Quality analysis of crustal tilt and strain observations in China's earthquakes in 2014

This work analyzes the quality of crustal tilt and strain observations during 2014, which were acquired from 269 sets of ground tiltmeters and 212 sets of strainmeters. In terms of data quality, the water tube tiltmeters presented the highest rate of excellent quality,approximately 91%, and the pendulum tiltmeters and ground strainmeters yielded rates of81% and 78%, respectively. This means that a total of 380 sets of instruments produced high-quality observational data suitable for scientific investigations and analyses.

Investigation of gas content of organic-rich shale:A case study from Lower Permian shale in southern North China Basin,central China

Measuring gas content is an essential step in estimating the commerciality of gas reserves. In this study,eight shale core samples from the Mouye-1 well were measured using a homemade patented gas desorption apparatus to determine their gas contents. Due to the air contamination that is introduced into the desorption canister, a mathematical method was devised to correct the gas quantity and quality.Compared to the chemical compositions of desorbed gas, the chemical compositions of residual gas are somewhat different. In residual gas, carbon dioxide and nitrogen record a slight increase, and propane is first observed. This phenomenon may be related to the exposure time during the transportation of shale samples from the drilling site to the laboratory, as well as the differences in the mass, size and adsorptivity of different gas molecules. In addition to a series of conventional methods, including the USBM direct method and the Amoco Curve Fit(ACF) method, which were used here for lost gas content estimation, a Modified Curve Fit(MCF) method, based on the 'bidisperse' diffusion model, was established to estimate lost gas content. By fitting the ACF and MCF models to gas desorption data, we determined that the MCF method could reasonably describe the gas desorption data over the entire time period, whereas the ACF method failed. The failure of the ACF method to describe the gas desorption process may be related to its restrictive assumption of a single pore size within shale samples. In comparison to the indirect method, this study demonstrates that none of the three methods studied in this investigation(USBM, ACF and MCF) could individually estimate the lost gas contents of all shale samples and that the proportion of free gas relative to total gas has a significant effect on the estimation accuracy of the selected method. When the ratio of free gas to total gas is lower than 45%, the USBM method is the best for estimating the lost gas content, whereas when the ratio ranges from 45% to 75% or is more than 75%, the ACF and MCF methods, are the best options respectively.

Relocation of the 10 March 2011 Yingjiang,China,earthquake sequence and its tectonic implications

An earthquake with Ms5.8 occurred on 10 March 2011 in Yingjiang county, western Yunnan, China. This earthquake caused 25 deaths and over 250 injuries. In order to better understand the seismotectonics in the region, we collected the arrival time data from the Yunnan seismic observational bulletins during 1 January to 25 March 2011, and precisely hand-picked the arrival times from high-quality seismograms that were recorded by the temporary seismic stations deployed by our Institute of Crustal Dynamics, China Earthquake Administration. Using these arrival times, we relocated all the earthquakes including the Yingjiang mainshock and its aftershocks using the double-difference relocation algorithm. Our results show that the relocated earthquakes dominantly occurred along the ENE direction and formed an upside-down bow-shaped structure in depth. It is also observed that after the Yingjiang mainshock, some aftershocks extended toward the SSE over about 10 km. These results may indicate that the Yingjiang mainshock ruptured a conjugate fault system consisting of the ENE trending Da Yingjiang fault and a SSE trending blind fault. Such structural features could contribute to severely seismic hazards during the moderate-size Yingjiang earthquake.

