Advances in statistical mechanics of rock masses and its engineering applications

To efficiently link the continuum mechanics for rocks with the structural statistics of rock masses,a theoretical and methodological system called the statistical mechanics of rock masses(SMRM)was developed in the past three decades.In SMRM,equivalent continuum models of stressestrain relationship,strength and failure probability for jointed rock masses were established,which were based on the geometric probability models characterising the rock mass structure.This follows the statistical physics,the continuum mechanics,the fracture mechanics and the weakest link hypothesis.A general constitutive model and complete stressestrain models under compressive and shear conditions were also developed as the derivatives of the SMRM theory.An SMRM calculation system was then developed to provide fast and precise solutions for parameter estimations of rock masses,such as full-direction rock quality designation(RQD),elastic modulus,Coulomb compressive strength,rock mass quality rating,and Poisson’s ratio and shear strength.The constitutive equations involved in SMRM were integrated into a FLAC3D based numerical module to apply for engineering rock masses.It is also capable of analysing the complete deformation of rock masses and active reinforcement of engineering rock masses.Examples of engineering applications of SMRM were presented,including a rock mass at QBT hydropower station in northwestern China,a dam slope of Zongo II hydropower station in D.R.Congo,an open-pit mine in Dexing,China,an underground powerhouse of Jinping I hydropower station in southwestern China,and a typical circular tunnel in Lanzhou-Chongqing railway,China.These applications verified the reliability of the SMRM and demonstrated its applicability to broad engineering issues associated with jointed rock masses.     

Influence of soil density on gas permeability and water retention in soils amended with in-house produced biochar

Biochar has been used as an environment-friendly enhancer to improve the hydraulic properties(e.g.suction and water retention) of soil.However,variations in densities alter the properties of the soil-biochar mix.Such density variations are observed in agriculture(loosely compacted) and engineering(densely compacted) applications.The influence of biochar amendment on gas permeability of soil has been barely investigated,especially for soil with diffe rent densities.The maj or obj ective of this study is to investigate the water retention capacity,and gas permeability of biochar-amended soil(BAS) with different biochar contents under varying degree of compaction(DOC) conditions.In-house produced novel biochar was mixed with the soil at different amendment rates(i.e.biochar contents of 0%,5% and 10%).All BAS samples were compacted at three DOCs(65%,80% and 95%) in polyvinyl chloride(PVC)tubes.Each soil column was subjected to drying-wetting cycles,during which soil suction,water content,and gas permeability were measured.A simplified theoretical framework for estimating the void ratio of BAS was proposed.The experimental results reveal that the addition of biochar significantly decreased gas permeability k_g as compared with that of bare soil(BS).However,the addition of 5%biochar is found to be optimum in decreasing kg with an increase of DOC(i.e.k_(g,65%) k_(g,80%) k_(g,95%)) at a relatively low suction range(200 kPa) because both biochar and compaction treatment reduce the connected pores.     

浓香型白酒窖泥放线菌的原位分离及代谢特性研究

以川南某浓香型白酒生产企业50年窖龄且发酵正常的窖泥为研究对象。通过高通量测序技术分析细菌群落结构以及放线菌群落结构,利用原位分离法从中分离得到2株放线菌,结合形态鉴定、生理生化和16S rRNA基因序列比对分析确定菌种属,并对其进行耐酸、耐乙醇特性研究,基于风味导向思路,分别对2株菌进行液态培养和固态培养,采用顶空固相微萃取法和气相色谱质谱联用对发酵挥发性产物进行分析,为放线菌的相关研究和应用提供理论参考。结果显示,放线菌在该窖泥样品含有较高操作分类单元(operational taxonomic unit,OTU),相对丰度达(10.7±3.4)%,且主要分布于链霉菌亚目(Streptomycineae)和科里氏杆菌亚目(Coriobacterineae)。采用原位分离法分离放线菌,将分离得到的2株菌编号为A1、A2,菌株A1鉴定为桑氏链霉菌(Streptomyces sampsonii),菌株A2鉴定为鲁地链霉菌(Streptomyces rutgersensis)。菌株A1、A2均可在pH>4.3或乙醇体积分数<6%的环境中生长。菌株A1在液态和固态发酵条件下都会产生大量土臭素以及萜烯类物质,菌株A2在液态条件下能产生多种酯类,其中己酸乙酯相对含量(5.384%)较高,而固态条件下能够检测出大量的3-羟基-2丁酮、2,3-丁二醇和吡嗪类物质。     

Hydrogen carriers: Production,transmission, decomposition,and storage

Recognizing the potential role of liquid hydrogen carriers in overcoming the inherent limitations in transporting and storing gaseous and liquid hydrogen, a complete production and use scenario is postulated and analyzed for perspective one-way and two-way carriers. The carriers, methanol, ammonia and toluene/MCH (methylcyclohexane), are produced at commercially viable scales in a central location, transmitted by rail or pipelines for 2000 miles, and decomposed near city gates to generate fuel-cell quality hydrogen for distribution to refueling stations. In terms of the levelized cost of H₂ distributed to the stations, methanol is less expensive to produce ($1.22/kg-H₂) than MCH ($1.35/kg-H₂) or ammonia ($2.20/kg-H₂). Levelized train transmission cost is smaller for methanol ($0.63/kg-H₂) than ammonia ($1.29/kg-H₂) or toluene/MCH system ($2.07/kg-H₂). Levelized decomposition cost is smaller for ammonia ($0.30–1.06/kg-H₂) than MCH ($0.54–1.22/kg-H₂) or methanol ($0.43–1.12/kg-H₂). Over the complete range of demand investigated, 10–350 tpd-H₂, the levelized cost of H₂ distributed to stations is aligned as methanol « ammonia ~ MCH. With pipelines at much larger scale, 6000 tpd-H₂, the levelized cost decreases by ~1 $/kg-H₂ for ammonia and MCH and much less for methanol. Methanol is a particularly attractive low-risk carrier in the transition phase with lower than 50-tpd H₂ demand.     

