Study on Mechanics Parameters of Unloaded Rock Mass about the Underground Powerhouse of Jin-ping Hydroelectric Station

After the excavation of Jinping underground cavern, a strong expansion appears along the unloading direction of the rock mass, mainly in the type of tensile rupture, accompanied by shear destruction, unloading resulted in significant deterioration of mechanical properties of rock. Based on the in-site investigation of rock mass structure, via analyzing the acoustic testing data, we identify the unloading range of the side walls and the division of rock types, and carry out with the solution of rock mechanical parameters about different unloading zone, providing geological foundation for the supporting design of the following design of the side walls, at the same time, providing reference for the selection of mechanical parameters of other underground excavation engineering with similar geological conditions.

Nutrient characteristics in the Yangtze River Estuary and the adjacent East China Sea before and after impoundment of the Three Gorges Dam

From November 2002 to 2006, five cruises were undertaken in the Yangtze River Estuary and the adjacent East China Sea to compare the nutrient concentrations, ratios and potential nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth before and after impoundment (June 2003) of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD). Concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and total nitrogen (TN) exhibited an increasing trend from 2002 to 2006. In contrast, total phosphorus (TP) concentration exhibited a decreasing trend. The mean concentrations of DIN, SRP, and TN in the total study area increased from 21.4 mu M, 0.9 mu M, and 41.8 mu M in 2002 to 37.5 mu M, 1.3 mu M. and 82.2 mu M in 2006, respectively. while TP decreased from 2.1 mu M to 1.7 mu M. The concentration of dissolved reactive silica (DRSi) had no major fluctuations and the differences were not significant. The mean concentration of DRSi in the total study area ranged from 52.5 to 92.3 mu M. The Si:N ratio decreased significantly from 2.7 in 2002 to 1.3 in 2006, while TN: TP ratio increased from 22.1 to 80.3. The area of potential P limitation of phytoplankton growth expanded after 2003 and potential Si limitation appeared in 2005 and 2006. Potential P limitation mainly occurred in an area of salinity less than 30 after 2003, while potential Si limitation occurred where the salinity was greater than 30. By comparison with historical data, the concentrations of nitrate and SRP in this upper estuary during November 1980-2006 increased obviously after impoundment of TGD but DRSi decreased. Meanwhile, the ratios of N:P, Si:N and Si:P decreased obviously. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Size-fractionated phytoplankton biomass in autumn of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River Estuary and its adjacent waters after the Three Gorges Dam construction

A cruise was undertaken from 3rd to 8th November 2004 in Changjiang (Yangtze) River Estuary and its adjacent waters to investigate the spatial biomass distribution and size composition of phytoplankton. Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration ranged 0.42-1.17 mu g L-1 and 0.41-10.43 mu g L-1 inside and outside the river mouth, with the mean value 0.73 mu g L-1 and 1.86 mu g L-1, respectively. Compared with the Chl-a concentration in summer of 2004, the mean value was much lower inside, and a little higher outside the river mouth. The maximal Chl-a was 10.43 mu g L-1 at station 18 (122.67 degrees E, 31.25 degrees N), and the region of high Chl-a concentration was observed in the central survey area between 122.5 degrees E and 123.0 degrees E. In the stations located east of 122.5 degrees E, Chl-a concentration was generally high in the upper layers above 5 m due to water stratification. In the survey area, the average Chl-a in sizes of > 20 mu m and < 20 mu m was 0.28 mu g L-1 and 1.40 mu g L-1, respectively. High Chl-a concentration of < 20 mu m size-fraction indicated that the nanophytoplankton and picophytoplankton contributed the most to the biomass of phytoplankton. Skeletonema costatum, Prorocentrum micans and Scrippsiella trochoidea were the dominant species in surface water. The spatial distribution of cell abundance of phytoplankton was patchy and did not agree well with that of Chl-a, as the cell abundance could not distinguish the differences in shape and size of phytoplankton cells. Nitrate and silicate behaved conservatively, but the former could probably be the limitation factor to algal biomass at offshore stations. The distribution of phosphate scattered considerably, and its relation to the phytoplankton biomass was complicated.