Late Pleistocene-Holocene slip history of the Langshan-Seertengshan piedmont fault(Inner Mongolia,northern China) from cosmogenic ^(10)Be dating on a bedrock fault scarp

Offset geomorphic features and deformed late Quaternary strata indicate active deformation along the Langshan-Seertengshan piedmont fault （LSPF）, one of the most active faults in the Hetao fault zone in Inner Mongolia, North China. The widespread occurrence of bedrock fault scarps along the LSPF offers excellent opportunity to examine the faulting history. Using cosmogenic ^10Be exposure dating, we measured the exposure ages of the western Langshankou scarp, located in the middle segment of the LSPF. Our data revealed at least two earthquakes that occurred at 22.2±3.3 Ira and 7.2±2.4 ka, respectively. These events are consistent with previous paleoseismic trench studies. The regression of the relationship between the age and sampling height along the scarp yield a fault slip rate of 0.10 ±0.05/-0.06 mm/yr, which is significantly lower than the average post-late Pleistocene fault slip rate of ~1 mm/yr, as estimated from the offset of the T2 terraces by previous studies. This indicates that the slip of the LSPF may have been accommodated by other fault branches.

Attribution of the Langshan Tectonic Belt: Evidence from zircon U-Pb ages and Hf isotope compositions

This study describes a previously unidentified Neoproterozoic mafic dyke emplaced in the northern flank of the Langshan Tectonic Belt. This dyke intruded into the micaquartz schist of the Zhaertaishan Group, and yielded an age of 908 ± 8 Ma. The youngest U-Pb ages of micaquartz schist from the Zhaertaishan Group in the Langshan area were 1118 ± 33 Ma,1187 ± 3 Ma and 1189 ± 39 Ma,suggesting that the depositional age of the protolith of the schist was between 908 ± 8 Ma and 1118 ± 33 Ma. In addition, 436 U-Pb age data and 155 Lu-Hf isotopic data from six samples in the Langshan Tectonic Belt and one Permian greywacke from the Wuhai area show distinct differences between the northern and southern flanks of the Main Langshan area. The U-Pb ages of the northern flank are primarily Meso-Neoproterozoic; similar ages have not been identified in the southern flank to date.Moreover, two-stage Hf model ages of the northern flank feature three age peaks at ～900 Ma,～1700 Ma and ～2600 Ma; this differs from Hf model ages of the southern flank, which feature one strong age peak at ～2700 Ma. These results suggest that the northern and southern flanks of the Main Langshan area have different geochronologic characteristics and should be divided further. Based on the U-Pb ages and Hf model ages, the northern and southern flanks of the Main Langshan area are named the North and South Langshan Tectonic Belts. Comparison of the U-Pb age and two-stage Hf model age distributions from the North Langshan Tectonic Belt, South Langshan Tectonic Belt, Alxa Block and the North China Craton(NCC) reveal that the North Langshan Tectonic Belt is similar to the Alxa Block and that the South Langshan Tectonic Belt is similar to the NCC. In addition, the zircon U-Pb age of 860 ±7 Ma commonly observed in the Alxa Block was detected in the Permian greywacke from the Wuhai area of the NCC, which suggests that the amalgamation of the North and South Langshan Tectonic belts(i.e.,the amalgamation of the Alxa Block and the NCC), occurred between Devonian and late Permian.

Carbon and oxygen isotopic constraints on paleoclimate and paleoelevation of the southwestern Qaidam basin, northern Tibetan Plateau

We investigate the growth of the northern Tibetan Plateau and associated climate change by applying oxygen and carbon isotopic compositions in Cenozoic strata in the southwestern Qaidam basin. The X-ray diffraction and isotopic studies reveal that the carbonate minerals are mainly authigenic and they do not preserve any evidence for detrital carbonate and diagenesis. The isotope data show large fluctuations in the δ^(18)O and δ^(13)C values in the middle-late Eocene, indicating relatively warm and seasonal dry climate.The positive correlation of the δ^(18)O and δ^(13)C values in the Oligocene and the positive shift of the δ^(13)C values from the Eocene to Oligocene suggest that the climate changed to arid in the Oligocene. However,the δ^(18) values show negative shift, which is closely related to the global cooling event. During the Miocene, the δ^(13)C values vary between-2‰ and-4‰, whereas the δ^(18)O values show continuous negative shift. The mean δ^(18) values decrease from-8.5‰, in the early Miocene to-10.0‰, in the late Miocene. The stable isotope-based paleoaltimetry results suggest that the elevation of the southwestern Qaidam basin was approximately 1500 m in the middle-late Eocene and Oligocene. Subsequently, during Miocene the crustal uplift process started and the elevation reached approximately 2000 m in the early Miocene and 2500 m in the late Miocene, which suggests large-scale growth of the northern Tibet Plateau during the Miocene.

