Regulation effect of the grille spacing of a funnel-type grating water–sediment separation structure on the debris flow performance

The size of pores or the grille spacing of water–sediment separation structures directly affects their regulation effect on the debris flow performance.A suitable pore size or grille spacing can effectively improve the water–sediment separation ability of the structure.The new funnel-type grating water–sediment separation structure(FGWSS)combines vertical and horizontal structures and provides a satisfactory water–sediment separation effect.However,the regulation effect of the grille spacing of the structure on the debris flow performance has not been studied.The regulation effect of the structure grille spacing on the debris flow performance is studied through a flume test,and the optimal structure grille spacing is obtained.An empirical equation of the relationship between the relative grille spacing of the structure and the sediment separation rate is established.Finally,the influence of the water–sediment separation structure on the regulation effect of debris flows is examined from two aspects:external factors(properties of debris flows)and internal factors(structural factors).The experimental results show that the gradation characteristics of solid particles in debris flows constitute a key factor affecting the regulation effect of the structure on the debris flow performance.The optimum grille spacing of the FGWSS matches the particle size corresponding to the material distribution curves d85~d90 of the debris flow.The total separation rate of debris flow particles is related to the grille spacing of the structure and the content of coarse and fine particles in the debris flow.

Soft Sediment Deformation Structures in the Maastrichtian Patti Formation, Southern Bida Basin Nigeria: Implications for the Assessment of Endogenic Triggers in the Maastrichtian Sedimentary Record

Detailed fieldwork carried out in the southern part of Bida Basin, Nigeria, allowed the documentation of soft sediment deformation structures (SSDS) in the Maastrichtian Patti Formation. The aim of this study is to examine the sedimentary successions, describe and analyse these deformation features, discuss their deformation mechanisms and potential triggers. The Maastrichtian Patti Formation is composed of lithofacies interpreted to have been deposited in tidal and fluvial sedimentary environments. Soft sediment deformation structures recognised in the tidal sediments were clastic dykes, load cast, isolated sand balls, dish-and-pillar structures, convolute lamination, diapiric structures and recumbent folds. Severely deformed cross beds, ring structures, associated sand balls, normal folds and recumbent folds were identified in the fluvial sediments. SSDS recognised were interpreted to have been caused by effects of liquefaction and fluidization. Field observations, facies analysis and morphology of the SSDS indicate that there are relationship between the depositional environments and SSDS. Endogenic processes are considered as the trigger agents and they are represented by rapid sedimentation and overloading, impact of breaking waves, pressure fluctuations caused by turbulent water flow, cyclic stress and current generated by storm waves and changes in water table. The present study did not identify exogenic processes as trigger agent. The occurrence of SSDS in southern Bida Basin strongly favoured a non-tectonic origin but a clear relationship high energy processes in tidal and fluvial depositional environments.

Origin and shallow-layer structure of the sediments in the Yellow Sea trough

On the basis of the analysis and study of the records of shallow-layer profiles and information from systematic analyses of some cores and their 14C datings, the sediments of Yellow Sea trough since the final slage the Late Pleistocene are found to have the following features. On the south slope of the trough, it is probably composed of island-shelf de posits. On the mouth of the trough, it is made up of eolian dunes and its deposits. In the centra! bottom region of the trough where intense desertization occurred in the early stage of the regression, there are parallel oblique beddings in the strata known as the 'angle of repose' texture, which demonstrates that the deposits there are composed of eolian sands. And in the late stage, thin derivative deposits developed in the northern part of the trough. On the north slope of the trough, thick-layer derivative deposits developed. This primary sedimentary pattern still remains unchanged since the occurrence of the Holocene transgression.

ON THE STRUCTURE AND MOVEMENT MECHANISM OF FLOW WITH HYPERCONCENTRATION OF SEDIMENT

This paper, based on the information obtained from flume experiments and field observations, concerns with the analyses of the flow with hyperconcentration of sediment containing a certain amount of fine particles. Attention is focused on the classification of flow with hyperconcentration of sediment, the properties of the Bingham shear stress τB and rigidity coefficient η, the movement mechanism of fluid within flow-core and non-flow-core regions, the shear stress distribution and so on. Several formulae have been proposed to indicate vertical velocity distribution of 2-dimensional steady and uniform turbulent flow with hyperconcentration of fluid. The formulae can be applied either to the flow of the Bingham fluid or to that of the Newtonian fluid.

