Weak Zones Research Articles

Evaluating the water resistance performance of coal seam floor rock mass using VW–NC model

The rock mass of coal seam floor plays a crucial role in blocking the uplift and runoff of the underlying confined water in the course of mining under water pressure. Accurately assessing its water resistance performance, which is influenced by numerous factors, is important for preventing accidents caused by inrushing water. This study focuses on a coal mine in the Ningwu coalfield in North China. We establish an evaluation system for the water resistance performance of coal seam floor rock mass, using indices including rock mass thickness, lithological combination characteristics, rock mass quality, structure complexity and bedding plane count. A variable weight–normal cloud (VW–NC) model is formulated to quantitatively evaluate the water resistance performance of the coal seam floor rock mass. Comparative analysis with actual mining conditions and other models reveals that the VW-NC model provides the most precise and accurate results. The study finds that the primary influencing factors on the water resistance performance are weak structural planes, including faults, joints, and bedding planes. The proportions of strong, relatively strong, relatively weak, and weak zones in research area are 20.41%, 59.88%, 12.38%, and 7.33%, respectively.

Neogene Hydrothermal Fe‐ and Mn‐Oxide Mineralization of Paleozoic Continental Rocks, Amerasia Basin, Arctic Ocean

AbstractRocks dredged from water depths of 1,605, 2,500, 3,300, and 3,400 m in the Arctic Ocean included Paleozoic continental rocks pervasively mineralized during the Neogene by hydrothermal Fe and Mn oxides. Samples were recovered in three dredge hauls from the Chukchi Borderland and one from Mendeleev Ridge north of Alaska and eastern Siberia, respectively. Many of the rocks were so pervasively altered that the protolith could not be identified, while others had volcanic, plutonic, and metamorphic protoliths. The mineralized rocks were cemented and partly to wholly replaced by the hydrothermal oxides. The Amerasia Basin, where the Chukchi Borderland and Mendeleev Ridge occur, supports a series of faults and fractures that serve as major zones of crustal weakness. We propose that the stratabound hydrothermal deposits formed through the flux of hydrothermal fluids along Paleozoic and Mesozoic faults related to block faulting along a rifted margin during minor episodes of Neogene tectonism and were later exposed at the seafloor through slumping or other gravity processes. Tectonically driven hydrothermal circulation most likely facilitated the pervasive mineralization along fault surfaces via frictional heating, hydrofracturing brecciation, and low‐ to moderate temperature Fe‐ and Mn‐rich hydrothermal fluids, which mineralized the crushed, altered, and brecciated rocks.

Shear tests and meso-scale simulation of cold joint structures in rock-filled concrete: Considering the mutual contact effects between component materials

To realistically reflect the shear performance of the rock-filled concrete (RFC) between layers, this study relies on an RFC dam project in Guizhou Province. Test blocks, measuring 5 m × 4 m × 2 m with cold joints, were cast on site and subjected to shear tests. Additionally, a three-dimensional four-phase meso-model was developed, considering the mutual contact effects between component materials. The mechanical response and damage mechanism of the interlayer were analyzed using the cohesive zone model. The results confirm that the cohesive zone model effectively simulates interlayer cold joint structures. The damage modes of the RFC interlayer include cold joint debonding damage (Mode I) and plastic extrusion damage of self-compacting concrete (Mode II). As the exposed height of the rocks increases, the damage mode shifts from Mode I to Mode II, and higher normal stresses intensify Mode II damage. Meanwhile, the paths of crack extension depend on the distribution of shear-resistant rocks, with weak interfacial transition zones serving as “bridges’’ for crack propagation. The interlayer shear strength is positively correlated with the average exposed height of rocks and normal stresses, with the former having a more significant impact. Finally, the accuracy of the proposed shear strength prediction model for the RFC interlayer was validated by comparing it with results from other studies, providing useful references for meso-numerical modeling of RFC.

