EFFECTS OF WOODY VEGETATION ON SANDY LEVEE INTEGRITY1

he influence of woody vegetation on the reliability of a sandy levee was investigated using field data in seepage and slope stability analyses. Field data were collected from selected sites within a 10-km segment of a channel levee on the Sacramento River near Elkhorn, California. Root architecture and distribution were determined using the profile-wall method in which root cross sections were exposed in the vertical wall of an excavated trench. Transects running both parallel and perpendicular to the crest of the levee were excavated at six sites. Each site was dominated by different plant species: five sites were adjacent to trees or woody shrubs, while one supported only herbaceous growth. Lateral plant roots were primarily restricted to, and modified, the near-surface soil horizons to a depth of approximately 1 meter. Root area ratios (RARs) did not exceed 2.02 percent and generally decreased exponentially with depth. At depths greater than 20 cm, mean RARs for sites dominated by wood species were not significantly different from the mean RAB for the herbaceous site. No open voids clearly attributable to plant roots were observed. Roots reinforced the levee soil and increased shear resistance in a measurable manner. Infinite slope and circular arc stability analyses were performed on the landward and riverward slopes under different hydraulic loading conditions. Infinite slope analyses indicated increasing root area ratio from 0.01 percent to 1 percent increased the factor of safety from less than one to more than seven. Circular arc analyses indicated that even the lower measured root concentrations sufficed to increase safety factors for arcs with maximum depths of about 1 m from less than one to about 1.2. Our findings suggest that allowing woody shrubs and small trees on levees would provide environmental benefits and would enhance structural integrity without the hazards associated with large trees such as wind-throwing.     

FRICTION SLOPE MODELS FOR M2 PROFILES1

ABSTRACT: Results of studies which have considered the relative merit of various friction slope averaging equations previously used in water surface profile computations are described. Limitations of the most accurate equation known for the M2 profile have indicated that a new equation which gives more emphasis to the upstream energy gradient is desirable. Based upon friction slope curves developed for M2 water surface profiles two new equations, one a parabolic and the other an elliptical approximation, are presented. The behavior of the new equations and of the previously most recommended equation is described by test calculations. The elliptical equation performed more satisfactorily than the harmonic method commonly recommended for M2 profile computations. Insertion of an additional cross-section about 50 feet upstream from a critical depth section was found to reduce computational errors for any energy gradient averaging method.     

HYDROLOGIC EFFECTS OF THE FLOOD ABATEMENT PROGRAM IN SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA1

ABSTRACT: Winter Creek is a tributary of the Washita River in south-western Oklahoma. The Soil Conservation Service installed floodwater retarding structures which controlled runoff from 56 percent of a 33-square-mile (8550-hectare) gaged drainage area. Application of a hydrologic model to the flood peaks indicated that the structural treatment reduced the flood peaks an average of 61 percent. The Winter Creek channel has narrowed and deepened since the structural treatment was applied. The severe bank erosion occurring before treatment has been arrested and sediment yield from the watershed has been reduced 50 to 60 percent. In some reaches of the channel there has been a dense growth of trees in recent years.     

THE STABILITY IN WATER OF A NEW CHLORAMINE DISINFECTANT1

ABSTRACT: The stability in water of a novel new chloramine agent, 3-chloro-4, 4-dimethyl-2-oxazolidinone (agent I), which is an excellent water disinfectant, has been compared to the stabilities of several other water disinfectants. The agents tested in addition to agent I included N-chlorosuccinimide, 2, 4-dichloro-5, 5-dimethylhydantoin, tichloroisocyanuric acid, calcium hypochlorite, commercial grade HTH, and household bleach. The total chlorine content of a water solution of agent I in a demand free environment remains constant over a period of at least eight weeks, while that for all of the other agents declines markedly over that time period. An explanation for these observations will be offered. Prior work in these laboratories concerning use of agent I as a disinfectant for lake water in a laboratory scale treatment plant had shown that agent I has considerable potential for use as an alternative to chlorine gas for water disinfection.     

