Predicting the sinkage of a moving tracked mining vehicle using a new rheological formulation for soft deep-sea sediment

The sinkage of a moving tracked mining vehicle is greatly af fected by the combined compression-shear rheological properties of soft deep-sea sediments. For test purposes, the best sediment simulant is prepared based on soft deep-sea sediment from a C-C poly-metallic nodule mining area in the Pacific Ocean. Compressive creep tests and shear creep tests are combined to obtain compressive and shear rheological parameters to establish a combined compressive-shear rheological constitutive model and a compression-sinkage rheological constitutive model. The combined compression-shear rheological sinkage of the tracked mining vehicle at dif ferent speeds is calculated using the Recur Dyn software with a selfprogrammed subroutine to implement the combined compression-shear rheological constitutive model. The model results are compared with shear rheological sinkage and ordinary sinkage(without consideration of rheological properties). These results show that the combined compression-shear rheological constitutive model must be taken into account when calculating the sinkage of a tracked mining vehicle. The combined compression-shear rheological sinkage decrease with vehicle speed and is the largest among the three types of sinkage. The developed subroutine in the Recur Dyn software can be used to study the performance and structural optimization of moving tracked mining vehicles.

Typical Soft–Sediment Deformation Structures Induced by Freeze/Thaw Cycles: A Case Study of Quaternary Alluvial Deposits in the Northern Qiangtang Basin, Tibetan Plateau

With the objective of establishing a distinction between deformation structures caused by freeze/thaw cycles and those resulting from seismic activity, we studied three well–exposed alluvial deposits in a section at Dogai Coring, northern Qiangtang Basin, Tibetan Plateau. Deformation is present in the form of plastic structures(diapirs, folds and clastic dykes), brittle structures(micro–faults) and cryogenic wedges. These soft–sediment deformation features(except the micro–faults) are mainly characterized by meter–scale, non–interlayered, low–speed and low–pressure displacements within soft sediments, most commonly in the form of plastic deformation. Taking into account the geographic setting, lithology and deformation features, we interpret these soft–sediment deformation features as the products of freeze/thaw cycles, rather than of earthquake–induced shock waves, thus reflecting regional temperature changes and fluctuations of hydrothermal conditions in the uppermost sediments. The micro–faults(close to linear hot springs) are ascribed to regional fault activity;however, we were unable to identify the nature of the micro–faults, perhaps due to disturbance by subsequent freeze/thaw cycles. This study may serve as a guide to recognizing the differences between deformation structures attributed to freeze/thaw cycles and seismic processes.

A Preliminary Study on the Soft–Sediment Deformation Structures in the Late Quaternary Lacustrine Sediments at Tashkorgan, Northeastern Pamir, China

This study identified soft-sediment deformation structures （SSDS） of seismic origin from lacustrine sediments in the late Quaternary paleo-dammed lake at Tashkorgan, northeastern Pamir. The observed deformation structures include sand dykes, liquefied diapir and convolute structures, gravity induced SSDS, and thixotropic pillar and tabular structures. We conducted a preliminary study on the morphology, formation and trigger mechanisms of pillar and tabular structures formed by liquefaction of underlying coarse sand and thixotropy of the upper silty clay. The regional tectonic setting and distribution of lacustrine strata indicate that the most probable trigger for the SSDS in lacustrine sediments was seismic activity, with an approximate earthquake magnitude of M〉6.0; the potential seismogenic fault is the southern part of the Kongur normal fault extensional system. AMS ^4C dating results indicate that the SSDS were formed by seismic events occurring between 26050±100 yrBP and 22710±80 yrBP, implying intense fault activity in this region during the late Pleistocene. This study provides new evidence for understanding tectonic activity and regional geodynamics in western China.

Soft-sediment Deformation Structures Related to Earthquake from the Devonian of the Eastern North Qilian Mts.and Its Tectonic Significance

Devonian in the North Qilian orogenic belt and Hexi Corridor developed terrestrial molasse of later stage of foreland basin caused by collision between the North China plate and Qaidam microplate. The foreland basin triggered a intense earthquake, and formed seismites and earthquake-related soft-sediment deformation. The soft-sediment deformation structures of Devonian in the eastern North Qilian Mts. consist of seismo-cracks, sandstone dykes, syn-depositional faults, microfoids （micro-corrugated lamination）, fluidized veins, load casts, flame structures, pillow structures and brecciation. The seismo-cracks, syn-depositional faults and microfolds are cracks, faults and folds formed directly by oscillation of earthquake. The seismic dykes formed by sediment instilling into seismic cracks. Fluidized veins were made by instilling into the seismo-fissures of the fluidized sands. The load casts, flame structures and pillow structures were formed by sinking and instilling caused from oscillation of earthquake along the face between sandy and muddy beds. The brecciation resulted from the oscillation of earthquake and cracking of sedimentary layers. The seismites and soft-sediment deformations in Devonian triggered the earthquake related to tectonic activities during the orogeny and uplift of North Qilian Mts.

