Influence of rainfall and soil properties spatial aggregation on extreme flash flood response modelling: An evaluation based on the Sesia river basin,North Western Italy

High resolution radar rainfall fields and a distributed hydrologic model are used to evaluate the sensitivity of flood and flash flood simulations to spatial aggregation of rainfall and soil properties at catchment scales ranging from 75 to 983 km². Hydrologic modeling is based on a Hortonian infiltration model and a network-based representation of hillslope and channel flow. The investigation focuses on three extreme flood and flash flood events occurred on the Sesia river basin, North Western Italy, which are analysed by using four aggregation lengths ranging from 1 to 16 km. The influence of rainfall spatial aggregation is examined by using the flow distance as a spatial coordinate, hence emphasising the role of river network in the averaging of space–time rainfall. The effects of reduced and distorted rainfall spatial variability on peak discharge have been found particularly severe for the flash flood events, with peak errors up to 35% for rainfall aggregation of 16 km and at 983 km² catchment size. Effects are particularly remarkable when significant structured rainfall variability combines with relatively important infiltration volumes due to dry initial conditions, as this emphasises the non-linear character of the rainfall–runoff relationship. In general, these results confirm that the correct estimate of rainfall volume is not enough for the accurate reproduction of flash flood events characterised by large and structured rainfall spatial variability, even at catchment scales around 250 km². However, accurate rainfall volume estimation may suffice for less spatially variable flood events. Increasing the soil properties aggregation length exerts similar effects on peak discharge errors as increasing the rainfall aggregation length, for the cases considered here and after rescaling to preserve the rainfall volume. Moreover, peak discharge errors are roughly proportional to runoff volume errors, which indicates that the shape of the flood wave is influenced in a limited way by modifying the detail of the soil property spatial representation. Conversely, rainfall aggregation may exert a pronounced influence on the discharge peak by reshaping the spatial organisation of the runoff volumes and without a comparable impact on the runoff volumes.     

Topographic thresholds for plant colonization on semi‐arid eroded slopes

Soil erosion plays an important role in plant colonization of semi‐arid degraded areas. In this study, we aimed at deepening our knowledge of the mechanisms that control plant colonization on semi‐arid eroded slopes in east Spain by (i) determining topographic thresholds for plant colonization, (ii) identifying the soil properties limiting plant establishment and (iii) assessing whether colonizing species have specific plant traits to cope with these limitations. Slope angle and aspect were surrogates of erosion rate and water availability, respectively. Since soil erosion and water availability can limit plant establishment and both can interact in the landscape, we analysed variations in colonization success (vegetation cover and species number) with slope angle on 156 slopes, as a function of slope aspect. After determining slope angle thresholds for plant colonization, soil was sampled near the threshold values for soil analysis [nitrogen, phosphorous, calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), water holding capacity]. Plant traits expressing the plant colonizing capacity were analysed both in the pool of species colonizing the steep slopes just below the threshold and in the pool of species inhabiting gentler slopes and absent from the slopes just below the threshold. Results show that the slope angle threshold for plant colonization decreased from north to south. For the vegetation cover, threshold values were 63°, 50°, 46°, 41° for the north, east, west and south slope aspect classes, respectively, and 65°, 53°, 49° and 45° for the species richness and the same aspect classes. No differences existed in soil properties at slope angle threshold values among slope aspects and between slope positions (just below and above the threshold) within slope aspect classes. This suggests that variations between slope aspect classes in the slope angle threshold result from differences in the colonizing capacity of plants which is controlled by water availability. Long‐distance dispersal and mucilage production were preferably associated with the pool of colonizing species. These results are discussed in the perspective of a more efficient ecological restoration of degraded semi‐arid ecosystems where soil erosion acts as an ecological filter for plant establishment. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

胡状集油田断层封闭性研究

断层封闭性与油气的运移聚集密切相关．是油田含油气性评价中一个非常重要的方面。本文从断层封闭性理论、主要影响因素,以及断层封堵模式的分析论述出发,运用声波时差和断层面剖面图等方法,分析了胡状集油田复杂断块区断层封堵性,为该区的滚动勘探提供了一定的指导意义。     

Seismic wave velocities of rare gas solids through elastic properties in Earth’s lower mantle

The expressions for second (SOE) and third order elastic (TOE) constants for rare gas solids are derived for comparative study of elastic behavior within the framework of many body potentials including the effect of pressure. The derived expressions are used to obtain the relations for pressure derivatives of bulk and shear moduli of RGS solids. The values of SOE, TOE constants and pressure derivative of bulk and shear modulus for Ne up to 100 GPa, Ar up to 75 GPa, for Kr up to 136 GPa and Xe up to 53.4 GPa...     

Influence of the construction process and nonstructural components on the modal properties of a five‐story building

A full‐scale five‐story reinforced concrete building was built and tested on the NEES‐UCSD shake table during the period from May 2011 to May 2012. The purpose of this test program was to study the response of the structure and nonstructural components and systems (NCSs) and their dynamic interaction during seismic base excitation of different intensities. The building specimen was tested first under a base‐isolated condition and then under a fixed‐based condition. As the building was being erected, an accelerometer array was deployed on the specimen to study the evolution of its modal parameters during the construction process and placement of major NCSs. A sequence of dynamic tests, including daily ambient vibration, shock (free vibration) and forced vibration tests (low‐amplitude white noise and seismic base excitations), were performed on the building at different stages of construction. Different state‐of‐the‐art system identification methods, including three output‐only and two input‐output methods, were used to estimate the modal properties of the building. The obtained results allow to investigate in detail the effects of the construction process and NCSs on the dynamic parameters of this building system and to compare the modal properties obtained from different methods, as well as the performance of these methods. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Field and large scale laboratory studies on dynamic properties of emplaced municipal solid waste from two dump sites at Delhi,India

