A comparative slope stability analysis of sheet pile supported I-wall in New Orleans,Louisiana with sheet pile penetrating into sand layer

Computer modelling and stability analyses of the New Orleans I-walls with and without the consideration of gap formation has drawn significant attention of the engineering community during the post Katrina period. In addition, when the sheet pile penetrates into sand layer, seepage becomes an integral part of the stability analysis. Basic guidelines have been developed for the analysis of this problem by other researchers and documented by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). However, the inherent complexity of the problem and uncertainties associated with the choice of analysis methods warrant for further investigation of this problem in detail so that more useful insights can be gained. In this paper, a comprehensive analysis of this complex coupled problem of seepage and stability of a typical New Orleans I-wall is presented using different limit equilibrium methods of slope stability analysis. Useful comparisons are made between the analyses results and methodologies. The authors believe that the findings of this study will enhance the understanding of the behaviour of the I-wall sheet pile system subjected to seepage forces, when different limit equilibrium methods of analyses are invoked.     

汶川8.0级与昆仑山口西8.1级地震前地震活动异常特征与启示

两次特大地震前在不同时段、 不同范围出现了多项相似的地震活动性异常, 它们对预测特大地震具有一定意义: ① 两次大震前10余年, 青藏块体同期出现了两个规模巨大的中强以上地震增强区, 两次大地震发生在增强区内的空区里; ② 两次巨大地震前数年, 形成规模巨大的中强地震活动带, 地震发生在两个条带间的平静区里; 同期形成中等以上地震活动环, 其内部的地震频度、 加卸载响应比及非均匀度等参数甚高, 且随时间而变化, 这可作为孕震进入中期的信号; ③ 两次大震前的震群、 震丛均很显著, 昆仑山口西地震前四个显著震丛环绕震中四周分布, 汶川地震前震群在震中周围形成包围圈, 它们应视为大震孕育进入后期的显示; ④ 大震前数月, 靠近发震断裂带发生少量中小地震或少见的震群。 汶川地震前10个月, 龙门山断裂带北部发生两次青川4级多地震和松潘4.3级地震, 南部康定附近发生3次4级以上地震。 紫坪铺水库区小震群于震前3个月活动十分强烈。 昆仑山口西地震前约1年青海兴海发生6.6级地震, 昆仑山口西发生5.1级地震, 该地震距离8.1级地震约30 km。这些特征给我们的重要启示是: ① 特大地震前出现的前兆时空特征与常见的中强地震差异很大, 现行的监测预报体制(分省分片负责)与特大地震前兆不相适应; ② 特大地震的预测预报不能单纯依靠地震前兆, 必须与地质构造及深部探测紧密结合起来; ③ 特大地震的预测预报应有新的预报战略、 观测系统与组织机构相适应。     

2008年3月21日新疆于田7.3级地震发震构造与震前地震活动特征研究

2008年3月21日新疆于田发生7.3级地震,打破了中国大陆6年多的7级地震平静,成为我国近期较为显著的一次地震事件.综合分析MS≥4.0余震分布、震区断裂性质以及等震线长轴方向等资料,认为郭扎错断裂是这次地震的发震构造;据Harvard震源机制解分析,这次地震是在近NS向力的作用下,郭扎错断裂发生略带走滑分量的拉张破裂所致.通过地震前震区附近地震活动特征分析发现,于田地震发生在1996年以来新疆南部及邻区7级地震有序分布的空段;震前震区附近有4级地震空区形成,空区持续91个月后发生了2006年9月12日皮山5.8级"信号震",其后1.5年发生于田7.3级地震.     

