Biodegradation and transport of benzene,toluene, and xylenes in a simulated aquifer: comparison of modelled and experimental results

Both laboratory experiments and numerical modelling were conducted to study the biodegradation and transport of benzene–toluene–xylenes (BTX) in a simulated semi‐confined aquifer. The factors incorporated into the numerical model include advection, hydrodynamic dispersion, adsorption, and biodegradation. The various physico‐chemical parameters required by the numerical model were measured experimentally. In the experimental portion of the study, BTX compounds were introduced into the aquifer sand. After the contaminants had been transported through the system, BTX concentrations were measured at 12 equally spaced wells. Subsequently, microorganisms obtained from the activated sludge of a sewage treatment plant and cultured in BTX mixtures were introduced into the aquifer through the 12 sampling wells. The distribution data for BTX adsorption by the aquifer sand form a nonlinear isotherm. The degree of adsorption by the sand varies, depending on the composition of the solute. The degradation time, measured from the time since the bacteria were added to the aquifer until a specific contaminant was no longer detectable, was 35–42 h for BTX. The dissolved oxygen, after degradation by BTX compounds and bacteria, was consumed by about 40–60% in the entire simulated aquifer; thus the aerobic conditions were maintained. This study provides insights for the biodegradation and transport of BTX in aquifers by numerical modelling and laboratory experiments. Experimental and numerical comparisons indicate that the results by Monod degradation kinetics are more accurate than those by the first‐order degradation kinetics. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simultaneous identification of parameter,initial condition,and boundary condition in groundwater modelling

In this paper, we perform an inverse method to simultaneously estimate aquifer parameters, initial condition, and boundary conditions in groundwater modelling. The parameter estimation is extended to a complete inverse problem that makes the calibrated groundwater flow model more realistic. The adjoint state method, the gradient search method, and the least square error algorithm are combined to build the optimization procedure. Horizontal two‐dimensional groundwater flow in a confined aquifer is exemplified to demonstrate the correlation between unknowns, the contribution of observation, as well as the suitability of applying the inverse method. The correlation analysis shows the connection between storage coefficient and initial condition. Besides, transmissivity and boundary conditions are also highly correlated. More observations at different location and time are necessary to provide sufficient information. A time series of unsteady head is requested for estimation of storage coefficient and initial condition. Observation near boundary is very effective for boundary condition estimation. The observation at pumping well mostly contributes to the estimation of transmissivity. According to all observations, it is possible to identify parameters, initial condition, and boundary condition simultaneously. Furthermore, the results not only illustrate the traditional assumption of known boundary condition but also initial condition, which may cause an incorrect estimation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

形态参数下地表采动裂缝三维建模及可视化方法

实现对地表采动裂缝的三维建模及可视化能促进裂缝的形状、成因研究,并为开采沉陷监测和生态环境恢复提供科学支持。目前三维建模方法和软件主要面向建筑物、管道、地质体等地物地貌,若直接应用于地表裂缝的建模与表达会存在野外测绘工作量大、形态规律表达不准确、呈现不逼真等问题。本文结合三维地形建模、分形、空间插值等理论,提出了基于几何形态参数的地表裂缝三维建模方法,并利用ArcEngine平台实现了对裂缝的三维可视化;选取甘肃省东峡矿区为试验区,根据裂缝分布与形态预计参数,实现了对区域内裂缝的模拟,并通过与实测数据和高分辨率影像进行对比,验证了该方法能真实逼真呈现裂缝的形态、延伸与细节信息。     

Neotectonic transpressional intraplate deformation in eastern Eurasia: Insights from active fault systems in the southeastern Korean Peninsula

Transpression occurs in response to oblique convergence across a deformation zone in intraplate regions and plate boundaries. The Korean Peninsula is located at an intraplate region of the eastern Eurasian Plate and has been deformed under the ENE–WSW maximum horizontal compression since the late Pliocene. In this study, we analyzed short-term instrumental seismic (focal mechanism) and long-term paleoseismic (Quaternary fault outcrop) data to decipher the neotectonic crustal deformation pattern in the southeastern Korean Peninsula. Available (paleo-)seismic data acquired from an NNE–SSW trending deformation zone between the Yangsan and Ulleung fault zones indicate spatial partitioning of crustal deformation by NNW–SSE to NNE–SSW striking reverse faults and NNE–SSW striking strike-slip faults, supporting a strike-slip partitioned transpression model. The instantaneous and finite neotectonic strains, estimated from the focal mechanism and Quaternary outcrop data, respectively, show discrepancies in their axes, which can be attributed to the switching between extensional and intermediate axes of finite strain during the accumulation of wrench-dominated transpression. Notably, some major faults, including the Yangsan and Ulsan fault zones, are relatively misoriented to slip under the current stress condition but, paradoxically, have more (paleo-)seismic records indicating their role in accommodating the neotectonic transpressional strain. We propose that fluids, heat flow, and lithospheric structure are potential factors affecting the reactivation of the relatively misoriented major faults. Our findings provide insights into the accommodation pattern of strain associated with the neotectonic crustal extrusion in an intraplate region of the eastern Eurasian Plate in response to the collision of the Indian Plate and the subduction of the Pacific/Philippine Sea Plates.     

