Coseismic deformation and fault slip distribution of the 2023 M_(W)7.8 and M_(W)7.6 earthquakes in Türkiye

On February 6,2023,a devastating earthquake with a moment magnitude of M_(W)7.8 struck the town of Pazarcik in south-central Türkiye,followed by another powerful earthquake with a moment magnitude of M_(W)7.6 that struck the nearby city of Elbistan 9 h later.To study the characteristics of surface deformation caused by this event and the influence of fault rupture,this study calculated the static coseismic deformation of 56 stations and dynamic displacement waveforms of 15 stations using data from the Turkish national fixed global navigation satellite system(GNSS)network.A maximum static coseismic displacement of 0.38 m for the M_(W)7.8 Kahramanmaras earthquake was observed at station ANTE,36 km from the epicenter,and a maximum dynamic coseismic displacement of 4.4 m for the M_(W)7.6 Elbistan earthquake was observed at station EKZ1,5 km from the epicenter.The rupture-slip distributions of the two earthquakes were inverted using GNSS coseismic deformation as a constraint.The results showed that the Kahramanmaras earthquake rupture segment was distinct and exposed on the ground,resulting in significant rupture slip along the Amanos and Pazarcik fault segments of the East Anatolian Fault.The maximum slip in the Pazarcik fault segment was 10.7 m,and rupture occurred at depths of 0–15 km.In the Cardak fault region,the Elbistan earthquake caused significant ruptures at depths of 0–12 km,with the largest amount of slip reaching 11.6 m.The Coulomb stress change caused by the Kahramanmaras earthquake rupture along the Cardak fault segment was approximately 2 bars,and the area of increased Coulomb stress corresponded to the subsequent rupture region of the M_(W)7.6 earthquake.Thus,it is likely that the M_(W)7.8 earthquake triggered or promoted the M_(W)7.6 earthquake.Based on the cumulative stress impact of the M_(W)7.8 and M_(W)7.6 events,the southwestern segment of the East Anatolian Fault,specifically the Amanos fault segment,experienced a Coulomb rupture stress change exceeding 2 bars,warranting further attention to assess its future seismic hazard risk.

Resistive switching behavior and mechanism of HfO_(x) films with large on/off ratio by structure design

Different bilayer structures of HfO_(x)/Ti(TiO_(x)) are designed for hafnium-based memory to investigate the switching characteristics. The chemical states in the films and near the interface are characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,and the oxygen vacancies are analyzed. Highly improved on/off ratio(~104) and much uniform switching parameters are observed for bilayer structures compared to single layer HfO_(x) sample, which can be attributed to the modulation of oxygen vacancies at the interface and better control of the growth of filaments. Furthermore, the reliability of the prepared samples is investigated. The carrier conduction behaviors of HfO_(x)-based samples can be attributed to the trapping and de-trapping process of oxygen vacancies and a filamentary model is proposed. In addition, the rupture of filaments during the reset process for the bilayer structures occur at the weak points near the interface by the recovery of oxygen vacancies accompanied by the variation of barrier height. The re-formation of fixed filaments due to the residual filaments as lightning rods results in the better switching performance of the bilayer structure.

Exploring the mechanical behavior and microstructure of compacted loess subjected to dry-wet cycles and chemical contamination

