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Any single competition is rarely a “one-off” event, and instead is often part of a larger sequence of related competitions. Thus, we contend that, in order to better understand people’s competitive...

The propagation and hydrodynamic processes of lock-exchange gravity current through vegetation regions were investigated experimentally. Experimental results show that the presence of vegetation can prominently advance the transition position of the gravity current from the slumping phase to the self-similar phase. The process of two-heads propagation can be divided into three stages: the coordinated advance stage (vegetation height controls), the overtaking stage (entrainment process and vegetation friction dominate), and the merge stage (vegetation density controls). After an adjustment period, the bulk slope angle $$\beta_b$$ of the triangular gravity current converges to a constant terminal value. A modified empirical equation is fitted to better meet the stable convergence of the terminal bulk slope angle $$\beta_b$$ . The mixing layer formed at the transverse boundary between the vegetation and no-vegetation part can promote fluid entrainment. For the submerged vegetation, the gravity current flows over a new “wall boundary”, i.e. the top of the vegetation region, and causes the negative vorticity. The changes in the vorticity field indicate the presence of vegetation can significantly affect the internal flow-field structure of gravity currents.

Soft-sediment deformation structures play an important role in interpreting regional tectonics and basin evolution during slumping events. The Satpura Basin is interpreted as pull-apart with a monoclinal northerly palaeoslope throughout its evolution. The basin formed as a result of sinistral strike-slip faulting, induced by the ENE–WSW-trending Son-Narmada South fault in the north and the Tapti North fault in the south. We have analysed the slump folds within the basalmost Talchir Formation and related these to regional tectonics and palaeoslope changes in the Satpura Basin. The glaciofluvial strata of the Talchir Formation, exposed in the southern part of the Satpura Basin, record intricacies of folds created during slumping. Several fold styles can be distinguished, within alternations of competent sandstone and incompetent shale layers, some of which indicate buckling. Upright folds, resulting from pure shear, underwent rotation of their axial planes and fold axes during simple shear-dominated progressive deformation when the slump moved downslope. The soft-sediment deformation structures that we have studied show refolding patterns that closely resemble comparable folds known from lithified rocks. These layers with refolded structures are overlain by unde-formed sediments, which proves that they are the product of a single ongoing slumping process, rather than of successive deformation events. Our analysis of their fold axes and axial planes, together with fold vergences and thrust directions within the slumps, suggests a mean slumping direction towards the southwest. Analyses of slump folds and their relationship with regional tectonics have allowed us to reinterpret basin evolution history. The southwesterly trending palaeoslope of the basin suggest that the slope of the basin was not uniform throughout its evolution. At the opening, the oblique slip fault, which trended NE–SW, generated due to movement along the ENE–WSW basin bounding faults, was more active and triggered slumping event within the Talchir deposits in the basin. With progressive overlapping of the basin-bounding faults, the Satpura Basin gradually tilted towards the north.

Thaw slumps are widely distributed in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) due to global warming and engineering constructions. However, an understanding of the effect of thaw slumps on the 3-D soil macropore networks is lacking. In this study, we aimed to quantify the responses of soil macropore structure to thaw slumps in QTP. Three stages were selected according to the intensities of thaw slumping, including the original grassland, collapsing areas, and collapsed areas. Nine undisturbed soil cores (0–30-cm deep) were collected in total with 3 replicates sampled at each stage, and they were scanned by X-ray computed tomography (CT). The results showed that collapsing areas had higher macroporosity, branch density, and node density than the original grassland and collapsed areas. The macropore networks in the collapsing areas had the highest connectivity among the three thaw slump stages. Macropores with volume > 10 mm3 accounted for more than 50% of the total macropore volume in the original grassland, collapsing areas, and collapsed areas. We speculate that compared with the other two stages, the soil macropore structure in the collapsing areas is more conducive to water infiltration and lateral migration. The connectivity of macropore networks in the collapsed areas was the lowest among the three stages, which may result in water infiltration difficulties after thaw slumps. Thaw slumps affected the soil macropore structure remarkably. The effects of thaw slumps on soil macropore network characteristics were more significantly than on the macropore size distribution.