Co-seismic slip distribution of the 2011 Tohoku(MW 9.0)earthquake inverted from GPS and space-borne gravimetric data

Data obtained by GRACE(Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) have been used to invert for the seismic source parameters of megathrust earthquakes under the assumption of either uniform slip over an entire fault or a point-like seismic source.Herein, we further extend the inversion of GRACE long-wavelength gravity changes to heterogeneous slip distributions during the 2011 Tohoku earthquake using three fault models:(Ⅰ) a constant-strike and constant-dip fault,(Ⅱ) a variable dip fault, and(Ⅲ) a realistically varying strike fault. By removing the post-seismic signal from the time series, and taking the effect of ocean water redistribution into account, we invert for slip models I, II, and III using co-seismic gravity changes measured by GRACE, de-striped by DDK3 decorrelation filter. The total seismic moments of our slip models, with respective values of 4.9×10^(22) Nm, 5.1×10^(22) Nm, and 5.0×10^(22) Nm, are smaller than those obtained by other studies relying on GRACE data. The resulting centroids are also located at greater depths(20 km, 19.8 km,and 17.4 km, respectively). By combining onshore GPS, GPS-Acoustic, and GRACE data, we obtain a jointly inverted slip model with a seismic moment of 4.8×10^(22) Nm, which is larger than the seismic moment obtained using only the GPS displacements. We show that the slip inverted from low degree space-borne gravimetric data, which contains information at the ocean region, is affected by the strike of the arcuate trench. The space-borne gravimetric data help us constrain the source parameters of a megathrust earthquake within the frame of heterogeneous slip models.

Geochronology and Geochemistry of the Tinggong Porphyry Copper Ore Deposit, Tibet

We have determined the ages of the ore-bearing Tinggong porphyries and the Eocene granites using the LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb method.Zircons from one adamellite porphyry and two diorite porphyries yield ages of 15.54±0.28 Ma,15.02±0.25 Ma and 14.74±0.22 Ma,respectively.The ages of two granites are 50.48±0.71 Ma and 50.16±0.48 Ma.Light Rare Earth Elements （LREE） are enriched in the ore-bearing adamellite porphyries,which are high-K caic-alkaline and metaluminous,while Heavy Rare Earth Elements （HREE） and Y are strongly depleted,indicating an adakitic affinity.The Large Ion Lithophile Elements （LILE） of the adamellite porphyries are highly enriched,whereas some High Field Strength Elements （HFSE） are depleted.The diorite porphyry in this study is chemically similar to the adamellite porphyries,except that the Mg# of the diorite porphyry is a little higher,demonstrating more mantle contamination.Four samples from different rocks are selected for in situ zircon Hf isotopic analyses.The samples show positive εHf（t） values and young Hf model ages,indicating their derivation from juvenile crust.However,the adamellite porphyry and diorite porphyry formed in the Miocene exhibit more heterogeneous Hf isotopic ratios,with lower （Σ）Hf （t） values than the granites formed in the Eocene,suggesting the involvement of old Indian continent crust in their petrogenesis.The geochronology and geochemistry of the adamellite porphyries and the diorite porphyries indicate that they formed from the same source region in a post-collisional environment,but contaminated by crust and mantle materials in different ratios.The metallic minerals formed mainly during the older adamellite porphyry stage,but they were recycled and reactivated by the diorite porphyry intrusion.