Research on the Identification of Rock Mass Structural Planes and Extraction of Dominant Orientations Based on 3D Point Cloud

The different spatial distribution forms of rock mass structural planes create weak zones in the rock mass, which is also a key factor in controlling rock mass stability. Accurately and efficiently identifying rock mass structural planes and obtaining their dominant orientations is critical for rock mass engineering design and construction. Traditional surveying methods for high and steep rock mass structural planes pose high safety risks, offer limited data, and make comprehensive statistical analysis difficult. This paper utilizes complex rock mass surface 3D point cloud data obtained through 3D laser scanning technology and uses the Hough space transform method to calculate the normal vectors of the 3D point cloud. Based on the difference in normal vectors and surface variation, region growing segmentation is applied to identify and extract rock mass structural planes. Additionally, the fast search and density peak clustering method (CFSFDP) is used for clustering analysis of the rock mass structural planes to obtain dominant orientations. This method was applied to a highway’s high and steep rock slope, successfully identifying 281 structural planes and two sets of dominant structural planes. The orientation of the dominant structural planes identified through RocScience Dips 7.0 analysis showed a deviation of no more than ±3°, complying with engineering standards. The research results offer a feasible solution for the identification of high and steep rock mass structural planes and the extraction of the orientation of dominant structural planes.

Research on Mechanical Properties of a 3D Concrete Printing Component-Optimized Path by Multimodal Analysis

Three-dimensional concrete printing (3DCP) technology with solid wastes has significant potential for sustainable construction. However, the hardened mechanical properties of components manufactured using 3DCP technology are affected by weak interlayer interfaces, limiting the widespread application of 3DCP technology. To address the inherent limitations of 3DCP technology, conventional improvement strategies, such as external reinforcement and the optimization of material properties, lead to increased production costs, complex fabrication, and decreased automation. This study proposes an innovative spatial path optimization method to enhance the mechanical performance of 3D-printed, cement-based components. The novel S-path design introduces additional printed layers in the weak interlayer regions of the printed samples. This design improves the spatial distribution of fiber-reinforced filaments in continuous weak zones, thus enhancing the functional efficiency of fibers. This approach improves the mechanical performance of the printed samples, achieving compressive strengths close to those of cast samples and only a 20% reduction in average flexural strength. Compared to using a conventional printing path, the average compressive strength and flexural strength are improved by 30% and 55%, respectively, when the S-path layout is employed in 3DCP. Additionally, this method significantly reduces the anisotropy in compressive and flexural strengths to 26% and 28% of samples using conventional printing paths, respectively. Therefore, the proposed method can improve the mechanical properties and stability of the material, reducing the safety risks of printed structures.

Rapid shear zone weakening during subduction initiation

Subduction zones play a pivotal role in the mechanics of plate tectonics by providing the driving force through slab pull and weak megathrusts that facilitate the relative motion between tectonic plates. The initiation of subduction zones is intricately linked to the accumulation of slab pull and development of weakness at plate boundaries and, by consequence, the largest changes in the energetics of mantle convection. However, the transient nature of subduction initiation accompanied by intense subsequent tectonic activity, leaves critical evidence poorly preserved and making subduction initiation difficult to constrain. We overcome these limitations through a comprehensive analysis focused on Puysegur, a well-constrained extant example of subduction initiation offshore South Island, New Zealand. Through time-dependent, three-dimensional thermo-mechanical computations and quantitative comparison to new geophysical and geological observations, including topography, stratigraphy, and seismicity, we demonstrate that subduction initiation develops with a fast strain weakening described with a small characteristic displacement ([Formula: see text] 4 to 8 km). Potential physical mechanisms contributing to the strain weakening are explored and we find that the observed fast weakening may arise through a combination of grain-size reduction within the lower lithosphere and fluid pressurization at shallower depths. With the shared commonality in the underlying physics of tectonic processes, the rapid strain weakening constrained at Puysegur offers insights into the formation of the first subduction during early Earth and the onset of plate tectonics.

Soil quality assessment and its response to water flow connectivity in different vegetation restoration types, eastern China

Vegetation restoration is the most widely used forest management practice for degraded soils, but the responses of soil quality in different vegetation restoration types may vary. In addition, the relationship between water flow paths connection and soil quality needs to be further explored. In this study, the soil quality index (SQI) and the index of water flow connectivity (IWFC) in the six water flow patterns (PFP, SSB, WSB, CPS, CPW, and CSW) were explored at three forest stands (oak, pine, and bamboo forests) with 50 years for enclosure. The results showed that the bamboo forest stand had the best soil quality as a whole (0.534 ± 0.135), followed by pine (0.530 ± 0.180) and oak forest stands (0.435 ± 0.205). The IWFC in PFP, CPS and CPW water flow patterns decreased gradually with increasing soil depth, while in SSB, WSB and CSB water flow patterns, the IWFC increased at first and then decreased. Finally, the IWFC in the CPW water flow pattern showed the largest positive correlation with the SQI (P < 0.05). The IWFC in the CPW water flow pattern driven by soil physical properties could mainly control the changes in the SQI indirectly (average IE = 0.825) by influencing soil nutrient (average IE = 0.447) and biological (average IE = 0.485) properties, while its direct effects could be ignored (average DE = −0.074), which demonstrated that the joint effects of preferential flow paths and weak stream buffer zones can dramatically reflect the changes in soil quality. The better soil improvement effect of bamboo and pine forest stands compared to the oak forest stand should be given more consideration. This study provided new insights for the assessment of the relationship between soil hydrology and soil quality.

