44%of steep slope cropland in Europe vulnerable to drought

Steep-slope cropland plays a vital role in food production,economic development,ecosystem diversity,and Eu-ropean cultural heritage.However,these systems are susceptible to extreme weather events.The 2022 summer drought significantly impacted European agriculture,but the specific effects on steep-slope crops remain uncer-tain.Clarifying this is essential for comprehending similar future events and for implementing effective water management strategies to ensure the sustainability of steep-slope agriculture and associated ecosystem services.This study quantitatively analyzes the spatial distribution of twelve major European steep-slope(>12%)crops and assesses agricultural drought severity during the 2022 events using open-access spatial data.The satellite-based Vegetation Health Index(VHI)is utilized to identify critical hotspots.Results show that olive grove is the most widespread crop in steep slope agriculture(34%of total area),followed by wheat(24%),maize(16%),and vineyard(11%).Almost half of the steep-slope agriculture in Europe suffered drought during summer 2022.Vineyards were hardest affected at 79%,primarily in northern Portugal,northern Spain,southern France,and central Italy.Sunflowers followed at 62%,mainly in Spain,central Italy,southern France,and northern Roma-nia.Olive groves ranked third at 59%,with the most impact in northern Portugal,southern and central Spain,and southern Italy.Maize was also significantly affected at 54%.In this paper,we therefore highlight the need to increase steep-slope agriculture resilience by improving water management and promoting sustainable land practices.

Exploring mechanism of hidden,steep obliquely inclined bedding landslides using a 3DEC model:A case study of the Shanyang landslide in Shaanxi Province,China

Catastrophic geological disasters frequently occur on slopes with obliquely inclined bedding structures(also referred to as obliquely inclined bedding slopes),where the apparent dip sliding is not readily visible.This phenomenon has become a focal point in landslide research.Yet,there is a lack of studies on the failure modes and mechanisms of hidden,steep obliquely inclined bedding slopes.This study investigated the Shanyang landslide in Shaanxi Province,China.Using field investigations,laboratory tests of geotechnical parameters,and the 3DEC software,this study developed a numerical model of the landslide to analyze the failure process of such slopes.The findings indicate that the Shanyang landslide primarily crept along a weak interlayer under the action of gravity.The landslide,initially following a dip angle with the support of a stable inclined rock mass,shifted direction under the influence of argillization in the weak interlayer,moving towards the apparent dip angle.The slide resistance effect of the karstic dissolution zone was increasingly significant during this process,with lateral friction being the primary resistance force.A reduction in the lateral friction due to karstic dissolution made the apparent dip sliding characteristics of the Shanyang landslide more pronounced.Notably,deformations such as bending and uplift at the slope’s foot suggest that the main slide resistance shifts from lateral friction within the karstic dissolution zone to the slope foot’s resistance force,leading to the eventual buckling failure of the landslide.This study unveils a novel failure mode of apparent dip creep-buckling in the Shanyang landslide,highlighting the critical role of lateral friction from the karstic dissolution zone in its failure mechanism.These insights offer a valuable reference for mitigating risks and preventing disasters related to obliquely inclined bedding landslides.

Application of STEEP and Interpretive Structural Modeling in the Design Imagery of Taiwan Public Ceramic Relief Murals

Ceramic relief mural is a contemporary landscape art that is carefully designed based on human nature,culture,and architectural wall space,combined with social customs,visual sensibility,and art.It may also become the main axis of ceramic art in the future.Taiwan public ceramic relief murals(PCRM)are most distinctive with the PCRM pioneered by Pan-Hsiung Chu of Meinong Kiln in 1987.In addition to breaking through the limitations of traditional public ceramic murals,Chu leveraged local culture and sensibility.The theme of art gives PCRM its unique style and innovative value throughout the Taiwan region.This study mainly analyzes and understands the design image of public ceramic murals,taking Taiwan PCRM’s design and creation as the scope,and applies STEEP analysis,that is,the social,technological,economic,ecological,and political-legal environments are analyzed as core factors;eight main important factors in the artistic design image of ceramic murals are evaluated.Then,interpretive structural modeling(ISM)is used to establish five levels,analyze the four main problems in the main core factor area and the four main target results in the affected factor area;and analyze the problem points and target points as well as their causal relationships.It is expected to sort out the relationship between these factors,obtain the hierarchical relationship of each factor,and provide a reference basis and research methods.

