Increasing the design strength of glass – fractography and stress testing

Brittleness is the unintended, but inevitable consequence of producing a transparent ceramic for architectural applications such as the soda-lime glass. Its tensile strength is particularly sensitive to surface imperfections, such as that from natural weathering and malicious damage. Although a significant amount of testing of new glass has been carried out, there has been surprisingly little testing on weathered glass. Due to the variable nature of the causes of surface damage, the lack of data on weathered glass leads to a considerable degree of uncertainty in the long-term strength of exposed glass. This paper presents the results of recent tests on weathered annealed glass which has been exposed to natural weathering for more than 20 years. The tests include experimental investigations using the co-axial ring setup as well as optical and atomic force microscopy of the glass surfaces. The experimental data from these tests is subsequently used to extend existing fracture mechanics-based models to predict the strength of weathered glass. It is shown that using an automated approach based directly on finite element analysis results can give an increase in effective design strength in the order of 70 to 100% when compared to maximum stress methods. It is also shown that by combining microscopy and strength test results, it is possible to quantitatively characterise the damage on glass surfaces.

Durability performance of self-compacting concrete

Although self compacting concrete (SCC) is currently used in many countries, there is a fundamental lack of the intrinsic durability of the material itself. This article presents the outcomes from a research program on principal indicators that define the durability of SCC (sorptivity, porosity and chloride ion permeability) and compares these indicators with the corresponding parameters of conventional concrete. The results show, for the first time, that there is a correlation between the various durability indicators for the specific filler additives used in the mix designs incorporated in this paper. Such a correlation may be used to assess the durability of SCC without the need to rely on time consuming artificial weathering experimental procedures. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Impacts of Choerospondias axillaris growth on acidity of Udic Ferrosols in subtropical China

Changes in acidity of Udic Ferrosols, caused by growth of Choerospondias axillaris (Roxb.) Burtt et Hill, in comparison to wild grass, were investigated for pH distribution in the soil profile, exchangeable acidity, and cation status in the soil leachate of a simulated leaching experiment. Soils were sampled in profiles at 5 cm intervals to a depth of 100 cm. In the 1.5-60 cm layer the soils with 10-year old C. axillaris had significantly lower pH (P < 0.05), with the largest difference being 0.41: and in the 25-75 cm soil depths, especially in the 30-55 cm layer, the soils had a significantly higher exchangeable acidity, ranging 1.93 to 3.02 cmol(c) kg(-1). There was also higher aluminum, potassium, and sodium contents in the soil leachate under C. axillaris than with wild grasses. This suggested that the growth of C. axillaris accelerated acidification of Udic Ferrosols and promoted soil clay mineral weathering.

基于物理的植物叶子形态变化过程仿真造型

文中提供了一种对植物叶子造型的新方法,可以非常真实地展现叶子在干枯、老化过程中几何形态的变化.基于植物学和物理原理,文中引入了双层结构模型表达叶子的力学结构,很好地模拟了不同种类植物叶子形状的多样性.文中首先分析了叶子形状变化的原因,即在叶子枯萎过程中,叶肉和叶脉由于各自不同的组织结构,导致了收缩比例不同,从而在物理模拟中,通过建立关于叶子基本结构的双层质点-弹簧模型,并对上下两层的不同参数的合理设置,很好地表现了叶肉和叶脉的不同力学特性.双层模型的相互作用,决定了叶子最终变形的方式和效果,由此可以得到非常接近真实树叶的各种叶子形态.