Due to climatic factors and rapid urbanization,the soil in the Loess Plateau,China,experiences the coupled effects of dry-wet cycles and chemical contamination.Understanding the mechanical behavior and corresponding microstructural evolution of contaminated loess subjected to dry-wet cycles is essential to elucidate the soil degradation mechanism.Therefore,direct shear and consolidation tests were performed to investigate the variations in mechanical properties of compacted loess contaminated with acetic acid,sodium hydroxide,and sodium sulfate during dry-wet cycles.The mechanical response mechanisms were investigated using zeta potential,mineral chemical composition,and scanning electron microscopy(SEM)tests.The results indicate that the mechanical deterioration of sodium hydroxidecontaminated loess during dry-wet cycles decreases with increasing contaminant concentration,which is mainly attributed to the thickening of the electrical double layer(EDL)by Nat and the precipitation of calcite,as well as the formation of colloidal flocs induced by OH,thus inhibiting the development of large pores during the dry-wet process.In contrast,the attenuation of mechanical properties of both acetic acid-and sodium sulfate-contaminated loess becomes more severe with increasing contaminant concentration,with the latter being more particularly significant.This is primarily due to the reduction of the EDL thickness and the erosion of cement in the acidic environment,which facilitates the connectivity of pores during dry-wet cycles.Furthermore,the salt expansion generated by the drying process of saline loess further intensifies the structural disturbance.Consequently,the mechanical performance of compacted loess is sensitive to both pollutant type and concentration,exhibiting different response patterns in the dry-wet cycling condition.

Failure evaluation and control factor analysis of slope block instability along traffic corridor in Southeastern Tibet

The instability of slope blocks occurred frequently along traffic corridor in Southeastern Tibet(TCST),which was primarily controlled by the rock mass structures.A rapid method evaluating the control effects of rock mass structures was proposed through field statistics of the slopes and rock mass structures along TCST,which combined the stereographic projection method,modified M-JCS model,and limit equilibrium theory.The instabilities of slope blocks along TCST were then evaluated rapidly,and the different control factors of instability were analyzed.Results showed that the probabilities of toppling(5.31%),planar(16.15%),and wedge(35.37%)failure of slope blocks along TCST increased sequentially.These instability modes were respectively controlled by the anti-dip joint,the joint parallel to slope surface with a dip angle smaller than the slope angle(singlejoint),and two groups of joints inclined out of the slope(double-joints).Regarding the control effects on slope block instability,the stabilization ability of doublejoints(72.7%),anti-dip joint(67.4%),and single-joint(57.6%)decreased sequentially,resulting in different probabilities of slope block instability.Additionally,nearby regional faults significantly influenced the joints,leading to spatial heterogeneity and segmental clustering in the stabilization ability provided by joints to the slope blocks.Consequently,the stability of slope blocks gradually weakened as they approached the fault zones.This paper can provide guidance and assistance for investigating the development characteristics of rock mass structures and the stability of slope blocks.

“Blocking and rebalance”mechanism-guided design strategies of bimetallic doped 2D a-phosphorus carbide as efficient catalysts for N_(2) electroreduction

Compared to single atom catalysts(SACs),the introduction of dual atom catalysts(DACs)has a significantly positive effect on improving the efficiency in the electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR)which provides an environmental alternative to the Haber-Bosch process.However,the research on the mechanism and strategy of designing bimetallic combinations for better performance is still in its early stages.Herein,based on"blocking and rebalance"mechanism,45 combinations of bimetallic pair dopedα-phosphorus carbide(TM_(A)TM_(B)@PC)are investigated as efficient NRR catalysts through density functional theory and machine learning method.After a multi-step screening,the combinations of TiV,TiFe,MnMo,and FeW exhibit highly efficient catalytic performance with significantly lower limiting potentials(-0.17,-0.18,-0.14,and-0.30 V,respectively).Excitingly,the limiting potential for CrMo and CrW combinations is 0 V,which are considered to be extremely suitable for the NRR process.The mechanism of"blocking and rebalance"is revealed by the exploration of charge transfer for phosphorus atoms in electron blocking areas.Moreover,the descriptorφis proposed with machine learning,which provides design strategies and accurate prediction for finding efficient DACs.This work not only offers promising catalysts TM_(A)TM_(B)@PC for NRR process but also provides design strategies by presenting the descriptorφ.

