Effect of element size on the static finite element analysis of steep slopes

The accuracy of the computed stress distribution near the free surface of vertical slopes was evaluated in this study as a function of the element size, including aspect ratio. To accomplish this objective, a parametric study was carried out comparing stresses computed using the finite element method (FEM) to those obtained from a physical model composed of photoelastic material. The results of the study indicate a reasonable agreement between a gelatin model and the FEM model for shear stresses, and an overall good agreement between the two models for the principal stresses. For stresses along the top of the slope, the height of the element tends to be more important than width or aspect ratio, at least for aspect ratios up to 4. In all cases, the greatest difference between the two models occurs in the vicinity of the slope. Specifically, if H is defined as the slope height, an element height of H/10 appears to be adequate for the study of stresses deep within the slope, such as for typical embankment analyses. However, for cases where tensile stresses in the vicinity of the slope face which are critical, such as for the stability analysis of steep slopes, element heights as small as H/32, or higher‐order elements, are necessary. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

气候变化对塔里木河来自天山的地表径流影响

塔里木河水资源主要来自天山南坡两条源流,选择西段阿克苏河和中段开都河-孔雀河作为研究区.1956-2003年研究河源山区气温呈持续升温且降水波动增加的趋势,其中1995-2003年升温强劲,升温速率高出48 a期间平均的3倍以上;降水自1986年后持续增加,20世纪90年代较80年代增幅达18%,并显示出河源山区湿岛向塔里木盆地扩展.因高山缺少气象观测,出山径流过程变化可以综合反映中高山带的气候变化.塔里木河来自天山的地表径流在1986-2003年间持续增长,以冰川融水补给为主的库玛拉克河,1994年以来年径流量增加已在前期平均值基础上提升了一个台阶;开都河以降水径流补给为主,1986-2002年出现了观测记录以来的丰水期,并使1986年后博斯腾湖水位快速上升,恢复到1958年记录的最高水位以上.两河年径流变化趋势基本相似,但也显示有西、中段的气候变化局部差异,出现丰枯水期的不一致;然而,在近16 a升温过程中,年径流增长幅度和快慢相近.     

边坡及其它类工程地质问题研究

本文提出有关边坡工程地质研究方面的一些新概念，看法和问题，并概述了属地这一专题的边坡及其它各类工程地质问题的研究成果。     

急倾斜煤层开采地表沉陷的渐近灰色预测

煤层开采所引起的地表沉陷是一种严重的矿区地质灾害。煤层的倾角、厚度等物理条件是地表沉陷的主要影响因素。在水平煤层或缓倾斜煤的开采过程中，由于地层倾角小，地表沉陷具有较完整的规律性，其预测效果也比较理想。但是，在急倾斜煤层的开采中，由于地层倾角较大，赋存条件和地质体物理力学性质的差异，增强了地表下沉的非线性特征，使地表沉陷具有不确定的表现规律。文章对重庆市南桐矿区东林矿的地表沉陷非线性特征进行了探讨，得到了东林煤矿地表下沉曲线的分形维数是1．07。在岩层移动这个系统当中，既含有已知的又含有未知的或非确定的信息，可以作为一个灰色系统来研究。岩层控制系统的状态、结构和边界条件难以精确描述，属本征性灰色系统。文章针对东林煤矿地表下沉曲线非线性较弱的性质，提出用一种基于GM(1，1)的渐近预测模型对东林煤矿42个月的地表下沉量时间序列进行探讨。结果表明，这种模型对急倾斜层开采地表沉陷的预测是一种行之有效的方法。通过对其他工程实例的应用分析，进一步证明这种渐近的灰色预测方法具有相对较高的精度，是一种比较实用的地表沉陷预测方法，具有广泛的工程实用空间。     

A model of Cs activity profile for soil erosion studies in uncultivated soils of Mediterranean environments

A model to simulate ¹³⁷Cs profiles in soils during the time in which they are being eroded is proposed. The model uses one parameter to characterize the cesium transference in the soil and another to express the erosion rate. To test the model, ¹³⁷Cs profiles of stable and eroded soils were collected at sampling sites located on semi-arid and temperate slopes in the Central Ebro basin, Spain. The ¹³⁷Cs profiles, corresponding to uncultivated soils with natural vegetation cover, were simulated using this model. The ¹³⁷Cs inventories and profiles calculated with the model are very similar to those measured experimentally, and thus it is possible to calculate soil erosion rates in physiographically diverse Mediterranean environments.     

Retrofit-reinforcement of cohesive soil slopes using high strength geotextiles with drainage capability

A series of geotechnical centrifuge physical modeling tests were performed to assess the potential use of a new cost-effective mechanically stabilized earth system for retrofitting marginally stable cohesive slopes. The proposed system utilizes the dual functions of reinforcement and drainage by directly inserting high strength non-woven geotextile strips into slopes, with little or no excavation required behind the slope face. The system significantly increases the factor of safety of potentially unstable cohesive slopes, and can be constructed at less expense and more rapidly than conventional mechanically stabilized earth systems.     

Erodibility of low‐compaction steep‐sloped reclaimed surface mine lands in the southern Appalachian region,USA

The use of loose spoils on steep slopes for surface coal mining reclamation sites has been promoted by the US Department of Interior, Office of Surface Mining for the establishment of native forest, as prescribed by the Forest Reclamation Approach (FRA). Although low‐compaction spoils improve tree survival and growth, erodibility on steep slopes was suspected to increase. This study quantified a combined K_C factor (combining the effects of the soil erodibility K factor and cover management C) for low compaction, steep‐sloped (>20°) reclaimed mine lands in the Appalachian region, USA. The combined K_C factor was used because standard Unit Plot conditions required to separate these factors, per Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) experimental protocols, were not followed explicitly. Three active coal mining sites in the Appalachian region of East Tennessee, each containing four replicate field plots, were monitored for rainfall and sediment yields during a 14‐month period beginning June 2009. Average cumulative erosivity for the study sites during the monitoring period was measured as 5248.9 MJ·mm·ha^?1·h^?1. The K_C ranged between 0.001 and 0.05 t·ha·h·ha^?1·MJ^?1·mm^?1, with the highest values occurring immediately following reclamation site construction as rills developed (June – August 2009). The K_C for two study sites with about an 18–20 mm spoil D₈₄ were above 0.01 t·ha·h·ha^?1·MJ^?1·mm^?1 during rill development, and below 0.003 t·ha·h·ha^?1·MJ^?1·mm^?1 after August 2009 for the post‐rill development period. The K_C values for one site with a 40 mm spoil D₈₄ were never above 0.008 t·ha·h·ha^?1·MJ^?1·mm^?1 and also on average were lower, being more similar to the other two sites after the rill development period. Based on an initial K_C factor (K_e) measured during the first few storm events, the average C factor (C_e) was estimated as 0.58 for the rill development period and 0.13 for the post‐rill development period. It appears that larger size fractions of spoils influence K_C and C_e factors on low‐compaction steep slopes reclamation sites. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

高陡岩石边坡软体护坡技术设计及施工实践

为了消除济南市燕翅山北侧采矿遗留的高陡岩石边坡的地质灾害隐患,恢复自然植被,通过施工砼基座、施工砼格构梁、砌筑软体生态袋和挂网喷播等多种技术方法进行了综合治理,消除了滑坡和崩塌等地质灾害隐患,整个坡面植被覆盖率超过99%,消除了视觉污染,恢复了当地生态环境,该工程成功的设计及施工实践对类似高陡岩石边坡有很好的指导和借鉴作用。