Evaluation of three waterborne polymers as stabilizers for sandy soil

This study reports on waterborne polymer emulsion systems that were used for structural modification of sandy soils. The first emulsion used was a styrene-acrylic, copolymer emulsion; the second and third were vinyl-acrylic, copolymer-based emulsions. Specimens were prepared by adding different polymer emulsions to the sand and water in prescribed amounts. The performance of the different emulsion systems as sand stabilizers was estimated through measurement of the hydraulic conductivity and compressive strength. Measurements of hydraulic conductivity were conducted in a flexible membrane test apparatus. The hydraulic conductivity for the three emulsions decreased at different rates, with an increase in polymer content up to 3 wt. (i.e., % by weight). Additional increase of polymer content did not introduce significant decrease in hydraulic conductivity, and, at 5 wt.%, the three emulsions had essentially the same effect. Measurements made on dry cylindrical specimens disclosed remarkable enhancement in the mechanical behavior of the system. The compressive strength and modulus of elasticity of the examined emulsions increased with a higher concentration of polymer. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed that the reduction in the permeability and the improved mechanical properties can be attributed to three dominant structural changes: the development of interconnecting ties between the sand particles, the development of adhesion between neighboring sand particles in contact, and the covering of the sand particles with a thin polymer film.     

非离子聚合物稳定水敏岩层的应用研究

水敏岩层机械破碎出露的新鲜岩面遇水侵蚀产生软化或泥化现象,致使孔(槽)壁变形量增大而失稳。实验表明,低聚合度、非离子型、结晶性好的高分子聚合物无固相稳定液,能以较快的竞争吸附速度在岩石的内、外表面产生渗析胶结和吸附胶结,并在不可逆的作用力下成膜,因而能抑制由水引起的岩石软化、泥化和崩解,可用以解决使用各类泥浆自由水滤失量大且泥皮易脱落而造成的孔(槽)壁坍塌问题。      

苔藓结皮复配凹凸棒基高吸水性固沙材料的生理特性

综合性固沙技术在荒漠治理方面有着良好的发展前景。通过研究荒漠苔藓与凹凸棒基高吸水性树脂固沙材料的复配质量比与接种量对苔藓结皮的生长状态与生理特性的影响,探索和优化生物固沙与化学固沙技术相结合的技术途径。结果表明：温度和光照一定时,荒漠苔藓与凹凸棒基高吸水性固沙材料以质量比1∶4复配,以接种量500g·m^-2洒于沙面,所形成的苔藓结皮发育状况最佳。     

云南地震重点监视防御区民众地震科普认知分析

云南地处云贵高原,地震活动频繁,是一个多震多灾的省份。当地民众对地震灾害的认知程度和自救互救能力,对于保护生命财产安全,减轻地震灾害损失,显得尤为重要。本文选取云南地震重点监视防御区为样本区域,对民众的地震科普知识认知情况和互联网信息智慧化推送接受程度等进行了调研。根据调查结果分析评价,10个样本区域民众的地震科普知识整体认知水平不高,“优秀”等级的州市为0,“良好”等级的州市有6个,“差”的州市有4个;对互联网智慧化推送的民众接受程度存在比较明显的群体差异。     

FRP管约束活性粉末混凝土方柱抗震性能研究

为了探究纤维增强聚合物（fiber reinforced polymers,FRP）管约束活性粉末混凝土（reactive powder concrete,RPC）方柱在低周反复荷载作用下的抗震性能,利用有限元软件ABAQUS对FRP管约束RPC方柱进行了数值模拟,并对不同轴压比、配箍率和FRP管厚度条件下约束柱的抗震性能进行了分析。结果表明：采用有限元模型对FRP管约束RPC方柱进行模拟是可靠的,有限元模拟结果和试验结果吻合较好;轴压比为0.2~0.6时,峰值荷载随轴压比的增大而增大,轴压比为0.7时的峰值荷载较0.6时反而下降;配箍率、FRP管厚度的增加可以改善约束柱的抗震性能,延缓强度和刚度的退化;FRP管厚度为0.501mm时的约束效果最好。     

Application of Superabsorbent Polymers for Improving the Ecological Chemistry of Degraded or Polluted Lands

