On the mode of propagation of light

Starting from the fundamental assumptions of the special theory of relativity which do not take into consideration gravitational effects the isotropic propagation of light and how to check experimentally the mode of propagation have been analyzed.     

Loss of energy dissipation capacity from the deadzone in linear and nonlinear viscous damping devices

In a viscous damping device under cyclic loading, after the piston reaches a peak stroke, the reserve movement that follows may sometimes experience a short period of delayed or significantly reduced device force output. A similar delay or reduced device force output may also occur at the damper’s initial stroke as it moves away from its neutral position. This phenomenon is referred to as the effect of “deadzone”. The deadzone can cause a loss of energy dissipation capacity and less efficient vibration control. It is prominent in small amplitude vibrations. Although there are many potential causes of deadzone such as environmental factors, construction, material aging, and manufacture quality, in this paper, its general effect in linear and nonlinear viscous damping devices is analyzed. Based on classical dynamics and damping theory, a simple model is developed to capture the effect of deadzone in terms of the loss of energy dissipation capacity. The model provides several methods to estimate the loss of energy dissipation within the deadzone in linear and sublinear viscous fluid dampers. An empirical equation of loss of energy dissipation capacity versus deadzone size is formulated, and the equivalent reduction of effective damping in SDOF systems has been obtained. A laboratory experimental evaluation is carried out to verify the effect of deadzone and its numerical approximation. Based on the analysis, a modification is suggested to the corresponding formulas in FEMA 356 for calculation of equivalent damping if a deadzone is to be considered.     

Recent crustal movements in the Sierra Nevada—Walker lane region of California—Nevada: Part i, rate and style of deformation

This review of geological, seismological, geochronological and paleobotanical data is made to compare historic and geologic rates and styles of deformation of the Sierra Nevada and western Basin and Range Provinces. The main uplift of this region began about 17 m.y. ago, with slow uplift of the central Sierra Nevada summit region at rates estimated at about 0.012 mm/yr and of western Basin and Range Province at about 0.01 mm/yr. Many Mesozoic faults of the Foothills fault system were reactivated with normal slip in mid-Tertiary time and have continued to be active with slow slip rates. Sparse data indicate acceleration of rates of uplift and faulting during the Late Cenozoic. The Basin and Range faulting appears to have extended westward during this period with a reduction in width of the Sierra Nevada.The eastern boundary zone of the Sierra Nevada has an irregular en-echelon pattern of normal and right-oblique faults. The area between the Sierra Nevada and the Walker Lane is a complex zone of irregular patterns of hörst and graben blocks and conjugate normal-to right- and left-slip faults of NW and NE trend, respectively. The Walker Lane has at least five main strands near Walker Lake, with total right-slip separation estimated at 48 km. The NE-trending left-slip faults are much shorter than the Walker Lane fault zone and have maximum separations of no more than a few kilometers. Examples include the 1948 and 1966 fault zone northeast of Truckee, California, the Olinghouse fault (Part III) and possibly the almost 200-km-long Carson Lineament.Historic geologic evidence of faulting, seismologic evidence for focal mechanisms, geodetic measurements and strain measurements confirm continued regional uplift and tilting of the Sierra Nevada, with minor internal local faulting and deformation, smaller uplift of the western Basin and Range Province, conjugate focal mechanisms for faults of diverse orientations and types, and a NS to NE—SW compression axis (σ₁) and an EW to NW—SE extension axis (σ₃).     

Late quaternary glacial stades in the Cordillera Central,Colombia, based on glacial geomorphology,tephra–soil stratigraphy,palynology, and radiocarbon dating

Using data from glacial geomorphology, tephra–soil stratigraphy and mineralogy, palynology, and radiocarbon dating, a sequence of glacial and bioclimatic stades and interstades has been identified for the last ca. 50000 yr in the Ruiz-Tolima massif, Cordillera Central, Colombia. Six Pleistocene cold stades separated by warmer interstades occurred: before 48000, between 48000 and 33000, between 28000 and 21000, from ≥16000 to ca. 14000, ca. 13000–12400, and ca. 11000–10000 yr BP. Although these radiocarbon ages are minimum-limiting ages obtained from tephra layers on top of tills, the tills are not significantly older because most are bracketed by dated tephra sets in measured stratigraphic sections. Two minor moraine stages likely reflect glacier standstill during cold intervals ca. 7400 yr BP and slightly earlier. Finally, glaciers readvanced between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. In contrast to the ice-clad volcanoes of the massif, ca. 34 km² in area above an altitude of ca. 4800 m, the ice cover expanded to 1200 km² during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and was still 800 km² during Late-glacial time (LGT). Glacier reconstructions based on the moraines suggest depression of the equilibrium line altitude (ELA) by ca. 1100 m during the LGM and 500–600 m during LGT relative to the modern ELA, which lies at ca. 5100 m in the Cordillera Central. Glaciers in this region apparently reached their greatest extent when the climate was cold and wet, e.g. during stades corresponding to Oxygen Isotope Stage 3; glaciers were still expanding during the LGM ca. 28000–21000 yr BP, but they shrank considerably after 21000 yr BP because of greatly reduced precipitation. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crack propagation in sandstone: Combined experimental and numerical approach