考虑应变局部化的粗粒料剪切损伤力学机制

针对粗粒料的应变软化、剪胀等力学特性,通过考虑以剪切带为标志的应变局部化现象,建立了具有广泛适用性的剪切损伤力学模型。损伤模型采用了包体理论中的剪切带数学简化,基于应变等价原理、Weibull分布,推导了粗粒料的应力-应变关系方程。从剪胀作用的机制出发,提出可以描述剪胀弱化的轴向塑性应变和体积塑性应变的非线性函数关系。结合粗粒料三轴压缩试验中的伺服过程,提出了基于遗传算法的损伤模型参数确定方法。通过开展不同围压下的粗粒料三轴压缩试验,对剪切损伤力学模型进行验证,进一步分析了参数演化对粗粒料强度和变形特征的影响。研究结果表明,考虑应变局部化特征的剪切损伤力学模型可以高精度的模拟粗粒料的应变软化和剪胀等特征,有效揭示剪切带内部变形对试样整体宏观变形的影响机制,模型中剪切带参数和围压的关系与粗粒料细观机制一致,计算得到强度组成与颗粒破碎、重组特征较为吻合。     

交叉裂隙岩体裂纹扩展试验及混合有限-离散元数值模拟研究

对预制交叉裂隙岩石试样进行裂纹扩展试验,研究了裂纹萌生、扩展、聚合过程,分析了主裂隙和轴向载荷夹角及主次裂隙夹角对裂纹起裂应力和聚合应力的影响,并用混合有限元-离散元程序,即图形处理器并行化的3D Y-HFDEM代码对试验进行了仿真计算,实现了岩石破坏从连续介质向非连续介质的过渡,对裂纹类及损伤破坏模式进行了识别,捕捉到了试验中难以发现的现象。研究表明：随主裂隙与轴向载荷夹角增加,裂纹聚合区的拉伸裂纹数量增加;裂纹起裂和聚合应力与主裂隙与轴向载荷夹角成正比;主次裂隙夹角增加,岩石的破坏模式由拉伸破坏转为剪切破坏,交叉裂隙加剧岩石破碎程度;主裂隙尖端萌生扩展的拉伸-剪切混合裂缝引起的破坏在岩石破坏中占主导地位,是导致岩体失去承载能力的主控裂纹;混合有限元-离散元仿真软件GPGPU并行化的3D Y-HFDEM IDE在岩石裂纹扩展研究中具有优势,可以捕捉实验室难以发现的损伤断裂类型,可以作为岩石裂纹扩展研究的有力工具。     

考虑桩体刺入变形的透水混凝土桩复合地基固结理论研究

现有的多元复合地基利用两种或者两种以上的桩型对地基土进行加固,以期提高地基承载力、加速地基固结。提出了一种兼具散体材料桩和刚性不排水桩自身优点的透水混凝土桩复合地基固结模型。工程中刚性桩与土体的压缩量并不相等,这与等应变条件存在着不一致的地方。为此,抛弃传统等应变假设,考虑桩体向垫层和下卧层的刺入变形,对传统等应变假定进行修正,同时考虑了扰动区土体水平渗透系数的抛物线变化和水在桩体内的径向、竖向渗流,给出了此类固结问题的控制方程和解答以及复合地基固结度的表达式,并对复合地基固结度的解进行了讨论。最后与其他复合地基解做了比较并对固结性状进行了分析,并针对透水混凝土桩孔隙引起的桩阻作用对地基固结速度的影响进行了验证。     

干湿循环与初始静偏应力耦合作用下城市污泥固化土动力累积变形特性

城市污泥固化土用作路基填料,对于节约工程成本、保护环境等具有重要意义。本文以城市污泥固化土为研究对象,利用DDS动三轴仪,从干湿循环次数、初始静偏应力、动应力3个方面研究其对累积塑性应变及动强度特性的影响。试验结果表明:在干湿循环单独作用下,土体累积塑性应变随干湿循环次数的增加先增大后趋于稳定,但与初始静偏应力耦合作用下对土体累积塑性应变的影响不太显著。动应力对其影响较大,且存在临界值:当动应力小于临界值时,累积塑性应变呈现出先增大后逐渐稳定的趋势; 当动应力大于临界值时,累积塑性应变在达到某一振次后快速增大,土体迅速产生变形破坏。干湿循环与初始静偏应力都会降低土体的动强度,但干湿循环在达到10次后,动强度将趋于平稳,不再受其影响。通过回归分析,建立了考虑干湿循环次数、初始静偏应力及动应力等因素影响的城市污泥固化土稳定型累积塑性应变模型,并验证了其可行性。     

Maximized erosion at the last glacial maximum revealed by thermoluminescence thermochronometry

Increased erosion rates during the last 2 Myr of Earth history are commonly associated with widespread glaciation and global cooling. However, whether erosion rates actually increased during that period of time remains debated. This is in part because the respective role of fluvial and glacial erosion is difficult to assess, and because many existing techniques used to estimate erosion rates may be affected by averaging biases that may produce increased erosion rates towards the present. Here, we apply thermoluminescence thermochronometry to granitic bedrock samples of the southern-central Chilean Andes, a region which experienced a full transition from glacial-humid to fluvial-dry conditions during the Quaternary. Inverse modelling of the thermochronological data enables us to extract unbiased time series of erosion rates during the last ∼100 kyr. We find that erosion rates were systematically higher during around the last glacial maximum than at present, with differences exceeding an order of magnitude. Our findings indicate that glacial erosion is probably more efficient than fluvial erosion and imply that erosion has remained transient during the Quaternary.