Deformation of the Most Recent Co-seismic Surface Ruptures Along the Garzê–Yushu Fault Zone(Dangjiang Segment)and Tectonic Implications For the Tibetan Plateau

The Garzê–Yushu strike-slip fault in central Tibet is the locus of strong earthquakes（M 〉 7）. The deformation and geometry of the co-seismic surface ruptures are reflected in the surface morphology of the fault and depend on the structure of the upper crust as well as the pre-existing tectonics. Therefore, the most recent co-seismic surface ruptures along the Garzê–Yushu fault zone（Dangjiang segment） reveal the surface deformation of the central Tibetan Plateau. Remote sensing images and field investigations suggest a 85 km long surface rupture zone（striking NW-NWW）, less than 50 m wide, defined by discontinuous fault scarps, right-stepping en echelon tensional cracks and left-stepping mole tracks that point to a left-lateral strike-slip fault. The gullies that cross fault scarps record systematic left-lateral offsets of 1.8 m to 5.0 m owing to the most recent earthquake, with moment magnitude of about M 7.5, in the Dangjiang segment. Geological and geomorphological features suggest that the spatial distribution of the 1738 co-seismic surface rupture zone was controlled by the pre-existing active Garzê–Yushu fault zone（Dangjiang segment）. We confirm that the Garzê–Yushu fault zone, a boundary between the Bayan Har Block to the north and the Qiangtang Block to the south, accommodates the eastward extrusion of the Tibetan Plateau and generates strong earthquakes that release the strain energy owing to the relative motion between the Bayan Har and Qiangtang Blocks.

Thermal structures of the Pacific lithosphere from magnetic anomaly inversion

Of the world's oceans, the Pacific has the most abundant distribution of seamount trails, oceanic plateaus and hot spots, and has the longest fracture zones. However, little is known of their thermal structures due to difficulties of heat flow measurement and interpretation, and in inferring thermal anomalies from low-resolution seismic velocities. Using recently published global magnetic models, we present the first independent constraint on Pacific geothermal state and mantle dynamics, by applying a fractal magnetization inversion model to magnetic anomaly data. Warm thermal anomalies are inferred for all known active hot spots, most seamount trails, some major fracture zones, and oceanic lithosphere between ~100 and ~140 Ma in age. While most Curie points are among the shallowest in the zone roughly bounded by the 20 Ma isochrons, abnormally deep Curie points are found along nearly all ridge crests in the Pacific, related to patchy, long-wavelength and large-amplitude magnetic anomalies that are most likely caused by prevailing magmatic or hydrothermal processes. Many large contrasts in the thermal evolution between the Pacific and North Atlantic support much stronger hydrothermal circulation occurring in Pacific lithospheres younger than ~60 Ma, which may have disguised from surface heat flow any deep thermal signatures of volcanic structures. Yet, at depths of the Curie points, our model argues for warmer Pacific lithosphere for crustal ages older than ~15 Ma, given a slightly higher spatial correlation of magnetization in the Pacific than in the North Atlantic.

Laboratory core flooding experimental systems for CO_2 geosequestration: An updated review over the past decade

Carbon dioxide(CO2) geosequestration in deep saline aquifers has been currently deemed as a preferable and practicable mitigation means for reducing anthropogenic greenhouse gases(GHGs) emissions to the atmosphere, as deep saline aquifers can offer the greatest potential from a capacity point of view. Hence,research on core-scale CO2/brine multiphase migration processes is of great significance for precisely estimating storage efficiency, ensuring storage security, and predicting the long-term effects of the sequestered CO2in subsurface saline aquifers. This review article initially presents a brief description of the essential aspects of CO2subsurface transport and geological trapping mechanisms, and then outlines the state-of-the-art laboratory core flooding experimental apparatus that has been adopted for simulating CO2injection and migration processes in the literature over the past decade. Finally, a summary of the characteristics, components and applications of publicly reported core flooding equipment as well as major research gaps and areas in need of further study are given in relevance to laboratory-scale core flooding experiments in CO2geosequestration under reservoir conditions.

