Forming condition of transient saturated zone and its distribution in residual slope under rainfall conditions

Rainfall, as one of the most significant factors triggering the residual soil slope failure, leads to not only the reduction of soil shear strength, but also the increase of soil weight and the decrease of matric suction as well. All these modifications in soil properties have important influence on the slope stability. The water infiltration and redistribution inside the slope are the preconditions of the slope stability under rainfall conditions. Based on the numerical simulation via finite element method, the water infiltration process under rainfall conditions was studied in the present work. The emphases are the formation, distribution and dissipation of transient saturated zone. As for the calculation parameters, the SWCC and the saturated permeability have been determined by pressure plate test and variable head test respectively. The entire process(formation, development, dissipation) of the transient saturated zone was studied in detail. The variations of volumetric water content, matric suction and hydraulic gradient inside the slope, and the eventually raise of groundwater table were characterized and discussed, too. The results show that the major cause of the formation of transient saturated zone is ascribed to the fact that the exudation velocity of rainwater on the wetting front is less than the infiltration velocity of rainfall; as a result, the water content of the soil increases. On the other hand, the formation and extension of transient saturated zone have a close relationship with rainfall intensity and duration. The results can help the geotechnical engineers for the deeper understanding of the failure of residual slope under rainfall condition. It is also suggested that the proper drainage system in the slope may be the cost-effective slope failure mitigation method.

Development of Karst Formation in Area 4 of Tahe Oilfield

The main oil-bearing formation of Area 4 of Tahe oilfield is in Yingshan Group of Ordovician consisted of thick pure limestone. The types of the pore space contain the pore, fissure, cave as well as fracture formed by solution collapse. The primary porosity and tectonic fracture are of poor growth. Therefore, the formation growth is mainly controlled by hydraulic units of the palaeo-karst. There are three palaeo-hydraulic zones: vadose zone (including infiltration sub-zone and percolation sub-zone), phreatic zone and tranquil zone. They are identified by retrieving the palaeo-geographical karst environment. The pore space of the infiltration zone is mainly solution fissures, small solution cavities and solution pores. The growth and lateral connection of the formation are favorable. The reservoir/formation ratio is 0. 54. The pore space of the phreatic zone developed large size cavities and fractures related to cave collapse. The height of the cavity can reach 71m. The fractures by collapse have a influencing range of more than 100m, and its reservoir/formation ratio is 0. 51. But the lateral connection is unfavorable. The percolation subzone and the tranquil zone are of relatively poor growth with the reservoir/ formation ratio less than 0. 3.

Dissolution Precipitation Wave Structure of Hydrothermal Ore Zoning

Hydrothermal ore zoning is a transport-reaction problem in which infiltration is the principal Prcness of transport and dissolution/Precipitation is the Principal process of chemical reactions.Neglecting diffusion and ion exchange/adsorption would not affect the basic attributes of hydrothermal ore zoning. Hydrothermal ore zoning belongs essentially to infiltration metasomatic zoning, it results from the formation and propagation of dissolution/precipitation waves through Permeable media. The authors apply the theory of coupled infiltration and dissolution/precipitation reactions in Physicochemical hydrodynamics to studying the structural characteristics of dissolution/precipitation waves, and apply furthermore the coherence principle in dynamic theory of multicomponent coupled systems to revealing the dynamic mechanisms of their formation. The results of investigation verify and develop . C. 's theory of infiltration metasomatic zoning,on the one hand, raising it from the qualitative, equilibrium thermodynamic basis to the quantitative dynamic level;on the other hand, and more importantly, applying theories of Physicochemical hydrodynamics and dynamics of multicomponent coupled systems to bringing to light the dynamic mechanisms of formation of the structure of hydrothermal ore zoning, and advancing a theory of hydrothermal ore zoning, putting forward new ideas on the nature of the problem of hydrothermal ore zoning, the essence of hydrothermal ore zoning and the structural characteristics and mechanisms of formation of hydrothermal ore zoning.