小湾电站坝基岩体卸荷工程地质力学研究

Dam is the key main works in the construction of water power. The success or failure of the construction of the dam mainly depends on the stability of the dam foundation. The double curvature arch dam-XiaoWan Dam is the highest one among the dams with the same type in the world, and the water thrust acted on it reaches ton, so the rock bearing capacity of dam foundation becomes more important. Because of the high and steep valley-side slope, the large scale of excavation and the complex body type of excavation, it is prominent that the problem of stress release of the rock mass in dam foundation. More great attentions should be paid for the stability and the degraded of rock properties of rock mass induced by the stress release. In this paper, the phenomena of stress release of rock mass in XiaoWan Dam foundation and its mechanisms were analyzed based on the collection of data, the detailed field engineering investigations, measurement of the rock mass and the 2D numerical calculations. The rock mass under the foundation is weak-weathered to intact, the quality of which is good. After excavation of the foundation, the rock mass near the slope surface occurred extend, stretch and stick-slip along original textures till the new fracture surface formed. Then platy structure of the rock mass takes on. The rock mass in the dam foundation occur resilience due to stress release towards free faces with the characteristics of time effect and localized deformation. In-situ measurements show that the rock mass near the surface are degraded. The stress release induced by excavation is a process of the interaction between engineering structures and geologic body. The stress release of rock mass in dam foundation is related to the changed degree of geometrical conditions. The rock near excavation surface failed nearly under uniaxial stresses. The bending-breaking mechanism of plate girder can interpret the failure model of the rock mass with platy structure in dam foundation slope. In essence, the stress release is the change of stress field including the change of directions and magnitudes of stress induced by excavation, which can induce the comedown of the safety margin. In this paper, the inducing conditions of stress release were calculated by numerical analyses. Moreover, from the point of view that the change of stress field, the coefficient of K, i.e. the variable load coefficient was proposed. Then the law of the change of it is interpreted. The distributional characteristics of fracture zone were expressed by the coefficient. The stress release of hard rock has the characteristic of localization. The measuring technique of sound wave can not reflect the small cracks in this kind of rock mass due to stress release. So, the spectral analysis method was proposed. At the same time, the application foreground in engineering of the Stockwell Time-Frequency- Spectrum method was discussed with a view to the limitation of it.

小湾坝基卸荷岩体参数研究

The Xiao-wan Power Station is the second highest arch dam in the world under construction. The height of the dam is about 292m. Large-scale excavation in the dam foundation of Xiao-wan Power Station has brought intensive unloading phenomenon. We collected a large number of firsthand data on unloaded rock mass in dam foundation, which supplies a natural testing ground for researching unloaded rock mass after excavation. Detailed study was carried out on the parameters of unloaded rock mass in the dam foundation of Xiao-wan Power Station. The study is not only importance for the Xiao-wan Power Station, but also has important instruction significance to similar projects in the Southwest of China. In order to study the mechanical parameters of unloaded rock mass, large field and laboratory tests were carried out. The test results showed the size effect of the sample is obvious. The change of deformation modulus of rock is not obvious. However, the Poisson's ratio of rock is increased under unloaded condition, its value is even more than 0.5. The theoretical forecasted results is accordance to the field tests including sound wave data and deformation monitoring data, which shows the forecasted results were reasonable. The soften yield criterion was adopted in the thesis to study the characteristics of the brittle rock mass in order to simulate their brittle failures. Based on the study results above, the transform of the structural plane network model to the numerical one was carried out, which made it feasible to consider the influence of large amount joints on the mechanical characteristic of rock mass in the numerical analyses. Using a factor, the degree of the damage or strengthen of rock mass can be determined rapidly, which proposed a rapid and feasible method for the determination of the parameters of rock mass.