Damage statistical mechanics model of top coal in steep top caving coal

Damage statistical mechanics model of horizontal section height in the top caving was constructed in the paper. The influence factors including supporting pressure, dip angle and characteristic of coal on horizontal section height were analyzed as well. By terms of the practice project analysis, the horizontal section height increases with the increase of dip angle β and thickness of coal seam M. Dip angle of coal seam β has tremendous impact on horizontal section height, while thickness of coal seam M has slight impact. When thickness of coal seam is below 10m, horizontal section height increases sharply. While thickness exceeds 15m, it is not major factor influencing on horizontal section height any long.

泸定M_(S)4.5地震不对称高陡谷坡地震动响应

基于2023年四川泸定M_(S)4.5地震实测地震动数据,开展不对称斜坡时频域数据分析。结果表明:1)位于右岸1^(#)监测点的PGA放大系数最大,水平向和竖直向分别为3.16~15.08、4.37;2)Arias强度右岸最大值为2.24 cm/s,左岸最大值为0.79 cm/s,说明右岸地震动响应能量更强;3)斜坡右岸监测点的卓越频率为2~9 Hz,左岸卓越频率为2~17 Hz,地震幅值所呈现出来的能量在水平向比竖直向更为集中。地震动响应在不对称高陡谷坡右岸凸出半岛状斜坡地形比直线形斜坡更为强烈,高位覆盖层的存在会增强地震动响应。

重力挡墙结构在陡坡回填路基土中的应用研究

为了探究高陡坡路基填筑施工填筑作用下路基路面沉降变形情况,基于ABAQUS有限元软件建立了挡墙、土工格栅与地基路基的数值模型,模型计算研究了挡墙与路基填筑建造工后引起路基路面的沉降与挡墙水平变形以及应力的分布。其数值计算表明:未进行铺设土工格栅时,路基路面工后最大沉降值未23.45 cm,挡墙侧向位移最大值为9.59 cm,挡墙最大主应力值为33.85 kPa;当在原方案基础,对路基内铺设土工格栅后,路基路面最大沉降值为13.6 cm,较原设计方案最大沉降(23.45 cm)减少了9.85 cm,并满足了工程经验对路基路面横向沉降变形差控制要求。

Joint Distribution of Wave Heights and Wavelengths and Distribution of Wave Steepness

A joint probability density is derived for wavelengths and wave heights. It is asymmetric and depends only on the spectral bandwidth epsilon defined by Cartwright and Longuet-Higgins (1956). After that a theoretical probability density for wave steepness is obtained. It tends to Rayleigh distribution as epsilon --> 0. A comparison between theoretical steepness distribution and laboratory experiment result shows good agreement.

A Comparative Study of Numerical Models for Wave Propagation and Setup on Steep Coral Reefs

Complex factors including steep slopes, intense wave breaking, large bottom friction and remarkable wave setup should be considered while studying wave propagation over coral reefs, and how to simulate wave propagation and setup on coral reefs efficiently has become a primary focus. Several wave models can be used on coral reefs as have been published, but further testing and comparison of the reliability and applicability of these models are needed. A comparative study of four numerical wave models (i.e., FUNWAVE-TVD, Coulwave, NHWAVE and ZZL18) is carried out in this paper. These models’ governing equations and numerical methods are compared and analyzed firstly to obtain their differences and connections;then the simulation effects of the four wave models are tested in four representative laboratory experiments. The results show that all four models can reasonably predict the spectrum transformation. Coulwave, NHWAVE and ZZL18 can predict the wave height variation more accurately;Coulwave and FUNWAVE-TVD tend to underestimate wave setup on the reef top induced by spilling breaker, while NHWAVE and ZZL18 can predict wave setup relatively accurately for all types of breakers;NHWAVE and ZZL18 can predict wave reflection by steep reef slope more accurately. This study can provide evidence for choosing suitable models for practical engineering or establishing new models.

Influence of Pulse Steepness on Vacuum Flashover of Casting Epoxy Resin

Research on the pulsed flashover characteristics of vacuum insulation material is significant for the design and manufacture of pulse power devices. In view of the voltage increase rate of the fast pulse （pulse steepness）, the vacuum fiashover characteristics of pure epoxy under different steepnesses is investigated by using a pulse generator with parameters of a rise time of 40 ns and a full width at half maximum of 2.5 μs. Pulses with six levels of steepness were achieved by changing the charging voltage of the generator. Based on the linear equation and electron emission equation, the relationship between the flashover voltage and pulse steepness was fitted. By virtue of the fitted formula, it was possible to predict the flashover voltage under near DC or higher steepness conditions. Based on the electron emission equation, the relationship between the time delay and flashover field was also fitted. Result shows that F-N electron emission dominates the flashover process.