4D imaging of the volcano feeding system beneath the urban area of the Campi Flegrei caldera

This paper describes an approach to analyze ground deformation data collected by InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) imaging the volcano feeding system (VFS) beneath a caldera. The approach is applied to the Campi Flegrei caldera in southern Italy, a densely populated area at high risk for volcanic eruption. The method is a 4D tomographic inversion that considers a combination of 3D pressure sources and dislocations (strike-slip, dip-slip and tensile) acting simultaneously. This is in contrast to traditional methods that assume a priori geometries and type for the volcanic source. Another novelty is that we carry out a time-series analysis of multifrequency InSAR displacement data. The analysis of these multiplatform and multifrequency InSAR data from 2011 to 2022 reveals an inflating source at a depth of 3–4 km that is interpreted as a pressurized magmatic intrusion. The source broadens and migrates laterally over time, with a possible new magmatic pulse arriving in 2018–2020. The model also identifies a shallow region (at 400 m depth) that may be feeding fumaroles in the area. The analysis also reveals a zone of weakness (dip-slip) that could influence the path of rising magma. This method provides a more detailed dynamic 4 - dimensional image of the VFS than previously possible and could be used to improve hazard assessments in active volcanic areas.

The effective elastic thickness along the Emperor Seamount Chain and its tectonic implications

Summary The Hawaiian-Emperor Seamount Chain, a pre-eminent example of a hotspot-generated intraplate seamount chain, provides key constraints not only on the kinematics of plates but also on their rigidity. Previous studies have shown that the effective elastic thickness, Te, a proxy for the long-term strength of the lithosphere, changes abruptly at the Hawaiian-Emperor ‘bend’ from low values (∼16 km) at the Emperor Seamounts to high values (∼27 km) at the Hawaiian Ridge. To better constrain Te along the poorly explored Emperor Seamounts we have used a free-air gravity anomaly and bathymetry gridded data set, together with fully 3-dimensional elastic plate (flexure) models, to estimate the continuity of Te and volcano load and infill densities along 1000 profiles spaced 2 km apart of the chain. Results show that Te generally decreases northward along the chain. The decrease is most systematic between Ojin and Jimmu guyots where Te depends on the age of the lithosphere at the time of volcano loading and is controlled by the 340°C and 400°C oceanic isotherms. The largest variation from these isotherms occurs at the northern and southern ends of the chain where Te is smaller than expected suggesting the influence of pre-existing, older, loads. We use these results to constrain the subsidence, flexural tilt, rheological properties, and tectonic setting along the seamount chain. We found an excess subsidence in the range 1.2-2.4 km, a tilt as large as 2-3°, oceanic lithosphere that is weaker than it is seaward of the weak zone at subduction zones, and a tectonic setting at Detroit and Koko seamounts that, despite their forming an integral part of the hotspot generated seamount chain, retains a memory of their proximity to earlier loads associated with plume influenced mid-oceanic ridges.

Fault strength, healing and stability in the Nankai Trough accretionary prism off Kii Peninsula, Japan, as illustrated by friction experiments on gouge of a cored sample