Fourth-order phase-field modeling for brittle fracture in piezoelectric materials

Failure analyses of piezoelectric structures and devices are of engineering and scientific significance.In this paper,a fourth-order phase-field fracture model for piezoelectric solids is developed based on the Hamilton principle.Three typical electric boundary conditions are involved in the present model to characterize the fracture behaviors in various physical situations.A staggered algorithm is used to simulate the crack propagation.The polynomial splines over hierarchical T-meshes(PHT-splines)are adopted as the basis function,which owns the C1continuity.Systematic numerical simulations are performed to study the influence of the electric boundary conditions and the applied electric field on the fracture behaviors of piezoelectric materials.The electric boundary conditions may influence crack paths and fracture loads significantly.The present research may be helpful for the reliability evaluation of the piezoelectric structure in the future applications.

Automation in road distress detection,diagnosis and treatment

Road transportation plays a crucial role in society and daily life,as the functioning and durability of roads can significantly impact a nation's economic development.In the whole life cycle of the road,the emergence of disease is unavoidable,so it is necessary to adopt relevant technical means to deal with the disease.This study comprehensively reviews the advancements in computer vision,artificial intelligence,and mobile robotics in the road domain and examines their progress and applications in road detection,diagnosis,and treatment,especially asphalt roads.Specifically,it analyzes the research progress in detecting and diagnosing surface and internal road distress and related techniques and algorithms are compared.In addition,also introduces various road gover-nance technologies,including automated repairs,intelligent construction,and path planning for crack sealing.Despite their proven effectiveness in detecting road distress,analyzing diagnoses,and planning maintenance,these technologies still confront challenges in data collection,parameter optimization,model portability,system accuracy,robustness,and real-time performance.Consequently,the integration of multidisciplinary technologies is imperative to enable the development of an integrated approach that includes road detection,diagnosis,and treatment.This paper addresses the challenges of precise defect detection,condition assessment,and unmanned construction.At the same time,the efficiency of labor liberation and road maintenance is achieved,and the automation level of the road engineering industry is improved.

Extraction of fractures in shale CT images using improved U-Net

Accurate extraction of pores and fractures is a prerequisite for constructing digital rocks for physical property simulation and microstructural response analysis.However,fractures in CT images are similar in grayscale to the rock matrix,and traditional algorithms have difficulty to achieve accurate segmentation results.In this study,a dataset containing multiscale fracture information was constructed,and a U-Net semantic segmentation model with a scSE attention mechanism was used to classify shale CT images at the pixel level and compare the results with traditional methods.The results showed that the CLAHE algorithm effectively removed noise and enhanced the fracture information in the dark parts,which is beneficial for further fracture extraction.The Canny edge detection algorithm had significant false positives and failed to recognize the internal information of the fractures.The Otsu algorithm only extracted fractures with a significant difference from the background and was not sensitive enough for fine fractures.The MEF algorithm enhanced the edge information of the fractures and was also sensitive to fine fractures,but it overestimated the aperture of the fractures.The U-Net was able to identify almost all fractures with good continuity,with an MIou and Recall of 0.80 and 0.82,respectively.As the image resolution increases,more fine fracture information can be extracted.

Mechanical responses of underground carriageway structures due to construction of metro tunnels beneath the existing structure:A case study

To understand the mechanical response pattern of the existing structure and ground due to the construction of metro tunnels underneath,the finite difference method is adopted to study the torsional deformation and stress variation of the existing structure and the effect of underground carriageway structures on the surface subsidence.The curves of the maximum differential subsidence,torsion angle,and distortion of the cross-section of the existing structure show two peaks in succession during traversing of two metro tunnels beneath it.The torsion angle of the existing structure changes when the two tunnels traverse beneath it in opposite directions.The first traversing of the shield tunnel mainly induces the magnitude variation in torsional deformation of the existing structure,but the second traversing of the subsurface tunnel may cause a dynamic change in the magnitude and form of torsional deformation in the existing structure.The shielding effect can reduce the surface subsidence caused by metro tunnel excavation to a certain extent,and the development trend of subsidence becomes slower as the excavation continues.