锦屏电站地下厂房卸荷岩体参数研究

It is a basic work to ascertain the parameters of rock mass for evaluation about stability of the engineering. Anisotropism、inhomogeneity and discontinuity characters of the rock mass arise from the existing of the structural plane. Subjected to water、weathering effect、off-loading, mechanical characters of the rock mass are greatly different from rock itself, Determining mechanical parameters of the rock mass becomes so difficult because of structure effect、dimension effect、rheological character, ‘Can’t give a proper parameter’ becomes one of big problems for theoretic analysis and numerical simulation. With the increment of project scale, appraising the project rock mass and ascertaining the parameters of rock mass becomes more and more important and strict. Consequently, researching the parameters of rock mass has important theoretical significance and actual meaning. The Jin-ping hydroelectric station is the first highest hyperbolic arch dam in the world under construction, the height of the dam is about 305m, it is the biggest hydroelectric station at lower reaches of Yalong river. The length of underground factory building is 204.52m, the total height of it is 68.83m, the maximum of span clearance is 28.90m. Large-scale excavation in the underground factory of Jin-ping hydroelectric station has brought many kinds of destructive phenomenon, such as relaxation、spilling, providing a precious chance for study of unloading parameter about rock mass. As we all know, Southwest is the most important hydroelectric power base in China, the construction of the hydroelectric station mostly concentrate at high mountain and gorge area, basically and importantly, we must be familiar with the physical and mechanical character of the rock mass to guarantee to exploit safely、efficiently、quickly, in other words, we must understand the strength and deformation character of the rock mass. Based on enough fieldwork of geological investigation, we study the parameter of unloading rock mass on condition that we obtain abundant information, which is not only important for the construction of Jin-ping hydroelectric station, but also for the construction of other big hydroelectric station similar with Jin-ping. This paper adopt geological analysis、test data analysis、experience analysis、theory research and Artificial Neural Networks （ANN） brainpower analysis to evaluate the mechanical parameter, the major production is as follows: (1)Through the excavation of upper 5-layer of the underground powerhouse and the statistical classification of the main joints fractures exposed, We believe that there are three sets of joints, the first group is lay fracture, the second group and the fourth group are steep fracture. These provide a strong foundation for the following calculation of and analysis; (2)According to the in-situ measurement about sound wave velocity、displacement and anchor stress, we analyses the effects of rock unloading effect，the results show a obvious time-related character and localization features of rock deformation. We determine the depth of excavation unloading of underground factory wall based on this. Determining the rock mass parameters according to the measurement about sound wave velocity with characters of low- disturbing、dynamic on the spot, the result can really reflect the original state, this chapter approximately the mechanical parameters about rock mass at each unloading area; (3)Based on Hoek-Brown experienced formula with geological strength index GSI and RMR method to evaluate the mechanical parameters of different degree weathering and unloading rock mass about underground factory, Both of evaluation result are more satisfied; (4)From the perspective of far-field stress, based on the stress field distribution ideas of two-crack at any load conditions proposed by Fazil Erdogan (1962)，using the strain energy density factor criterion (S criterion) proposed by Xue changming(1972)，we establish the corresponding relationship between far-field stress and crack tip stress field, derive the integrated intensity criterion formula under the conditions of pure tensile stress among two line coplanar intermittent jointed rock，and establish the corresponding intensity criterion for the exploratory attempt; (5)With artificial neural network, the paper focuses on the mechanical parameters of rock mass that we concerned about and the whole process of prediction of deformation parameters, discusses the prospect of applying in assessment about the parameters of rock mass，and rely on the catalog information of underground powerhouse of Jinping I Hydropower Station, identifying the rock mechanics parameters intellectually，discusses the sample selection, network design, values of basic parameters and error analysis comprehensively. There is a certain significance for us to set up a set of parameters evaluation system，which is in construction of large-scale hydropower among a group of marble mass.