Summary A combined experimental and numerical approach is adopted to investigate crack propagation in sandstone. Experiments on two types of sandstones show a simular behaviour as found in tests on concrete specimens. The heterogeneity of the material in combination with the stress situation, as a result of the applied load, governs the direction of crack propagation. Cracks that develop are not continuous, but overlaps exist mainly around the grain particles in the material. A simple lattice model, in which the material is schematized as a network of small beams, is adopted to simulate the experiments. Using the simulations carried out with the lattice model, the control parameter for stable displacement controlled four-point-shear tests was determined. The crack patterns obtained with the model are in good agreement with the experimental observations. However further study is needed to predict the load-displacement response correctly.     

Zur Mechanik der ostalpinen Deckenbildung

Zusammenfassung Die Mechanik der Deckenbildung ist eine aktuelle Streitfrage bei der Deutung alpiner Gebirgsbildung. Zwei Leitvorstellungen stehen zur Diskussion: 1. Tangentialdruck in der Erdkruste verursacht Faltungen und Deckenüberschiebungen in der mobilen geosynklinalen Zone; 2. Gravitationstektonik zufolge von endogen bedingten Hebungen und Senkungen verursacht die lateralen Massenverlagerungen der alpinen Orogenese.Im ersten Falle also Mobilismus (Wandertektonik), mit Einengung der Geosynklinale, begleitet von Verschluckung der Sialkruste oder crustal buckling. Im zweiten Falle Fixismus (Standtektonik), das heißt nur Durchbewegung der Tektonosphäre zufolge von Materialkreisläufen im geosynklinalen Bereiche, ohne daß notwendigerweise auch die Nebengebiete mitbeteiligt werden und sich nähern müssen.An der Hand von drei genetischen Profilen über Salzburg und die Hohen Tauern wird erläutert, daß es möglich ist, die ostalpine Orogenese mit Hilfe des zweiten Leitbildes zu erklären.Die Gravitationstektonik oder Sekundärtektogenese tritt in verschiedenen Stockwerken auf. Die Abgleitung der alpinen Sedimenthaut liefert Decken von helvetischem Typ. Wenn auch das kristalline Grundgebirge am lateralen Transport mitbeteiligt ist, entstehen Decken vom ostalpinen Typ. Die Verfließungen der tiefen, rheomorphen Teile der Kruste (Migma und z. T. palingenes Magma) liefern die Decken penninischen Charakters, welche im Tauernfenster aufgeschlossen sind.Die erste orogene Hauptphase war die tieforogene oder Gosauphase der mittleren Kreide, wobei die Proto-Austriden und Proto-Penniden in die Tauernvortiefe wanderten.Die zweite orogene Hauptphase war die hochorogene oder Molassephase des Mitteltertiärs, wobei die Tauernzone als Geantiklinale emporgewölbt wurde. In den nördlichen Kalkalpen fanden nordvergente, in den südlichen Kalkalpen südvergente Bewegungen statt.Zum Schlusse wurden die nördlichen Kalkalpen gegen die Molasse aufgeschoben, welche Bewegung im zentralen Tauernsektor wahrscheinlich mechanisch mit der Gailabschiebung in der Südflanke der Geantiklinale zusammenhängt.Die Deutung der Mechanik der ostalpinen Deckenbildung nach dem Leitbild der Schwerkrafttektonik führt also zum Ergebnis, daß Krustenverkürzung keine notwendige Begleiterscheinung alpiner Orogenese ist. Diese Schlußfolgerung steht in Übereinstimmung mit gravimetrischen und seismischen Beobachtungen.     

Characteristics and Applications of Fluid Inclusions in the Eogene System of the Biyang Depression—I.A Fluid Inclusion Study

Presented in this paper are the rypes,salinities,homogenization temperatures and organic components of fluid inclusions formed at the four stages of diagenetic authigenesis in the Eogene of the Biyang Depression.The results of cooling experiments on fluid inclusions were used to determine the fluid system and composition of saline aqueous solution in each of the stages .The homogenization temperatures of saline aqueous solution inclusions and hydrocarbon organic inclu-sions have been corrected by two approaches ,and the trapping temperatures and pressures of fluid inclusions at each of the stages have been obtained.This strdy has shed light on the physicochemistry and evolution of diagenetic fluids.The diagentic fluid system is a system which was transformed from a chloride-bearing to a carbonate-bearing system along with the diagenic evolu-tion.The decrease of diagenetic temperature at Stage III of diagenetic authigenesis suggests that the depression would have experiences uplifting at that time.The fluorescent characteristics of fluid inclusions indicate the varieties of organic components in fluid inclusions both in time and in space.     