植物老化过程模拟研究

植物老化过程模拟包括物体表观采集技术是如今计算机图形学的热点研究内容，它在理论研究以及实际应用两方面都具有重要意义。本文对此领域中的问题进行了深入研究与探讨，取得了一定的研究成果。 植物的老化模拟和真实感绘制技术一直是图形学中一个富有挑战性的问题，它对于让计算机中真实表现自然物体和场景起着不可或缺的作用。随着研究与应用的深入，植物的真实感仿真程度越来越成为研究者关注的重点。人们力图从几何形状和表观纹理等多方面提高虚拟植物的真实感，以满足应用的要求。本文即针对植物老化过程的模拟方法进行了研究，提出了基于物理模拟的叶子构型，完全老化空间方法，以及合成叶子表观等方面的一系列解决方法。这些方法与技术为自然场景中植物的真实绘制创造了条件，具有很强的实用价值。本文在植物模拟方面的主要工作与贡献如下：  提出一种基于物理模拟的叶子动态构型方法。该方法采用质点弹簧模型来表示叶子的物理结构，本文基于植物学和物理原理，在这里引入了双层结构模型表达叶子的力学结构，很好地模拟了不同种类植物叶子形状的多样性。通过分析叶子形状变化的原因，即在叶子枯萎过程中，叶肉和叶脉由于各自不同的组织结构，导致了收缩比例不同。从而在物理模拟中，建立关于叶子基本结构的双层质点－弹簧模型，并对上下两层的不同参数的合理设置，很好地表现了叶肉和叶脉的不同力学特性。 双层模型的相互作用，决定了叶子的最终变形方式和效果，由此可以得到非常接近真实树叶的各种叶子形态。  提出“完全老化空间”和“老化度”的概念，用来模拟变化过程中的植物表观。该概念的可以非常真实地展现叶子秋季在干枯、老化过程中多种纹理、表观属性的变化。在生成叶子纹理的过程中，有别于以往基于单一材质样本的表观合成技术，本文采集了大量不同叶子样本表面的双向反射分布函数BRDF和双向透射分布函数BTDF，最终从这些数据中得到叶子衰老过程在老化空间中的表达式和完全分布图。结合植物学知识和所得到的老化空间中表达式和分布图，可以很好地指导合成各个季节中不同衰老程度叶子的表观纹理，并能外插合成采样范围之外的叶子纹理样式。本文在生成多种不同种类和衰老程度的植物叶子的过程中验证了这种方法的有效性，得到大量非常接近真实树叶的各种叶子表观和纹理.  提出一种基于随机过程的方法，对一类特征相似的叶子进行模拟，产生大量特征相似但细节不同的叶子模型。这种方法主要是通过基于特征值提取的数学方法来，随机地生成大量几何细节上不同，但主体特征相似的叶子。具体算法主要由二维流型上的拉普拉斯算子特征函数来完成。通过这种方法，可以快速生成几何细节上略有区别的同类叶子模型，大大提高了模型生成和构造的速度，从而使得本文可以生成大量不同的植物叶子。 表观采集技术是为了更加真实地对物体进行绘制而产生的技术。近年来，表观采集技术和表达方法逐渐的成为真实感绘制研究的主要问题，并获得了很大发展，它在高度真实感复杂场景绘制、虚拟现实、科学计算可视化等诸多领域都具有重要应用价值。本文针对基于BRDF和BTDF表达的表观和采样技术及其在实验应用设备进行了研究，主要贡献包括：  提出一种物体表面表观采集设备及其数据采集、处理方法。设备包括：光源移动平台、线性光源、均匀白色面光源、图像采集相机和控制/数据接收单元；通过采集的反射图像序列和透射图像，并对数据进行处理得到物体的双向反射分布函数BRDF数据和双向透射分布函数BTDF数据。本文的方法和设备成本低廉且精度高，而且能够同时采集物体表面的双向反射分布函数BRDF和双向透射分布函数BTDF，具有采集速度快、数据密度大等特点。

Pervasive autocorrelation of the chemical index of alteration in sedimentary profiles and its palaeoenvironmental implications

The chemical index of alteration has been used widely for reconstruction of the palaeoclimate. However, the mechanisms and environmental factors controlling the chemical index of alteration of sediments are not yet fully understood. In this study, autocorrelations of the chemical index of alteration in nine sedimentary profiles, from both the land and the sea, spanning different geological times, are discussed. The sediments of these profiles have different origins (dust, fluvial or ocean sediments) and are from various climate situations and sedimentary environments. Autocorrelations of chemical index of alteration series are ubiquitously evident in all profiles. It is suggested here that autocorrelations may be caused by post-depositional changes such as persistent weathering and diagenesis. As a result, the chemical index of alteration may not reflect climatic conditions during the time of sediment deposition. This study strongly recommends the confirmation of the reliability and veracity of the chemical index of alteration before it is adopted to evaluate the weathering degree of parent rocks and to reconstruct the past climate. Significant autocorrelations in loess profiles were specifically observed, suggesting that the existing understanding of loess deposition in terms of climate conditions requires re-examination, and that previous reconstructions of rapid climate changes (for example, in centennial-millennial scales) should be treated with caution.

Grain size distribution of quartz isolated from Chinese loess/paleosol

Grain size distribution of bulk loess-paleosol and quartz chemically extracted from the loess/paleosol shows that mean size of the bulk samples is always finer than that of the quartz, The original aeolian depositions have been modified to various degrees by post-depositional weathering and pedogenic processes. The grain size distribution of the isolated quartz should be close to that of the primary aeolian sediment because the chemical pretreatment excludes secondary produced minerals. Therefore, the grain size of the quartz may be considered to more clearly reflect the variations of winter monsoon intensity.