A TECHNIQUE FOR MEASURING RAINFALL POTENTIAL1

ABSTRACT The roles played by thermodynamic stability and precipitable water in the production of rainfall are of prime importance. These two variables have been combined into a “Rainfall Potential” function by the use of multivariate statistical techniques. Data from weather stations in southern New Mexico and southwest Texas were used in the study. The results appear promising for further investigation, possibly in relation to the occurrence of rare but extremely heavy rains     

RELATION OF PHYSICAL AND MINERALOGICAL PROPERTIES TO STREAMBANK STABILITY1

ABSTRACT. Alluvial streambank materials from nine unstable and six stable reaches showed little variation in physical and mineralogical properties. The bulk density of all the samples was so similar that they could be considered from the same population. Particle size distributions showed that the clay fractions were slightly, but significantly, higher for the stable reaches. The mineralogy of all samples was also quite similar. The sand-sized grains of the stable areas were less rounded than those of the unstable areas. This somewhat angular shape of the grains may have produced an interlocking between grains that added stability to the bank material. Also, clay coatings on the sand-sized grains from the stable areas may have caused cementation between grains that also strengthened the material.     

基于岩体扰动参数的边坡结构优化

为了研究岩体扰动参数对边坡稳定性的影响,根据某露天边坡岩体物理性质及坡体钻孔勘探结果,分析了边坡体各岩组在不同扰动参数下的强度弱化过程;考虑由扰动产生的节理裂隙对边坡稳定性的影响,通过Phase^2软件对仿真计算模型进行了不同扰动程度的区域划分;同时提出了一种用于直观表征露天整天边坡稳定性的安全系数“玫瑰花”图。结果表明:各边帮受节理切割和爆破扰动的影响,稳定性差异较大,部分边帮安全储备充足,仍存在优化空间;节理裂隙几何位置对边坡失稳滑移面具有控制作用,对于近乎顺层岩质边坡,其破坏主要沿节理面剪切滑移;对于具有浅埋倾覆节理面边坡,由于岩体强度较高易发生倾倒破坏,所绘制的边坡安全系数“玫瑰花”图可直观表征露天边坡整体稳定性,考虑局部扰动影响对边坡稳定性分析进行精细化表征,为矿山边坡角度的进一步优化提供了一定的参考指标。     

降雨诱发含后缘裂缝岩质边坡失稳机制研究

为探讨降雨诱发边坡失稳机制,以突变理论为基础,综合考虑边坡滑体后缘裂缝静水压力、滑动面水压力和水致弱化的影响,推导了坡体突变失稳的力学判据。研究结果表明:降雨作用下岩质边坡失稳与后缘裂缝充水高度、水致弱化函数、滑体几何-力学参数有关;裂缝与滑动面导通后,坡体发生突变失稳的必要条件为水致弱化段长度远大于弹性段长度;裂缝充水高度d越大,水致弱化函数f(ω)越小,发生失稳可能性越大。     

复杂适应系统视角下矿工自制力影响因素研究

为了提高矿工自制力水平、进一步减少煤矿事故中的人因事故,基于复杂适应系统理论及系统动力学知识,通过Vensim PLE软件研究矿工主体与安检人员、环境、工作任务特征3个系统之间的相互作用,并从矿工个体角度构建自制力影响因素仿真模型。研究结果表明:矿工情绪对自制力提升最为显著,疲劳程度对矿工自制力的抑制作用较突出,过高或过低的自信心水平均会对矿工自制力产生削弱影响;因此,改善工作环境、提高整体组织氛围、保证矿工的情绪稳定性以及通过改善作业制度降低疲劳程度对提高自制力最为有效。煤矿企业应根据各因素在工作时间段的不同作用,结合矿工自身生理心理因素,采取相应措施以提高矿工自制力水平。     

某山坡露天矿边坡稳定性的FLAC3D研究

某山坡露天矿,原设计的最终边坡角约为46°。为了探索最终边坡角的合理性,应用快速拉格朗日有限差分法FLAC3D在摩尔-库伦准则下搜索该岩质山坡露天边坡的潜在受拉区,判定其稳定性。结果表明:经济合理的最终边坡角是50°38';应用8 m长的锚索加固局部台阶可减小其潜在受拉区中的拉应力;并段将减小边坡的稳定性;爆破开挖时的同段最大装药量与爆距对边坡稳定性影响明显。该方法确定最终边坡角技术可行,它适用于研究岩质边坡的稳定性,克服了用极限平衡法研究边坡稳定性必须事先假定滑动面的弱点。