In order to investigate fault strength, healing and stability in the Nankai Trough accretionary prism off Kii Peninsula, Japan, we conducted two series of triaxial friction experiments on gouge of a silty-claystone sample cored from 2183.6 mbsf (meters below seafloor) at IODP Site C0002, at confining pressure (Pc), pore-water pressure (PH2O) and temperature (T) conditions simulating those in situ at 1000–6000 mbsf there; rate-stepping tests at axial displacement rates (Vaxial) changed stepwise among 0.1, 1 and 10 μm/s, and slide-hold-slide tests at Vaxial = 1 μm/s with hold time (th) ranging from 10 to 104 s.Experimentally determined steady-state and static friction coefficients, μss and μs, respectively, and the log-linear th dependence of frictional healing, β, exhibit a decrease with simulated depth down to 3000 mbsf at which condition T was 100 °C, followed by an increase toward 6000 mbsf. On the other hand, the rate dependence of μss, a – b, gradually decreases with simulated depth, changing from positive at ≤4000 mbsf through ~0 at 5000 mbsf to negative at 6000 mbsf at which condition stick slips were observed.Our experimental results suggest the presence of a low fault-strength and weak fault-healing zone at ~3000 mbsf beneath IODP Site C0002, possibly due to elevated pore pressure induced by smectite dehydration. This zone correlates well with the previously reported low seismic-velocity zone and the source area of very low-frequency earthquakes to the south. Our experimental results also suggest that faulting beneath IODP Site C0002 is stable and aseismic at ≤4000 mbsf, transitional at 5000 mbsf, and potentially unstable and seismic at 6000 mbsf. In fact, stick slips corresponding to seismic faulting were observed at the 6000 mbsf condition. This implies that faulting along the plate-boundary thrust located at ~5200 mbsf beneath IODP Site C0002 is potentially seismogenic.

The synergistic mechanism of ultrasonic and heat treatment on the composite structure and mechanical properties of Nb-Si-Zr based in-situ composites

Ultrasonic assisted solidification (UST), heat treatment and alloying are all effective methods to control the microstructure of materials and improve their properties. In this paper, the Nb-16Si-20Zr-2C-xW composites were prepared using ultrasonic assisted solidification technology of high temperature melt (≥1800℃) and heat treatment. The influence mechanism of ultrasonic, the W element, and the synergistic regulation mechanism of ultrasonic and heat treatment on the material were studied. Nb-16Si-20Zr-2C-xW(UST) alloys are mainly composed of Nbss phase and γNb5Si3 phase, and their microstructures are mainly divided into strong active zone(SZ) and weak active zone(WZ). In the Nb-Si superalloy melt treated by ultrasonic wave, the area near the ultrasonic sound source is the strong active zone, while the area far away from the ultrasonic sound source is the weak active zone. The features of faceted primary phases and non-faceted primary phases in the SZ and WZ are explained by the equation of undercooling degree at different interfaces and effect of ultrasonic on component undercooling. As the W element content in the alloys (UST) increases, the content of the Nbss phase increases, the median diameter of the primary γNb5Si3 phase decreases, and the room temperature fracture toughness and compressive strength show an upward trend. When the addition amount of W element reaches 2 at%, there are more crack deflections, crack bridging and secondary cracks in the crack propagation path. Through the special arrangement of primary γNb5Si3 phase in the ultrasonic field, the energy density of ultrasonic waves in the melt is calculate to be 33.5 kW/m2. The microstructure of Nb-16Si-20Zr-2C-xW alloys(UST+HT) became more uniform and spheroidize. It is worth mentioning that there are plenty of long strip γNb5Si3 phases with different orientations in the Nb-16Si-20Zr-2C-0.1W(UST+HT) alloy and the long strip γNb5Si3 phases with the same orientation are arranged in a periodic manner. This special composite structure induces crack deflections and branching cracks when cracks propagation, so the room temperature fracture toughness of Nb-16Si-20Zr-2C-0.1 W (UST+HT) alloy reaches 15.66 MPa·m1/2.

The Impact of Fly Ash on the Properties of Cementitious Materials Based on Slag-Steel Slag-Gypsum Solid Waste.

This paper presents a novel low-carbon binder formulated from fly ash (FA), ground granulated blast furnace slag, steel slag, and desulfurization gypsum as a quaternary solid waste-based material. It specifically examines the influence of FA content on the mechanical properties and hydration reactions of the quaternary solid waste-based binder. The mortar test results indicate that the optimal FA content is 10%, which yields a 28-day compressive strength 11.28% higher than that of the control group without FA. The spherical particles of fly ash reduce the overall water demand and provide a "lubricating" effect to the paste due to their continuous gradation, improving the fluidity of the slag-steel slag-gypsum cementitious materials. The micro test results indicate that fly ash has minimal effect on the early hydration products and process of the solid waste-based cementitious materials, but after 7 days, it continuously dissolves silicon-oxygen tetrahedrons or aluminum-oxygen tetrahedrons, consuming Ca2+ and OH- in the system. After 28 days, the amount of ettringite and C-(A)-S-H gel generated increases significantly. The pozzolanic activity of fly ash is mainly stimulated by the Ca(OH)2 from steel slag in the later hydration stage. Additionally, spherical fly ash particles can fill the voids in the hardened paste, reducing the formation of cracks and weak zones, and thereby contributing to a denser overall structure of the hydrated binder. The findings of this paper provide data support for the development of low-carbon cement-free binders using fly ash in conjunction with metallurgical slags, thereby contributing to the low-carbon advancement of the construction materials industry.