Holocene activity evidence on the southeast boundary fault of Heqing basin, middle segment of Heqing-Eryuan fault zone, West Yunnan Province, China

The Heqing-Eryuan fault is an important part of the active fault system in the Northwestern Yunnan Province, China. Thus, the study on the nature, characteristics and activity history of this fault can provide not only the basis for seismic safety and engineering evaluation, but also the important information for the characteristics, history and patterns of the structural deformation of the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Trench and faulted landforms investigations could provide effective paleoseismic methods to obtain the recent parameters of active faults. Using these methods, this study makes some breakthroughs on the recent activity of southeast boundary fault of the Heqing basin, middle segment of Heqing-Eryuan fault zone. Results indicate that the average vertical slip rate and left-lateral slip rate of the segment are about 0.28 mm/a and 1.8o mm/a respectively since the Late Pleistocene. The trench near the Beixi Village at the .outhea.t houndnrv fault of the lqaaing basinreveals that there have been at least three paleoearthquake events during the Holocene （8 ka BP）. The vertical displacement and sinistral strike-slip distance of a single paleoearthquake are ~20 cm and -1.2 m, respectively. The estimated paleoearthquake magnitudes with Ms7.o, and the recurrence interval at 2-5 ka, as well as the latest activity time during 800- 290 ca1 yr BP, are of great significance for preventing and mitigating regional earthquake disasters.

Numerical modeling of tectonic stress field and fault activity in North China

On the basis of a 3-dimension visco-elastic finite element model of lithosphere in North China, we numerically simulate the recent mutative figures of tectonic stress field. Annual change characteristics of stress field are： 1 ） Maximum principal tensile stress is about 3 -9 kPaa-1 and its azimuth lie in NNW-SSE. 2） Maximum principal compressive stress is about 1 - 6 kPaa-1 and its azimuth lie in NEE-SWW. 3 ） Maximum principal tensile stress is higher both in the west region and Liaoning Province. 4） Variation of tectonic stress field benefits fault movement in the west part and northeast part of North China. 5 ）Annual accumulative rates of Coulomb fracture stress in Tanlu fault belt have segmentation patterns： Jiashan-Guangji segment is the high- est （6 kPaa - 1 ） , Anshan-Liaodongwan segment is the second （5 kPaa - l ） , and others are relatively lower （ 3 - 4 kPaa-1 ）.

Lacustrine sedimentary responses to earthquakes—soft-sediment deformation structures since late Pleistocene:A review of current understanding

The traces left by earthquakes in lacustrine sediments are studied to determine the occurrence of ancient earthquakes by identifying seismically induced soft-sediment deformation structures(SSDS).Dating can help reconstruct the relative frequency of earthquakes.Identifying seismically induced seismites,which carry abundant seismic information from numerous SSDS,is both critical and challenging.Studying the deformation mechanism of SSDS and learning about the common criteria of seismically induced SSDS improve the identification of earthquake triggers.With better research into SSDS,seismic events can be effectively captured,and temporal constraints can be carried out by 14C dating and optically stimulated luminescence(OSL)dating to identify and date the occurrence of ancient earthquakes.The present contribution primarily addresses the meaning and mechanism of SSDS and their relationship with earthquake magnitude as well as the common criteria of the SSDS induced by earthquakes.

Numerical tests for effects of various parameters in niching genetic algorithm applied to regional waveform inversion

In this paper,we focus on the influences of various parameters in the niching genetic algorithm inversion procedure on the results,such as various objective functions,the number of the models in each subpopulation,and the critical separation radius.The frequency-waveform integration（F-K） method is applied to synthesize three-component waveform data with noise in various epicentral distances and azimuths.Our results show that if we use a zero-th-lag cross-correlation function,then we will obtain the model with a faster convergence and a higher precision than other objective functions.The number of models in each subpopulation has a great influence on the rate of convergence and computation time,suggesting that it should be obtained through tests in practical problems.The critical separation radius should be determined carefully because it directly affects the multiextreme values in the inversion.We also compare the inverted results from full-band waveform data and surfacewave frequency-band（0.02-0.1 Hz） data,and find that the latter is relatively poorer but still has a higher precision,suggesting that surface-wave frequency-band data can also be used to invert for the crustal structure.

