological preparations of the gonad, were used to study the sexuality and breeding pattern of the species. Monthly gonadal and condition indices were also determined. Perna perna exhibited gonochoristic sexuality with a sex ratio of approximately 1:1 throughout the study period. Sexes were identifiable at shell lengths of 15.0–19.9 mm. Five stages of gonadal development were identified in both sexes. Gametogenic activity was continuous throughout the year, with two major spawning activities, from April to June and from August to December. These periods coincided with the major and minor rainy seasons, respectively, as well as the major upwelling period in August. Condition indices suggest that the mussels were in better condition for harvesting in March and August prior to the major spawning events.     

崩塌堆积体启动坡面泥石流判别与防治 ——以北川县开坪乡平石板泥石流为例

强震区地震后大量的崩塌堆积体堆积于高陡斜坡中上部,堆积体远离居民点,一旦诱发为坡面泥石流,形成新的次生地质灾害,将严重威胁下方居民的生命财产安全。本文以北川县开坪乡平石板坡面泥石流为例,平石板沟“5.12”地震崩塌堆积体在2010、2013年强降雨作用下失稳转变为坡面泥石流淤积场镇。在平石板泥石流暴发特征介绍基础上,通过粒径不均匀系数、堆积体启动判别指标、后缘汇水面积等来分析崩塌堆积体启动条件及影响因素,并针对此类灾害发育特征,提出了通过上游稳拦固源方法进行治理的防治思路。以期为研究高陡斜坡堆积体的启动机制及防治提供一定的借鉴意义。     

小秦岭太峪水系沉积物重金属污染生态危害评价

以金矿开发影响的黄河二级支流太峪水系沉积物为研究对象,沿河采集16个表层沉积物样品,分层采集垂向剖面10件水库沉积物样品,测定了样品中重金属元素Hg、Pb、Cd、Cr、As、Cu和Zn的含量,采用Hakanson潜在生态指数法和Tomlinson污染负荷指数法评价重金属元素污染程度和潜在生态风险。结果表明,矿业活动是太峪水系沉积物重金属元素污染的主要因素;变异系数、富集系数和最高污染系数均反映Hg、Pb、Cd是太峪水系沉积物的特征污染重金属元素,Cr和As的质量分数接近地区背景值;太峪水系表层沉积物受到重金属元素的极强污染,山区段污染较山外更严重;整个流域的Hg、Pb、Cd具有很强的潜在生态危害,Cr、As、Zn的潜在生态危害轻微;太峪水系沉积物垂向各层沉积物都受到重金属元素的极强污染,生态问题以Hg、Pb、Cd的潜在生态危害为主,其污染和生态危害程度都高于流向上的沉积物。潜在生态危害指数评价突出了不同元素的毒性和危害程度,而污染负荷指数法侧重于样本空间上的污染程度,二者互补使用有利于实际问题的全面评价。     

基于突变级数法的页岩气探采综合环境影响评价研究

为缓解能源紧张,页岩气作为储量丰富的非常规能源在我国正大力开发,而我国页岩气开发起步较晚,受管理与技术限制,页岩气开发造成的综合环境影响问题还得不到有效解决。针对页岩气开发存在的环境问题,本文基于我国页岩气开发现状,借鉴美国页岩气开发的成功经验,从自然环境与人文环境两方面对页岩气开发综合环境影响因素进行分析,建立了页岩气开发综合环境影响评价指标体系;同时为降低评价过程主观因素的影响,简化评估过程,本文引入突变级数法建立了页岩气开发综合环境影响评估模型,运用数值替换方法区分页岩气开发综合环境影响等级。最后将评价体系与评估模型应用到实际案例中,得到的评价结果与实际情况基本符合,为页岩气开发项目的综合环境评价提供了很好的理论依据。     

地震叠前反演方法预测页岩脆性指数在南川地区的应用

页岩气的有效开发依赖水平井的压裂效果,而页岩脆性是影响页岩压裂的关键因素。通过对比分析现有的3种脆性指数计算方法,即矿物脆性指数计算法、岩石力学脆性指数计算法、基于多元回归脆性指数计算法,优选基于多元回归的脆性指数计算法计算五峰—龙马溪组(简称龙马溪组)页岩储层脆性指数。以四川盆地东部南川地区龙马溪组海相页岩气为例,利用南川地区三维地震资料叠前反演方法,获取多元回归脆性指数计算方程所需的参数,预测页岩脆性指数。结果表明,在已有钻井矿物脆性指标约束下,叠前反演法计算的脆性指数平面预测效果较好,且与实际压裂数据具有较好的一致性,能够满足南川地区页岩气勘探开发的需要。     

不同方法评价喀斯特煤矿区农田土壤重金属生态风险比较

采用TCLP法、内梅罗综合污染指数、嵌入Igeo综合污染指数法等方法对贵州织金县某煤矿区周边农田土壤重金属进行评价。土壤中Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Hg和Zn的含量范围分别为0.79～2.08 mg·kg-1、144.20～464.40 mg·kg-1、91.63～187.50 mg·kg-1、48.13～104.47 mg·kg-1、0.14～2.33 mg·kg-1、144.35～265.89 mg·kg-1,所有土壤样点的Cd、Cr、Cu和Ni含量均已超过国家土壤环境质量二级标准,部分土壤样点的Hg和Zn含量超过二级标准。TCLP法评价结果所有土壤样点均未受到重金属污染;内梅罗综合污染指数法评价结果为农田土壤重金属生态风险处于安全水平;嵌入Igeo综合污染指数法评价结果表明,90%的土壤达到中度污染以上,其中65%的土壤处于中度污染,25%的土壤受到中度至重度污染;潜在生态危害指数法评价表明,所有土壤样点重金属均处于轻微生态风险水平。针对不同评价方法得出的结果存在差异的情况,在评价土壤重金属污染状况时,应根据评价目标的差异选择合适的评价方法。      

Use of LiDAR-derived DEM and a stream length-gradient index approach to investigation of landslides in Zagros Mountains,Iran

This paper presents an approach to stream length-gradient index analysis to identify tectonic signatures. The graded profile of the Dez River in Zagros Mountains, Iran, indicates that the area has been tectonically disturbed, and it triggers landslide hazards. The high-gradient index shows that a steeper gradient could be potentially a signature for landslides identification. The digital surface models acquired by airborne LiDAR were used in this study to generate the HRDEM. Our result shows a great potential for improving landslide investigations by implementing stream length-gradient index derived from the HRDEM in conjunction with the landslide inventories data-set in the GIS environment. We also identified a correlation between the stream length-gradient index and the graded topographic profile with slopes and landslides. This empirical approach was verified by geodata analytics and landslide inventories data-set in conjunction with field observations. This study has identified the locations of high-gradient indices with susceptible to landslides.     

Examining human heat stress with remote sensing technology

Heat stress as an environmental hazard which can seriously affect productivity, health, or even survival of individuals has long been studied. Despite the endeavors that have been made to address the issue quantitatively with various heat stress indices, they are often measured at scatter sites. This research devotes to revealing human heat stress within continuous space with remote sensing technology. The study began with the retrieval of dry-bulb temperature from land surface temperature (LST) with empirical models. As wet-bulb temperature was calculated from dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity, discomfort index (DI) as an indicator of heat stress was revealed for the study area at 1 km spatial resolution for three summer days. Results indicated that DI can be derived within continuous space with remotely sensed data, and its spatial distribution can be dramatically affected by relative humidity. Further comparison between DI and LST indicated that LST as a widely utilized indicator of surface thermal condition fails to address human heat stress as environmental factors such as relative humidity are not taken into account.