A numerical simulation is applied to investigate the avalanche flow characteristic of particles in the slumping regime within a rotating drum. Based on the simulation model, the quantitative change of particles involved in avalanches on the free surface is investigated. The growth rate of avalanching particle number experiences a process of increasing, then stabilizing, and finally reducing. Investigation of the nucleation and propagation process of the avalanching reveal that any position of the free surface nucleates uniformly and the values of propagating velocities toward upward, downward, leftward, and rightward directions are constant. Then, it is discovered that the number of particles participating in the avalanches increases linearly with the square of time at the beginning of the avalanche, which is also proved by the simulation result. Finally, we find that the distribution of the rolling angles approximately follows the normal distribution with the same characteristics at different times.

To understand the evolution of the Miocene gravity flow deposits in the Lower Cong—Congo Fan Basin, this paper documents the Miocene sequence stratigraphic framework, the depositional characteristics and the controlling factors of the gravity flow system. Based on the establishment of high-resolution sequence stratigraphic framework, lithofacies characteristics and sedimentary units of the gravity flow deposits in the region are identified by using seismic, well logging and core data comprehensively, and the sedimentary evolution process is revealed and the controlling factors are discussed. The Miocene can be divided into four 3rd-order sequences (SQ1—SQ4). The gravity flow deposits mainly include siliciclastic rock and pelite. The main sedimentary units include slumping deposits, mass transport deposits (MTD), channel fills, levee-overbank deposits, and frontal lobes. In the Early Miocene (SQ1), mainly gull-wing, weakly restricted to unrestricted depositional channel-overbank complexes and lobes were formed. In the early Middle Miocene (SQ2), W-shaped and weakly restricted erosional-depositional channels (multi-phase superposition) were subsequently developed. In the late Middle Miocene (SQ3), primarily U-shaped and restricted erosional channels were developed. In the Late Miocene (SQ4), largely V-shaped and deeply erosional isolated channels were formed in the study area. Climate cooling and continuous fall of the sea level made the study area change from toe of slope-submarine plain to lower continental slope, middle continental slope and finally to upper continental slope, which in turn affected the strength of the gravity flow. The three times of tectonic uplifting and climate cooling in the West African coast provided abundant sediment supply for the development of gravity flow deposits. Multistage activities of salt structures played important roles in redirecting, restricting, blocking and destroying the gravity flow deposits. Clarifying the characteristics, evolution and controlling factors of the Miocene gravity flow deposits in the Lower Congo—Congo Fan Basin can provide reference for deep-water petroleum exploration in this basin.

This paper reports on an ice-wedge pseudomorph that formed and is preserved in metavolcanic host material that was later transformed to metamorphic solid bedrock. It has been dated to 1,895 ± 5 Ma by U–Pb geochronology of zircon in the bedrock, an Early Proterozoic age. Detailed observation of the deformation structures of the wedge points to an ice-wedge pseudomorph based on typical downbending around the wedge and vertical lamination in the inner part of the wedge due to slumping into the wedge after the ice melted, along with a few remains of lateral pressure structures (such as folds and upturned strata) in the adjacent host sediment. The interpretation of the wedge structure as an ice-wedge pseudomorph confirms previous work on this topic. This ice-wedge pseudomorph demonstrates for the first time the existence of permafrost at c. 1.9 Ga. It indicates that permafrost and associated conditions were present in lowlands at low latitude at discrete time intervals early in Earth’s history. Although some caution should be applied, mean annual air temperature appears to have been slightly below the freezing point at that time.

The road network in the Baranan mountain, near Dararash village, connecting Sulaymaniyah city with Qaradagh town, plays a major role in socio- economic activities of Qaradagh town and its surrounding villages. Any type of slope failure in the area may cause breaking up in traffic, loss of lives, and injuries. For assessing the stability of rock slopes in the area, seven stations (rock-cut slopes) were selected along the road and evaluated by kinematic analysis, using DIPS v6.008 software and slope mass rating system (SMRTool - v205 software). The kinematic analysis revealed that planar and wedge sliding may occur in stations no.2, 5, 6, and 7, flexural toppling may occur in station no.1, direct toppling may occur in station no.2, and oblique toppling may occur in station no.3. SMR- Tool software for discrete-SMR and continuous-SMR (CSMR) revealed that stations no.2, 5, 6 and 7 are unstable slopes (class IV of a bad slope type) with failure probability of 0.6, with an exception for station no.7 which is a partially stable slope (class III of a normal slope type) with failure probability of 0.4. Station no.1 is partially stable slope (class III of a normal slope type) with failure probability of 0.4 and station no.3 is stable slope (class II of a good slope type) with failure probability of 0.2. Due to the lack of structural and failure surface data (attitude of discontinuities and slumping surface) in station no.4, stability analysis was interpreted by using the general conventional method, depending on the field criterion and vision. The station can be interpreted as a rotational failure, the upper part of which consists of slump motion and the lower part of flow motion.