Application of Optically Stimulated Luminescence Technique in Exploring a Concealed Sandstone-type Uranium Deposit

Identifying ore-induced geochemical anomalies at the surface that indicate concealed deposits in buried areas remains a significant challenge in geochemical exploration. In this study, in order to trace the source of the geochemical anomalies, systematic luminescence intensity analyses were conducted on quartz grains from the Quaternary regolith at the Hadatu sandstone-type uranium deposit in the Erenhot Basin. The optically stimulated luminescence(OSL) ages were much older than the depositional ages of the Quaternary regolith. Moreover, quartz OSL ages were closely related to both borehole grades and sampling depths. Thus, the abnormal mineral OSL ages from near-surface sediments were ultimately controlled by the sandstone-type uranium deposits. This is identical to the rapid changes of quartz OSL ages(0.063 ka/cm) and equivalent doses(0.19 Gy/cm) with depths in a given sampling site. The instantaneous soil radon concentration was positively correlated with the quartz OSL apparent age, indicating their ore-induced origin and, as a result, their effectiveness in the exploration of concealed uranium deposits. Other parameters, including mobile-state uranium and;Po contents, were poorly correlated with quartz OSL ages and therefore should only be used with caution for geochemical exploration. This is the first time an attempt has been made to discriminate the ore-induced sources for different surface anomaly parameters, including instantaneous soil radon, mobile-state uranium and;Po contents for concealed sandstonetype uranium deposits.

Successful Applications of Generic Atmospheric Correction Online Service for InSAR (GACOS) to the Reduction of Atmospheric Effects on InSAR Observations

The tremendous development of Synthetic Aperture Radar(SAR)missions in recent years facilitates the study of smaller amplitude ground deformation over greater spatial scales using longer time series.However,this poses greater challenges for correcting atmospheric effects due to the wider coverage of SAR imagery than ever.Previous attempts have used observations from Global Positioning System(GPS)and Numerical Weather Models(NWMs)to separate atmospheric delays,but they are limited by(1)The availability(and distribution)of GPS stations;(2)The low spatial resolution of NWM;And(3)The difficulties in quantifying their performance.To overcome these limitations,we have developed the Generic Atmospheric Correction Online Service for InSAR(GACOS)which utilizes the high-resolution European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts(ECMWF)products using an Iterative Tropospheric Decomposition(ITD)model.This enables the reduction of the coupling effects of the troposphere turbulence and stratification and hence achieves equivalent performances over flat and mountainous terrains.GACOS comprises a range of notable features:(1)Global coverage;(2)All-weather,all-time usability;(3)Available with a maximum of two-day latency;And(4)Indicators available to assess the model’s performance and feasibility.In this paper,we demonstrate some successful applications of the GACOS online service to a variety of geophysical studies.

Numerical simulation on the influences of Wenchuan earthquake on the surrounding faults