Aquifer Leakage Recharge Controls on CBM Production: A Case Study in the Sanjiao Block, Eastern Ordos Basin, China.

Aquifer leakage recharge poses a prevalent challenge in coalbed methane (CBM) development, severely impeding its efficient production. This study focuses on the Sanjiao Block, located on the eastern margin of the Ordos Basin, and provides a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of aquifer leakage recharge on CBM well productivity, employing hydrochemical characteristics and numerical simulation. Fisher's discriminant analysis reveals a close association between external water sources for CBM wells in the Taiyuan Formation and the hydrodynamic environment: in the western stagnant zone, hydrochemical characteristics resemble those from the Shanxi Formation; in the eastern strong runoff zone, water from the Taiyuan Formation directly contributes to CBM well development; in the central weak runoff zone, hydrochemical characteristics suggest mixed water sources from the Shanxi Formation and Taiyuan Formation. The numerical simulation employs orthogonal experiments to quantify the sensitivity of aquifer geological parameters to CBM production, ranked from strong to weak for aquifer types, leakage channel properties, and aquifer physical properties. The fundamental reason for disparities in the efficacy of leakage recharge lies in categorizing aquifers into finite and infinite recharges based on their water supply capacity. The properties of leakage channels, including the location and scale, manifest as effects on the magnitude and shape of gas production characteristics in infinite and finite recharge aquifers, respectively. Furthermore, a discriminant flowchart of CBM production is presented, delineating the production characteristics of CBM wells under the influence of aquifer leakage recharge into six patterns and illustrating their distribution in the study area. This discriminant process provides scientific guidance for analyzing CBM production characteristics and evaluating potential under the influence of aquifer leakage recharge.

Fault imaging using earthquake sequences: a revised seismotectonic model for the Albstadt Shear Zone, Southwest Germany

In Germany, the highest seismic hazard is associated with the Albstadt Shear Zone (ASZ) in the western Swabian Jura, a low mountain range in southwest Germany. The region is affected by continuous micro-seismic activity with the potential for damaging earthquakes (nine events with ML≥\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\ge $$\\end{document} 5 in the 20th\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^{th}$$\\end{document} century). Within the AlpArray and StressTransfer projects nine temporary seismic stations have been installed in the region of the ASZ to densify the permanent seismic monitoring. In October 2018 and September 2019, the state seismological survey (LED) detected two low-magnitude earthquake sequences with hundreds of events in the area. The temporarily densified local network allows us to systematically analyze these sequences and to search for other sequences by applying a template-matching routine on data from 2018 to 2020. In total, six earthquake sequences could be identified with at least 10 events. The four largest sequences (> 50 events) consist of two fore- and aftershock sequence and two earthquake swarms. Earthquake swarms were so far not observed around the ASZ. Precise relative hypocenter relocations and the determination of fault-plane solutions allow us to propose a seismotectonic model based on the three imaged fault types: (a) The well-known NNE-SSW striking sinistral strike-slip ASZ at depths of 5-10 km, (b) a NW-SE striking dextral strike-slip fault zone at depths of 11-15 km beneath the Hohenzollerngraben (HZG), a shallow, apparently aseismic NW-SE striking graben structure; this NW-SE fault zone possibly is an inherited zone of weakness in the basement and facilitated the development of the HZG and (c) at the intersection of the ASZ with the NW-SE fault zone, complex faulting in form of NNW-SSE striking sinistral strike-slip and normal faulting possibly to accommodate local stresses.

