Microscopic Analysis of Cementitious Sand and Gravel Damming Materia

The mechanical properties of cementitious sand and gravel damming material have been experimentally determined by means of microscopic SEM(Scanning Electron Microscopy)image analysis.The results show that the combination of fly ash and water can fill the voids in cemented sand and gravel test blocks because of the presence of hydrated calcium silicate and other substances;thereby,the compactness and mechanical properties of these materials can be greatly improved.For every 10 kg/m^(3) increase in the amount of cementitious material,the density increases by about 2%,and the water content decreases by 0.2%.The amount of cementitious material used in the sand and gravel in these tests was 80-110 kg/m^(3),the water-binder ratio was 1-1.50.Moreover,the splitting tensile strength was 1/10 of the compressive strength,and the maximum strength was 7.42 MPa at 90 d.The optimal mix ratio has been found to be 50 kg of cement,60 kg of fly ash and 120 kg of water(C50F60W120).The related dry density was 2.6 g/cm^(3),the water content was 6%,and the water-binder ratio was 1.09.

Effects of temperature and age on physico-mechanical properties of cemented gravel sand backfills

Cemented backfill used in deep mines would inevitably be exposed to the ambient temperature of 20−60℃in the next few decades.In this paper,two types of cemented gravel sand backfills,cemented rod-mill sand backfill(CRB)and cemented gobi sand backfill(CGB),were prepared and cured at various temperatures(20,40,60℃)and ages(3,7,28 d),and the effects of temperature and age on the physico-mechanical properties of CRB and CGB were investigated based on laboratory tests.Results show that:1)the effects of temperature and age on the physico-mechanical properties of backfills mainly depend on the amount of hydration products and the refinement of cementation structures.The temperature has a more significant effect on thermal expansibility and ultrasonic performance at early ages.2)The facilitating effect of temperature and age on the compressive strength of CGB is higher than that on CRB.With the increase of temperature,the compressive failure modes changed from X-conjugate shear failure to tensile failure,and the integrity of specimens was significantly improved.3)Similarly,the shear performance of CGB is generally better than that of CRB.The temperature has a weaker effect on shear strength than age,but the shear deformation and shear plane morphology are closely related to temperature.

Lithofacies paleogeography mapping and reservoir prediction in tight sandstone strata: A case study from central Sichuan Basin, China

Sand-rich tight sandstone reservoirs are potential areas for oil and gas exploration. However, the high ratio of sandstone thickness to that of the strata in the formation poses many challenges and uncertainties to traditional lithofacies paleogeography mapping. Therefore, the prediction of reservoir sweet spots has remained problematic in the field of petroleum exploration. This study provides new insight into resolving this problem, based on the analyses of depositional characteristics of a typical modern sand-rich formation in a shallow braided river delta of the central Sichuan Basin, China. The varieties of sand-rich strata in the braided river delta environment include primary braided channels,secondary distributary channels and the distribution of sediments is controlled by the successive superposed strata deposited in paleogeomorphic valleys. The primary distributary channels have stronger hydrodynamic forces with higher proportions of coarse sand deposits than the secondary distributary channels. Therefore, lithofacies paleogeography mapping is controlled by the geomorphology, valley locations, and the migration of channels. We reconstructed the paleogeomorphology and valley systems that existed prior to the deposition of the Xujiahe Formation. Following this, rock-electro identification model for coarse skeletal sand bodies was constructed based on coring data. The results suggest that skeletal sand bodies in primary distributary channels occur mainly in the valleys and low-lying areas,whereas secondary distributary channels and fine deposits generally occur in the highland areas. The thickness distribution of skeletal sand bodies and lithofacies paleogeography map indicate a positive correlation in primary distributary channels and reservoir thickness. A significant correlation exists between different sedimentary facies and petrophysical properties. In addition, the degree of reservoir development in different sedimentary facies indicates that the mapping method reliably predicts the distribution of sweet spots. The application and understanding of the mapping method provide a reference for exploring tight sandstone reservoirs on a regional basis.

