scholarly journals A New Method for Seismically Safe Managing of Seismotectonic Deformations in Fault Zones

Author(s):  
Valery V. Ruzhich ◽  
Evgeny V. Shilko

AbstractThe authors outline the results of long-term interdisciplinary research aimed at identifying the possibility and the methods of controlling tangential displacements in seismically dangerous faults to reduce the seismic risk of potential earthquakes. The studies include full-scale physical and numerical modeling of P-T conditions in the earth’s crust contributing to the initiation of displacement in the stick-slip regime and associated seismic radiation. A cooperation of specialists in physical mesomechanics, seismogeology, geomechanics, and tribology made it possible to combine and generalize data on the mechanisms for the formation of the sources of dangerous earthquakes in the highly stressed segments of faults. We consider the prospect of man-caused actions on the deep horizons of fault zones using powerful shocks or vibrations in combination with injecting aqueous solutions through deep wells to manage the slip mode. We show that such actions contribute to a decrease in the coseismic slip velocity in the fault zone, and, therefore, cause a decrease in the amplitude and energy of seismic vibrations. In conclusion, we substantiate the efficiency of the use of combined impacts on potentially seismically hazardous segments of fault zones identified in the medium-term seismic prognosis. Finally, we discuss the importance of the full-scale validation of the proposed approach to managing the displacement regime in highly-stressed segments of fault zones. Validation should be based on large-scale tests involving advanced technologies for drilling deep multidirectional wells, injection of complex fluids, and localized vibrational or pulse impacts on deep horizons.

Author(s):  
Martin W. Hukle ◽  
Dan B. Lillig ◽  
Brian D. Newbury ◽  
John Dwyer ◽  
Agnes Marie Horn

This paper reviews the specific testing methodologies implemented for the qualification of mechanized pulsed gas metal arc welding (PGMAW) procedures for strain based design applications. The qualified welding procedures were used during recent construction of an offshore pipeline subject to potential ice scour with an initial design target of 4% tensile strain capacity. This paper addresses the integrated development of linepipe specifications, large scale validation testing, weld procedure development, and finally, the verification of robustness through full scale pressurized testing of actual girth welds on project pipe material. The qualification sequence, from linepipe specification development through final full scale girth weld proof test is described.


Author(s):  
Ba˚rd Nyhus ◽  
Erling O̸stby ◽  
Zhiliang Zhang ◽  
Erlend Olso̸ ◽  
Per Arne Ro̸stadsand ◽  
...  

Installation of offshore pipelines by reeling introduces plastic pre-straining. The pre-strain history is not homogenous and it will vary around the circumference of the pipe. The pre-strain history will modify the yield and flow properties. Also, the fracture toughness may be influenced by the pre-straining. The result is that the bending strain capacity of pipelines during operation will differ depending on how the bending moment coincides with pipe orientation during installation. Three full scale tests of 12″ x-60 pipes with wall thickness 19.3mm and a 3×100 mm outer surface defect were performed to investigate the effect of pre-strain history. Two pipes were pre-strained in bending to 2% strain in the outer fibre and then straightened to simulate the reeling. The final tests to establish the strain capacity during operation as a function of strain history were performed in four point bending with an internal pressure of 325 bar. The strain capacity for the side of the pipe that ends in tension and the side that ends in compression from pre-straining was 1.7% and 2.6% respectively. The strain capacity of the third test without pre-straining was 5.7%. The results show that pre-straining will modify the strain capacity and the effect must be taken into account in engineering critical assessment of pipes during operation. The effect of prestraining should be evaluated for all installation methods that involve plastic deformation during installation, and not only reeling. It is important to note that the notch size in the full scale tests was larger than what would normally be accepted for reeling. In addition the notch was positioned in base material and not in weld metal, which is a more realistic position for a notch. The welds are normally overmatched and this might reduce the effect of prestraining.


1997 ◽  
Vol 506 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Huertas ◽  
J.L. Santiago

ABSTRACTUnderstanding the near-field evolution of a deep geological disposal system for HLW is crucial for assessing its long term performance and, therefore, safety. For that reason ENRESA devised the FEBEX Project, a Full Scale Engineered Barriers Experiment in crystalline rock. The project consists of a full-scale “in-situ” heating test, a large-scale laboratory mock-up and supporting materials tests, and modelling.Even though the object of the project is to contribute to the search for methods of behaviour and of safety analyses for a repository, other subinvestigations have been/are being included. The stated objectives are to demonstrate the procedures of constructing an engineered barrier system (EBS), especially the fabrication, handling, and installation of bentonite blocks (buffer) at an almost industrial scale, to improve and validate the numerical models for thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour, and to investigate the geochemical processes that are produced in the buffer including canister corrosion, as well as the generation and transport of gas. Since early 1997, with the commencement of the heating phase, both large-scale tests have been fully operative. At this point it can be said that the demonstration objective of constructing the EBS has been successfully achieved. The measured thermal response of the buffer follows the pattern predicted in the preliminary modelling. The saturation rate of the buffer and associated mechanical processes are being continuously monitored.