The magnitude (Mw) 7.8 earthquake that struck North Canterbury on New Zealand’s South Island on the evening of 14 November 2016 caused widespread damage to infrastructure, in particular to road and rail within the South Kaikōura Transport Corridor (SKTC). This is the main transport corridor along the east coast of the South Island, and the coseismic landslides covered and destroyed parts of the State Highway 1 (SH1) road, as well as the railway lines. Post-earthquake aftershocks and significant rainfall events (e.g. Cyclones Debbie, Cook and Gita), further mobilised the de-stabilised greywacke rock mass and paleo-landslide debris that mantled the slopes. Indeed, the SKTC was affected by > 80 separate landslides that have impacted either the rail corridor, the road corridor, or both. A number of different landslide mechanisms occurred, including shallow translation slides of existing paleo-landslide debris and rotational slumping, as well as rock mass failure via wedge, planar or toppling. Here, we report on monitoring of three case study landslides, using multi-temporal analyses of digital elevation data (from LiDAR, TLS and UAV surveys), real-time extensometer and land deformation monitoring using GPS receivers, as well as survey prisms. These datasets provided important monitoring of near-surface movement, important for risk management along the transport corridor during the reinstatement works.

Soft-sediment deformation (SSD) structures are widespread within the Lower Cretaceous Vigla Formation (limestones and shales) that are exposed in a 7–10 km long and 100 m high section along the east coast of Kastos Island in the Ionian Sea. SSD was observed both in limestones and in shales, and formed during or immediately after deposition, during the first stage of sediment consolidation. They are classified into six (6) different types of deformations: (1) Thick synclines and anticlines, formed due to strong synsedimentary deformation, that were produced mostly from N-S directed normal faults or from the interaction between normal and transfer faults, and are situated between undeformed horizons. (2) Thin slumps ascribed to normal fault activity and especially slumping in the footwall of the active fault, prograding orthogonal to the fault direction. (3) Thin to medium slumps produced from the synsedimentary interaction of N–S normal faults and E–W directed transfer faults, showing multiply directions of progradation. (4) Thin SSD related to diapiric intrusions that also associated with fault activity. (5) Thick slump horizons displaying erosional contacts with the neighboring undeformed limestones in the same horizon, resulting from gravity-driven mass-transport deposits that flowed across inclined basin floors. (6) Thin slumps, with chert nodules, within a slumped horizon, resulting from a slumping phase both after the sedimentation and after early diagenesis in carbonates deposits, but during the sedimentation of the lower Cretaceous Vigla limestones. All the above categories were characterized as seismites or deformation due to fault activity. This tectonism resulting in tilted blocks, the creation of space in hangingwall downthrown blocks, and changes of inclination of the basin floor, outcrops with high lateral extent in different directions adds constraints to the geometry of slumps. The transition zone between Vigla limestones and shales showed particularly abundant deformation structures. Although the Vigla Formation limestones have low primary porosity, the presence of many SSD horizons could increase secondary porosity in this formation.

Previous study of our group showed that the compaction of sand particles is observed before while dilatancy occurs during avalanches in the active layer (es. Chen et al., Sci Sin Phys Mech Astron 49(6), 2019). In current works, we investigated the dynamic of irregular particles in the passive layer by speckle visibility spectroscopy, discovering two types of cycle rearrangements. We determine that one kind of rearrangement corresponds to the compaction of the pre-avalanche granular bed, and the other rearrangement is triggered by granular avalanches occurring in the active layer. The rearrangement caused by avalanche has a greater dissipation energy by comparing the other rearrangement. We describe simple mechanisms which account for the non-uniformity of dissipated energy. We further found that the propagation speeds of the rearrangements in the passive layer are an order of magnitude faster than that in the active layer and the propagation directions for both rearrangements are opposite to each other.