Triaxial shear behavior of a cement-treated sand——gravel mixture

A number of parameters,e.g.cement content,cement type,relative density,and grain size distribution,can influence the mechanical behaviors of cemented soils.In the present study,a series of conventional triaxial compression tests were conducted on a cemented poorly graded sandegravel mixture containing 30% gravel and 70% sand in both consolidated drained and undrained conditions.Portland cement used as the cementing agent was added to the soil at 0%,1%,2%,and 3%(dry weight) of sandegravel mixture.Samples were prepared at 70% relative density and tested at confining pressures of 50 kPa,100 kPa,and150 kPa.Comparison of the results with other studies on well graded gravely sands indicated more dilation or negative pore pressure in poorly graded samples.Undrained failure envelopes determined using zero Skempton’s pore pressure coefficient (= 0) criterion were consistent with the drained ones.Energy absorption potential was higher in drained condition than undrained condition,suggesting that more energy was required to induce deformation in cemented soil under drained state.Energy absorption increased with increase in cement content under both drained and undrained conditions.

Effects of fluid flow rate and viscosity on gravel-pack plugging and the optimization of sand-control wells production

Series of experiments were performed to simulate the invasion of formation sand into and the plugging process of gravel-pack at different viscosities and flowing rates of fluid.Two types of formation sands with the medium size of 0.10 mm and 0.16 mm and the quartz sand and ceramsite of 0.6-1.2 mm were used in the experiments.A new viscosity-velocity index(the product of fluid viscosity and velocity)was put forward to characterize the influencing mechanism and law of physical property and flow condition of formation fluid on gravel-pack plugging,and a new method to optimize the production rate of wells controlling sand production with gravel-packing was proposed.The results show that the permeability of formation sand invaded zone and final permeability of plugged gravel-pack have negative correlations with viscosity and flow velocity of fluid,the higher the flow velocity and viscosity,the lower the permeability of formation sand invaded zone and final permeability of plugged gravel-pack will be.The flow velocity and viscosity of fluid are key factors affecting plugging degree of the gravel zone.The viscosity-velocity index(v-v index)can reflect the flow characteristics of fluid very well and make it easier to analyze the plugging mechanism of gravel zone.For different combinations of fluid viscosity and flow velocity,if the v-v index is the same or close,their impact on the final gravel permeability would be the same or close.With the increase of the v-v index,the permeability of plugged gravel zone decreases first,then the reduction rate slows down till the permeability stabilizes.By optimizing production and increasing production step by step,the optimal working scheme for sand-control well can reduce the damage to gravel-pack zone permeability caused by sand-carrying fluid effectively,and increase well productivity and extend the sand control life.

Effects of Different Gravel Mulched Years on Soil Microbial Flora and Physical and Chemical Properties in Gravelsand Mulched Fields

Soil microbial flora and influencing factors of soil microbes in soil and gravel-sand mixed layer（ SGSML）,roots denseness layer（ RDL）,eluviate layer（ EL） and calcium accumulation layer（ CAL） in gravel-sand mulched fields（ GSMFs） with different gravel mulched years（ 1,6,12,19 and 25 years） were studied. The results showed that in the composition of soil microbes in the GSMFs,the quantity of bacteria was the largest,followed by actinomycetes,while the number of fungi was the smallest. The total quantity of soil microorganisms in the GSMFs dropped rapidly with the increase of soil depth,which was related to the sudden decrease in the quantity of bacteria. The number of microbes in the RDL was larger than that in the SGSML with few roots due to the effects of root distribution. The number of bacteria and actinomycete in the growing season was larger than that in the non-growing season,while the quantity of fungi in the growing season was smaller than that in the non-growing season. The quantity of bacteria and fungi was the largest in the GSMFs which had been mulched with gravel for 6-12 years. With the increase of mulching time,the GSMFs aged gradually,so their quantity reduced gradually. The quantity of actinomycetes was the smallest in the GSMFs which had been mulched with gravel for 6-12 years and increased with the increase of mulching time. The number of soil microbes in the GSMFs had a good correlation with soil moisture content,p H and mulching time. Soil total carbon content was an important factor restricting the quantity of soil microbes in the GSMFs.