Earthquake-related Tectonic Deformation of Soft-sediments and Its Constraints on Basin Tectonic Evolution

The authors introduced two kinds of newly found soft-sediment deformation-synsedimentary extension structure and syn-sedimentary compression structure, and discuss their origins and constraints on basin tectonic evolution. One representative of the syn-sedimentary extension structure is syn-sedimentary boudinage structure, while the typical example of the syn-sedimentary compression structure is compression sand pillows or compression wrinkles. The former shows NW-SE-trendlng contemporaneous extension events related to earthquakes in the rift basin near a famous Fe-Nb-REE deposit in northern China during the Early Paleozoic （or Mesoproterozoic as proposed by some researches）, while the latter indicates NE-SW-trending contemporaneous compression activities related to earthquakes in the Middle Triassic in the Nanpanjiang remnant basin covering south Guizhou, northwestern Guangxi and eastern Yunnan in southwestern China. The syn-sedimentary boudinage structure was found in an earthquake slump block in the lower part of the Early Paleozoic Sailinhudong Group, 20 km to the southeast of Bayan Obo, Inner Mongolia, north of China. The slump block is composed of two kinds of very thin layers-pale-gray micrite （microcrystalline limestone） of 1-2 cm thick interbedded with gray muddy micrite layers with the similar thickness. Almost every thin muddy micrite layer was cut into imbricate blocks or boudins by abundant tiny contemporaneous faults, while the interbedded micrite remain in continuity. Boudins form as a response to layer-parallel extension （and/or layer-perpendicular flattening） of stiff layers enveloped top and bottom by mechanically soft layers. In this case, the imbricate blocks cut by the tiny contemporaneous faults are the result of abrupt horizontal extension of the crust in the SE-NW direction accompanied with earthquakes. Thus, the rock block is, in fact, a kind of seismites. The syn-sedimentary boudins indicate that there was at least a strong earthquake belt on the southeast side of the basin during the early stage of the Sailinhudong Group. This may be a good constraint on the tectonic evolution of the Bayan Obo area during the Early Paleozoic time. The syn-sedimentary compression structure was found in the Middle Triassic flysch in the Nanpanjiang Basin. The typical structures are compression sand pillows and compression wrinkles. Both of them were found on the bottoms of sand units and the top surface of the underlying mud units. In other words, the structures were found only in the interfaces between the graded sand layer and the underlying mud layer of the flysch. A deformation experiment with dough was conducted, showing that the tectonic deformation must have been instantaneous one accompanied by earthquakes. The compression sand pillows or wrinkles showed uniform directions along the bottoms of the sand layer in the flysch, revealing contemporaneous horizontal compression during the time between deposition and diagenesis of the related beds. The Nanpanjiang Basin was affected, in general, with SSW-NNE compression during the Middle Triassic, according to the syn-sedimentary compression structure. The two kinds of syn-sedimentary tectonic deformation also indicate that the related basins belong to a rift basin and a remnant basin, respectively, in the model of Wilson Cycle.

The Seismic Induced Soft Sediment Deformation Structures in the Middle Jurassic of Western Qaidamu Basin

Intervals of soft-sediment deformation structures are well-exposed in Jurassic lacustrine deposits in the western Qaidamu basin. Through field observation, many soft-sediment deformation structures can be identified, such as convoluted bedding, liquefied sand veins, load and flame structures, slump structures and sliding-overlapping structures. Based on their genesis, soft-sediment deformation structures can be classified as three types： seismic induced structures, vertical loading structures, and horizontal shear structures. Based on their geometry and genesis analysis, they are seismic-induced structures. According to the characteristics of convoluted bedding structures and liquefied sand veins, it can be inferred that there were earthquakes greater than magnitude 6 in the study area during the middle Jurassic. Furthermore, the study of the slump structures and sliding- overlapping structures indicates that there was a southeastern slope during the middle Jurassic. Since the distance from the study area to the Altyn Mountain and the Altyn fault is no more than 10km, it can be also inferred that the Altyn Mountain existed then and that the AItyn strike-slip fault was active during the middle Jurassic.