Gravity flows may be triggered by different initiation processes in both marine and lacustrine basins. Recognizing the different initiation processes of gravity flow based on their deposits is vital to accurately establish gravity-flow sandstone distribution, which is important for defining paleogeography and for efficient oil and gas exploration. Gravity-flow deposits in the Dongying sag were analyzed using three-dimensional seismic, well-log, grain size, and porosity and permeability data, along with core descriptions. Eleven lithofacies, nine bed types, and six bed-type associations were recognized in the gravity-flow deposits in the Dongying sag. Gravity-flow deposits around well Niu-110 were caused by delta-fed sediment failure. These deposits are characterized by medium to very fine-grained sandstone, abundant liquefaction and soft-sediment deformation structures, and thick laminae rich in plant debris. They formed massive sandstones accompanied by normally graded sandstone and lenticular-shaped sandbodies and are composed of chaotic deposits and tongue lobes. The above features collectively are indicative of typical collapsed-sediment transport to deep water by slumping and poorly cohesive debris flow to low-density turbidity current. Gravity-flow deposits around well Shi-100 are interpreted to have been caused by flooding river-fed hyperpycnal flows. These deposits are characterized by gravel to very fine-grained sand, abundant erosional structures and climbing ripples, and thin laminae rich in plant debris. They formed massive sandstone with some space stratification accompanied by inverse-then-normal grading sandstone and elongate or fan-shaped sandbodies and are composed of channel-levee systems and lobes. Stratified hyperpycnal flow is prone to form a hydraulic jump at the slope break. After the hydraulic jump, coarse-grained sediments were transported to the basin under the drag and shear of the upper part of the suspension flow. Gravity-flow deposits caused by flooding river-fed hyperpycnal flow are better reservoirs than those caused by delta-fed sediment failure under the same conditions. This study offers insight into the recognition criteria and flow processes of gravity flows caused by the different initiation processes in a lacustrine basin.

Considerable amount of experimental work has been performed to elucidate the behavior of granular flow inside a rotating drum but yet it is not completely understood. Furthermore, most of these investigations have involved spherical or nearly spherical particles. The extent of the experiments involving non-spherical particles previously carried out was limited by the experimental techniques available for the studies. In this work, a simple imaging method and a speckle visibility spectroscopy (SVS) technique were used to measure the volume fraction and granular temperature of irregular glass sand particles under the slumping regime within a rotating drum. By comparing the temporal variation of the volume fraction of the granular bed with SVS measurement, we found the compaction and dilatancy of the granular flow during a slumping cycle can be easily characterized by granular temperature temporal curves. At different rotating speeds, we found the lower repose angle increases linearly with the rotational speed and the compaction duration is inversely proportional to the critical angle of compaction. We find, in addition, the compaction induced relative motion of particles decreases with the increase of rotational speed, while the avalanche induced motion of particles is independent of rotational speed. Finally, using the mathematical model of avalanche duration and angle of repose proposed by Mellmann to calculate the particle avalanche duration, we found that the compaction of the particle system shortens the avalanche duration.

For the first time gastropods from the Besano Formation (Anisian/Ladinian boundary) are documented. The material was collected from three different outcrops at Monte San Giorgio (Southern Alps, Ticino, Switzerland). The taxa here described are Worthenia (Humiliworthenia)? aff. microstriata, Frederikella cf. cancellata, ?Trachynerita sp., ?Omphaloptycha sp. 1 and ?Omphaloptycha sp. 2. They represent the best preserved specimens of a larger collection and document the presence in this formation of the clades Vetigastropoda, Neritimorpha and Caenogastropoda that were widespread on the Alpine Triassic carbonate platforms. True benthic molluscs are very rarely documented in the Besano Formation, which is interpreted as intra-platform basin sediments deposited in usually anoxic condition. Small and juvenile gastropods could have been lived as pseudoplankton attached to floating algae or as free-swimming veliger planktotrophic larval stages. Accumulations of larval specimens suggest unfavorable living conditions with prevailing disturbance in the planktic realm or mass mortality events. However, larger gastropods more probably were washed in with sediments disturbed by slumping and turbidite currents along the basin edge or storm activity across the platform of the time equivalent Middle San Salvatore Dolomite.