概念辨析：建筑评论的思辨实践

建筑评论是一项针对具体对象,将目之所及的事物背后不可视的背景、思想、价值判断、驱动力等,转化为可以言说、可以讨论、具有建筑学和文化社会意义的思辨性活动。[1]这项活动的基础工作之一是概念的辨析与运用。因此,在东南大学建筑学院开设的"建筑评论课",通过课程主题的组织,在帮助学生建立多维批评视野的同时,以概念辨析为切入点,通过基于精读、研究的写作训练,实现思辨性思维的培养、学术素养和写作的培训,以及对建筑评论和中国现当代建筑话语的理解。     

苯乳酸抑制链格孢霉作用靶位的分析

以从自然腐败的樱桃上分离的链格孢霉（Alternaria sp.）LD3.0086为指示菌，研究苯乳酸对链格孢霉的主要抑制作用靶位。应用分光光度法测定苯乳酸对链格孢霉的最小抑菌浓度，通过卡尔科弗卢尔荧光增白剂染液（calcofluor white，CFW）染色观察苯乳酸对菌丝顶端生长的破坏作用，利用扫描电子显微镜和透射电子显微镜观察链格孢霉的超微结构变化，通过测定苯乳酸作用前后链格孢霉上清液中N-乙酰葡萄糖胺质量浓度变化研究苯乳酸对菌丝细胞壁的破坏作用，应用荧光双染色法观察苯乳酸对链格孢霉菌丝细胞膜的损伤作用。结果表明，12.5 mmol/L的苯乳酸能有效抑制链格孢霉的生长；与对照组（无菌水处理）相比，苯乳酸处理后链格孢霉顶端生长细胞无明显形变，经12.5 mmol/L苯乳酸处理的链格孢霉上清液中N-乙酰葡萄糖胺质量浓度基本不变；苯乳酸处理24 h，链格孢霉菌丝细胞壁表面无明显损伤，细胞内结构发生明显变化；苯乳酸短时间（4 h）处理链格孢霉，菌丝细胞膜仍较为完整，加入苯乳酸较长时间（8 h）后细胞膜发生破裂。综合分析可知，苯乳酸对链格孢霉的主要作用靶位应不是菌丝体的细胞壁和细胞膜，而是在菌丝体内部，通过破坏菌丝内部细胞器结构或引起细胞内的生化反应，从而抑制链格孢霉的生长和繁殖，发挥抑菌活性。     

日本优良食味稻米灌浆期水管理、鲜谷干燥温度及糙米水分与食味关系研究（译文）

为了生产优良食味稻米,克服栽培环境的影响非常重要。主要论述了灌浆期最适宜的用水管理、新鲜稻谷的干燥温度以及糙米水分含量与其食味之间的关系。水稻灌浆期最适宜的用水管理是湿润管理法,通过对灌浆期水稻的湿润管理,可有效抑制水田土壤温度上升,保持根系活力,提高稻米结实率,最终实现稻米增收与食味提升。新鲜稻谷水分含量不同,干燥所需的送风温度也不同,22%、25%、30%的水分含量分别对应的适宜温度为55、48、35℃。糙米中14%～15%的水分含量能够保证稻米的最佳食味。     

Novel model reference adaptive control architecture using semi‐initial excitation‐based switched parameter estimator

This paper is a generalization of the recently developed techniques of initial excitation (IE)–based adaptive control with an introduction to the definition of semi‐initial excitation (semi‐IE), a still more relaxed notion than IE. Classical adaptive controllers typically ensure Lyapunov stability of the extended error dynamics (tracking error + parameter estimation error) and asymptotic tracking, while requiring a stringent condition of persistence of excitation (PE) for parameter convergence. Of late, the authors have proposed a new adaptive control architecture, which guarantees parameter convergence under the online‐verifiable IE condition leading to exponential stability of the extended error dynamics. In earlier works, it has been established that the IE condition is significantly milder than the classical PE condition. The current work further slackens the excitation condition by proposing the concept of semi‐IE. The proposed adaptive controller is proved to ensure convergence of the parameter estimation error to a lower‐dimensional manifold under the weaker semi‐IE condition, while the stronger condition of IE guarantees convergence of the parameter estimation error to zero. The designed algorithm is shown to improve transient response of tracking error sufficiently in contrast to conventional adaptive controllers.     

A troubling trend in public utility regulation

With the increase in stakeholders in the regulatory process, it has become more difficult for regulators to protect utility-customer interests. Requiring utilities to expand their role in serving society has caused regulators to consider other objectives other than setting just and reasonable rates and assuring reliable utility service.