Bio-based rejuvenators in asphalt pavements:A comprehensive review and analytical study

The pressing demand for sustainable advancements in road infrastructure has catalyzed extensive research into environmentally conscious alternatives for the maintenance and restoration of asphalt concrete pavements.This paper offers a comprehensive review and analysis of bio-based rejuvenators as a promising avenue for enhancing the longevity and sustainability of asphalt.Through a multifaceted exploration,it delves into various aspects of this innovative approach.Providing a thorough overview of bio-based rejuvenators,the study highlights their renewable and environmentally friendly characteristics.It conducts an in-depth examination of a wide spectrum of bio-derived materials,including vegetable oils,waste-derived bio-products,and biopolymers,through a comprehensive survey.The paper evaluates how bio-based rejuvenators enhance aged asphalt binders and mixes,effectively mitigating the adverse impacts of aging.Furthermore,it investigates how these rejuvenators address environmental concerns by identifying compatibility issues,assessing long-term performance,and evaluating economic feasibility.Finally,the paper outlines potential advancements and research pathways aimed at optimizing the utilization of bio-based rejuvenators in asphalt concrete,thereby contributing to the sustainable evolution of road infrastructure.

Towards green asphalt materials with lower emission of volatile organic compounds: A review on the release characteristics and its emission reduction additives

Recently, researchers in the road field are focusing on the development of green asphalt materials with loweremission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The characterization methodology of asphalt VOCs and theinfluencing factors on VOCs release have always been the basic issue of asphalt VOCs emission reduction research.Researchers have proposed a variety of asphalt VOCs characterization methodologies, which also have mutuallyirreplaceable characteristics. Asphalt VOCs volatilization is affected by many factors. In this study, asphalt VOCscharacterization methodologies were summarized, including their advantages, disadvantages, characteristics andapplicable requirements. Subsequently, the influencing factors of VOCs release, such as asphalt types and environment conditions, are summarized to provide theoretical support for the emission reduction research. Theclassification and mechanism of newly-development asphalt VOCs emission reduction materials are reviewed. Thereduction efficiencies are also compared to select better materials and put forward the improvement objective ofnew materials and new processes. In addition, the prospects about development of VOCs release mechanism ofasphalt materials during the full life cycle and feasibility research of high-efficiency composite emission reductionmaterials in the future were put forward.

Spatial distribution characteristics and influence factor analysis of landslides——case study of the Hanwang area in Qinba Mountains

The geological hazards of landslides in Hanwang Town, Ziyang County, Ankang City, Shaanxi Province, have emerged. Yet, the current understanding of the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of landslides in this area remains unclear. Combining the results of remote sensing interpretation and field investigation, seven influencing factors, namely, elevation, slope direction, slope gradient, distance from rivers, distance from faults, engineering geologic lithology, and distance from roads, are selected for the study. The distribution characteristics of landslides in each influencing factor and the influence of the resolution of the Digital Elevation Model(DEM) on the results are statistically and analytically analyzed. Furthermore, two highrisk landslides within the study area were subjected to comprehensive analysis, integrating the findings from drilling and other field investigations in order to examine their deformation mechanisms. Based on this analysis,the following conclusions were derived:(1) 34 landslides in the study area, mainly small earth landslides, with a distribution density of 0.42/km~2, threatening 414 people and property of about 55.87 million Yuan.(2)The landslides in the study area easily occur in the <400 m elevation range;the landslides are developed in all slope directions, the gradient is mainly concentrated in the range of 10°–40°, the distribution density of the landslides is higher in the closer distance from the river and the faults(0–200 m), the landslide-prone strata are mainly the softer and weaker metamorphic rocks, and the landslides are mainly around roads.(3) The resolution of the DEM should be selected based on the specific conditions of the study area, the requirements of the investigation, and the scale of the landslide. Opting for an appropriate DEM resolution is advantageous for understanding the patterns of landslides and conducting risk assessments in the region.(4) The Zhengjiabian landslide is a traction Landslide. The landslide body is a binary structure of gravel soil and slate weathering layer, and the damage process can be divided into three stages:(1)damage to the leading edge and stress release,(2)continuous creep and cracking,(3)rainfall infiltration and damage. The predominant slope material in the Brickyard landslide comprises clay, and the landslide is triggered by a combination of the traction effect resulting from the excavation at the slope's base and the nudging effect caused by the stacking load of the brick factory. Additionally, the Brickyard landslide exhibits persistent creep deformation. The study results provide a scientific basis for disaster prevention and mitigation in the Hanwang Township area.

