Characterizing large-scale weak interlayer shear zones using conditional random field theory

The shear behavior of large-scale weak intercalation shear zones(WISZs)often governs the stability of foundations,rock slopes,and underground structures.However,due to their wide distribution,undulating morphology,complex fabrics,and varying degrees of contact states,characterizing the shear behavior of natural and complex large-scale WISZs precisely is challenging.This study proposes an analytical method to address this issue,based on geological fieldwork and relevant experimental results.The analytical method utilizes the random field theory and Kriging interpolation technique to simplify the spatial uncertainties of the structural and fabric features for WISZs into the spatial correlation and variability of their mechanical parameters.The Kriging conditional random field of the friction angle of WISZs is embedded in the discrete element software 3DEC,enabling activation analysis of WISZ C2 in the underground caverns of the Baihetan hydropower station.The results indicate that the activation scope of WISZ C2 induced by the excavation of underground caverns is approximately 0.5e1 times the main powerhouse span,showing local activation.Furthermore,the overall safety factor of WISZ C2 follows a normal distribution with an average value of 3.697.

Honeycomb-spiderweb-inspired self-similar hybrid cellular structures for impact applications

Inspired by nature's self-similar designs,novel honeycomb-spiderweb based self-similar hybrid cellular structures are proposed here for efficient energy absorption in impact applications.The energy absorption is enhanced by optimizing the geometry and topology for a given mass.The proposed hybrid cellular structure is arrived after a thorough analysis of topologically enhanced self-similar structures.The optimized cell designs are rigorously tested considering dynamic loads involving crush and high-velocity bullet impact.Furthermore,the influence of thickness,radial connectivity,and order of patterning at the unit cell level are also investigated.The maximum crushing efficiency attained is found to be more than 95%,which is significantly higher than most existing traditional designs.Later on,the first and second-order hierarchical self-similar unit cell designs developed during crush analysis are used to prepare the cores for sandwich structures.Impact tests are performed on the developed sandwich structures using the standard 9-mm parabellum.The influence of multistaging on impact resistance is also investigated by maintaining a constant total thickness and mass of the sandwich structure.Moreover,in order to avoid layer-wise weak zones and hence,attain a uniform out-of-plane impact strength,off-setting the designs in each stage is proposed.The sandwich structures with first and second-order self-similar hybrid cores are observed to withstand impact velocities as high as 170 m/s and 270 m/s,respectively.

Prediction Research of Deformation Modulus of Weak Rock Zone under In-situ Conditions

Weak rock zone (soft interlayer, fault zone and soft rock) is the highlight of large-scale geological engineering research. It is an important boundary for analysis of rock mass stability. Weak rock zone has been formed in a long geological period, and in this period, various rocks have undergone long-term consolidation of geostatic stress and tectonic stress; therefore, under in-situ conditions, their density and modulus of deformation are relatively high. Due to its fragmentary nature, once being exposed to the earth's surface, the structure of weak rock zone will soon be loosened, its density will be reduced, and its modulus of deformation will also be reduced significantly. Generally, weak rock zone can be found in large construction projects, especially in the dam foundation rocks of hydropower stations. These rocks cannot be eliminated completely by excavation. Furthermore, all tests nowadays are carried out after the exposure of weak rock zone, modulus of deformation under in-situ conditions cannot be revealed. In this paper, a test method explored by the authors has been introduced. This method is a whole multilayered medium deformation method. It is unnecessary to eliminate the relatively complete rocks covering on weak rock zone. A theoretical formula to obtain the modulus of deformation in various mediums has also been introduced. On-site comparative trials and indoor deformation modulus tests under equivalent density conditions have been carried out. We adopted several methods for the prediction researches of the deformation modulus of weak rock zone under in-situ conditions, and revealed a fact that under in-situ conditions, the deformation modulus of weak rock zone are several times higher than the test results obtained after the exposure. In a perspective of geological engineering, the research findings have fundamentally changed peoples' concepts on the deformation modulus of weak rock zone, provided important theories and methods for precise definition of deformation modulus of deep weak rock zone under cap rock conditions, as well as for reasonable engineering applications.

Numerical simulation of rock progressive failure on samples with a pre-existed weak zone during brittle failure

Considering the heterogeneity of geomechanical materials, seismicity during brittle rock failure under compressive loading on the sample with an original weak zone is simulated by using rock failure process analysis code (RFPA2D). The run-through process of weak zone, the forming of new fault and associated micro-seismicities are studied. The modeling demonstrates the total process of source development of earthquake from deformation, micro-failure to collapse and the behavior of temporal-spatial distribution of micro-seismicities. The stress, strain and the temporal-spatial distribution of micro-seismicities life-likely portrayed the phenomena of localization and temporal-spatial transitions, which is similar to those observed in our real crust. Also, the results obtained in simulations are in agreement with or similar to the reported experimental observations.

Application of high-pressure water jet technology and the theory of rock burst control in roadway

This paper puts forward using high-pressure water jet technology to control rock burst in roadway, and analyzes the theory of controlling rock burst in roadway by the weak structure zone model. The weak structure zone is formed by using high-pressure water jet to cut the coal wall in a continuous and rotational way. In order to study the influence law of weak structure zone in surrounding rock, this paper numerically analyzed the influence law of weak structure zone, and the disturbance law of coal wall and floor under dynamic and static combined load. The results show that when the distance between high-pressure water jet drillings is 3 m and the diameter of drilling is 300 mm, continuous stress superposition zone can be formed. The weak structure zone can transfer and reduce the concentrated static load in surrounding rock, and then form distressed zone. The longer the high-pressure water jet drilling is, the larger the distressed zone is. The stress change and displacement change of non-distressed zone in coal wall and floor are significantly greater than that of distressed zone under dynamic and static combined load. And it shows that the distressed zone can effectively control rock burst in roadway under dynamic and static combined load. High-pressure water jet technology was applied in the haulage gate of 250203 working face in Yanbei Coal Mine, and had gained good effect. The study conclusions provide theoretical foundation and a new guidance for controlling rock burst in roadway.

