Formation and Failure Mechanism of the Xinfangzi Landslide in Chongqing City (China)

At 2:00 a.m. on 1 July 2020, after several days of continuous heavy rainfall, the Xinfangzi landslide occurred in Zhengping Village, Ganshui Town, Qijiang District, Chongqing City, China. The area of the landslide was about 3.85 × 104 m2 and the volume was about 71.22 × 104 m3. The Xinfangzi landslide can be defined as a push-type landslide. Specifically, the main sliding area pushed the front squeezing area, causing it to slide laterally. The entire slip path of the landslide was a broken line, while the right edge and the front shear outlet position slipped loosely in a circular arc. In this study, finite element numerical calculations were used to compare and analyze the multisection plastic deformation of the landslide under natural and rainfall conditions based on field investigations. The formation and failure characteristics of the Xinfangzi landslide were further revealed. The results show that the cross and longitudinal sections of the landslide were in a critical state of instability under natural and rainfall conditions. A compound section was established along the slip path based on the cross and longitudinal sections. Due to the extrusion of the trailing edge of the landslide, the compound section’s leading edge was in a state of instability under natural conditions. Under rainfall conditions, the increase in the unit weight of the sliding mass was superimposed on the compound section, which amplified the thrust of the trailing edge and further accelerated the overall sliding process of the landslide. Based on the macroscopic deformation of the landslide, it was found that the sliding of the trailing edge of the landslide is the key factor promoting the failure of the front edge, and local slump is possible under rainfall conditions.

Reprocessable Photodeformable Azobenzene Polymers

Photodeformable azobenzene (azo) polymers are a class of smart polymers that can efficiently convert light energy into mechanical power, holding great promise in various photoactuating applications. They are typically of crosslinked polymer networks with highly oriented azo mesogens embedded inside. Upon exposure to the light of appropriate wavelength, they experience dramatic order parameter change following the configuration change of the azo units. This could result in the generation and accumulation of the gradient microscopic photomechanical force in the crosslinked polymer networks, thus leading to their macroscopic deformation. So far, a great number of photodeformable azo polymers have been developed, including some unoriented ones showing photodeformation based on different mechanisms. Among them, photodeformable azo polymers with dynamic crosslinking networks (and some uncrosslinked ones) have aroused particular interest recently because of their obvious advantages over those with stable chemical crosslinking structures such as high recyclability and reprocessability. In this paper, I provide a detailed overview of the recent progress in such reprocessable photodeformable polymers. In addition, some challenges and perspectives are also presented.

Multi-scale computational homogenization of heterogeneous materials

The mechanical response of a heterogeneous medium results from the interactions of mechanisms spanning several length scales. The computational homogenization method captures direct influence of underlying constituents and morphology with a numerically efficient framework. This study reviews the performance of first order computational homogenization technique with a flat punch indentation problem. Results obtained are benchmarked against those using direct numerical simulations (DNS) with full microstructural details. It is shown that the computational homogenization method is able to capture structural response adequately, even for constituent materials with nonlinear behavior. However, the first order computational homogenization method becomes problematic when localized macroscopic deformation occurs. In this context, some re- cent trends addressing the issues are discussed.

Forces between reactive surfaces

<p>Adhesive and repulsive, nm-range surface forces acting between mineral grains control colloidal stability and mineral aggregation but less is known about how these forces are affected by surface reactivity and to what extent these grain-scale forces can influence various deformation processes in rocks. In this experimental work, we explore and quantify the surface forces acting between dynamic mineral surfaces that undergo recrystallization or are chemically reactive in contact with water or aqueous salt solutions. Our experimental setup consists of the surface forces apparatus (SFA) coupled with the multiple beam interferometry (MBI). This setup can excellently reproduce a typical grain contact geometry with nanometer-thin water films confined between contacting mineral grains over relatively large, micron-sized contact areas. Owing to the use of MBI, both surface growth or dissolution processes can be monitored during force measurements in real-time. As such, SFA can provide information about the links between surface reactivity and adhesive or repulsive surface forces. Using the examples of force measurements between recrystallizing or chemically reactive mineral surfaces such as carbonates, hydroxides, and silicates, we comment on the relationship between the measured surface forces and surface reactivity. We link our findings with the observed changes in mineral phases, surface topographies, or surface roughness. We also comment on how the micron-scale confinement in the SFA affects the growth and dissolution processes in contrast to less confined regions. The magnitude of the forces associated with dynamic mineral surfaces and the potential significance of these forces to macroscopic deformation processes and cohesion in rocks are discussed.</p>

Damage coalescence controls slow and fast faulting: Insights from dynamic X-ray microtomography experiments

<p>During fast and slow earthquakes deformation localizes along narrow and quasi-planar fault surfaces. However, processes controlling the localization process develop not only on the fault surface but also in the volume surrounding the fault zone. How these processes transition from a dispersed to more localized distribution of damage remains controversial. Moreover, to what degree the localization process controls the speed of coseismic slip is an open question. We perform a series of 4D X-ray microtomography experiments on crystalline rocks (granite, marble), with and without a pre-existing slip surface, and image the development of damage while each sample is loaded until system-size brittle failure. We image and deform the samples under in situ stress conditions of a few kilometers depth using the Hades deformation apparatus installed on the tomography beamline ID19 at the European Radiation Synchrotron Facility. By imaging all the microfractures that develop in the samples, we characterize their individual geometry and the geometry of the entire microfracture network. The results show that, when a pre-existing slip surface exists in the sample, slow earthquakes can generate damage in the volume around the fault, leading to catastrophic faulting. When no pre-existing fault is present, microfractures accumulate and can lead to two end-member types of earthquakes. One type is a catastrophic failure of the sample that occurs when the microfractures link into a macroscopic fault, producing a fast earthquake. Alternatively, the microfractures can grow without significant fracture coalescence, leading to the slow development of a fault network with a transient increase of macroscopic deformation rate that resembles that of a slow earthquake. We conclude that damage coalescence influences the slow and fast behaviours of earthquake slip.</p>

Collision and separation of nickel particles embedded in a polydimethylsiloxan matrix under a rotating magnetic field: A strong magneto active function

In order to function as soft actuators, depending on their field of use, magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) must fulfill certain criteria. To name just a few, these can include rapid response to external magnetic fields, mechanical durability, mechanical strength, and/or large deformation. Of particular interest are MREs which produce macroscopic deformation for small external magnetic field variations. This work demonstrates how this can be achieved by just a small change in magnetic field orientation. To achieve this, (super)paramagnetic nickel particles of size ≈ 160 μm were embedded in a non-magnetic polydimethylsiloxan (PDMS) (661–1301 Pa) and their displacement in a stepwise rotated magnetic field (170 mT) recorded using a video microscope. Changes in particle aggregation resulting from very small variations in magnetic field orientation led to the observation of a new strongly magneto-active effect. This configuration is characterized by an interparticle distance in relation to the angle difference between magnetic field and particle axis. This causes a strong matrix deformation which in turn demonstrates hysteresis on relaxation. It is shown that the occurrence strongly depends on the particle size, particle distance, and stiffness of the matrix. Choosing the correct parameter combination, the state can be suppressed and the particle-matrix system demonstrates no displacement or hysteresis. In addition, evidences of non-negligible higher order magnetization effects are experimentally ascertained which is qualitatively in agreement with similar, already theoretically described, particle systems. Even at larger particle geometries, the new strongly magneto-active configuration is preserved and could create macroscopic deformation changes.