Mineral provinces and matter provenance of the surficial sediments in the western Philippine Sea: implication for modern sedimentation in West Pacific marginal basin

The characteristics and distribution patterns of detrital minerals (0.063 similar to 0.125 mm) in marine sediments provide a significant indicator for the identification of the origin of sediment. The detrital mineral composition of 219 surface sediment samples was analysed to identify the distribution of sediments within the western Philippine Sea. The area can be divided into three mineral provinces: ( 1) province east of the Philippine Trench, the detrital minerals in this province are mainly composed of calcareous or siliceous organisms, with the addition of volcanogenic minerals from an adjacent island arc; (II) middle mineral province, clastic minerals including feldspar, quartz and colorless volcanic glass, sourced from seamounts with intermediate-acid volcanic rock, or erupting intermediate-acid volcano; (III) province west of the Palau-Kyushii Ridge, the matter provenance within this province is complex; the small quantity of feldspar and quartz may be sourced from seamounts or erupting volcano with intermediate - acid composition, with a component of volcanic scoria sourced from a volcano erupting on the Palau-Kyushu Ridge. it is suggested that, ( I) Biogenic debris of the study area is closely related to water depth, with the amount of biogenic debris controlled by carbonate lysocline. (2) Volcaniclastic matter derived from the adjacent island are can be entrained by oceanic currents and transported towards the abyssal basin over a short distance. The weathering products of volcanic rocks of the submarine plateau ( e. g. I Benham Plateau) and adjacent ridges provide an important source of detrital sedimentation, and the influence scope of them is constrained by the intensity of submarine weathering. (3) Terrigenous sediments from the continent of Asia and the adjacent Philippine island arc have little influence on the sedimentation of this study area, and the felsic mineral component is probably sourced from volcanic seamounts of intermediate-acid composition.

Preservation of black carbon in the shelf sediments of the East China Sea

Concentrations and carbon isotopic (C-14, C-13) compositions of black carbon (BC) were measured for three sediment cores collected from the Changjiang River estuary and the shelf of the East China Sea. BC concentrations ranged from 0.02 to 0.14 mg/g (dry weight), and accounted for 5% to 26% of the sedimentary total organic carbon (TOC) pool. Among the three sediment cores collected at each site, sediment from the Changjiang River estuary had relatively high BC contents compared with the sediments from the East China Sea shelf, suggesting that the Changjiang River discharge played an important role in the delivery of BC to the coastal region. Radiocarbon measurements indicate that the ages of BC are in the range of 6910 to 12250 years old B. P. (before present), that is in general, 3700 to 9000 years older than the C-14 ages of TOC in the sediments. These variable radiocarbon ages suggest that the BC preserved in the sediments was derived from the products of both biomass fire and fossil fuel combustion, as well as from ancient rock weathering. Based on an isotopic mass balance model, we calculated that fossil fuel combustion contributed most (60%. 80%) of the BC preserved in these sediments and varied with depth and locations. The deposition and burial of this "slow-cycling" BC in the sediments of the East China Sea shelf represent a significant pool of carbon sink and could greatly influence carbon cycling in the region.

Evolution and variability of the East Asian summer monsoon during the Pliocene: Evidence from clay mineral records of the South China Sea

The Late Pliocene is thought to be characterized by the simultaneous intensification of both the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) and East Asian summer monsoon (EASM). However, the evolution of the EASM during the Pliocene remains still controversial and only little is known about the dynamics of the EASM during the Pliocene on orbital time scales. Here we use clay mineral assemblages in sediments from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 1143 in the southern South China Sea (SCS) to obtain proxy records of past changes in the EASM climate during the Pliocene. Provenance analysis suggests that illite, chlorite and kaolinite originated mainly from the Mekong River drainage area. Smectite was derived mainly from the Indonesian islands. The kaolinite/illite ratio and the chemical index of alteration (CIA) of siliciclastic sediments allowed us to reconstruct the history of chemical weathering and physical erosion of the Mekong River drainage area and thus, the evolution of,the EASM during the Pliocene. Our clay minerals proxy data suggests a stronger EASM during the Early Pliocene than during the Late Pliocene. We propose that the long-term evolution of the EASM has been driven by global cooling rather than the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. Spectral analysis of kaolinite/ illite ratio displays a set of strong periodicities at 100 ka, 30 ka, 28 ka, 25 ka, and 22 ka. with no clear obliquityrelated signal. Our study suggests that the Pliocene EASM intensity on orbital time scales is not only controlled by the Northern Hemisphere summer insolation, but also strongly influenced by equatorial Pacific ENSO-like ocean atmosphere dynamics. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The distribution, enrichment and source of potential harmful elements in surface sediments of Bohai Bay, North China