2021 ◽  
Vol 96 ◽  
pp. 29-43
Author(s):  
Dingena Schott ◽  
Javad Mohajeri ◽  
Jovana Jovanova ◽  
Stef Lommen ◽  
Wilbert de Kluijver

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicente Salinas ◽  
Cristóbal Quiñinao ◽  
Sebastián González ◽  
Gustavo Castillo

AbstractWe study the role of small-scale perturbations in the onset of avalanches in a rotating drum in the stick-slip regime. By vibrating the system along the axis of rotation with an amplitude orders of magnitude smaller than the particles’ diameter, we found that the order parameter that properly describes the system is the kinetic energy. We also show that, for high enough frequencies, the onset of the avalanche is determined by the amplitude of the oscillation, contrary to previous studies that showed that either acceleration or velocity was the governing parameter. Finally, we present a theoretical model that explains the transition between the continuous and discrete avalanche regimes as a supercritical Hopf bifurcation.


2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (28n29) ◽  
pp. 5374-5382 ◽  
Author(s):  
MASSIMO PICA CIAMARRA ◽  
LUCILLA DE ARCANGELIS ◽  
EUGENIO LIPPIELLO ◽  
CATALDO GODANO

Via Molecular Dynamics simulations, we investigate the stick-slip motion in a model of fault, where two surfaces subject to a constant confining pressure P, and enclosing granular particles, are subject a shear stress σ. When the system sticks, the stress increases with a constant rate [Formula: see text], while the stress decreases when the system flow. We dermine the system 'phase diagram' in the pressure P load velocity [Formula: see text] plane, locating the transition form the continuos flow regime to the stick-slip regimes, and show that the transition between these two regimes is characterized by the presence of large fluctuations. In the stick-slip regime, the system reproduces the behaviour of a segment of a fault of fixed lenght.


Author(s):  
Torfinn Ottesen

Ocean currents may cause vortex induced vibrations (VIV) of deep-water umbilicals and cables. Since the VIV response may give significant contributions to the total fatigue damage it is important to know the structural damping for relevant curvature levels. A laboratory test has been performed on a 12.5 m long test specimen to determine the damping for a range of curvature levels that are in the vicinity of the stick-slip transition region. The energy input to maintain steady state oscillations with curvature amplitudes in the range 0.0002–0.001 m−1 was measured. The steady state energy input is consistent with damping ratios obtained using the free decay method. The structural damping depends on construction temperature and curvature and is less for typically low seawater temperature and low curvatures. The transition between the stick- and the slip regime is seen for typical seawater temperature.


2000 ◽  
Vol 663 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Samper ◽  
R. Juncosa ◽  
V. Navarro ◽  
J. Delgado ◽  
L. Montenegro ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTFEBEX (Full-scale Engineered Barrier EXperiment) is a demonstration and research project dealing with the bentonite engineered barrier designed for sealing and containment of waste in a high level radioactive waste repository (HLWR). It includes two main experiments: an situ full-scale test performed at Grimsel (GTS) and a mock-up test operating since February 1997 at CIEMAT facilities in Madrid (Spain) [1,2,3]. One of the objectives of FEBEX is the development and testing of conceptual and numerical models for the thermal, hydrodynamic, and geochemical (THG) processes expected to take place in engineered clay barriers. A significant improvement in coupled THG modeling of the clay barrier has been achieved both in terms of a better understanding of THG processes and more sophisticated THG computer codes. The ability of these models to reproduce the observed THG patterns in a wide range of THG conditions enhances the confidence in their prediction capabilities. Numerical THG models of heating and hydration experiments performed on small-scale lab cells provide excellent results for temperatures, water inflow and final water content in the cells [3]. Calculated concentrations at the end of the experiments reproduce most of the patterns of measured data. In general, the fit of concentrations of dissolved species is better than that of exchanged cations. These models were later used to simulate the evolution of the large-scale experiments (in situ and mock-up). Some thermo-hydrodynamic hypotheses and bentonite parameters were slightly revised during TH calibration of the mock-up test. The results of the reference model reproduce simultaneously the observed water inflows and bentonite temperatures and relative humidities. Although the model is highly sensitive to one-at-a-time variations in model parameters, the possibility of parameter combinations leading to similar fits cannot be precluded. The TH model of the “in situ” test is based on the same bentonite TH parameters and assumptions as for the “mock-up” test. Granite parameters were slightly modified during the calibration process in order to reproduce the observed thermal and hydrodynamic evolution. The reference model captures properly relative humidities and temperatures in the bentonite [3]. It also reproduces the observed spatial distribution of water pressures and temperatures in the granite. Once calibrated the TH aspects of the model, predictions of the THG evolution of both tests were performed. Data from the dismantling of the in situ test, which is planned for the summer of 2001, will provide a unique opportunity to test and validate current THG models of the EBS.


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