Bird’s-eye view of recycled solid wastes in road engineering

Recent trends in road engineering have explored the potential of incorporating recycled solid wastes into infrastructures that including pavements,bridges,tunnels,and accessory structures.The utilization of solid wastes is expected to offer sustainable solutions to waste recycling while enhancing the performance of roads.This review provides an extensive analysis of the recycling of three main types of solid wastes for road engineering purposes:industrial solid waste,infrastructure solid waste,and municipal life solid waste.Industrial solid wastes suitable for road engineering generally include coal gangue,fly ash,blast furnace slag,silica fume,and steel slag,etc.Infrastructure solid wastes recycled in road engineering primarily consist of construction&demolition waste,reclaimed asphalt pavements,and recycled cement concrete.Furthermore,recent exploration has extended to the utilization of municipal life solid wastes,such as incinerated bottom ash,glass waste,electronics waste,plastic waste,and rubber waste in road engineering applications.These recycled solid wastes are categorized into solid waste aggregates,solid waste cements,and solid waste fillers,each playing distinct roles in road infrastructure.Roles of solid waste acting aggregates,cements,and fillers in road infrastructures were fully investigated,including their pozzolanic properties,integration effects to virgin materials,modification or enhancement solutions,engineering performances.Utilization of these materials not only addresses the challenge of waste management but also offers environmental benefits aiming carbon neutral and contributes to sustainable infrastructure development.However,challenges such as variability in material properties,environmental impact mitigation,secondary pollution to environment by leaching,and concerns regarding long-term performance need to be further addressed.Despite these challenges,the recycled solid wastes hold immense potential in revolutionizing road construction practices and fostering environmental stewardship.This review delves into a bird’seye view of the utilization of recycled solid wastes in road engineering,highlighting advances,benefits,challenges,and future prospects.

Intelligent pavement condition survey:Overview of current researches and practices

Automated pavement condition survey is of critical importance to road network management.There are three primary tasks involved in pavement condition surveys,namely data collection,data processing and condition evaluation.Artificial intelligence(AI)has achieved many breakthroughs in almost every aspect of modern technology over the past decade,and undoubtedly offers a more robust approach to automated pavement condition survey.This article aims to provide a comprehensive review on data collection systems,data processing algorithms and condition evaluation methods proposed between 2010 and 2023 for intelligent pavement condition survey.In particular,the data collection system includes AI-driven hardware devices and automated pavement data collection vehicles.The AI-driven hardware devices including right-of-way(ROW)cameras,ground penetrating radar(GPR)devices,light detection and ranging(LiDAR)devices,and advanced laser imaging systems,etc.These different hardware components can be selectively mounted on a vehicle to simultaneously collect multimedia information about the pavement.In addition,this article pays close attention to the application of artificial intelligence methods in detecting pavement distresses,measuring pavement roughness,identifying pavement rutting,analyzing skid resistance and evaluating structural strength of pavements.Based upon the analysis of a variety of the state-of-the-art artificial intelligence methodologies,remaining challenges and future needs with respect to intelligent pavement condition survey are discussed eventually.