Earthquake-induced Soft-sediment Deformation Structures in the Dengfeng Area,Henan Province,China:Constraints on Qinling Tectonic Evolution during the Early Cambrian

Soft-sediment deformation structures are abundant in the Cambrian Zhushadong and Mantou formations of the Dengfeng area, Henan Province, China. Soft-sediment deformation structures of the Zhushadong Formation consist of fluidized deformation, synsedimentary faults, seismo-folds and plastic deformation; the Mantou Formation is dominated by small-scale horst faults, intruded dikes, fluidized veins, and seismo-cracks. These structures are demonstrated to be earthquake-related by analysis of trigger mechanisms, and may indicate the activity of the Qinling tectonic belt during the early Cambrian. Furthermore, the assemblages of soft-sediment deformation structures altered with time： large-scale, intense deformation in the Zhushadong Formation alters to small-scale, weak deformation in the Mantou Formation. This striking feature may have been caused by changes in hypocentral depth from deep-focus to shallow-focus earthquakes, indicating that the Qinling tectonic belt developed from the subduction of the Shangdan Ocean to the extension of the Erlangping back-arc basin. This study suggests that soft-sediment deformation structures can be used to reveal the activity of a tectonic belt, and, more importantly, changes in deformation assemblages can track the evolution of a tectonic belt.

Simulation of the dynamic disturbance characteristics of the soft sediment in the Diexi ancient dammed lake,China

In an earlier study of the Diexi ancient dammed lake along the Minjiang River in Southwest China,10 disturbed layers with envelope and flame structures were found in more than 240 m of lacustrine sediments.In this paper,the soft-sediment disturbances caused by earthquakes in the Diexi ancient dammed lake were studied based on field investigations and laboratory core observations.A two-to three-degree-of-freedom spring-type earthquake simulation vibration table was used to carry out disturbance tests on lacustrine sediments under different dynamic conditions.The results support the following conclusions:(1)The disturbance layers in the lacustrine sediments were caused by strong earthquakes in the region.(2)The characteristics of the disturbance layers are related to the seismic parameters and the degree of sediment consolidation.(3)The greater the earthquake intensity is,the greater the disturbance amplitude is;moreover,the lower the consolidation degree is,the greater the disturbance amplitude.(4)The simulation tests verify that the disturbance layers in the sediments of the Diexi ancient dammed lake correspond to strong earthquakes in the region.These results are valuable for ongoing palaeoseismic research in the region.

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.

基于Burger’s蠕变模型的采矿车行驶海底稀软底质下陷研究

在陆地矿产资源日渐枯竭的今天,深海矿产资源已成为全球各个国家争相开采与利用的焦点,深海采矿车是实现深海矿产资源开采的重要装备。海底稀软底质是一种承载力与抗剪强度极低的特殊底质,在采矿作业中,深海稀软底质的物理力学特性直接影响采矿车行走的稳定性。文章选取Burger’s接触模型作为深海稀软底质的本构模型,对某海域海底稀软原状土开展室内三轴试验,通过PFC3D颗粒流数值模拟实验对比实际三轴试验,对稀软底质的Burger’s蠕变模型进行参数标定,同时依据标定结果改变相应参数,针对5种不同底质条件的工况,建立海底采矿车的数字仿真模型,模拟各工况下采矿车在不同行驶速度时的下陷深度。结果显示,下陷深度会随行驶速度呈非线性变化,在一定范围内随着行驶速度的增大而减少并逐渐趋于稳定。同时结果还表明,该区域海底稀软底质具有更高的黏粒含量(38.1%~48.4%)、含水率(88.13%~137.79%)和压缩性(压缩系数:1.86~3.73 MPa^(-1),压缩模量:1.26~2.13 MPa),具有更低的密度(1.3~1.5 g/cm^(3))和强度特性(贯入阻力:0.19~1.32 N,黏聚力:3.7~6.9 kPa,内摩擦角:2.4°~3.9°),即承载力较低,蠕变性能较强。本研究在宏观上做了一般的探讨,为类似参数的稀软底质下海底采矿车的运行安全控制提供了较好借鉴与依据。

水牛蹄型深海集矿机履齿设计及牵引性能研究

作为深海采矿系统的重要组成部分,深海集矿机的技术研究和开发一直是许多国家的难题。为了提高深海集矿机在稀软沉积物上的牵引性能,基于水牛蹄的曲面结构特征和特殊几何结构,设计了一款仿水牛蹄蹄型履齿。以该款履齿的结构参数为研究对象,通过对朗肯被动土压力理论的优化,得到了仿水牛蹄蹄型履齿的牵引力解析解,建立了对应的履齿仿生参数对履齿牵引力的影响公式。结合正交试验方法进行了不同形式履齿在沉积物上运动的单、多履齿剪切试验,将仿水牛蹄蹄型履齿与直型履齿、仿水牛蹄轮廓履齿(另一种仿生履齿)进行对比试验,并通过模型车试验验证了该款履齿的可行性。结果表明:3种履齿中,仿水牛蹄蹄型履齿提供的最大牵引力最高。研究可为进一步优化仿水牛蹄蹄型履齿结构参数和提高深海稀软底质机械的牵引性能提供参考依据。