About 3.5 billion ha of land, which amounts to almost 30% of the total solid land of the world, has been degraded by human activities. The ecological restoration of these lands is a major challenge for mankind since they are the only option left for increasing the amount of arable land and producing food for the ever growing worldwide population. One common feature of these degraded lands is the fact that their organic soil matter is degraded also. Rainfall therefore, changes from a blessing to a menace since it is not kept in the soil and therefore causes erosion. A solution for the restoration of these lands could be the application of superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) to these soils. These substances are like ‘artificial humus’ as they are hydrophilic and contain carboxylic groups. This enables them to bind cations and water. They have the following advantages for the restoration of degraded lands. They increase the plant available water in the soil which enables the plants to survive longer under water stress. SAP amendment to soils reduces the evapotranspiration rate of the plants. They induce a significantly higher growth rate in plants growing on SAP amended soil. They bind heavy metals and mitigate their action on plants. They mitigate the effects of salinity. The benefits of SAP amendment to soils substantially outweigh their costs.     

Lignin pyrolysis products: Their structures and their significance as biomarkers

Pyrolysis in combination with gas chromatography and mass spectormetry was used to characterize softwood, hardwood and grass lignins as well as the corresponding synthetic dehydro-polymers. The method permitted differentiation of the three types of lignins. Softwood lignins yielded exclusively guaiacyl derivatives, coniferaldehyde and coniferyl alcohol being major compounds. Hardwood lignins gave rise to guaiacyl and syringyl derivatives, among which syringaldehyde, coniferyl alcohol and sinapyl alcohol were the most prominent. Grass lignins, represented by bamboo lignin, yielded p-vinylphenol as major compound. In addition, other guaiacyl and syringyl pyrolysis products were identified. The results indicate that guaiacyl and syringyl compounds are unique pyrolysis products of lignins and woods. Because of the relatively high resistance of lignins these pyrolysis products can be considered as characteristic biomarkers for terrestrial plant input.     

Evaluation of slurry settling rate using fuzzy rule-based modeling

The pressure acid leach process is the most widely used method of metal extraction from laterite ores. The self-weight settling rate of the ore slurries governs the throughput of the process and is improved by adding synthetic polymers. The charge density, molecular weight, and dosage of the polymers are the key factors influencing the settling rate of the slurries. This interdisciplinary paper uses the geotechnical understanding of hindered sedimentation for a mining engineering application. A conceptual fuzzy rule-based model was developed to evaluate the initial hydraulic conductivity of polymer-modified laterite ore slurries. Identification of control parameters and selection of the model architecture (fuzzy rule-base) were based on expert judgment. The developed model was trained and validated using bench-scale settling test data. The model reasonably predicts the initial hydraulic conductivity of polymer-added laterite ore slurry with a coefficient of determination of 0.75. Rank correlation coefficient-based sensitivity analyses indicated that charge density was the most significant polymer parameter followed by molecular weight and then by dosage. Charge density accounted for more than 97% of variability in the initial hydraulic conductivity estimates for both anionic and cationic polymers.     

Wave equation analyses of tapered FRP–concrete piles in dense sand

Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP)–concrete composites provide an attractive alternative to conventional pile materials such as steel, concrete and wood by improving the durability of deep foundations. In the current study, FRP tubes with different taper angles are filled with self-consolidating concrete (SCC) and driven into dense sand that is enclosed in a large pressurized soil chamber. Driving tests are conducted on FRP–SCC composite piles to determine how the pile material and geometric configuration affect its driving performance. Dynamic data is employed to determine the soil parameters in the TNO model (i.e., soil quake and damping constant) using the DLTWAVE signal-matching program. The driveability of FRP–SCC and traditional pile materials is compared using the wave equation analysis program PDPWAVE. The experimental data and the wave equation analyses indicate that the taper shape has a favourable effect on the driveability and static resistance of piles. It is also found that the driveability of FRP–SCC composite piles is similar to that of conventional prestressed concrete and steel piles. However, empty FRP tubes required a much higher driving energy. Their low flexural resistance along with risk of buckling can hinder their driveability in different soil conditions.