Numerical Investigation of Run-ups on Cylinder in Steep Regular Wave

The run-up on offshore structures induced by the steep regular wave is a highly nonlinear flow with a free surface. This article focuses on the investigation of the steep regular wave run-up on a single vertical cylinder by solving the Navier-Stokes equations. A numerical wave tank is established based on the open-source package to simulate the wave scattering induced by a vertical cylinder. The VOF method is applied to capture the large deformation and breaking of the free surface. The numerical model is validated by experimental results. The relative wave run-ups on the front face and the back face along the centerline of a cylinder are analyzed. The changes of the relative run-ups with the wave steepness, the relative diameter and the relative depth are studied. It is found that the relative run-ups on the front face and the back face of the cylinder depend mainly on the wave steepness and the relative diameter, while the dependence on the relative depth is weak. The empirical formulae are proposed to calculate the relative run-ups in terms of the wave steepness of incident regular waves and the relative diameter of a cylinder.

斜撑内支撑环在高陡危岩崩塌治理工程中的应用

本文研究的危岩体处于一座小型古亭下方的地基部位,在保护古建的前提下,治理危岩体的难度明显增大。由于危岩体位置高陡,其下方已形成倒三棱锥形崩塌岩腔,并且危岩体所在岩石陡壁坡脚处为石景山古建山体特色景观公园的景观小路,以上因素对危岩体的治理提出了严峻挑战。经多方案比选,最终采取了在危岩体下方采用工字钢斜撑内支撑环治理措施。经实施及竣工后观察,该措施对小型古亭地基的保护及治理效果良好。本研究对于类似特殊条件下的危岩治理工程具有一定借鉴作用。

综合技术手段在陡崖边坡场地稳定性评价中的应用

在陡崖边坡场地稳定性评价工作中,因受复杂地形、地质条件,常规的地质钻探、地质调查等勘察手段难以实施或效果有限,故评价工作具有局限性。研究结合工程实际,采用了三维激光扫描建模等多种技术手段进行勘察,为陡崖边坡场地稳定性评价提供了依据,旨在实现提质降本增效的目标。

Characteristics of Steep Cultivated Land and the Impact of the Grain-for-Green Policy in China

The Grain-for-Green Policy in China could not only improve China＇s ecological quality, but also influence grain supplies for a short term. Based on data from the detailed nationwide land use survey in 1996 and the steep cultivated land survey update in 2000, a regression model for the driving forces affecting steep cultivated lands was developed, and cluster analysis was used to identify seven steep cultivated land types in order to analyze the grain availability impact of the project with land usage estimates for 2010 and 2030. The results suggested that consecutive days with minimum daily temperature over 10 ℃ and the dominant slope in a county constrained the spatial distribution of steep cultivated lands. In terms of socioeconomic factors, steep cultivated land was a complex interaction of population size, gross domestic production level, and the richness and quality of cultivated lands having slopes less then 15°. The trends for steep cultivated land in 2010 and 2030 were forecast using a driving forces model and China＇s grain security criteria and showed that the Grain-for-Green Policy at the national level would not cause a grain shortage or threaten food security criteria. However, if steep sloped lands were to be retired from production, some regions would need grain supplements as early as 2010. Also, assuming that only 60% of the cultivated land at the national level was needed, population and economic development pressures in 2030 would require some steep cultivated lands to be used for grain production.

Quantitative analysis of biotechnical reinforcement for a steep slope consisting of composite coal-gangue-soil medium adjacent to a mined-out area

The engineering and geological characteristics of a steep slope consisting of coal gangue, rock and soil medium in Huating coal mine have been comprehensively investigated. Owing to humid weather, heavy rainfall, vegetation and porous characteristics of the soil and rock mass, the steep slope will be destabilized and induce mud-rock flow or derive hazard easily. Firstly, based on the classical slope reinforcement theory, some regularity between the shear and displacement in the destabilized zone of the slope with or without root strength contribution is presented. Then, based on the experimental and statistical analysis of root strength, hydrological characteristics and stability status, etc., some possible biotechnical techniques for reinforcement of the steep slope have been suggested. These methods are important for quantitative analysis of destabilization of the slope and design of the biotechnical reinforcement.

Finite element analysis of steep excavation slope failure by CFS theory

The distribution of Coulomb failure stress （CFS） change in the steep excavation slope is calculated by finite element method in this paper, and the failure mechanics under different conditions have been investigated. Comparing the CFSs before and after the slope excavation （stress loading and unloading processes）, the dangerous internal zone and the most likely failure external area are attained. Given the shear cracks on the top surface while tensile stress or cracks along the toe of the slope, we analyze the high cutting-angle steep slope in Kaixian county of the Three Gorges Reservoir region. We bring forward that the peak value of CFS after excavation can reach to the order of 0.1 MPa, which is greatly higher than that of before. Our preliminary results are useful for optimizing the reinforcement structure during the steep slope stabilization engineering.