A study of the seismic resistance performance of strengthened masonry walls using polypropylene mesh-composite on the surface

To investigate the seismic performance of masonry walls in village buildings strengthened with polypropylene mesh materials on the surface, five reduced-scale masonry walls were designed for low-cyclic reversed loading tests. The research observed the failure processes and characteristic forms of masonry walls, conducting a comparative analysis of the hysteresis curves and energy dissipation of the walls. Then, ABAQUS finite element software was used to simulate the performance of the strengthened walls to analyze the damage mode of these walls. The results indicated that under compression-shear loading, unreinforced masonry walls experienced shear failure along horizontal mortar joints, exhibiting lower shear load, lateral stiffness, and ductility. The reinforced walls with polypropylene mesh-composite effectively delayed and mitigated the failure. Weak zones in the wall gradually extended from the structural sides towards the central core area. Ultimately, after the reinforcement material had fully engaged, delamination failure occurred, leading to the formation of "X" or "Y" shaped through cracks. After reinforcement with single-side polypropylene materials, the load-bearing capacity of the wall increased by 165 % compared to the unreinforced wall. The ductility is improved compared to the unreinforced wall, whereas the initial stiffness increased by 133 %. Upon reinforcement with double-sided materials, the wall's load-bearing capacity surged by 180 %. The initial stiffness climbed to 171.3 %. The finite element analysis results closely aligned with the experimental data, suggesting that reinforcing the surface with polypropylene mesh-composite cement mortar significantly bolstered the wall's shear strength and deformation capabilities. This method effectively strengthens the seismic resistance of masonry structures.

Specimen size effect on compressive strength of 3D printed concrete containing coarse aggregate with varying water to binder ratios

This study aims to investigate the specimen size effect of compressive strength in 3D printed concrete containing coarse aggregate (3DPCA). Firstly, we compare the specimen size effect of compressive strength in mold-cast concrete (CC) and 3DPCA. Through X-CT scans and image analysis, the underlying mechanisms of this specimen size effect in 3DPCA are revealed. The results indicate that 3DPCA exhibits a less pronounced specimen size effect on compressive strength when loaded along the Z direction compared to CC, due to the presence of interlayer weak zones that mitigate the influence of size variations. Specifically, when the water-binder ratio varies between 0.3 and 0.5, the size coefficient of printed sample is reduced by 0.01–0.07 compared to cast sample. Similarly, variations in coarse aggregate content result in a size coefficient for printed sample that is 0.01–0.05 lower than cast sample. Higher porosity increases the specimen size effect of 3DPCA, but good printing quality can mitigate this influence. A modified Weibull model integrating water-binder ratio and coarse aggregate content was proposed, providing precise predictions of the specimen size effect on 3DPCA's compressive strength, with a correlation coefficient exceeding 93 %.

Strength and microstructure of geopolymer recycled brick aggregate concrete after high temperatures

Geopolymer recycled brick aggregate concrete (GRBC), as a new environmentally friendly material, exhibits excellent mechanical performance at ambient temperature, but its properties after exposure to high temperatures are not clear. In this paper, the strength and microstructure of GRBC after high temperatures were investigated and compared with ordinary recycled brick aggregate Portland cement concrete (ORBC) through compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and microscopic tests. The main parameters varied in the strength tests were temperature (20 °C, 200 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C, and 800 °C) and recycled brick aggregate (RBA) replacement ratio (0 %, 25 %, 50 %, 75 %, and 100 %). The results indicated that the strength of GRBC decreased less than that of ORBC after high temperatures. The compressive strength retention rate of GRBC after exposure to 800 °C was 0.359−0.456, and the tensile strength retention rate was 0.415−0.442. The strength of GRBC with 50 % RBA replacement ratio was about 0.70 that of the case without RBAs. The microscopic test results showed that the structure of GRBC was denser than that of ORBC, and the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between matrix and RBAs was less affected by the temperature. The first weak zone after high temperatures was RBA itself for GRBC, but ITZ between matrix and RBAs for ORBC. The X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the phase composition of GRBC and ORBC after high temperatures was basically similar to that at ambient temperature. The strength of GRBC was mainly provided by the N-A-S-H and C-A-S-H gels, while the strength of ORBC was mainly relied on the C-S-H gel.