不同预测方法在深厚软土路基沉降中的应用

珠三角广泛分布着深厚软土路基,其工后沉降是影响道路在运营过程中稳定性和安全性的主要因素之一。为了更好地研究深厚软土路基沉降发展趋势,本文依托工程实例,采用4种预测方法来拟合沉降监测数据,并结合实测数据对这些方法的精确度进行评估和对比,进而预测工后沉降。预测结果表明:对于经过塑料排水板、水泥搅拌桩这两种不同方式处治后的深厚软土路基,精确度最高的沉降预测方法均为双曲线法。经过板、桩处治后的软基工后沉降量均能满足规范要求,证明处治方案合理有效。

核电厂取水头部结构在软土置换地基上的变形研究

本文以国内某核电厂取水头部结构为研究对象,基于PLAXIS 3D建立三维有限元模型,研究在不同含泥量的软土置换地基条件下,取水头部增设桩基基础对结构位移的影响。通过计算结果分析可知,随着软土置换地基含泥量的增加,结构位移有增大趋势,在取水头部下方设置桩基基础后,结构位移尤其竖向位移有显著的减小,且软土置换地基含泥量的变化对结构位移影响很小,有效提高了结构的稳定性以及核电厂取水的安全性,该结论可为类似条件下的核电厂取水头部结构设计提供借鉴。

混凝土灌注桩施工质量的心法十要研究

研究目的:对于铁路桥涵混凝土灌注桩的施工,由于局部临界软弱土层的坍塌以及影响施工质量的因素预判不准,导致部分灌注桩施工质量不合格,返工处理浪费严重,须采取有效预防措施,确保灌注桩施工质量;由此提出其预防措施的用心统领实施有效方法的十个要点,简称“心法十要”,并对其进行研究。研究结论:(1)心法十要:原材料进场以规定为要;配合比以试验为要;混凝土灌注以控制坍落度为要;软弱地层以控制桩扩径为要;导管位置以控制埋深为要;桩底以控制沉渣厚度为要;桩中以控制混凝土连续为要;桩顶以控制抗压强度为要;完整性检测以最佳处理为要;整个过程以协调为要;(2)心法十要的实施使灌注桩均达合格,可避免返工浪费;(3)本研究成果可为铁路、公路等领域提高混凝土灌注桩施工质量提供参考。

陆相湖盆沉积物滑塌变形研究进展

陆相湖盆中沉积物滑塌常造成复杂的同沉积变形,对确定古地震事件、古地形等有重要作用,系统研究滑塌变形体系有助于厘清变形成因、理解变形机理和深化区域构造背景认识。笔者等梳理国内外滑塌变形研究进展,总结沉积物顺坡滑塌的形成条件、滑塌变形特征,尤其是滑塌褶皱的形态演化、伴生构造、对古斜坡的指示、有关滑塌变形的物理模拟等,并结合野外变形成因的识别,探讨滑塌成因与后期构造成因变形的有效鉴别标志。综合分析认为,陆相湖盆滑塌变形与重力流沉积密不可分,单一滑塌体的褶皱形态从滑塌体后缘到前缘由圆柱状褶皱、紧闭等厚直立褶皱转变为蘑菇状褶皱,演化过程可划分为多个阶段。在滑塌褶皱中存在逆冲断层、碎屑脉体、不规则侵蚀面、软布丁构造等,引起滑塌变形的机制可分为应力作用机制和液化作用机制。物理模拟因其可改变材料物理参数的优势,可能成为未来滑塌变形的重要研究方向。指出在鉴别滑塌成因变形和后期构造成因变形研究中仍然存在较多争议,其中未固结沉积物的活化、再改造、生物扰动、液化现象的存在是确定软沉积物变形的关键,变形构造在大尺度、层系规模上具有相同的应力场并与区域构造背景相符合是后期构造成因变形的最有力证据。