地震活动图像分析预测汶川8．0级地震的回顾与思考

本文回顾了2008年5月12日四川省汶川8．0级特大地震前中长期及年度趋势预测过程。作者根据地震活动图像特征作出了较好预测,明确指出四川石棉-冕宁和汶川-松潘一带,2008年前后,可能发生7级以上地震。但带短期预测特点的2008年度大震危险性,作者没有作出确切的预测。本文思考了相关的经验教训并对改进分析预报工作提出了构想。     

Characteristics of seismic activity before the MS8.0 Wenchuan earthquake

The characteristics of spatio-temporal seismicity evolution before the Wenchuan earthquake are studied. The results mainly involve in the trend abnormal features and its relation to the Wenchuan earthquake. The western Chinese mainland and its adjacent area has been in the seismically active period since 2001, while the seismic activity shows the obvious quiescence of M≥?7.0, M≥?6.0 and M?≥5.0 earthquakes in Chinese mainland. A quiescence area with M?≥7.0 has been formed in the middle of the North-South seismic zone since 1988, and the Wenchuan earthquake occurred just within this area. There are a background seismicity gap of M?≥5.0 earthquakes and a seismogenic gap of M_L?≥4.0 earthquakes in the area of Longmenshan fault zone and its vicinity prior to the Wenchuan earthquake. The seismic activity obviously strengthened and a doughnut-shape pattern of M?≥4.6 earthquakes is formed in the middle and southern part of the North-South seismic zone after the 2003 Dayao, Yunnan, earthquake. Sichuan and its vicinity in the middle of the doughnut-shape pattern show abnormal quiescence. At the same time, the seismicity of earthquake swarms is significant and shows heterogeneity in the temporal and spatial process. A swarm gap appears in the M4.6 seismically quiet area, and the Wenchuan earthquake occurred just on the margin of the gap. In addition, in the short term before the Wenchuan earthquake, the quiescence of earthquake with M_L≥?4.0 appears in Qinghai-Tibet block and a seismic belt of M_L?≥3.0 earthquakes, with NW striking and oblique with Longmenshan fault zone, is formed.     

THE EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF THE WEST KUNLUN MOUNTAINS: A TECTONIC RECONSTRUCTION BASED ON STUDIES OF MAGMATISM

THE EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF THE WEST KUNLUN MOUNTAINS: A TECTONIC RECONSTRUCTION BASED ON STUDIES OF MAGMATISM     

长江经济带城乡居民福祉测度及其差异

通过构建城乡居民客观发展指数、主观幸福感指数和福祉差异系数,分析了2005-2015年长江经济带城镇、乡村居民福祉水平及其差距的动态变化过程和空间差异,探讨其影响因素与作用机制.结果表明:1)长江经济带及各省城乡居民福祉均呈上升趋势,区域城镇和乡村居民福祉指数分别由2005年的0.6653、0.5704提高至2015年...     

黔西南泥堡金矿床容矿火山岩系中“粉砂岩”夹层的岩石类型归属研究

原先认为泥堡金矿床容矿火山岩系中间的"粉砂岩夹层",研究发现其具有与火山碎屑岩的成分与结构构造特征,包括熔蚀石英晶屑和长石板状晶假象,局部还出现大量生物化石碎片,应归属为蚀变凝灰岩。火山岩系的原"粉砂岩夹层"并不存在,只是短暂的火山喷发间隙,整个容矿火山岩系形成从偏基性火山碎屑岩到中基性火山角砾岩的晚二叠世火山喷发旋回。火山岩旋回的早期到晚期,金矿成矿作用强度逐渐增强,印证金成矿作用与火山岩的密切成因联系。     

陆面过程模式BCC_AVIM中地表覆盖数据现状

地表覆盖是陆面和气候模式中的一个重要基础数据。以陆面过程模式BCC_AVIM为例,介绍模式中的地表覆盖数据变量、数据分辨率、不同类型数据的来源,重点比较分类方法差异巨大且类型众多的植被覆盖。综述比较了国际和国内常用的几套全球地表覆盖数据的来源、分类系统和分类方法以及空间分辨率,根据陆面过程模式的地表覆盖数据需求,确定不同全球土地覆盖数据在模式中的应用方法,讨论分析了全球地表覆盖产品在模式应用中存在的差距,提出不同遥感数据产品之间一致性较差的可能解决方案,探讨遥感数据产品在模式中应用的可能方式,以期更好地发挥全球地表覆盖数据产品的作用。