Long-term effects of gravel-sand mulch thickness on soil microbes and enzyme activities in semi-arid Loess Plateau,Northwest China

In semi-arid areas of China,gravel and sand mulch is a farming technique with a long history.In this study,a sample survey was conducted on long term gravel sand mulch observational fields in the Northwest Loess Plateau to determine the effects of long term mulch on soil microbial and soil enzyme activities.We found that after long term gravel-sand mulch,compared with bare ground,soil organic matter,alkali nitrogen,conductivity decreased,while pH and soil moisture increased.Urease,saccharase and catalase decreased with increased mulch thickness,while alkaline phosphatase was reversed.The results of Illumina MiSeq sequencing shows that after gravel-sand mulch,the bacterial and fungal community structure was different from bare land,and the diversity was reduced.Compared with bare land,the bacteria Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria abundance increased with increased thickness,and Actinobacteria was opposite.Also,at the fungal genus level,Fusarium abundance was significantly reduced,and Remersonia was significantly increased,compared with bare land.Redundancy analysis(RDA)revealed that soil environmental factors were important drivers of bacterial community changes.Overall,this study revealed some of the reasons for soil degradation after long term gravel-sand mulch.Therefore,it is recommended that the addition of exogenous soil nutrients after long term gravel-sand can help improve soil quality.

Equal Volumes of Sand and Gravel Concrete Mix Ratios in Cameroon and Its Effect on Concrete Compressive Strength

In recent years, the rationalization of concrete mix ratios which batches equal volumes of sand and gravel in building projects has been gaining grounds in the Cameroon construction industry. The main objective of this study is therefore to investigate if the concrete produced with rationalized mix ratio can be adopted as conventional mix ratio in terms of minimum required compression strength of concrete for buildings. Specifically this work compared the conventional mix ratio of 350 kg of cement: 400 liters of sand: 800 liters of gravel for a cubic meter and the rationalized batch of 350 kg of cement: 600 liters of sand: 600 liters of 5/15 gravel, 15/25 gravel and a combination of 5/15 + 15/25 gravel. Average compressive tests’results for both the conventional and the rationalized mix ratios were found to meet the minimum compressive strength of 65% at 7 days, 90% at 14 days and 99% at 28 days for gravel size combination 5/15 + 15/25. Single size gravel of 5/15 and 15/25 did not meet the minimum required compressive strength of 20 N/mm2 for the rationalized mix ratio at 28 days curing based on the minimum compressive strength required, this study arrives at the conclusion that the equal volumes of sand and gravel mix ratio of 350 kg/m3 of cement: 600 liters of sand: 600 liters of gravel mix ratio can be adopted as a conventional concrete mix ratio for gravel size 5/15 + 15/25.

A study on impacts of groundwater seepage on artificial freezing process of gravel strata

Purpose–This paper aims to study the impacts of groundwater seepage on artificial freezing process of gravel strata,the temperature field characteristics of the strata,and the strata process,closure time and thickness evolution mechanism of the frozen wall.Design/methodology/approach–In this paper several laboratory model tests were conducted,considering different groundwater seepage rate.Findings–The results show that there is a significant coupling effect between the cold diffusion of artificial freezing pipes and groundwater seepage;when there is no seepage,temperature fields upstream and downstream of the gravel strata are symmetrically distributed,and the thickness of the frozen soil column/frozen wall is consistent during artificial freezing;groundwater seepage causes significant asymmetry in the temperature fields upstream and downstream of the gravel strata,and the greater the seepage rate,the more obvious the asymmetry;the frozen wall closure time increases linearly with the increase in the groundwater seepage rate,and specifically,the time length under seepage rate of 5.00 m d
1 is 3.2 times longer than that under no seepage;due to the erosion from groundwater seepage,the thickness of the upstream frozen wall decreases linearly with the seepage velocity,while that of the downstream frozen wall increases linearly,resulting in a saddle-shaped frozen wall.Originality/value–The research results are beneficial to the optimum design and risk control of artificial freezing process in gravel strata.