Due to the irregular shapes, the dynamics of irregular particles in a rotary drum are more complicated than those of regular particles. In this study, speckle visibility spectroscopy was used in conjunction with a simple imaging technique to investigate the behavior of irregular sand in a rotating drum under the slumping regime. We found that particle rearrangement originates from the upstream side of the granular bed after the avalanche flow. Furthermore, the energy dissipation of the rearrangement is high closer to the upstream side of the active layer. The greater the degree of particle filling, the greater is the amount of energy dissipated by the rearrangement. Finally, we proposed a model to predict the rearrangement after avalanche in a rotating drum.

To reveal the disaster-causing mechanism of roof collapse in horizontal sublevel top-coal caving faces for steeply inclined thick seams, a mechanical model is proposed based on the engineering background of the Jiangcang #1 coal mine in China. It is indicated that there is a “toppling–slumping” roof failure mode in horizontal sublevel top-coal caving faces, and the impact load generated by roof topping and slumping is the main cause of disasters. The impact load increased with the increase in impact height and the decrease in top-coal fragmentation degree. The experimental results of granular top-coal impact experiments showed that the impact load decreases with the increase in top-coal laying thickness. The top-coal layer acts as a cushioning in the process of roof collapse, and the cushioning correction coefficient is between 0.40 and 0.65. The cushioning correction coefficient increases as the impact height, top-coal fragmentation degree and laying thickness increase. A method is proposed to calculate the impact load in this study, and it is validated by field measurements.

Experiments on gravity currents produced from full-depth two-layer stratified buoyancy sources propagating in the slumping phase are presented in the paper. The Froude number in the slumping phase,...

Numerous normal faults, expressing thin-skinned salt tectonics, are detected along the Levant continental slope, 15–30 km west of the Israeli coast. Previous studies estimated that this faulting initiated during Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene, which leaves an uncertainty of about 50% in the total duration of active faulting. The purpose of this study is to improve the dating of the onset of faulting, and to reconstruct displacement rates with time. This will allow better understanding of salt tectonics as well as better assessment of geohazards. To increase dating resolution, we use 2D and 3D seismic material integrated with well logs and cuttings to combine bio- and seismo-stratigraphic data and to divide the Plio-Quaternary section offshore Israel to 4 depositional units: Pliocene (5.33–2.6 Ma); Gelasian (2.6–1.8 Ma); Calabrian-Ionian (1.8–0.35 Ma); and Ionian-Holocene ( Our analysis shows that during the Pliocene (duration of 2.7 my) faulting activity was minor. In the Gelasian (duration of 0.8 my) faulting activity peaked alongside huge slumping. In the past 1.8 my, faulting and slumping had both decreased, but they are still active today. The observation that the onset of faulting significantly predates the progradation of the shelf edge to its present location indicates that differential loading was probably not the first trigger that initiated salt tectonics offshore Israel. The association of intense faulting and slumping in the Gelasian is interpreted as a result of basinwards tilting due to regional inland uplift and basin subsidence. Yet positive feedback between faulting and slumping cannot be ruled out. The presence of fault scars on the present seafloor, where current sedimentation rate is similar and even faster than the average displacement rate, apparently indicates that faulting is dominated by sudden seismic ruptures rather than by continued creeping. Hence, considering sedimentation rate of about 50 m/my, a 1 m high fault scarp should be roughly younger than about 20 ky.

Thaw slump activity has recently increased in permafrost areas of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). Thaw slumps may influence the stability of infrastructure and impact global biogeochemical cycles. This study presents changes in retrogressive thaw slump in the Beiluhe Region based on interpretation of satellite imagery. Thaw slumping has become widespread in the region over the last ten years. The total number of thaw slumps has increased by 253% and the total affected area increased by 617%. The intensification of thaw slumping in the study region did not increase steadily over the study period, but was rather concentrated during two years: 2010 and 2016. This was mainly attributed to anomalously high air temperatures during the thawing season and abundant precipitation. Initiation of future thaw slumps on QTP will likely similarly be linked to changing trends in anomalous weather events and climate warming.

