Determination of the origin of groundwater nitrate at an air weapons range using the dual isotope approach

Nitrate is one of the most common contaminants in shallow groundwater, and many sources may contribute to the nitrate load within an aquifer. Groundwater nitrate plumes have been detected at several ammunition production sites. However, the presence of multiple potential sources and the lack of existing isotopic data concerning explosive degradation-induced nitrate constitute a limitation when it comes to linking both types of contaminants. On military training ranges, high nitrate concentrations in groundwater were reported for the first time as part of the hydrogeological characterization of the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range (CLAWR), Alberta, Canada. Explosives degradation is thought to be the main source of nitrate contamination at CLAWR, as no other major source is present. Isotopic analyses of N and O in nitrate were performed on groundwater samples from the unconfined and confined aquifers; the dual isotopic analysis approach was used in order to increase the chances of identifying the source of nitrate. The isotopic ratios for the groundwater samples with low nitrate concentration suggested a natural origin with a strong contribution of anthropogenic atmospheric NOx. For the samples with nitrate concentration above the expected background level the isotopic ratios did not correspond to any source documented in the literature. Dissolved RDX samples were degraded in the laboratory and results showed that all reproduced degradation processes released nitrate with a strong fractionation. Laboratory isotopic values for RDX-derived NO(3)(-) produced a trend of high delta(18)O-low delta(15)N to low delta(18)O-high delta(15)N, and groundwater samples with nitrate concentrations above the expected background level appeared along this trend. Our results thus point toward a characteristic field of isotopic ratios for nitrate being derived from the degradation of RDX.     

Identification of key parameters controlling dissolved oxygen migration and attenuation in fractured crystalline rocks

In the crystalline rocks of the Canadian Shield, geochemical conditions are currently reducing at depths of 500-1000 m. However, during future glacial periods, altered hydrologic conditions could potentially result in enhanced recharge of glacial melt water containing a relatively high concentration of dissolved oxygen (O2). It is therefore of interest to investigate the physical and geochemical processes, including naturally-occurring redox reactions, that may control O2 ingress. In this study, the reactive transport code MIN3P is used in combination with 2k factorial analyses to identify the most important parameters controlling oxygen migration and attenuation in fractured crystalline rocks. Scenarios considered are based on simplified conceptual models that include a single vertical fracture, or a fracture zone, contained within a rock matrix that extends from the ground surface to a depth of 500 m. Consistent with field observations, Fe(II)-bearing minerals are present in the fractures (i.e. chlorite) and the rock matrix (biotite and small quantities of pyrite). For the parameter ranges investigated, results indicate that for the single fracture case, the most influential factors controlling dissolved O2 ingress are flow velocity in the fracture, fracture aperture, and the biotite reaction rate in the rock matrix. The most important parameters for the fracture zone simulations are flow velocity in the individual fractures, pO2 in the recharge water, biotite reaction rate, and to a lesser degree the abundance and reactivity of chlorite in the fracture zone, and the fracture zone width. These parameters should therefore receive increased consideration during site characterization, and in the formulation of site-specific models intended to predict O2 behavior in crystalline rocks.     

Laboratory longitudinal diffusion tests: 2. Parameter estimation by inverse analysis

This study focuses on the verification of test interpretations for different state analyses of diffusion experiments. Part 1 of this study identified that steady, quasi-steady and equilibrium state analyses for the through- and in-diffusion tests with solution reservoirs are generally feasible where the tracer is not highly sorptive. In Part 2 we investigate parameter identifiability in transient-state analysis of reservoir concentration variation using a numerical approach. For increased generality, the analytical models, objective functions and Jacobian matrix necessary for inverse analysis of transient-state data are reformulated using unified dimensionless parameters. In these dimensionless forms, the number of unknown parameters is reduced and a single dimensionless parameter represents the sorption property. The dimensionless objective functions are evaluated for individual test methods and parameter identifiability is discussed in relation to the sorption property. The effects of multiple minima and measurement error on parameter identifiability are also investigated. The main findings are that inverse problems for inlet and outlet reservoir concentration analyses are generally unstable and well-posed, respectively. Where the tracer is sorptive, the inverse problem for the inlet reservoir concentration analysis may have multiple minima. When insufficient measurement data is collected, multiple solutions may result and this should be taken into consideration when inversely analyzing data including that of inlet reservoir concentration. Verification of test interpretation by cross-checking different state analyses is feasible where the tracer is not highly sorptive. In an actual experiment, test interpretation validity is demonstrated through consistency between theory and practice for different state analyses.     