A geochemical study of Bohai Bay surface sediments was carried out to analyze the potential harmful element (PHE: Ge, Mo, In, Sn, Sb,Te, Tl, Bi and V) concentrations, transportation and deposition, enrichment factors and sources. Germanium, Mo, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Tl, Bi and V concentrations in the surface sediments were: 1.43-1.71, 0.52-1.43, 0.04-0.12, 2.77-4.14, 1.14-2.29, 0.027-0.085, 0.506-0.770, 0.27-0.63 and 70.35-115.90 mu g/g, respectively. The distributions of total PHE concentrations, together with sequential extraction analyses, showed that the PHEs were mainly due to natural inputs from the continental weathering delivered to the bay by rivers and atmospheric transportation and deposition. However, high Mo, Sb, Te, Bi and V occurred in non-residual fractions, suggesting some anthropogenic inputs in addition to the natural inputs. Besides sources, the distributions of PHEs were influenced by the coupling of physical, chemical and biological processes. Enrichment factor (EF) was computed for each site for each element in order to assess the polluting elements and the degree of pollution at each site. Results revealed that the EFs were generally lower than 1.0, particularly for Ge, Mo, In, Sn, Tl and V; however, the EFs were higher (>1.5), particularly for Sb, Te and Bi, revealing moderate contamination. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The unique skeleton of siliceous sponges (Porifera; Hexactinellida and Demospongiae) that evolved first from the Urmetazoa during the Proterozoic: a review

Sponges (phylum Porifera) had been considered as an enigmatic phylum, prior to the analysis of their genetic repertoire/tool kit. Already with the isolation of the first adhesion molecule, galectin, it became clear that the sequences of sponge cell surface receptors and of molecules forming the intracellular signal transduction pathways triggered by them, share high similarity with those identified in other metazoan phyla. These studies demonstrated that all metazoan phyla, including Porifera, originate from one common ancestor, the Urmetazoa. The sponges evolved prior to the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary (542 million years ago [myr]) during two major "snowball earth events", the Sturtian glaciation (710 to 680 myr) and the Varanger-Marinoan ice ages (605 to 585 myr). During this period the ocean was richer in silica due to the silicate weathering. The oldest sponge fossils (Hexactinellida) have been described from Australia, China and Mongolia and are thought to have existed coeval with the diverse Ediacara fauna. Only little younger are the fossils discovered in the Sansha section in Hunan (Early Cambrian; China). It has been proposed that only the sponges possessed the genetic repertoire to cope with the adverse conditions, e.g. temperature-protection molecules or proteins protecting them against ultraviolet radiation. The skeletal elements of the Hexactinellida (model organisms Monorhaphis chuni and Monorhaphis intermedia or Hyalonema sieboldi) and Demospongiae (models Suberites domuncula and Geodia cydonium), the spicules, are formed enzymatically by the anabolic enzyme silicatein and the catabolic enzyme silicase. Both, the spicules of Hexactinellida and of Demospongiae, comprise a central axial canal and an axial filament which harbors the silicatein. After intracellular formation of the first lamella around the channel and the subsequent extracellular apposition of further lamellae the spicules are completed in a net formed of collagen fibers. The data summarized here substantiate that with the finding of silicatein a new aera in the field of bio/inorganic chemistry started. For the first time strategies could be formulated and experimentally proven that allow the formation/synthesis of inorganic structures by organic molecules. These findings are not only of importance for the further understanding of basic pathways in the body plan formation of sponges but also of eminent importance for applied/commercial processes in a sustainable use of biomolecules for novel bio/inorganic materials.