Sieving Error from Dry-Separating Silt-Sand-Gravel Soils

The dry-separation method is an alternative to the wet-preparation in the current European Standard for the determination of particle size distributions by the sieving of soils. Due to the risk of error, dry-separation is cautioned against in the standard;however, there is no additional guidance as to when it is unsuitable nor for the magnitude of error that it may introduce. This study investigates the dry-separation method as an alternative by comparing with the conventional method of Wet-preparation in terms of particle-size distributions of eight cohesionless sand-gravel soils with varying amounts of nonplastic fines. The findings indicate a gradually increasing sieving error for fractions at minus 0.5 mm with the amount of fines in the soil, and depending on the fines content of the soil, dry-separation introduced errors upwards of 45% in silt-sand-gravel soils. An empirical best-fit formula is proposed for the estimation of the error using the dry-preparation method on this type of soil. Furthermore, to avoid sieving errors, the results suggest that the dry-separation method should not be used for silt-sand-gravel soils exceeding 2% silt size fractions.

The Hydrochemical Characteristics of a Stressed Sand-Gravel Aquifer: Kazan Plain, Ankara, Turkey

Over-exploitation and sand-gravel mining affect groundwater resources in terms of both quantity and quality. Groundwater level and well yields in and around the sand-gravel pits significantly decrease. Sand-gravel mining also changes the turbidity levels and temperature of groundwater. Reduction and destruction of valuable aquifers are significant issues. In this case, the natural state of the aquifer disappears. The Kazan Plain in central Turkey is a dramatic example of these kinds of results. The productive sand-gravel aquifer in the Kazan plain has been substantially damaged due to intensive sand-gravel mining since the 1980s. Additionally, over-exploitation has caused notable declines in groundwater levels, particularly in the 2000s. This study focuses on the hydrogeochemical situation of the Kazan Plain alluvium aquifer after intensive sand-gravel mining and over-exploitation. Groundwater samples were collected seasonally in 2015, five years after the over-exploitation and heavy sand-gravel mining. The decline reached 20 m (about half of the saturated thickness of the sand-gravel aquifer) in the region where the intensive groundwater abstraction lasted until 2010. Some quarries continued to operate until 2010, but after that mining activity continued only at a minimum level. Today, groundwater quality has been significantly degraded due to the over-exploitation of sand-gravel mining and also the cessation of recharge from fresh river water.

Sedimentary Changes of a Sand Layer in Liquefied Silts

A flume experiment was conducted to investigate the restratification of liquefied sediment strata under a wave load with the focus on the interbedded strata of coarse and fine sediments formed in estuarine and coastal areas.The aim of this research was to study the characteristics and processes of liquefied sediment strata in terms of wave-induced liquefaction.In the experiment,the bottom bed liquefied under the wave action and the liquefied soil moved in the same period with the overlying waves,and the track of the soil particles in the liquefied soil was an ellipse.The sand layer consisting of coarse particles in the upper part,settled into the lower silt layer.The sinking of coarse particles and upward migration of the fine particles of the lower layer induced by liquefied sediment fluctuations are the likely reasons for sedimentation of the sand layer in liquefied silt.

Effects of gravel mulch on aeolian transport:a field wind tunnel simulation

The shape,size and coverage of gravels have significant impacts on aeolian sand transport.This study provided an understanding of aeolian transport over the gravel mulching surfaces at different wind velocities by means of a mobile wind tunnel simulation.The tested gravel coverage increased from 5% to 80%,with a progressive increment of 5%.The gravels used in the experiments have three sizes in diameter.Wind velocities were measured using 10 sand-proof pitot-static probes,and mean velocity fields were obtained and discussed.The results showed that mean velocity fields obtained over different gravel mulches were similar.The analysis of wind speed patterns revealed an inherent link between gravel mulches and mean airflow characteristics on the gravel surfaces.The optimal gravel coverage is considered to be the critical level above or below which aeolian transport characteristics differ strongly.According to the present study,the optimal gravel coverage was found to be around 30% or 40%.Threshold velocity linearly increased with gravel coverage.Sand transport rate first increased with height above the wind tunnel floor（Hf）,reaching a peak at some midpoint,and then decreased.