Spatial variations of macrozoobenthos and sediment nutrients in Lake Yangcheng: Emphasis on effect of pen culture of Chinese mitten crab

We determined the effect of Chinese mitten crab（CMC） pen culture on the quantified spatial distribution of the macrozoobenthic community and sediment nutrients in Lake Yangcheng.Redundancy analysis indicated that water temperature, macrophyte occurrence, sediment type, and crab culture were the main environmental factors that influence the spatiotemporal macrozoobenthic distribution. Macrozoobenthic assemblages in the lake were characterized by eutrophic indicator species. In the most polluted estuaries, the abundance and diversity indices of the whole community and abundance of chironomids and oligochaetes were significantly depressed, and sediment carbon（C） and phosphorus（P） were significantly enhanced compared with those in the western, middle（MB）, and eastern basin（EB）. Crab culture in this lake had significant effects on the species composition of the macrozoobenthic community in one of three CMC culture pens（CP）, and generally depressed the abundance of most chironomid and oligochaete species. Significantly increased diversity, evenness, sediment carbon and nitrogen content, and sediment C：P ratio in the CP were found compared with those in the three basins.However, no conspicuous difference in sediment P content between the CP and the two basins of MB and EB was detected. Our results showed that the enhanced diversity and evenness of macrozoobenthos might be associated with the joint effect of macrophyte planting and crab predation, and macrophyte planting may modify the effects of CMC culture by leading to disproportional accumulation of C and N in the sediment relative to P in the CP of the lake.

EXPERIMENT STUDY ON SEDIMENT INCIPIENCE IN BACKWARD-FACING STEP FLOW

Flow over a backward-facing step was studied to investigate the effect of large-scale vortex structures on sediment incipience. The transient flow velocity field at the downstream of the backward-facing step was obtained using the technique of Particle Tracking Velocimetry （PTV）. The optical amplification technique was employed to measure the instantaneous flow velocities near the bed and the instantaneous bed shear stress was given. The experimental observations revealed a new insight into the oscillation of the large-scale structure and the three-dimensional characteristics of the flow. In particular, very high turbulence intensity, instantaneous horizontal velocity near the bed and the bed shear stress near the reattachment point were observed. The sediment incipient probability obtained from the sequent images of sediment particles near the bed indicates that the critical instantaneous shear stress of the sediment incipience is independent of flow conditions.

Variations of bank shift rates along the Yinchuan Plain reach of the Yellow River and their influencing factors

It is important to examine the lateral shift rate variation of river banks in different periods. One of the challenges in this regard is how to obtain the shift rate of river banks, as gauging stations are deficient for the study of river reaches. The present study selected the Yinchuan Plain reach of the Yellow River with a length of 196 km as a case study, and searched each point of intersection of 153 cross-sections （interval between two adjacent cross-sections was 1.3 km） and river banks in 1975, 1990, 2010 and 2011, which were plotted according to remote sensing images in those years. Then the shift rates for the points of intersection during 1975-1990, 1990-2010 and 2010-2011 were calculated, as well as the average shift rates for different sections and different periods. The results show that the left bank of the river reach shifts mostly to the right, with the average shift rates being 36.5 m/a, 27.8 m/a and 61.5 m/a in the three periods, respectively. Contemporarily, the right bank shifts mostly to the right in the first period, while it shifts to the left in the second and third periods, with the average shift rates being 31.7 m/a, 23.1 m/a and 50.8 m/a in the three periods, respectively. The average shift rates for the left and right banks during the period 1975-2011 are 22.3 m/a and 14.8 m/a, respectively. The bank shift rates for sections A, B and C are different. The shift rate ratio of the left bank in the three sections is 1：7.6：4.6 for shift to the left and 1：1.7：3.8 for shift to the right, while that of the right bank is 1：1.8：1.2 for shift to the left and 1：5.6：17.7 for shift to the right during the period 1975-2011. Obviously, the average shift rate is the least in section A, while it is maximum in section B for shift to the left and in section C for shift to the right. The temporal variation of the shift rate is influenced by human activities while the spatial variation is controlled by the local difference in bank materials.

Deformation mechanism and hydrocarbon significance of Eocene organic-rich fine-grained soft sediments in the Leijia Region,Liaohe Depression

The deformation structure of soft sediments has always been a research hotspot,which is of great significance for analyzing the tectonic and sedimentary evolution background of a basin,as well as the physical properties of reservoirs.Previous studies have reported that a large number of soft sediment deformation structures are developed in the western part of Liaohe depression.In this study,through core observation and thin section identification,various types of deformation structures are identified in the core samples which are collected from the upper Es4 in the Leijia region,western sag of Liaohe depression,such as liquefied dikes,liquefied breccia,convoluted laminae,annular bedding,synsedimentary faults,vein structures,etc.Based on the characteristics of core structure,single well profile and continuous well profile,combined with the regional background,this study clarifies that the deformation structure of soft sediments in the study area is mainly caused by seismic action.It is found that the permeability and porosity of deformation layers in the study area are higher than those of the undeformation layers,which proves that the deformation structure of soft sediments has a good effect on improving the physical properties of reservoirs.