Large Area Additive Manufacturing now enables the fabrication of structures that are dramatically more substantial than those produced with standard 3D printing. As the use of support structure is generally not appropriate when printing at these scales, understanding the limits of overhanging feature angles is necessary to establish the economic case for using large 3D printing. Additionally, understanding the physics of the process is paramount to avoiding expensive failed prints. Rapid sequential layers can result in slumping as the structure retains excessive heat when the next layer is printed. In this study, the thermal profiles of large printed parts have been experimentally measured and mathematically modeled in order to assist in the decision of whether a delay between layers is required to avoid slumping of overhanging features. The model can be used to insert additional dwell times after each layer so that the next layer of printing initiates after the previous layer is sufficiently cool such that the existing structure is appropriately solidified. Inputs to the model include the feedstock material, the number of beads in the overhanging wall, the angle of overhang and the threshold of failure represented as out-of-plane displacement from the intended geometry. The proposed thermal model can then be used with slicing software to insert pauses a priori, or can be leveraged during the print in conjunction with infrared imaging in order to provide in situ process control to improve quality and yield.

The progressive development of microfabrics from initial deposition to slump deformation and then a submarine slide was investigated in an active subduction zone using cores recovered during the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 333. A Pleistocene–Holocene sequence was recovered at Site C0018A, which was located on a slope basin on the footwall of the megasplay fault in the Nankai Trough, SW Japan. Six mass-transport deposit units intercalated with coherent intervals were recovered from the upper 190 m of the drilled succession. The initial microfabrics in the undeformed hemipelagic sediments were characterized by random and porous fabrics composed predominantly of clay aggregations and connectors. The initial fabrics were cardhouse fabrics, which consist of clay flakes with edge-to-edge (E–E) and/or edge-to-face (E–F) contacts. These initial microfabrics developed into compacted microfabrics, which are random and consolidated fabrics (bookhouse fabrics) that consist of clay flakes with E–F and/or face-to-face (F–F) contacts and develop during burial as a pure shear deformation. During slumping, these fabrics were then deformed under simple shear to become predominantly F–F contacts and form clay chains. Thus, the microfabrics in these submarine slides are a sedimentary melange that developed locally into a preferred clay orientation with F–F contacts. Supplementary material: A schematic illustration showing sedimentation processes and fabrics is available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4483385 Thematic collection: This article is part of the Polygenetic melanges collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/polygenetic-melanges

Sedimentological studies of the Upper Cretaceous–lower Eocene limestones in the western part of the Ionian basin (Araxos area) indicate that these deposits are composed of calciturbidites interbedded with breccia-microbreccia. Breccia - microbreccia deposits are structureless, display channelized geometry with calciturbiditic blocks internally to the channels. Most of the clasts were sourced from the underlying Lower Cretaceous “Vigla limestones”. Calciturbidites include Ta to Te Bouma sub-divisions, and are organized in cycles that form channelized deposits with a high degree of amalgamation. Statistical analysis confirms the presence of order in the sub-division sequence. The thickness of event beds in the studied section shows a lognormal statistical distribution, typical of turbidite successions. Limestone microfacies suggest deep-water deposits and reworked shelf deposits. The intense extensional tectonic activity in the Ionian basin during the Early Cretaceous, with synthetic and antithetic faults, produced active platform margins and asymmetrical grabens. In this regime, large amounts of coarse-grained material became available and accumulated in the basin. High slope gradients led to slumping. During the Late Cretaceous, the uplifted margins of the grabens caused erosion of the pre-existing deposits of the Lower Cretaceous “Vigla Formation”. This event led to the accumulation of channelized microbreccia and breccia units and transport of platform deposits by turbidity currents. The Early Cretaceous to early Eocene depositional history in the Ionian Basin indicates that the regional tectonic activity, rather than the eustatic sea-level changes, was the major factor that influenced the basin evolution, suggesting a syn-rift stage being active from the Jurassic to the early Eocene.