三门峡宋家店黄土－古土壤序列的地层学研究及其古环境记录

The Sanmen Gorge area is located in the southernmost margin of the Chinese Loess Plateau with well developed eolian deposit sequence for the past 2.6 Ma, providing a key site for further understanding of the evolution history of the East Asian monsoon since late Pliocene. This study attempted to characterize the stratigraphy and paleoclimate record of the loess-paleosol sequence in the Songjiadian section. The work involved includes systematic field investigation, paleomagnetic and rock magnetic analyses, grain size and major chemical composition analyses, and multiple proxy measurements of magnetic susceptibility, color reflectance and the ratio of CBD-dissolvable iron to the total iron (FeD/FeT). By comparisons of the Songjiadian section with well studied loess sections in the west of the Sanmen Gorge, the spatial variations of the East Asian monsoon was evaluated for some periods during which typical loess or paleosols developed. The following conclusions have been obtained. 1. Stratigraphic correlation and paleomagnetic result demonstrate that the loess-paleosol sequence in the Songjiadian section was accumulated from 2.6Ma, and is generally a complete and continuous loess sequence. However, notable differences from type loess sections have been identified for a few loess and paleosol units, featured by absence or anomalous thickness in the Songjiadian section. 2. Magnetic susceptibility and chromaticity records clearly reveal the loess-paleosol cycles, and indicate that the Sanmen Gorge area has been warmer and more humid than the Lingtai and Jingchuan sections in the western central Loess Plateau since the Early Pleistocene. 3. Grain size distribution patterns are typical of eolian dust, and show a great similarity between various units of loess and paleosols, and between the S32 and the underlying Red Clay through the Songjiadian profile, suggesting the eolian origin for the loess, paleosols and the Red Clay. 4. Comparison of the FeD/FeT curves from different loess sections indicates a stronger chemical weathering in the Songjiadian section and notable enhancement around 1800, 800 and 600 ka BP, implying the strengthening of the East Asian monsoon during these periods. In contrast, it was weakened at 1100 ka BP. Generally, the summer monsoon shows a gradually decreasing trend during the entire Pleostocene, but the spatial pattern typified by an increasing trend in weathering intensity from north to south remained the same. 5. The loess unit L9 in the Songjiadian section displays two geomagnetic field anomalies with the midpoint ages of 0.917 and 0.875 Ma respectively, with a segment of 12 ka. They are demonstrated to be equivalent to the Santa Rosa and Kamikatsura geomagnetic excursions. 6. Magnetite is the main magnetic carrier for both loess and paleosols. Maghemite concentration is higher in paleosols than in loess, and is an important carrier for the enhanced magnetic susceptibility in paleosols. Magnetic fabric analysis suggests a dominant N-S wind direction prevailing in the L9 and L15, while the summer winds were dominantly in NNE-SSW direction during the S8 period, notably differing from previous studies.

层析静校正技术研究和应用

Static correction is one of the indispensable steps in the conventional onshore seismic data processing, particularly in the western part of China; it is theoretically and practically significant to resolve the issue of static correction. Conventional refraction static correction is put forward under the assumption that layered medium is horizontal and evenly distributed. The complicated nature of the near surface from western part of China is far from the assumption. Therefore, the essential way to resolve the static correction problem from the complex area is to develop a new theory. In this paper, a high-precision non-linear first arrival tomography is applied to solve the problem, it moved beyond the conventional refraction algorithm based on the layered medium and can be used to modeling the complex near surface. Some of the new and creative work done is as follows: One. In the process of first arrival tomographic image modeling, a fast high-order step algorithm is used to calculate the travel time for first arrival and ray path and various factors concerning the fast step ray tracing algorithm is analyzed. Then the second-order and third-order differential format is applied to the step algorithm which greatly increased the calculation precision of the ray tracing and there is no constraint to the velocity distribution from the complex areas. This method has very strong adaptability and it can meet the needs of great velocity variation from the complicated areas. Based on the numerical calculation, a fast high-order step is a fast, non-conditional and stable high-precision tomographic modeling algorithm. Two, in the tomographic inversion, due to the uneven fold coverage and insufficient information, the inversion result is unstable and less reliable. In the paper, wavelet transform is applied to the tomographic inversion which has achieved a good result. Based on the result of the inversion from the real data, wavelet tomographic inversion has increased the reliability and stability of the inversion. Three. Apply the constrained high-precision wavelet tomographic image to the static correction processing from the complex area. During tomographic imaging, by using uphole survey, refraction shooting or other weathering layer method, weathering layer can be identified before the image. Because the group interval for the shot first arrival is relatively big, there is a lack of precision for the near surface inversion. In this paper, an inversion method of the layer constraint and well constraint is put forward, which can be used to compensate the shallow velocity of the inversion for the shot first arrival and increase the precision of the tomographic inversion. Key words: Tomography ，Fast marching method，Wavelet transform, Static corrections, First break