Comparison between Paleozoic and CenozoicLithospheric Mantle in Eastern Part of North China Block: With a Discussion of Mantle Evolution

Paleozoic diamond- and xenolith-bearing kimberlites and Cenozoic xenolith-bearing basalts,erupted in the eastern part of the North China block (NCB), provide excellent mantle probes for the research of intra-plate processes and the Phanerozoic evolution of the subcontinental lithosphere mantle (SCLM ). In this study, the mineral inclusions in diamond and xenoliths from Mengyin (Shandong Province) and Fuxian (Liaoning Province) kimberlites were chosen for constraining the nature of the Paleozoic SCLM. while xenoliths from the Shanwang and Qixia basalt (both in Shandong Province) were chosen for constraining the nature of the Cenozoic SCLM.Shanwang lies astride the Tancheng-Lujiang (Taulu) fault zone, a major lithospheric fault in Eastern China as well as in Eastern Asia, and Qixia lies east of the rault zone. Based on the research of the petrography of mantle xenoliths, petrochemistry, major and the trace element of mantle minerals, lithospheric thermal state, combiued with tbe modern geophysical data, it is concluded that the attenuation and replacement of Paleozoic SCLM by upwelling asthenospheric materials through thermal erosion and possibly delamination resulted in the rormation of irregular-shaPed hot bodies, mainly along weak zones within the mantle- The Tanlu fault zone played an importont role in the Mesozoic-Cenozoic replacemeni or the pre-existing lithospheric mantle.

Formation mechanism of extension fractures induced by excavation of a gallery in soft sedimentary rock,Horonobe area,Northern Japan

This paper focuses on the formation mechanism of fractures induced by excavation of a gallery in soft sedimentary rocks in the Horonobe area of Japan. Detailed fracture mapping of the gallery indicates that the fractures consist of both pre-existing shear fractures and excavation damaged zone （EDZ） fractures. EDZ fractures correspond to weak planes associated with bedding planes or transgranular cracks. The EDZ fractures terminate against pre-existing shear fractures. Therefore, even for excavations in soft sedimentary rocks, formation of the EDZ fractures are controlled by pre-existing fractures and earlier weak planes.

Indication from finite-frequency tomography beneath the North China Craton： The heterogeneity of craton destruction

We picked new traveltime residual datasets in three frequency bands （0.02%）. 1,0.1-0.8, and 0.8-2.0 Hz） for P-waves from 793 teleseismic events and two frequency bands （0.02-0.1 and 0.1-0.8 Hz） for S-waves from 310 teleseismic events, recorded by 389 permanent stations of the China National Seismic Network and 832 broadband stations of 10 temporary arrays deployed in the North China Craton （NCC） region. The final datasets are composed of 65628 P-arrivals and 47050 S-arrivals. Based on previous research and our team＇s 2012 tomographic work, we constructed new three-dimensional P-velocity and S- velocity models of the NCC through some improvements, such as augmenting a much denser station coverage in the western NCC, considering the incident angle effect in crustal correction and using a multi-frequency joint inversion tomographic technique. The new velocity models provide several salient features, from which we draw possible inferences on regional dynamic processes. We observed high-velocity anomalies in the mantle transition zone （MTZ）. Obvious morphological het- erogeneities suggest buckling and/or fragmentation of the subducted Pacific slab, and some of the slab materials are visible below 660-kin discontinuities. The velocity structure of the eastern NCC is dominated by small-scale lateral heterogeneities. At shallow depths, high-velocity anomalies beneath the southern part of the eastern NCC and the Yanshan region likely represent a remnant of cratonic lithosphere, which may suggest that the NCC destruction is spatially non-uniform. We also detected a high-velocity anomaly in the Sulu Orogen extending downward to -300 kin, which is seemingly controlled by the Tan-Lu Fault. The northern boundary of this anomaly spatially coincides with the Yantai-Qingdao-Wulian Fault, and is likely a remnant of the Yangtze cratonic lithosphere subducting northwestward. Significant low-velocity anomalies imaged beneath the central NCC show a spatial discordance between their northern and southern parts. The northern low-velocity anomaly extends downward to the top of MTZ with a lateral NW-SE strike, whereas the southern one tapers off at -200-300 kin. Low-velocity anomalies are present beneath the Phanerozoic orogenic belts surrounding the NCC, the Paleoproterozoic Trans-North China Orogen, and the Tan-Lu Fault. This feature not only shows excellent spatial correlation with the orogens at the surface, it also exhibits a consistent vertical continuity in a depth range of 60-250 km. This intriguing feature suggests that the collisional orogenic belts and Tan-Lu Fault are inherited weak zones, which may play a key role in craton destruction. By combining multidisciplinary results in this area, we suggest that the spatial heterogeneities associated with the NCC destruction most likely result from the combined effects of a spatially non-uniform distribution of wet upwellings triggered by the subducted Pacific slab and pre-existing weak zones in the eratonic lithosphere.