Large scale sand saltation over hard surface:a controlled experiment in still air

Saltation is the major particle movement type in wind erosion process.Saltating sand grains can rebound up to tens of times larger in length and height over hard surface(such as gravel surface)than over loose sand surface.Gravels usually have different faces,causing distinct response of the impacting grains,but the effects of the grain and gravel-surface contact angle on grain rebound are not yet well quantified.We performed full-range controlled experiments of grain saltation using different contact angles,grain sizes and impact speeds in still air,to show that contact angle increases the height of representative saltation path but decreases particle travel length.The results were compared with outputs from the COMprehensive numerical model of SALTation(COMSALT).Large saltation height of 4.8 m and length of 9.0 m were recorded.The maximum and representative saltation height over the gravel surface were found to be about 4.9 times and 12.8 times those over the loose sandy surface,respectively.The maximum saltation length may be reduced by 58%and the representative saltation height may be increased by 77%as contact angle increases from 20°to 40°.We further showed that the collision inertia contributes 60%of the saltation length,and wind contributes to the other 40%.These quantitative findings have important implications for modeling saltation trajectory over gravel surface.

Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Particle Migration and Patterning Behavior in a Gravel Pack

Due to its long lifespan and high sand-removal efficiency,gravel packing is one of the most applied sand control methods during the recovery of reservoirs with sanding problems.The blockage and retention of injected sand in a gravel pack is a complex process affected by multiple mechanisms.The majority of existing studies based on the phenomenological deep bed filtration(DBF)theory focused on the gravel pack’s overall permeability damage and failed to obtain the inner-pore particle distribution pattern.In this work,experiments and simulations were carried out to reveal the particle distribution in a gravel pack during flooding.In particular,through real-time monitoring of particle migration,the penetration depth and distribution pattern of invaded particles with different gravel-sand particle ratios,fluid viscosities and injection rates could be determined.By simplifying each unit bed element(UBE)into a pore-throat structure with four tunnels(two horizontals for discharge and two verticals for sedimentation),a new network simulation method,which combines deep bed filtration with a particle trajectory model,was implemented.Cross comparison of experimental and numerical results demonstrates the validity and accuracy of the model.

柴达木盆地卤水钾盐迁聚规律与找矿新突破

钾盐是我国大宗紧缺战略性“粮食”矿产,对保障国家粮食安全具有重要意义。我国钾盐资源具有需求量大、对外依存度高等特点,寻找新的钾盐矿床、形成新的大型钾盐资源基地刻不容缓。2023年,中国地质调查局组织开展青海柴达木盆地钾盐“增储保供”地质调查工作,在前期对柴达木盆地成盐聚钾规律性认识的基础上,于柴西北大浪滩—黑北凹地部署实施了“探采一体化”柴钾1井,钻获1021.95 m(井深111.54~1133.49 m)巨厚松散砂砾储卤层,全井段抽卤试验获日稳定涌水量8586 m^(3)/d、水位降深11.3 m、单位涌水量759.89 m^(3)/d·m、氯化钾平均含量为0.54%的高产工业品位“砂砾型”卤水钾矿,取得了柴达木盆地陆相深层卤水钾盐找矿新突破,为形成中国新的亿吨级大型钾盐基地夯实了资源基础。

