Origin of submarine canyon-channel systems along the middle segment of West Mariana Ridge,Philippine Sea

Submarine canyon-channel systems have been documented in the Parece Vela Basin,West Mariana Ridge;however,the mechanism of the formation and controlling factors remain poorly understood.Based on high-resolution multibeam bathymetric data and two-dimensional(2D)seismic profiles,we identified and mapped the submarine canyon-channel system along the middle segment of West Mariana Ridge in the Philippine Sea.These submarine canyon-channels show a main W-E orientation at depth of 2000–4500 m.They are approximately 72–128 km in length and 1.3–15 km in width,and their canyon heads are adjacent to the seamounts with several branches.The upper reaches of submarine canyon-channels are characterized by deeply incised,narrow,V-shaped thalwegs,suggesting the powerful erosion of gravity flows.The distinguished sediment waves are suggested to be resulted from the interaction of turbidity currents and seafloor.Our observations demonstrate that gravity flows originated from the collapses of seamount flanks plays a vital role in developing the submarine canyonchannel system along the West Mariana Ridge.This work provides better understanding of erosion,transport,and deposition of sediments from subducting ridges to deep-water basins,and also new insights into the origin and evolution of submarine canyon-channel systems along subducting ridges.

Three-stage tectonic subsidence and its implications for the evolution of conjugate margins of the southwest subbasin,South China Sea

To reveal the tectonic characteristics of the continental margins in the southwest subbasin(SWB)of the South China Sea,a long high-resolution seismic profile was studied using empty basin subsidence.We find that tectonic subsidence features on both margins are uniformly divided into three stages:(1)slow subsidence from Tg to 18.5 Ma(synrift stage);(2)extremely slow subsidence/uplift from18.5 to 16 Ma(spreading stage);and(3)accelerated subsidence from 16 to 0 Ma(post-spreading stage).This feature differs from the classic tectonic subsidence pattern of rifted basins,which exhibits fast subsidence during synrift stage and slow subsidence during the post-rift stage.The tectonic uplift occurred during the spreading stage and the magnitude increased from the continent to the ocean,which is likely related to mantle flow during seafloor spreading.We propose that lower crustal flow played a significant role in the tectonic evolution of the continental margins of the SWB.The lower crust of the SWB margins was warmer and therefore weaker,and more prone to flow beneath the faulting center,which compensated for the upper crustal thinning caused by brittle faulting during the synrift period and thus reduced the tectonic subsidence rate.During the spreading stage,faulting attenuated rapidly,and a necking zone appeared at the continentocean transition formed by lithospheric extension.With upwelling asthenosphere,small-scale secondary mantle convection occurred under the necking zone,which raised the continental margin isotherms and increased the buoyancy.Simultaneously,secondary mantle convection lifted the overriding crust,thus the overall subsidence rate decreased sharply or even reversed to uplift.After seafloor spreading,the effect of mantle convection faded away,and sediment loading drove the lower crust to flow landward.Thermal relaxation,lower crust flow,and vanish of secondary mantle convection together led to rapid subsidence in this stage.

Nickel-based superalloy architectures with surface mechanical attrition treatment: Compressive properties and collapse behaviour

Surface modifications can introduce natural gradients or structural hierarchy into human-made microlattices,making them simultaneously strong and tough.Herein,we describe our investigations of the mechanical properties and the underlying mechanisms of additively manufactured nickel–chromium superalloy(IN625)microlattices after surface mechanical attrition treatment(SMAT).Our results demonstrated that SMAT increased the yielding strength of these microlattices by more than 64.71%and also triggered a transition in their mechanical behaviour.Two primary failure modes were distinguished:weak global deformation,and layer-by-layer collapse,with the latter enhanced by SMAT.The significantly improved mechanical performance was attributable to the ultrafine and hard graded-nanograin layer induced by SMAT,which effectively leveraged the material and structural effects.These results were further validated by finite element analysis.This work provides insight into collapse behaviour and should facilitate the design of ultralight yet buckling-resistant cellular materials.

Selective laser melting(SLM)of CX stainless steel:Theoretical calculation,process optimization and strengthening mechanism

In the present work,selective laser melting(SLM)technology was utilized for manufacturing CX stainless steel samples under a series of laser parameters.The effect of laser linear energy density on the microstructure characteristics,phase distribution,crystallographic orientation and mechanical properties of these CX stainless steel samples were investigated theoretically and experimentally via scanning electron microscope(SEM),X-ray diffraction(XRD),electron backscatter diffraction(EBSD)and transmission electron microscope(TEM).Based on the systematic study,the SLM CX stainless steel sample with best surface roughness(Ra=4.05±1.8μm)and relative density(Rd=99.72%±0.22%)under the optimal linear density(η=245 J/m)can be obtained.SLM CX stainless steel was primarily constituted by a large number of fine martensite(α’phase)structures(i.e.,cell structures,cellular dendrites and blocky grains)and a small quantity of austenite(γphase)structures.The pre ferred crystallographic orientation(i.e.,<111>direction)can be determined in the XZ plane of the SLM CX sample.Furthermore,under the optimal linear energy density,the good combinations with the highest ultimate tensile strength(UTS=1068.0%±5.9%)and the best total elongation(TE=15.70%±0.26%)of the SLM CX sample can be attained.Dislocation strengthening dominates the strengthening mechanism of the SLM CX sample in as-built state.

Integrating thin wall into block:A new scanning strategy for laser powder bed fusion of dense tungsten

Due to a combination of outstanding properties including high melting point,high density,low thermal expansion coefficient,low saturated vapor pressure and excellent thermal conductivity,tungsten(W)parts have been widely used as electrodes,heating elements,anti-scatter grids for Computed Tomography(CT)equipment,rocket nozzles and divertor materials for nuclear fusion[1].