Modification of rock mass rating system:Interbedding of strong and weak rock layers

Rock mass classification systems are the very important part for underground projects and rock mass rating(RMR) is one of the most commonly applied classification systems in numerous civil and mining projects. The type of rock mass consisting of an interbedding of strong and weak layers poses difficulties and uncertainties for determining the RMR. For this, the present paper uses the concept of rock bolt supporting factor(RSF) for modification of RMR system to be used in such rock mass types. The proposed method also demonstrates the importance of rock bolting practice in such rock masses. The geological parameters of the Shemshak Formation of the Alborz Tunnel in Iran are used as case examples for development of the theoretical approach.

Persistent mixing bursts in the equatorial Pacific thermocline induced by persistent equatorial waves

A recent study by Liu et al.(2020)suggested that due to the saturation of equatorially trapped planetary waves with different dynamical types,temporal periods,meridional and baroclinic modes,complex layer structures of vertical velocity shear and hence turbulent mixing could frequently occur in the thermocline of the eastern equatorial Pacific.We investigated the occurrence of the interior turbulent mixing as indicated by shear instabilities,above the Equatorial Undercurrent(EUC)core at three equatorial sites along 140°W,170°W,and 165°E,respectively,based mainly on data from the Tropical Atmosphere and Ocean(TAO)mooring array.We found that turbulent mixing bursts persisted in the thermocline of all three sites.Specifically,the interior turbulent mixing layers(ITMLs)could occur in probability of approximately 68%,53%,and 48%at the three sites,respectively.The overall occurrence probability shows obvious and similar biannual variations at 140°W and 170°W,which is higher in boreal from late summer to winter and lower in spring.Vertically,the ITMLs are primarily located above the EUC core and prevail in deeper(shallower)layers from late summer to winter(spring).Most ITMLs(70%)lasted for hours to 3 days,and a few of them(15%)for more than 7 days.The thicknesses of ITMLs were concentrated between 15 and 55 m.At 165°E,the vertical distribution of ITML occurrence probability was different from that at 140°W and 170°W,as it did not show a preference for depths;the durations of ITMLs are short(also from hours to several days)and their thicknesses were between 5 and 25 m.These properties,particularly the high occurrence probability,and short durations demonstrated the persistence of thermocline mixing in the western to eastern equatorial Pacific thermocline and confirmed the generation mechanism by persistent equatorial waves as well.

Parameter inversion and location determination of evolutionary weak layer for open-pit mine slope

In light of the complex and dynamic mechanical properties of evolving weak strata in open-pit mines,and the consequent difficulty of determining their mechanical parameters,this study uses the ultimate balance theory,along with the back analysis method combined with monitoring data on field displacement,to carry out parameter inversion using the FLAC3D numerical simulation software.The edge slope of a working pit of the Weijiamao open-pit mine was used as research object to this end.As the results obtained by the constitutive model were consistent with the field monitoring data,the evolving weak strata in the slope and the position of the landslide in the mine could be obtained.The landslide was directed northeast.The mechanism of the edge slope of the working pit was identified as unloading shear failure,and the feasibility of the method of parameter inversion was verified.The internal friction angle φand cohesion C of evolving weak strata in the slope of the open-pit mine were also obtained,where this compensated for the deficiency of laboratory tests and enabled the transformation from qualitative to quantitative analysis.This can provide a reliable basis for the safe operation of open-pit mines.

Numerical analysis of loess and weak intercalated layer failure behavior under direct shearing and cyclic loading

The mechanical behavior of the joints inside a loess layer is greatly important in weak intercalation studies owing to its involvement in a wide range of landslides in the loess region in China.The shear behavior of the joints in the loess stratum during direct shear and cyclic loadings was investigated using the PFC2D discrete element software.Loess mudstone and mudstone with weak intercalated layer materials were subjected to direct testing,and cyclic shear tests were conducted with consideration to the influence of normal stress and shear velocity.The macroscopic properties and damage patterns were obtained for six numerical configurations;namely,loess-weathered mudstone with 0°,10°,and-10°joints and weathered mudstone with 0°,10°,and-10°weak intercalated layers.The numerical test results revealed that,in the direct shear tests,the shear stress and shear displacement of the samples increased with the normal stress.In the cyclic shear tests with a total cycle number N=20,the shear stress-shear strain curve of the six different configurations exhibited a hysteresis loop.The numerical tests also revealed that,under cyclic shear,the normal stress and shear velocity affected the shear strength.The degree of damage increased as the shear velocity decreased from 0.1 mm/s to 0.005 mm/s for all six numerical configurations.Compared with the damage pattern of the direct shear tests,the damage of the cyclic shear tests mainly comprised shear cracks and fractures,some shaking consolidation settlement and fewer shear strain occurred around the joints.In the direct shear tests,more compression cracks and fractures occurred in the samples.The damage mainly developed along the joints,and shearing-off damage occurred.The results obtained by this study further elucidate the failure mechanism and microscopic damage response of the joints in the loess stratum in Northwest China.

The quasi-Rayleigh waves in a layered solid medium with a weak interface

The Rayleigh waves in a layered solid medium is dispersive. Using the 'spring' model for a weak interface between two solids, the characteristic equation for the quasi-Rayleigh waves in an isotropic layered solid medium with a weak interface is presented. The numerical results for the typical coating structure with the rigid, slip and weak interface are shown. The influence of the interface stiffness constants on the velocity of the quasi-Rayleigh waves is considered. The numerical results show that the interface characteristics of the coating structure can be nondestructively evaluated by employing the quasi-Rayleigh waves in the low frequency band.

Singular limits for the Navier-Stokes-Poisson equations of the viscous plasma with the strong density boundary layer

The quasi-neutral limit of the Navier-Stokes-Poisson system modeling a viscous plasma with vanishing viscosity coefficients in the half-space■is rigorously proved under a Navier-slip boundary condition for velocity and the Dirichlet boundary condition for electric potential.This is achieved by establishing the nonlinear stability of the approximation solutions involving the strong boundary layer in density and electric potential,which comes from the breakdown of the quasi-neutrality near the boundary,and dealing with the difficulty of the interaction of this strong boundary layer with the weak boundary layer of the velocity field.