A comprehensive review on polyurethane modified asphalt: Mechanism, characterization and prospect

Polyurethane(PU),with excellent physical and chemical properties and high designability,is one of the ideal materials for asphalt modification in the future.In this paper,based on the limitations of traditional asphalt modifiers,the preparation process,relative advantages and development prospects of PU as asphalt modifiers are described.Subsequently,the spatial structure,physical and chemical properties of PU synthetic raw materials were combined with the modification properties of PU to analyze the effect and influence of PU on asphalt modification.Specifically,polyurethane modified asphalt(PUMA)is divided into thermoplastic polyurethane modified asphalt(TP-PUMA)and thermosetting polyurethane modified asphalt(TS-PUMA).The gain effect of TPPUMA in high-temperature performance,low-temperature performance,aging resistance,fatigue resistance,weathering performance and bonding performance is obvious.In addition,it has good storage stability.With excellent road performance,TS-PUMA makes up for the shortcomings of epoxy asphalt in terms of lowtemperature performance and compatibility.Finally,due to the development trend of functional diversification of modified asphalt,the research basis and status of several new modified asphalts based on PU properties are described.Because the systematic study of PUMA is insufficient,this paper proposes corresponding research.To provide guidance and ideas for the research of PU modified asphalt.

Late Oligocene fossil acorns and nuts of Quercus section Cyclobalanopsis from the Nanning Basin,Guangxi,South China

Quercus is the largest genus within the Fagaceae and has a rich fossil record.Most of the fossil material is attributed to the subgenus Quercus based on leaves,pollen or rarely acorns and nuts.Fossil records of Q.section Cyclobalanopsis characterized by ring-cupped acorns are relatively few and especially those described based on nuts are scant.In this study,we described four new species of Quercus section Cyclobalanopsis based on mummified acorns and nuts:Q.paleodisciformis X.Y.Liu et J.H.Jin sp.nov.,Q.paleohui X.Y.Liu et J.H.Jin sp.nov.,Q.nanningensis X.Y.Liu et J.H.Jin sp.nov.and Q.yongningensis X.Y.Liu et J.H.Jin sp.nov.These species closely resemble the extant species Q.disciformis,Q.hui,Q.kerrii,and Q.dinghuensis.The occurrence of Q.section Cyclobalanopsis in the Oligocene stratum of Guangxi,South China,suggests that the section has diversified within its extant distribution center since the Oligocene.By combining records from other areas,we propose that the section first appeared in the middle Eocene of East Asia(Sino-Japan),has diversified in situ with a few elements scattering into West Asia and southern Europe since the Oligocene and Pliocene,respectively,and finally became restricted in East Asia since the Pleistocene.This indicates that the section originated and diversified in East Asia,before spreading into West Asia no later than the Oligocene and into southern Europe by the Pliocene.Subsequently it disappeared from South Europe and West Asia due to the appearance of the(summer dry)Mediterranean climate and widespread cooling during the Pleistocene.

Materials,preparation,performances and mechanism of polyurethane modified asphalt and its mixture:A systematic review

With the rapid development of asphalt pavement technology,it has attracted considerable attention to improving the durability of asphalt pavement.An effective action is to use modified asphalt with high performance and durability.Polyurethane(PU)has been used in asphalt pavement engineering to enhance the durability and service life of asphalt pavement because of its excellent high-temperature performance,toughness,wear resistance,aging resistance and oil resistance.However,PU modified asphalt technology is still in the exploratory stage.The preparation,modification mechanism and working performances of PU modified asphalt need to be further clarified.Therefore,this paper summarized the research progress of PU modified asphalt and its mixture.The composition of PU modified asphalt was introduced.The addition methods of PU materials and preparation process parameters of the PU modified asphalt were determined.The modification mechanism of PU on asphalt was discussed.The effects of polyurethane on asphalt were analyzed and the road performances of its mixture were evaluated.Finally,the development tendency towards PU modified asphalt and its mixture were forecasted.