复杂裂隙岩体统计断裂本构关系与变形参数研究

Rock mass is widely recognized as a kind of geologic body which consists of rock blocks and discontinuities. The deformation and failure of rock mass is not only determined by rock block，but also by discontinuity which is virtually more important. Mutual cutting and combination of discontinuities controlled mechanical property of rock mass. The complex cutting of discontinuities determine the intense anisotropy on mechanical property of rock mass，especially under the effect of ground stress. Engineering practice has show that the brittle failure of hard rock always occurs when its working stress is far lower than the yield strength and compressive strength，the failure always directly related to the fracture propagation of discontinuities. Fracture propagation of discontinuities is the virtue of hard rock’s failure. We can research the rock mass discontinuous mechanical properties precisely by the methods of statistical analysis of discontinuities and Fracture Mechanics. According to Superposition Principle in Fracture Mechanics，A Problem or C Problem could be chosen to research. Problem A mainly calculates the crack-tip stress field and displacement field on internal discontinuities by numerical method. Problem C calculate the crack-tip stress field and displacement field under the assumption of that the mainly rock mass stress field has been known. So the Problem C avoid the complex mutual interference of stress fields of discontinuities，which is called crack system problem in Fracture Mechanics. To solve Problem C, field test on stress field in the rock mass is needed. The linear Superposition of discontinuities strain energies are Scientific and Rational. The difference of Fracture Mechanics between rock mass and other materials can mostly expression as：other materials Fracture Mechanics mostly face the problem A，and can’t avoid multi-crack puzzle, while the Rock mass Fracture Mechanics answer to the Problem C. Problem C can avoid multi-discontinuities mutual interference puzzle via the ground stress test. On the basis of Problem C, Fracture Mechanics could be used conveniently in rock mass. The rock mass statistics fracture constitutive relations, which introduced in this article, are based on the Problem C and the Discontinuity Strain Energy linear superposition. This constitutive relation has several merits: first, it is physical constitutive relation rather than empirical; second, it is very fit to describe the rock mass anisotropy properties; third, it elaborates the exogenous factors such as ground stress. The rock mass statistics fracture constitutive relation is the available approach to answer to the physical, anisotropic and ground stress impacted rock mass problems. This article stand on the foundation of predecessor’s statistics fractures constitutive relation, and improved the discontinuity distributive function. This article had derived the limitation of negative exponential distribution in the course of regression analysis, and advocated to using the two parameter negative exponential distribution for instead. In order to solve the problems of two-dimension stability on engineering key cross-sectional view in rock mass, this article derived the rock mass planar flexibility tensor, and established rock mass two-dimension penetrate statistics fracture constitutive relation on the basis of penetrate fracture mechanics. Based on the crack tip plasticity research production of penetrate fracture, for example the Irwin plasticity equifinality crack, this article established the way to deal with the discontinuity stress singularity and plastic yielding problem at discontinuity tip. The research on deformation parameters is always the high light region of rock mass mechanics field. After the dam foundation excavation of XiaoWan hydroelectric power station, dam foundation rock mass upgrowthed a great deal of unload cracks, rock mass mechanical property gotten intricacy and strong anisotropy. The dam foundation rock mass mostly upgrowthed three group discontinuities： the decantation discontinuity, the steep pitch discontinuity, and the schistosity plane. Most of the discontinuities have got partial unload looseness. In accordance with ground stress field data, the dam foundation stress field greatly non-uniform, which felled under the great impaction of tectonic stress field, self-weight stress field, excavation geometric boundary condition, and excavation, unload. The discontinuity complexity and stress field heterogeneity, created the rock mass mechanical property of dam foundation intricacy and levity. The research on the rock mass mechanics, if not take every respected influencing factor into consideration as best as we can, major errors likely to be created. This article calculated the rock mass elastic modulus that after Xiao Wan hydroelectric power station dam foundation gutter excavation finished. The calculation region covered possession monolith of Xiao Wan concrete double-curvature arch dam. Different monolith were adopted the penetrate fracture statistics constitutive relation or bury fracture statistics constitutive relation selectively. Statistics fracture constitutive relation is fit for the intensity anisotropy and heterogeneity rock mass of Xiao Wan hydroelectric power station dam foundation. This article had contrastive analysis the statistics fracture constitutive relation result with the inclined plane load test actual measurement elastic modulus and RMR method estimated elastic modulus, and find that the three methods elastic modulus have got greatly comparability. So, the statistics fracture constitutive relations are qualified for trust. Generally speaking，this article had finished following works based on predecessors job: “Argumentation the C Problems of superposition principle in Fracture Mechanics, establish two-dimension penetrate statistics fracture constitutive relation of rock mass, argue the negative exponential distribution limitation and improve it, improve of the three-dimension berry statistics fracture constitutive relation of rock mass, discontinuity-tip plastic zone isoeffect calculation, calculate the rock mass elastic modulus on two-dimension cross-sectional view”. The whole research clue of this article inherited from the “statistics rock mass mechanics” of Wu Faquan（1992）.

An integrated study (geochemistry, stable oxygen and carbon isotopes, nannofossils, planktonic foraminifera, inoceramid bivalves, ammonites and crinoids) of the Waxahachie Dam Spillway section, north Texas: a possible boundary stratotype for the base of the Campanian Stage

The spillway of Lake Waxahachie, Ellis County (Texas), exposes a > 17 m section of the Hutchins Member of the Austin Chalk Group, un-conformably overlain by Taylor Clay. The Austin sequence was regarded as a potential Global Stratotype Section for the base of the Campanian Stage at the 1995 Brussels meeting on Cretaceous Stage boundaries, with the last occurrence of the crinoid Marsupites testudinarius (von Schlotheim, 1820) as the potential boundary marker. An integrated study of the geochemistry, stable carbon and oxgen isotopes, nannofossils, planktonic foraminifera, inoceramid bivalves, ammonites and crinoids of this section place the last occurrence of M. testudinarius in a matrix of eighteen ancillary biostratigraphic markers, while the boundary can also be recognised on the basis of a delta C-13 excursion that can, in principle, be detected globally in marine sediments. A new forma of the crinoid Marsupites testudinarius is introduced. The Waxahachie section fulfils sufficient geological criteria as to be an excellent candidate GSSP for the base of the Campanian Stage, if problems of ownership and access to the section can be resolved.