典型铬渣简易掩埋场铬渣及土壤铬污染特征和处置分析

通过钻孔采样分析,研究了典型铬渣简易掩埋场地下铬渣及土壤铬中Cr6 、总Cr的分布特征和污染状况,结果表明,铬渣简易掩埋场铬污染程度严重,引起了周边和地下深部较大面积的土壤污染,深度达到了地下的基岩.铬含量在土壤层剖面中分布呈现规律性变化,即随土壤深度增加,Cr6 、总Cr含量逐渐下降,但绝大多数超过了危险废物毒性鉴别标准.从铬污染程度上看,总体上存在铬渣>土壤>人工填土.在此基础上,提出了铬渣及污染土壤的处置方式,为铬渣污染治理和资源化利用提供科学依据.     

流体参数对埋地管道破坏的影响分析

在考虑流固耦合和断层活动作用的情况下,应用ADINA中流固耦合分析求解器ADINA-FSI,建立了埋地管道破坏分析的有限元模型,介绍了固体模型和流体模型的建模过程以及流固耦合计算过程、断层位移荷载加载和约束的实现以及模型参数选择等。依据计算结果,分析了管内介质及流速等参数对管道破坏的影响。管道内输送的介质密度和流速越大,管道越易破坏,故在埋地管道设计中应充分考虑管内介质的密度与流速。针对计算结果,提出了几点认识和建议。     

路堑节理边坡开挖稳定性及影响因素分析

以某公路节理岩质边坡为工程背景,首先利用FLAC3D建立该边坡的数值分析模型,计算得到5台阶开挖的安全系数分别为2.62、2.39、1.61、1.06、0.67,并确定其破坏模式为双滑块平面剪切破坏;然后针对边坡的破坏模式建立理论计算模型,分别改变节理的倾角和力学参数(c,),分析它们对稳定性的影响。结果表明:变化下滑块节理面的倾角时,安全系数先变小,而后逐渐增大;变化上滑块节理面的倾角时,安全系数逐渐增大;当c1、c2取值较小时,两者的变化对于安全系数的影响基本相同,但随着取值的增大,c2的影响效果逐渐大于c1。     

输电塔结构的动力稳定性研究

作为一种重要的生命线工程,输电线路的破坏会造成巨大的经济损失。统计显示,风荷载作用下输电塔结构的动态侧倾失稳是输电线路经常发生的破坏形式之一。因此,对风作用下输电塔结构的失稳破坏进行研究有着十分重要的意义。本文应用谐波叠加法模拟脉动风场,分别采用Budiansky-Roth准则和动态增量法(IDA)结合位移相等准则这两种方法,基于ANSYS的非线性屈曲分析和时程分析模块,对沈阳某输电塔的抗风动力稳定性进行了研究。结果表明,风的动力特性对结构稳定性影响较大,现行规范中按等效静力风荷载进行计算是偏于不安全的。     

吸力式桶形基础多桶组合结构承载力特性研究

海洋采油平台结构中一般采用多桶组合基础型式,然而迄今对多桶组合结构尚缺乏理论分析和实验研究。本文针对我国第一座吸力式桶形基础采油平台CB20B,基于单桶基础在复合加载模式下的承载力特性,建立了双桶、四桶组合基础的三维有限元数值计算模型,探讨了对称多桶基础结构与单桶基础结构的承载力特性之间的相互关系,阐述了不同桶间距的多桶组合结构地基破坏机制,为工程设计提供参考依据。     

基坑开挖对临近地基极限承载的影响性状数值分析

采用弹塑性有限元分析方法,分析了悬臂式排桩支护的基坑开挖对邻近地基条形基础下极限承载力的影响性状。主要考虑了在基坑开挖深度、荷载与基坑的距离、荷载宽度、支护刚度等因素的影响下地基极限承载力的减损性状。研究表明,基坑开挖深度H较浅时,对地基极限承载力P_u的影响较小,P_u随H的增大略有降低,随着开挖深度的增加,H对P_u值的影响显著增大,且P_u值显著降低;当L/H≤2时,荷载与基坑的距离L对地基极限承载力P_u的影响很大,地基极限承载力P_u随L的减小而显著减小,当L/H>3时,L的影响逐渐减小,且P_u逐渐趋近于无基坑开挖时的值;P_u随地基荷载作用宽度B的增大而呈线性增大;支护桩的位移越小,P_u值越接近无基坑开挖时的地基极限承载力。     

基于岩体质量指标Q分类系统的风险分析方法

基于岩体质量指标Q分类系统,应用Monte-Carlo模拟技术,研究了岩体质量风险分析方法。该方法视Q分类系统中各单因素取值为随机变量,建立了各单因素取值概率模型;通过对所建模型的抽样计算,可获取所评价岩体实际Q值小于设计所采用Q值的概率;通过对比分析Q值累计曲线和岩体质量分布图,可得到任意Q值对应的风险概率,查清岩体中可能出现的质量等级以及每个质量等级所占百分比的情况。本文研究成果已在青岛胶州湾海底隧道工程中得到应用,并获得良好效果。