Early Permian extensional shearing of an Ordovician granite: The Saint-Eutrope “C/S-like” orthogneiss (Montagne Noire,French Massif Central)

Dating the magmatic events in the Montagne Noire gneiss dome is a key point to arbitrate between the different interpretations of the Late Carboniferous–Early Permian tectonics in this southern part of the Variscan belt. The Saint-Eutrope orthogneiss crops out along the northern flank of the dome. We show that the protolith of this orthogneiss is an Ordovician granite dated at 455 ± 2 Ma (LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating on zircon). This age is identical to that previously obtained on the augen orthogneiss of the southern flank, strongly suggesting that both orthogneiss occurrences have the same Ordovician protolith. The Saint-Eutrope orthogneiss experienced intense shearing along the Espinouse extensional detachment at ca. 295 Ma (LA-ICP-MS U-Pb-Th on monazite), an age close to that determined previously on mica by the ³⁹Ar-⁴⁰Ar method and contemporaneous with the emplacement age of the syntectonic Montalet granite farther to the west. This normal sense shearing reworked previous fabrics related to Variscan thrusting that can be still observed in the augen orthogneiss of the southern flank, and is responsible for the spectacular “C/S-like” pattern of the Saint-Eutrope orthogneiss. This work also shows that care is needed when dealing with C/S-type structures, since they can develop not only in syntectonic intrusions, but also in orthogneisses affected by an intense secondary deformation, at decreasing temperature.     

Geogene Versus Anthropogene Origin of Trace Metals in Sediments in Cua Luc Estuary and Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

In the present study, the geochemistry of 49 surficial-bed and 101 core sediment samples is investigated to clarify the origin of trace metals in the Cua Luc Estuary and Ha Long Bay, which is a famous World Natural Heritage Site in Vietnam. Moreover, the potential mobility of trace metals is also assessed and their relationship with reference elements (Al, Fe, and Ca) and organic matter is established in order to make recommendations for sediment management and monitor future pollution. Generally, trace metals display higher concentrations in Ha Long Bay compared to the Cua Luc Estuary. However, this is controlled by the distribution of the fine (clay?+?silt) fraction, and hence the concentrations of Al, Fe, Ca, and organic matter (OM). The comparison of concentrations of trace metals (normalized towards Al) between the surficial sediments and the subsurface core sediments based on ¹³⁷Cs datings indicates that almost all surficial-sediment data fall inside or deviate slightly from the 95 % prediction interval of a background regression line. In addition, as determined by a Community Bureau of Reference three-step extraction, trace metals mainly dominate in the residual fraction (assumed to relate to crystal lattice of primary and secondary minerals), and this fraction does not change much in recent sediment layers. Therefore, trace metals are supposed to be derived from natural bio/geochemical processes and are characterized by a low potential mobility. Consequently, the established linear regression relationships of trace metal vs. Al or multiple regression relationships of trace metal vs. multi-elements (Al, Fe, Ca, and OM) are useful for the prediction of background levels of trace metals in sediments in future pollution monitoring and assessment programs.     

Age and significance of voluminous mafic–ultramafic magmatic events in the Murchison Domain,Yilgarn Craton

Mafic–ultramafic rocks in structurally dismembered layered intrusions comprise approximately 40% by volume of greenstones in the Murchison Domain of the Youanmi Terrane, Yilgarn Craton. Mafic–ultramafic rocks in the Murchison Domain may be divided into five components: (i) the ～2810 Ma Meeline Suite, which includes the large Windimurra Igneous Complex; (ii) the 2800 ± 6 Ma Boodanoo Suite, which includes the Narndee Igneous Complex; (iii) the 2792 ± 5 Ma Little Gap Suite; (iv) the ～2750 Ma Gnanagooragoo Igneous Complex; and (v) the 2735–2710 Ma Yalgowra Suite of layered gabbroic sills. The intrusions are typically layered, tabular bodies of gabbroic rock with ultramafic basal units which, in places, are more than 6 km thick and up to 2500 km² in areal extent. However, these are minimum dimensions as the intrusions have been dismembered by younger deformation. In the Windimurra and Narndee Igneous Complexes, discordant features and geochemical fractionation trends indicate multiple pulses of magma. These pulses produced several megacyclic units, each ～200 m thick. The suites are anhydrous except for the Boodanoo Suite, which contains a large volume of hornblende gabbro. They also host significant vanadium mineralisation, and at least minor Ni–Cu–PGE mineralisation. Collectively, the areal distribution, thickness and volume of mafic–ultramafic magma in these complexes is similar to that in the 2.06 Ga Bushveld Igneous Complex, and represents a major addition of mantle-derived magma to Murchison Domain crust over a 100 Ma period. All suites are demonstrably contemporaneous with packages of high-Mg tholeiitic lavas and/or felsic volcanic rocks in greenstone belts. The distribution, ages and compositions of the earlier mafic–ultramafic rocks are most consistent with genesis in a mantle plume setting.