Dynamic properties of municipal solid waste (MSW) from two dump sites located at Delhi, India are evaluated from field and large scale laboratory tests. Shear wave velocity (V_s) profiles of MSW, measured at these two sites using surface wave techniques, are in range of V_s data reported for MSW landfills worldwide. Representative bulk MSW samples were collected from large test pits excavated at the two dump sites to determine the near surface unit weight. Large scale undrained cyclic triaxial (CTX) tests were conducted on reconstituted MSW specimens to investigate the effect of various parameters such as composition, confining pressure, number of loading cycles, loading frequency and saturation on the dynamic properties. Undrained CTX tests, conducted on the specimens with and without fibrous materials demonstrated the effect of fibrous waste constituents on the stiffness and damping behavior of MSW. Specimens consisting of fibrous waste constituents such as plastics and textiles exhibited significantly less modulus reduction compared to specimens with negligible amount of fibrous content. The modulus reduction (G/G_max) and material damping ratio curves derived from the present study are in the range reported for MSW in the literature. The G/G_max curves from present study are in good agreement with curves recommended for MSW at Tri-Cities landfill in USA and Tianziling landfill in China. Dynamic properties evaluated from the present study add to the growing database of the worldwide dataset and can be useful for evaluating the seismic stability and associated permanent deformations of the existing dumps in and around Delhi.     

砂岩的高温损伤与模量分析

通过定义砂岩试样压缩破坏过程的4个阶段模量,对高温（25℃～1 000℃）后砂岩压缩破坏的应力-应变全过程进行定量研究。分析砂岩高温后的模量特征和超声特性,并基于压缩模量定义高温作用后砂岩试样的热损伤因子,对不同温度作用后的砂岩试样进行损伤分析,发现高温后砂岩压缩破坏具有明显的阶段性特征;4个阶段的阶段模量随温度的变化规律各有不同;压密模量与纵波波速具有很强的相关性;基于压密模量定义的高温后砂岩试样热损伤因子避开了基于纵波波速定义方法,未考虑温度对密度和泊松比影响的缺陷,更具科学性;25～200 ℃温度区间内砂岩试样热损伤对温度最敏感。研究成果对高温环境岩石工程具有一定的指导意义。     

某尾矿坝毛细水带内的坝体材料物理力学特性研究

毛细水的存在将使尾矿坝坝体材料的物理力学特性发生较大变化,这种变化对尾矿坝的安全稳定势必产生影响,而国内外在此方面的研究工作却鲜有报道。为此,开展了某尾矿坝坝体材料现场取样、室内土工试验工作,并采用自制的毛细水带分层取样试验装置开展了长达6个月的毛细水上升测试工作,通过分层取样及土工试验,得到了毛细水带内尾矿砂的物理力学特性,进而系统地研究了毛细水带尾矿砂的含水率、重度、黏聚力、内摩擦角等物理力学指标随毛细水高度的变化特征。研究发现,毛细水带内尾矿砂的含水率和重度均随毛细高度而减小;黏聚力和内摩擦角的变化均随毛细高度和含水率呈先增大后减小的变化规律,其中内摩擦角的变化规律与以往相关研究所得结论并不完全相符,分析指出,这是由于毛细水和尾矿砂颗粒的表面特性所导致的;简要分析了抗剪强度随毛细高度的变化规律,发现其受毛细作用影响较大,呈先增大后减小的变化趋势。研究结果为坝体、边坡等工程的稳定性研究工作提供了一种新思路,为今后建立考虑毛细水作用下尾矿坝稳定性分析方法和理论奠定了基础。     

冻结红砂岩非线性蠕变模型的研究

对-10℃的冻结红砂岩进行了单轴蠕变试验,应力水平依次为0.36、0.45和0.54,发现当应力水平为0.36和0.45时,红砂岩蠕变为稳定蠕变,当应力水平为0.54时,蠕变为不稳定蠕变。应力水平越高,蠕变达到稳定的时间越长。对蠕变曲线的导函数进行分析,发现红砂岩不稳定蠕变的加速阶段门槛值为13 h。通过对实测数据的拟合,得到了3个应力水平下红砂岩蠕变的经验方程。由开尔文体、改进麦克斯韦尔体和改进陈沅江体串联组成了理论模型,并得到了模型参数,理论曲线与实测曲线吻合较好,能够较好地反映冻结红砂岩的蠕变规律。试验结果为采用冻结法施工的矿井评价冻结壁的稳定性提供了相应的参考。     

新近吹填淤泥地基负压传递特性及分布模式研究

为深入了解无砂垫层真空预压技术加固新近吹填淤泥地基过程中的负压传递特性和分布模式,依托珠海港高栏港区某新近吹填淤泥地基处理工程开展了现场试验研究,研究结果表明：（1）土工合成材料水平排水垫层中的负压损失程度较严重,至少为16%;整个排水系统内的负压损失程度也较严重,最严重的高达57%。（2）不同深度处土体中的负压传递特性一定程度上受相应位置处淤泥自重沉积规律的影响,粗颗粒含量高的深度位置,其负压衰减程度相应较低;但总体来讲,负压从竖井向土体传递过程中的损失程度很严重,至少67%,这是新近吹填淤泥地基经无砂垫层真空预压技术加固后土体强度增长有限的主要原因。最后,明确给出了该类地基的负压分布模式：水平排水垫层中的负压可考虑为随时间变化的线性衰减模式,而竖向排水体中的负压可考虑为随时间变化的非线性衰减模式。