Dam methylation controls O-antigen chain length in Salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis by regulating the expression of Wzz protein

We reported previously that a Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis dam mutant expressing a truncated Dam protein does not agglutinate in the presence of specific antibodies against O9 polysaccharide. Here we investigate the participation of Dam in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) synthesis in Salmonella. The LPS O-antigen profiles of a dam null mutant (SEDeltadam) and the Salmonella serovar Enteritidis parental strain were examined by using electrophoresis and silver staining. Compared to the parental strain, SEDeltadam produced LPS with shorter O-antigen polysaccharide chains. Since Wzz is responsible for the chain length distribution of the O antigen, we investigated whether Dam methylation is involved in regulating wzz expression. Densitometry analysis showed that the amount of Wzz produced by SEDeltadam is threefold lower than the amount of Wzz produced by the parental strain. Concomitantly, the activity of the wzz promoter in SEDeltadam was reduced nearly 50% in logarithmic phase and 25% in stationary phase. These results were further confirmed by reverse transcription-PCR showing that wzz gene expression was threefold lower in the dam mutant than in the parental strain. Our results demonstrate that wzz gene expression is downregulated in a dam mutant, indicating that Dam methylation activates expression of this gene. This work indicates that wzz is a new target regulated by Dam methylation and demonstrates that DNA methylation not only affects the production of bacterial surface proteins but also the production of surface polysaccharides.

Dam Methylation Participates in the Regulation of PmrA/PmrB and RcsC/RcsD/RcsB Two Component Regulatory Systems in Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis

The absence of Dam in Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis causes a defect in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) pattern associated to a reduced expression of wzz gene. Wzz is the chain length regulator of the LPS O-antigen. Here we investigated whether Dam regulates wzz gene expression through its two known regulators, PmrA and RcsB. Thus, the expression of rcsB and pmrA was monitored by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting using fusions with 3×FLAG tag in wild type (wt) and dam strains of S. Enteritidis. Dam regulated the expression of both rcsB and pmrA genes; nevertheless, the defect in LPS pattern was only related to a diminished expression of RcsB. Interestingly, regulation of wzz in serovar Enteritidis differed from that reported earlier for serovar Typhimurium; RcsB induces wzz expression in both serovars, whereas PmrA induces wzz in S. Typhimurium but represses it in serovar Enteritidis. Moreover, we found that in S. Enteritidis there is an interaction between both wzz regulators: RcsB stimulates the expression of pmrA and PmrA represses the expression of rcsB. Our results would be an example of differential regulation of orthologous genes expression, providing differences in phenotypic traits between closely related bacterial serovars.

Application of PMUs to Coordinate Hydroelectric and Wind Power Plant Operation

It is acknowledged that wind power is a stochastic energy source compared to hydroelectric generation which is easily scheduled. In this paper a scheme for coordinating wind power plant and hydroelectric power plant is presented by using PMUs to measure and control the state of wind and hydro power plants. Hydroelectric generation is proposed as a method of energy reserve and compensation in the context of wind power fluctuation in order to avoid full or partial curtailment of wind generation to benefit wind providers. The feasibility of this proposed scheme is investigated by power flow calculation and stability analysis using the IEEE 30-bus power system model.

Sediment changes upstream and downstream of the Altnahinch Dam in the River Bush in Northern Ireland: A preliminary study

The River Bush must reach a standard of good ecological potential (GEP) by 2015 due to the requirements of the water framework directive. The role of sediments within a water body is extremely important to all aspects of a river's regime. The aim of this research is to investigate the effects of Altnahinch Dam on sediment distribution in the River Bush (a heavily modified water body) with comparison made against the Glendun River (an unmodified water body). Samples collected from the rivers were analysed by physical (pebble count, sieve analysis) and statistical methods (ANOVA, GRADISTAT). An increase in fine sediments upstream of the dam provides evidence that the dam is impacting sediment distribution. Downstream effects are not shown to be significant. The output of this study also implies similar impacts at other drinking water storage impoundments. This research recommends that a sediment management plan be put in place for Altnahinch Dam and that further studies be carried-out concentrating on fine sediment distribution upstream of the dam.