Hydraulic and volume change behaviors of compacted highly expansive soil under cyclic wetting and drying

The wide engineered application of compacted expansive soils necessitates understanding their behavior under field conditions.The results of this study demonstrate how seasonal climatic variation and stress and boundary conditions individually or collectively influence the hydraulic and volume change behavior of compacted highly expansive soils.The cyclic wetting and drying(CWD)process was applied for two boundary conditions,i.e.constant stress(CS)and constant volume(CV),and for a wide range of axial stress states.The adopted CWD process affected the hydraulic and volume change behaviors of expansive soils,with the first cycle of wetting and drying being the most effective.The CWD process under CS conditions resulted in shrinkage accumulation and reduction in saturated hydraulic conductivity(k sat).On the other hand,CWD under CV conditions caused a reduction of swell pressure while has almost no impact on k sat.An elastic response to CWD was achieved after the third cycle for saturated hydraulic conductivity(k sat),the third to fourth cycle for the volume change potential under the CV conditions,and the fourth to fifth cycle for the volume change potential under the CS conditions.Finally,both swell pressure(s s)and saturated hydraulic conductivity(k sat)are not fundamental parameters of the expansive soil but rather depend on stress,boundary and wetting conditions.

Enhance liquid nitrogen fracturing performance on hot dry rock by cyclic injection

Producing complex fracture networks in a safe way plays a critical role in the hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal energy exploitation. However, conventional hydraulic fracturing (HF) generally produces high breakdown pressure and results only in single main fracture morphology. Furthermore, HF has also other problems such as the increased risk of seismic events and consuption of large amount of water. In this work, a new stimulation method based on cyclic soft stimulation (CSS) and liquid nitrogen (LN2) fracturing, known as cyclic LN2 fracturing is explored, which we believe has the potential to solve the above issues related to HF. The fracturing performances including breakdown pressure and fracture morphology on granites under true-triaxial stresses are investigated and compared with cyclic water fracturing. Cryo-scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-SEM) tests and X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning tests were used for quantitative characterization of fracture parameters and to evaluate the cyclic LN2 fracturing performances. The results demonstrate that the cyclic LN2 fracturing results in reduced breakdown pressure, with between 21% and 67% lower pressure compared with using cyclic water fracturing. Cyclic LN2 fracturing tends to produce more complex and branched fractures, whereas cyclic water fracturing usually produces a single main fracture under a low number of cycles and pressure levels. Thermally-induced fractures mostly occur around the interfaces of different particles. This study shows the potential benefits of cyclic LN2 fracturing on HDR. It is expected to provide theoretical guidance for the cyclic LN2 fracturing application in HDR reservoirs.

充氮处理对骏枣干枣贮期品质和活性成分的影响

【目的】探求充氮处理对骏枣干枣贮藏过程中品质和活性成分的影响。【方法】将骏枣干枣置于密封的0.08 mm PE袋内,抽真空后在袋内充入氮气,置于常温下贮藏,以自然空气条件为对照,分析骏枣干枣贮期水分含量、VC含量、总糖含量、总酸含量和环磷酸腺苷(c AMP)等5个指标的变化。【结果】骏枣干枣包装后充入氮气,在一定程度上减缓了水分含量、VC含量的下降,减慢了总酸含量的消耗,减少了c AMP的损失,保证了骏枣干枣贮期的品质。【结论】对骏枣干枣进行充氮处理,能够减少活性成分的损失,较好的维持了骏枣干枣的品质。

Effect of dry density on the liquefaction behaviour of Quaternary silt

Quaternary silt is widely distributed in China and easily liquefies during earthquakes. To identify the influence of the dry density on the liquefaction behaviour of Quaternary silt, 40 cyclic triaxial liquefaction tests were performed on loose silt(dry density rd=1.460 g/cm^3) and dense silt(rd=1.586 g/cm^3) under different cyclic stress ratios(CSRs) to obtain liquefaction assessment criteria, determine the liquefaction resistance, improve the excess pore water pressure(EPWP) growth model and clarify the relationship between the shear modulus and damping ratio. The results indicate that the initial liquefaction assessment criteria for the loose and dense silts are a double-amplitude axial strain of 5% and an EPWP ratio of 1. The increase in the anti-liquefaction ability for the dense silt is more significant under lower confining pressures. The CSR of loose silt falls well within the results of the sandy silt and Fraser River silt, and the dense silt exhibits a higher liquefaction resistance than the sand-silt mixture. The relationships between the CSR and loading cycles were obtained at a failure strain of 1%. The EPWP development in the dense and loose silts complies with the "fast-stable" and "fast-gentle-sharp" growth modes, respectively. The power function model can effectively describe the EPWP growth characteristics of the dense silt. Finally, based on the liquefaction behaviour of silt, a suggestion for reinforcing silt slopes or foundations is proposed.

Fracture Network Volume Fracturing Technology in High-temperature Hard Formation of Hot Dry Rock

It is more difficult for a hot dry rock to form a fracture network system than shale due to its special lithology, physical and mechanical properties under high temperature. The essential characteristics, rock mechanics and in-situ stress characteristics of a hot rock mass have been systematically studied by means of laboratory tests and true tri-axial physical simulation. The fracture initiation and propagation characteristics under different geological and engineering conditions are physically simulated, and the main controlling factors for the formation of a complex fracture network are revealed. The technology of low displacement for enhancing thermal cracking, gel fluid for expanding fracture and variable displacement cyclic injection for increasing a fracture network has been applied in the field, and good results have been achieved. Microseismic monitoring results demonstrate that complex fractures were formed in the field test, and the stimulation volume for heat exchanging reaches more than 3 million cubic meters. The research results play an important role in the stimulation technology of an enhanced geothermal system(EGS) and realize a breakthrough for power generation.

Self-healing of engineered cementitious composites at simulated summer conditions

Self-healing of engineered cementitious composites(ECC) subjected to a cyclic drying and wetting regime simulated summer outdoor environment was investigated in this paper.Uniaxial tension tests were used to generate multiple cracks in ECC specimens deformed to varying tensile strains.To quantify self-healing,resonant frequency measurements were conducted throughout drying-wetting cycles followed by tensile testing of self-healing ECC specimens.It was found that through self-healing the resonant frequency of ECC can recover 81% to 90% of initial values while showing a distinct rebound in stiffness of cracked ECC after self-healing.For specimens pre-loaded to high levels of strain between 2% and 3%,the tensile strain after self-healing can recover from 1.8% to 2.2%.Also,the effects of temperature during cyclic regime can lead to an increase in the ultimate strength of the material while slightly decreasing the strain-hardening capacity of ECC due to further hydration of unreacted cement and fly ash.

Performances of a new sustainable and durable dry beam-column joints under cyclic and impact loads

This study investigated the performances of a new type of precast beam-column joint subjected to earthquake and impact loads.For sustainability and durability considerations,new materials such as corrosion-resistant fibre reinforced polymer(FRP)bolts and reinforcements,fibre reinforced concrete(FRC),and geopolymer concrete(GPC)were used to construct the joint.To examine the resilience,durability,sustainability,and multi-hazard resistance capacities,both cyclic and pendulum impact tests were carried out.The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed precast joints had the comparable or even better performances as compared with the traditional monolithic joints under cyclic and impact loads.Numerical simulations using ABAQUS were also adopted to determine the optimal values of the concrete-end-plate(CEP)thickness for the proposed dry joints and to further quantify other response parameters which could not be obtained during the test,e.g.,stress distribution,energy absorption,and stress contours.Discussion on the influences of various parameters on joint performances under different loading conditions was also presented in this study.