Machine Learning-Driven Quantification of CO2 Plume Dynamics at Illinois Basin Decatur Project Sites Using Microseismic Data

This study utilizes machine learning to quantify CO2 plume extents by analyzing microseismic data from the Illinois Basin Decatur Project (IBDP). Leveraging a unique dataset of well logs, microseismic records, and CO2 injection metrics, this work aims to predict the temporal evolution of subsurface CO2 saturation plumes. The findings illustrate that machine learning can predict plume dynamics, revealing vertical clustering of microseismic events over distinct time periods within certain proximities to the injection well, consistent with an invasion percolation model. The buoyant CO2 plume partially trapped within sandstone intervals periodically breaches localized barriers or baffles, which act as leaky seals and impede vertical migration until buoyancy overcomes gravity and capillary forces, leading to breakthroughs along vertical zones of weakness. Between different unsupervised clustering techniques, K-Means and DBSCAN were applied and analyzed in detail, where K-means outperformed DBSCAN in this specific study by indicating the combination of the highest Silhouette Score and the lowest Davies–Bouldin Index. The predictive capability of machine learning models in quantifying CO2 saturation plume extension is significant for real-time monitoring and management of CO2 sequestration sites. The models exhibit high accuracy, validated against physical models and injection data from the IBDP, reinforcing the viability of CO2 geological sequestration as a climate change mitigation strategy and enhancing advanced tools for safe management of these operations.

Failure analysis of a frangible cover made of short‐cut basalt fiber reinforced epoxy composites

AbstractThe frangible cover made of continuous fiber reinforced composites has become widely used structure for the new generation launch canisters. However, destroying the continuity of fibers is needed during the hand lay‐up process to make the frangible cover fail in predetermined patterns. In this article, composite frangible covers were fabricated with short‐cut basalt fiber reinforced epoxy(BF/Epoxy) composites instead of continuous fiber‐reinforced composite materials, reducing the strength redundancy in the local structure of the frangible covers. Tensile tests were firstly conducted on material samples to obtain the stress–strain characteristics of the short‐cut BF/Epoxy composites. The constitutive model and failure criterion of the short‐cut BF/Epoxy composites material were established. Then failure pressure and failure mode of the frangible covers were predicted by finite element method. Two frangible covers with different geometric parameter were fabricated and subjected to static bursting strength tests. The influence of structure parameter on the bursting pressure of the frangible cover was investigated in detail. it was found that the bursting pressure of the BF/Epoxy composite fragile cover can be tailored by adjusting the geometry size of the weak zones on surface of the cover. Meanwhile, Failure modes and the bursting pressure of the BF/Epoxy composite fragile covers are highly consistent with the predictions.Highlights A frangible cover made of the short‐cut basalt fiber reinforced epoxy(BF/Epoxy) composites was fabricated. The constitutive model and failure criterion were established based on the mechanical properties of the short‐cut BF/Epoxy composites. The static burst strength of the short‐cut BF/Epoxy composite frangible cover subjected to uniform pressure was investigated via both theoretical and experimental approaches. The short‐cut BF/Epoxy composite frangible cover eventually failed in accordance with the predetermined pattern. The simulation error of the failure pressure of the short‐cut BF/Epoxy composite frangible cover was less than 20%.

Distinguishing the vertical air-staging low-NOx function of secondary air for suspension combustion within an industrial-scale coal-fired reversal grate furnace

The numerous coal-fired grate furnaces in China, which were designed to partition primary air on the grate and arrange secondary air in the freeboard for air-staging combustion, suffered from poor burnout and high NOx. However, secondary air was conventionally closed or set at marginal openings in real operations and no investigation was reported to explain why. Upon these off-design secondary-air circumstances, industrial-scale tests and modeling investigations were performed for a 75 t/h coal-fired reversal grate furnace at secondary-air ratios of 0 %, 3 %, 6 %, 10 %, and 16 %, respectively. The primary aims were to (i) uncover its combustion and NOx formation characteristics with varying secondary air and (ii) confirm whether secondary air acted on a real air-staging function in reducing NOx. Flow-field deflection and asymmetric combustion were found in the furnace, with the upward gas entirely deflecting towards the rear side. The front-half furnace was filled with a large but weak recirculation zone without effective combustion, acting on a huge dead zone to waste the furnace-space utilization. With increasing the secondary-air ratio, the upward gas deflection deteriorated continuously. Layer combustion worsened while suspension combustion first strengthened and then weakened. NOx emissions displayed an ascent-to-descent trend. Carbon in slag raised while carbon in fly ash decreased. Among the five case setups, the 0 % setting (i.e., fully closing secondary air) exhibited the lowest NOx emissions and burnout loss. Compared with the habitual 6 % setup, fully closing secondary air not only reduced NOx emissions by 22 % but also improved a little burnout. These trends meant that opening secondary air only strengthened suspension combustion for burning well fly ash while raised both NOx and total burnout loss. Secondary air thus failed to role as an air-staging function in reducing NOx.