On 12 May 2008, the devastating Wenchuan earthquake struck the Longmenshan fault zone, which comprised the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, and this fault zone was predominantly a convergent boundary with a right-lateral strike-slip component. After such a large-magnitude earthquake, it was crucial to analyze the influences of the earthquake on the surrounding faults and the potential seismic activity. In this paper, a complex viscoelastic model of western Sichuan and eastern Tibet regions was constructed including the topography. Based on the findings of co-seismic static slip distribution, we calculated the stress change caused by the Wenchuan earthquake with the post-seismic relaxation into consideration. Our preliminary results indicated that： （1） The tectonic stressing rate was relatively high in Kunlun mountain pass-Jiangcuo, Ganzi-Yushu, Xianshuihe and Zemuhe faults; while in the east Kunlun and Longriba was medium; also the value was less in the Minjiang, Longmenshan, Anninghe and Huya faults. As to the Longmenshan fault, the value was 0.28×10-3 MPa/a to 0.35×10-3 MPa/a, which is coincident with the previous long recurrence interval of Wenchuan earthquake; （2） The Wenchuan earthquake not only caused the Coulomb stress decrease in the source region, but also the stress increase in the two terminals, especially the northeastern segment, which is comparatively consistent with the aftershock distribution. Meanwhile, the high concentration areas of the static slip distribution were corresponding to the Coulomb stress reductions; （3） The Coulomb stress change caused by Wenchuan earthquake showed significant increase on five major faults, which were northwestern segment of Xianshuihe fault, eastern Kunlun fault, Longriba fault, Minjiang fault and Huya fault respectively; also the Coulomb stress on the fault plane of the Yushu earthquake was faintly increased; （4） We defined the recurrence interval as the time needed to accumulate the magnitude of the stress drop, and the recurrence interval of Wenchuan earthquake was estimated about 1 714 a to 2 143 a correspondingly.

A new capacitive borehole tiltmeter for crustal deformation measurement and its performance analysis

Borehole inclinometers are important observation instruments used to measure ground tilt movement and monitor crustal deformation of solid tides and geological landslide disasters.They are widely used in oil exploration,mineral resource drilling,well logging,exploration and other fields.There is potential for development of rock stress strain monitoring tools.Many types of tiltmeters have been installed,such as SQ-7,FSQ,VS and JB.However,these tiltmeters are generally installed in a deep cave to avoid the interference of temperature,humidity,and human activities.With the urbanization of human society,suitable installation locations are difficult to find.To solve the problem,a two-component borehole tiltmeter,named the CBT-type tiltmeter,is proposed in this paper.It can be installed in a borehole less than500 m deep to eliminate environmental influences.The tiltmeter is composed of two sophisticated gravitational swing and two capacitive transducers.From preliminary theory and experiment analysis,its linear correlation coefficient is higher than 0.99,its co-seismic response is rapid and its noise level is up to 10 4arc seconds in practice.

Predictive analysis of stress regime and possible squeezing deformation for super-long water conveyance tunnels in Pakistan

The prediction of the stress field of deep-buried tunnels is a fundamental problem for scientists and engineers. In this study, the authors put forward a systematic solution for this problem. Databases from the World Stress Map and the Crustal Stress of China, and previous research findings can offer prediction of stress orientations in an engineering area. At the same time, the Andersonian theory can be used to analyze the possible stress orientation of a region. With limited in-situ stress measurements, the Hock-Brown Criterion can be used to estimate the strength of rock mass in an area of interest by utilizing the geotechnical investigation data, and the modified Sheorey＇s model can subsequently be employed to predict the areas＇ stress profile, without stress data, by taking the existing in-situ stress measurements as input parameters. In this paper, a case study was used to demonstrate the application of this systematic solution. The planned Kohala hydropower plant is located on the western edge of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Three hydro-fracturing stress measurement campaigns indicated that the stress state of the area is SH - Sh 〉 Sv or SH 〉Sv 〉 Sh. The measured orientation of Sn is NEE （N70.3°-89°E）, and the regional orientation of SH from WSM is NE, which implies that the stress orientation of shallow crust may be affected by landforms. The modified Sheorey model was utilized to predict the stress profile along the water sewage tunnel for the plant. Prediction results show that the maximum and minimum horizontal principal stres- ses of the points with the greatest burial depth were up to 56.70 and 40.14 MPa, respectively, and the stresses of areas with a burial depth of greater than 500 m were higher. Based on the predicted stress data, large deformations of the rock mass surrounding water conveyance tunnels were analyzed. Results showed that the large deformations will occur when the burial depth exceeds 300 m. When the burial depth is beyond 800 m, serious squeezing deformations will occur in the surrounding rock masses, thus requiring more attention in the design and construction. Based on the application efficiency in this case study, this prediction method proposed in this paper functions accurately.