Dependence of Wave Height Distribution on Spectral Width and Wave Steepness

In this paper experimental wind wave data are analyzed. It is found that differences in spectral width will give rise to differences in wave height distribution. The effect of spectral width on the distribution is mainly in the high wave range. The effect of wave steepness is in low, medium and high wave ranges. In the high wave range the effect of spectral width is comparable to that of wave steepness. Differences in spectral width in the observations may give rise to discrepancies in the result when wave steepness is the only parameter in the distribution.

Subsidence control method by inversely-inclined slicing and upward mining for ultra-thick steep seams

Ultra-thick steep coal seam mining will inevitably lead to the increase of greater and violent ground subsidence and deformation.A subsidence control method by inversely-inclined slicing and upward mining is proposed in this paper.By this method,the sequence of collapse of overlying strata and the direction of propagation of strata movement are changed,the extent of roof-side deformation thereby is lessened,and boundary angle of roof-side subsidence is reduced by 5°-10°.The mechanism of this mining method for control of strata movement has been evidenced by numerical simulation and experiments with similarity materials.A subsidence prediction model based on the variation of mining influence propagation angle can be used to evaluate the surface movement and deformation of the mining method.The application of the method in No.3 Mine in Yaojie mining area has yielded the expected result.

Sensitivity analysis for parameters of a monitoring system for steep slopes of open-pit mines

Monitoring the stability of steep slopes of open-pit mines is a major issue relating to production safety in mines.In order to determine the technical parameters of a new type of supervising system applied in monitoring steep slopes of open-pit mines,the MSARMA method was used to establish analytical models for the monitoring system,given various parameter settings based on the description of mechanical monitoring principles.We used this sensitivity analysis to conclude that the setting of the most sensitive location of a mechanical monitoring system should be within a range of 1/5～1/2 of the lower part in a vertical direction of steep slopes,with a rational and feasible range of the dip angle setting between 0°～20°.Given the analytical results of our on-site experiments,we have shown that the parameters determined reflect the stability of steep slopes accurately and effectively.These conclusions provide a basis for the application of a new type of steep slope stability monitoring technology in open-pit mines.

Kinematic analysis of geosynthetics-reinforced steep slopes with curved sloping surfaces and under earthquake regions

A procedure of kinematic analysis is presented in this study to assess the reinforcement force of geosynthetics required under seismic loadings, particularly for steep slopes which are hardly able to maintain its stability. Note that curved sloping surfaces widely exist in natural slopes, but existing literatures were mainly focusing on a planar surface in theoretical derivation, due to complicated calculations. Moreover, the non-uniform soil properties cannot be accounted for in conventional upper bound analysis. Pseudo-dynamic approach is used to represent horizontal and vertical accelerations which vary with time and space. In an effort to resolve the above problems, the discretization technique is developed to generate a discretized failure mechanism, decomposing the whole failure block into various components. An elementary analysis permits calculations of rates of work done by external and internal forces. Finally, the upper bound solution of the required reinforcement force is formulated based on the work rate-based balance equation. A parametric study is carried out to give insights on the implication of influential factors on the performance of geosynthetic-reinforced steep slopes.

Deformation and failure of a high-steep slope induced by multi-layer coal mining

During underground mining,accurate revelation on the deformation and failure mechanisms of a high-steep slope under multi-layer mining conditions facilitates the prevention and control of geological disasters in mines.Numerical simulation based on discrete element theory can be used to explore the characteristics and mechanism of action of deformation and failure of a slope under complex geological and multi-layer mining conditions.By utilising PFC2 D(particle flow code) software,the deformation and failure characteristics of a high-steep slope in Faer Coal Mine in Guizhou Province,China were investigated.Additionally,the mechanism of influence of different numbers of mining layers on the deformation and failure of the high and steep slope was elucidated.The result showed that after the goaf passed by the slope toe,multi-layer mining aggravated the subsidence and deformation of the slope toe:the slope toppled forward as it sank.The toppling of the slope changed the slope structures:the strata in the front of the slope were transformed from anti-dip to down-dip features.Extruded by collapsedtoppled rock mass,the slope toe and the rock mass located in the lower part of the slope toe generally exhibited a locking effect on the slope.Multi-layer mining degraded the overall stability of the slope,in that the total displacement of the slope was much greater than the total mining thickness of the coal seams.Based on the aforementioned research,ideas for preventing and controlling geological disasters during mining operations under a high-steep slope were proposed.