准噶尔盆地玛湖凹陷风城组沉积环境与沉积模式分析

玛湖凹陷是准噶尔盆地重要的生烃凹陷,其下二叠统风城组作为主力烃源岩,也是重要的勘探层系。风城组的岩相展布与沉积模式的研究,对明确玛湖凹陷的构造演化过程和油气勘探具有重要的参考意义。基于最新的测井、录井资料,建立玛页1井风城组综合柱状图,查明玛湖凹陷风城组岩相展布,进而重建玛湖凹陷下二叠统风城组各沉积时期的沉积环境,明确沉积模式。研究结果表明,玛页1井风城组主要为黑色-灰黑色细粒沉积岩,大量发育软沉积变形构造,说明玛北地区风城组主要为半深湖-深湖亚相沉积。根据连井岩相剖面,玛湖凹陷风城组自下而上发育进积-退积-进积的旋回特征,自南西向北东方向为扇三角洲相-湖泊相-河流三角洲相沉积。风一段火山岩火山活动强烈,玛北地区发育水下熔结凝灰岩、火山碎屑岩及玄武岩,主要为浅湖沉积。风二段玛南地区为扇三角洲沉积,向玛西地区过渡为三角洲-滨浅湖沉积,玛北地区发育半深湖-深湖沉积,在湖盆中心发育碱性矿物沉淀;风二段中部化学沉淀分布范围最广,指示最大洪泛面。风三段进积作用加强,湖盆萎缩,玛南、玛西地区发育扇三角洲沉积,玛北地区发育半深湖-滨浅湖沉积。结合其沉积演化过程,玛湖凹陷风城组是受到外源碎屑沉积、内源化学沉淀和火山碎屑物质等影响的多源混积沉积模式。

快速沉积引发的软沉积物变形构造特征——以灵山岛下白垩统浊积岩为例

灵山岛修船厂剖面发育了多种类型的软沉积物变形构造,其中一些变形构造的要素发生了定向倾斜,影响因素尚不明确。结合野外露头观察和室内分析等方法,研究了变形构造的形成过程、触发因素和地质意义。结果表明:修船厂剖面的两套浊积岩之间发育了负载—挤入构造、泄水—沉积物充填构造和微断层等软沉积物变形构造;变形机制主要是流体化,触发因素为浊流的快速沉积导致的载荷压力。变形构造的形成过程主要与密度倒置梯度和横向剪切力两个驱动力有关,其中横向剪切力来源于浊流的流动,导致变形构造的要素发生定向倾斜。变形构造的要素的倾斜方向为SEE,指示古水流主要来自SEE方向,与浊积岩序列内底痕指示的古水流方向一致,说明浊流快速沉积形成的软沉积物变形构造能够指示古水流或古斜坡方向。

基于CFG桩复合地基的软基处理应用研究

通过对CFG桩复合地基在软土路基中的应用进行研究,能够为CFG桩在高速公路不良地基改良的可行性提供一定的理论依据。以某地高速公路软土路基为对象,通过设计离心模型试验,对不做处理的软土路基以及CFG桩加固后的软土路基的水平位移、沉降量进行研究,并发现:未做处理的天然软土路基整体不稳定,沉降量较大,路基容易受到破坏,而通过CFG桩加固后的软土路基沉降量能够控制在要求范围内,CFG桩对路基的沉降有约束作用;天然路基随深度的增大,下层的水平位移较大,路基整体稳定性较差;CFG桩加固后的软土路基对路基水平位移能够有效控制,随深度的增加,水平位移得到明显控制,表明CFG桩对路基的水平位移也有较大的约束作用。

广西湖润锰矿矿层软沉积变形特征

锰矿作为我国大宗紧缺矿产,其矿体特征被学者广泛研究。然而关于矿层软沉积变形特征的研究却不多,其特征和成因有待厘清。湖润锰矿处于广西下雷超大型锰矿床的外围,作者通过对其主矿层Ⅱ+Ⅲ矿层的观察研究,发现Ⅱ+Ⅲ矿层以液化变形为主的软沉积变形发育,如液化砂、液化泥(亮)晶脉、自碎屑角砾、液化底劈、微褶皱纹理、同沉积断裂等,局部地段可见完整的变形序列,同时矿层被上覆岩系超覆;此类变形不仅在横向上有延伸,在垂向上还有重复且跨度长,从晚泥盆世至石炭纪均有发育,符合软沉积变形地震成因的典型特征。加之稀土元素地球化学特征显示成矿期热水参与了成矿作用,表明锰矿形成时期沉积盆地伸展作用强烈,矿化发生于裂陷槽下斜坡带。对比国内外著名的大型超大型锰矿床,认为软沉积变形应与成矿密切相关,可作为重要的找矿标志。

横剖管在高速公路软土地基沉降观测中的应用

文中结合某高速公路项目施工实况,对横剖管在高速公路软土地基沉降观测中的应用进行了分析。结果表明,横剖管能准确反映软土地基的沉降变化,且不会对现场施工带来负面影响。