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Hard Rock (hard + rock)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Engineering	50%
Earth and Environmental Science	50%

Selected Abstracts

BEAM , Geoelectrical Ahead Monitoring for TBM-Drives

GEOMECHANICS AND TUNNELLING, Issue 5 2008
Arnim Kaus Dr. rer.nat.
BEAM is a non-intrusive focused-electrical induced polarisation ground prediction technique, permanently operating while TBM tunnelling. Main components of the survey system are the measuring unit placed in the TBM operator cabin and special adapted excavation tools which are used as electrodes. The unit is connected to the guidance system and receives the boring signal which allows fully automatic data acquisition and visualisation in real-time on an integrated monitor. Communication facilities transfer the forecast results to every accredited computer world wide simultaneously. Based on the measuring data the percentage frequency effect PFE and the resistivity R, an advanced evaluation software is established for geoelectrical-geological/hydrogeological classification and interpretation. Selected case studies from international TBM projects are outlined with prediction results of different kinds of exploration targets and geological situations. Since 2000 the geophysical probing system is fulfilling the practical demands under the rough and various conditions of TBM tunnelling work by indicating reliable results in hard rock as well as in soft ground. BEAM , Geoelektrische Vorauserkundung für TBM-Vortriebe BEAM ist eine zerstörungsfreie, vortriebsbegleitende Baugrund-Vorauserkundungs-Technologie auf Basis der fokussierend-elektrischen induzierten Polarisation. Das Monitoring-System besteht hauptsächlich aus einem Messgerät, das in der Steuerkabine aufgestellt werden kann, und aus speziell angepassten, bauseits vorhandenen Abbauwerkzeugen und Sicherungsmitteln, die als Elektroden dienen. Die Messeinheit wird mit dem bestehenden Vermessungssystem verbunden und empfängt das Bohrsignal, sodass vollautomatisierte Messungen durchgeführt werden, ohne die Tunnelvortriebsarbeiten zu stören, bei gleichzeitiger Datenauswertung und Visualisierung der Ergebnisse in Echtzeit auf dem integrierten Bildschirm der Einheit. Durch Anschluss an die Kommunikationseinrichtungen der Baustelle lassen sich die Vorauserkundungsdaten zeitgleich an jeden akkreditierten Computer weltweit transferieren. Eine innovative Auswertesoftware bewerkstelligt die geoelektrisch-geologische/hydrogeologische Klassifikation und Interpretation, die auf den Messparametern Prozent Frequenz Effekt PFE und dem Widerstand R basiert. Ausgewählte Fallbeispiele aus internationalen TBM-Projekten zeigen Vorauserkundungsergebnisse unterschiedlicher Explorationsziele und geologischer Situationen. Seit 2000 ist das Vorauserkundungssystem in der Anwendung und zeigt, dass es unter den schwierigen und unterschiedlichen Bedingungen im mechanisierten Tunnelbau sowohl im Hartgestein als auch im Lockergestein im Dauereinsatz zuverlässige Ergebnisse erbringt. [source]

Application of ground-penetrating radar to determine the thickness of Pleistocene periglacial slope deposits

JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 6 2004
Daniela Sauer
Abstract Wide areas of the mountainous regions of Germany have rock covered by Pleistocene periglacial slope deposits (PPSD), formed by gelifluction during the cold periods of the ice ages in non-glaciated areas. The PPSD provide the parent material for soil development, and their physical characteristics affect several stabile soil properties. Because the PPSD play a significant ecological role, we studied the spatial distribution and properties of the PPSD in order to assess the distribution of the stabile soil properties. The high stone content of the PPSD greatly hinders augering and digging. Hence, we tested the use of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) as a potentially time-saving, non-destructive method to determine the thickness of the PPSD. In several study areas of the Rhenish Massif, GPR investigations of single soil profiles and soil transects along an exposed gas-pipeline ditch were carried out. The GPR images were compared to the actual thickness of the layers of the PPSD exposed in the profiles and the ditch. In the GPR images usually at least one distinct boundary could be identified, which occurs at the transition between the loose material and the hard rock, mostly ranging between 50 and 150,cm depth. In some cases, in which stone content changed abruptly between different layers of the PPSD, also the boundaries between these layers could be identified in the GPR image. On the other hand, in areas where remnants of the Mesozoic-Tertiary weathering mantle are preserved, the boundary between the saprolite and the overlying basal layer of the PPSD is ambiguous or not at all visible. Einsatz von Georadar zur Bestimmung der Mächtigkeit periglaziärer Lagen In den deutschen Mittelgebirgen sind die Gesteine weitflächig von periglaziären Lagen überzogen. Diese entstanden durch Gelifluktion während der Kaltzeiten in den unvergletscherten Bereichen. Sie stellen das Ausgangssubstrat der Bodenbildung dar und bestimmen eine Reihe stabiler Bodeneigenschaften. Die ökologische Bedeutung der periglaziären Lagen gab den Anlass, ihre Verbreitung und Eigenschaften zu erfassen, um daraus flächenhafte Aussagen über diese Eigenschaften abzuleiten. Da Bohrungen und Grabungen in den periglaziären Lagen häufig durch hohe Skelettgehalte erschwert werden, wurde untersucht, ob Georadar zur zeitsparenden, zerstörungsfreien Erfassung der Lagenmächtigkeiten eingesetzt werden kann. In verschiedenen Teilen des Rheinischen Schiefergebirges wurden Georadar-Messungen an Bodenprofilen sowie an Transekten entlang eines Gasleitungsgrabens durchgeführt, die jeweils mit den Mächtigkeiten der periglaziären Lagen verglichen wurden, die an der Graben- bzw. Profilwand aufgeschlossen waren. In den Radargrammen ist in der Regel mindestens eine deutliche Grenze zu erkennen. Diese tritt am Übergang vom Lockermaterial zum Festgestein auf, der in der Regel zwischen 50 und 150,cm Tiefe liegt. In einigen Fällen, in denen sich der Skelettgehalt an den Lagengrenzen abrupt stark verändert, sind auch Grenzen zwischen verschiedenen Lagen im Radargramm zu erkennen. Dagegen ist in Gebieten, in denen Reste der mesozoisch-tertiären Verwitterungsdecke im Untergrund anstehen, die Grenze zwischen der Basislage und dem Gestein im Radargramm nur diffus oder nicht ausgeprägt. [source]

Diagenesis and Evolution of the Holocene Coquinite from the Haishan Island, Eastern Guangdong, China

ACTA GEOLOGICA SINICA (ENGLISH EDITION), Issue 1 2009
Jinlong SUN
Abstract: The coastal hard rock with a thickness of over 5 m and a distribution area of nearly 200 ha in the Haishan Island, south China, has long drawn researchers'attention. However, there were controversies over its formation and classification, and these controversies in turn lead to the dispute of sea level changes and coastal uplift-subsidence of this area. To investigate its diagenesis and evolution, petrographic analysis, elemental geochemistry, isotopic analysis, and radiocarbon dating were used in the present study. Radiocarbon dating indicates that the deposition of the Haishan Coquinite commenced in the mid Holocene and lasted to ,600 a B.P. Petrographic analysis shows that the Haishan Coquinite is cemented by low-Mg calcite, indicating that the cementation occurred in a meteoric environment. The elemental geochemistry and isotopic values demonstrate that the coquinite suffered strong leaching, which was thought to be responsible for the meteoric cementation of the coquinite. According to these results, the diagenesis of the coquinite is revealed: deposition of the Haishan Coquinite commenced in the mid Holocene in a shoal environment, initial cementation occurred and cement may be high-Mg calcite or aragonite; latterly the coquinite exposed to meteoric environment as a result of lowering of relative sea level, and the cement altered to low-Mg, which took the morphologies of bladed calcite rim and equant spar. A four-stage evolution model is proposed: (1) deposition stage, (2) initial cementation, (3) exposure to and cementation in meteoric environment, and (4) erosion stage. The published reports indicate that the hard rock should be designated as coquinite. Based on these studies, mid-Holocene sea level in this area was discussed, and the Haishan Island was proposed to uplift with a rate of ,5 mm/a in the last ,600 a. [source]

A numerical approach for groundwater flow in unsaturated porous media

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 9-10 2006
F. Quintana
Abstract In this article, a computational tool to simulate groundwater flow in variably saturated non-deformable fractured porous media is presented, which includes a conceptual model to obtain analytical expressions of water retention and hydraulic conductivity curves for fractured hard rocks and a numerical algorithm to solve the Richards equation. To calculate effective saturation and relative hydraulic conductivity curves we adopt the Brooks,Corey model assuming fractal laws for both aperture and number of fractures. A standard Galerkin formulation was employed to solve the Richards' equation together with a Crank,Nicholson scheme with Richardson extrapolation for the time discretization. The main contribution of this paper is to group an analytical model of the authors with a robust numerical algorithm designed to solve adequately the highly non-linear Richards' equation generating a tool for porous media engineering. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]