Mechanical and environmental properties of geopolymer-stabilized domestic waste incineration slag in an asphalt pavement base

Domestic waste incineration slag(WIS)includes fly ash and slag.Fly ash is classified as hazardous waste because it contains heavy metals.Most of slag are directly stacked or landfilled due to problems such as large output and low utilization rate.Harmless treatment is imminent.If WIS is used effectively in the road engineering,which can realize the high-quality and high-efficiency recycling of WIS,and it is of great significance to save resources and protect the environment.This study applies a geopolymer prepared from WIS fly ash as a stabilizing agent in WIS blending macadam for use as a pavement base mixture,and reports the mechanical properties(unconfined compressive strength,splitting strength,and resilience modulus)of the geopolymer-stabilized WIS blending macadam(GeoWIS).The leaching concentrations of harmful heavy metals of GeoWIS soaked in water were also investigated.Finally,the strength formation and heavy metal stability mechanisms were explored.The unconfined compressive strength,splitting strength,and compressive resilient modulus of GeoWIS all increased with increasing geopolymer content and decreasing WIS content.The strength of GeoWIS was derived from its geopolymerization and hydration products(C-S-H gel,N-A-S-H gel,and AFt).When the geopolymer content reached 12%–14%,the GeoWIS without natural macadam met the strength criterion of the asphalt pavement base.Through physical adsorption and chemical bonding,the geopolymer significantly reduced the leaching of harmful heavy metals.In GeoWIS with 50%WIS and stabilized with 10%geopolymer,the Cr,Ni,Cd,and Pb concentrations met the grade III groundwater standard.Concentrations of heavy metals leached from GeoWIS are low and exert little impact on environment.

Impact of a retrogressive thaw slump on surrounding vegetation communities in the Fenghuoshan mountains,Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Under global warming,permafrost around the world is experiencing degradation which is especially so on the Third Pole,the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(QTP),China.Retrogressive thaw slump(RTS)is one of the thermokarst features caused by rapid degradation of ice rich permafrost,which transforms landforms and threatens infrastructures,and even affects the terrestrial carbon cycle.In this work,vegetation communities surrounding a RTS in the Fenghuoshan Mountains of the interior portion of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau have been investigated to examine the impact from RTS.This investigation indicates that the occurrence of RTS influences the vegetation community by altering their habitats,especially the soil water content,which forces the vegetation community to evolve in order to adapt to the alterations.In the interior part of RTS where it has been disturbed tremendously,alterations have produced a wider niche and richer plant species.This favors species of a wet environment in a habitat where it was a relatively dry environment of alpine steppe prior to the occurrence of RTS.This study adds to limited observations regarding the impact of RTS to vegetation community on the QTP and helps us to reach a broader understanding of the effects of permafrost degradation as well as global warming.

Water infiltration and soil-water characteristics of compacted loess under applied vertical stress

Additional stress formed by postconstruction buildings in loess-filling areas affects water infiltration in soil and causes soil deformation.To investigate this effect,under constant water head,vertical infiltration tests on compacted loess with two initial dry densities for different applied vertical stresses were developed using vertical stresscontrollable one-dimensional soil columns.The timehistory curves of vertical deformation,wetting front depth,cumulative infiltration depth,volumetric water content(VWC)and suction were measured,and the soil-water characteristic curves(SWCCs)were determined.The results showed that:(1)the infiltration ability of the soil column weakens with increasing applied vertical stress and initial dry density;(2)vertical deformation increases rapidly at first and then tends to be stable slowly at the consolidation and wetting-induced deformation stage,and is positively correlated with applied vertical stress and is negatively correlated with initial dry density.The stability time of wetting-induced deformation and the corresponding wetting front depth increase with the increase of applied vertical stress,while they decrease obviously when initial dry density increases;(3)the influence of applied vertical stress on soilwater characteristics in soil columns with various initial dry densities is related to the deformation depth of soil column.The VG(Van Genuchten)model is suitable for fitting the SWCCs at different monitoring positions.A normalized SWCC model introducing the applied vertical stress was proposed for each initial dry density using the mathematical relationship between the fitting parameters and the applied vertical stress.