砂卵石地层矿山法隧道长管棚支护机理及应用

研究目的:砂卵石地层由于卵石强度高且颗粒分布无序,因此长管棚施工地层扰动大且支护效果难以保证,已成为制约隧道实际应用的一大瓶颈。本文以某轨道交通暗挖法车站为依托工程,采用理论分析、现场测试与数值模拟相结合的方法,对不同直径、不同环向间距条件下长管棚的支护效果进行了深入研究,以期揭示砂卵石地层矿山法隧道长管棚支护机理,提出最佳支护参数。研究结论:(1)砂卵石地层,暗挖隧道管棚超前支护条件下,地层沉降变形在向地表传递过程中,沿高度方向的折减率约为0.91 mm/m;(2)管棚超前支护效果对矿山法隧道工程安全具有决定性作用,须采取措施减小管棚施工扰动及相应地层变形;(3)根据单因素敏感性分析结果,地表沉降随管棚支护长度的增加而增大,随管棚环向间距的增大而增加,且基本呈正相关;(4)为有效控制地表沉降并提高工程经济效益,建议直径127 mm管棚环向间距宜为35 cm,支护长度宜为40 m;直径159 mm管棚建议环向间距宜为40 cm,支护长度宜为40 m;直径209 mm管棚建议环向间距宜为45 cm,支护长度宜为50 m;管棚直径与其最佳打设长度正相关;(5)本研究结论可为砂卵石地层矿山法隧道支护措施提供借鉴与参考。

富水砂卵石地层盆形冻结止水技术研究

为解决全断面砂卵石地层地下工程的地下水控制问题,提出盆形冻结止水技术。首先,采用三轴力学试验研究冻结砂卵石的压缩力学特性和蠕变力学特性;然后,采用大尺度物理模型试验和数值模拟方法研究盆形冻结的温度场扩展规律,并根据研究结果进一步提出盆形冻结积极冻结期的群孔布置技术和维护冻结期的精细化控制技术。结果表明:1)低围压(小于3 MPa)条件下,三轴抗压强度与围压呈正线性相关,然后围压继续增大时,强度基本不变;基于损伤理论建立冻结砂卵石全过程蠕变模型。2)荷载对冻胀率及融沉系数影响最大,细粒土质量分数次之,原状饱和砂卵石是不冻胀材料,并由此建立饱和砂卵石冻胀率及融沉系数三维预测模型。3)基于大型物理模型试验及数值模拟结果,盆形冻结可以在地下水渗流条件下形成完整的盆形结构,起到有效止水的效果。4)盆底冻结管在冻结过程中表现出与单管冻结迥异的“群孔效应”,根据试验结果提出包含冻结管间距、土体导热系数、渗流速度3因素的积极冻结期冻结管合理间距的确定与布置技术。5)为节约维护冻结期的能源,提出隔排切割冻结管、仅保留盆壁冻结管2种维护形式以对冻结区域进行精细化控制,经过分析,2种方式均可以有效满足盆形结构维护期的冷量供给,保持完整的盆形形态。

考虑组构演化的砂砾土弹塑性本构模型

考虑组构演化效应对于真实、准确地描述无黏性土在循环加载过程中的宏观力学行为具有重要意义。在砂砾土单调加载条件下构建的非线性剪胀方程的基础上,引入反映其循环荷载条件下剪胀阶段组构演化的剪胀内变量,基于广义塑性理论框架建立了反映砂砾土静力及液化全过程力学特性的弹塑性本构模型。对比考虑组构演化效应前后砂砾土液化变形、应力路径和超孔隙水压力发展规律,说明了组构演化效应对于模拟砂砾土液化响应的重要影响。通过开展一系列砂砾土静、动力大型三轴试验并结合相关文献试验结果对模型性能进行了验证。结果表明该模型总体上能够合理反映砂砾土在静力排水条件下应力-应变-体变特性以及在液化过程中超孔隙水压力的累积与消散、应力路径演化和液化变形发展情况,可为砂砾土工程数值模拟提供有力的本构工具。

TRD工法在赣江尾闾围堰防渗工程中的应用

赣江下游尾闾综合整治工程4支枢纽采用TRD工法对防渗墙进行施工,并针对重难点区段调整了施工工艺,该做法克服了地质条件复杂、砂卵砾石地层厚度大、防渗墙深度大等不利因素的影响,施工效率高且安全环保,取得了良好的防渗效果。