The northeastern shelf margin of the South China Sea (SCS) is characterized by the development of large scale foresets complexes since Quaternary. Based on integral analysis of the seismic, well logging and paleontological data, successions since ∼3.0 Ma can be defined as one composite sequence, consist of a set of regional transgressive to regressive sequences. They can be further divided into six 3rd order sequences (SQ0–SQ5) based on the Exxon sequence stratigraphic model. Since ∼1.6 Ma, five sets of deltaic systems characterized by development of wedge-shaped foresets complexes or clinoforms had been identified. High-resolution seismic data and the thick foresets allowed further divided of sub-depositional sequences (4th order) of regression to transgression, which is basically consistent with published stacked benthic foram O-isotope records. Depositional systems identified in the study area include deltaic deposits (inner-shelf deltas and shelf-edge deltas), incised valleys, and slope slumping massive deposits. Since ∼1.6 Ma, clinoforms prograded from the southern Panyu Lower Uplift toward the northern Baiyun Depression, shelf slope break migrated seaward, whereas the shelf edge of SQ0 migrated landward. The development of incised valleys in the continental shelf increased upward, especially intensive on the SB3 and SB2. The slumping massive deposits increased abruptly since SB2, which corresponds to the development of incised valleys. The evolution of depositional systems of continental slope mainly controlled by the combined influence of sea level changes, tectonic movements, sediment supply and climate changes. Since ∼3.0 Ma, relative sea level of the northern SCS had been experienced transgression (∼3.0 Ma BP) to regression (∼1.6 Ma BP). The regional regression and maximum transgressions of the composite sequences were apparently enhanced by uplift or subsidence related to tectono-thermal events. In addition, climatic variations including monsoon intensification and the mid-Pleistocene transition may have enhanced sediment supply by increasing erosion rate and have an indispensable influence on the development of the incised valleys and 5 sets of deltaic systems since ∼1.6 Ma.

Enterolithic structures are stratigraphically localized folds in gypsum beds found in certain saline evaporitic sedimentary units in a wide variety of basins. Different models of formation have been proposed, all related to inorganic processes. These models include: diagenetic transformation of gypsum beds producing either displacive growth of crystals or volume changes; mechanical folding caused by compressional stress; and folding produced by slumping. The analysis of three Cenozoic evaporite sequences in Spain reveals that none of the previous models explains their origin and existence. In these outcrops, gypsum enterolithic structures occur in horizontal beds with parallel troughs and crests of the folds. They appear in shoreline facies of lacustrine environments and did not undergo major diagenetic transformations after the primary lithification of the original sediment. Based on these observations, together with the study of a modern analogue in Minorca, Spain, a new model is proposed for the genesis of enterolithic structures. This new model is based on the existence of a microbial mat exposed to brine concentration–dilution cycles and strong wind events. The high wind flow events enhanced folding of the microbial mat that became subaerially exposed and lithified due to subsequent evaporation. Therefore, the presence of enterolithic structures could be used as an indicator of shallow water environmental conditions subject to variations in brine concentration in areas with strong wind flow events. Previous studies of some evaporitic successions should be revisited, taking into account the proposed model, which would imply new depositional environment interpretations. At the same time, the proposed model could explain the existence of Kinneyia‐type structures, also known as wrinkle structures, formed beneath microbial mats in peritidal zones. Moreover, considering enterolithic structures as microbially induced sedimentary structures could be useful as evidence of microbial life in the ancient geological record and on other planets such as Mars.

The bituminous marl formation (BMF) is an important source rock in Romania. At the study location, in the Eastern Carpathians, the BMF composition is dominated by calcite (coccolith debris, cement) and diagenetic silica, with the remainder consisting largely of detrital clays, quartz and minor feldspar. Abundant intervals with soft sediment deformation, likely slump deposits, alternate with thinly layered marls that may locally contain layers and lenses of rippled and cross-laminated sandstone. The latter suggest intermittent action of traction currents. Although the fine grained nature and abundant nanoplankton content of the marls suggest that they originated via pelagic settling through the water column, upon close inspection, they consist of flattened sand-size yet fine-grained aggregates (soft clasts). Experimental studies suggest that these were likely eroded from the seabed and transported in bedload by bottom currents. Inclined fabric elements within marls suggest that soft clasts formed ripples, and that marl layers are the depositional consequence of ripple migration. Whereas typical marl layers probably reflect migration of small ripples of a few cm’s height, there are also cross-bedded marly beforms with ca. 20 cm pre-compaction relief that by size are muddy megaripples. Unlike in sand, where bedform hierarchy reflects increasing flow velocity, muddy megaripples more likely are a reflection of bottom current systems of substantial duration. With marl layers as well as interbedded sands recording bottom current activity, the BMF represents a combination of slope processes and bottom current activity. The likely environment of deposition is a lower slope to basin setting with contour currents reworking pelagic sedimentation and intermittent sediment supply by slumping.

Thawing landslide is a common geological disaster in permafrost regions, which seriously threatens the structural safety of oil and gas pipelines crossing permafrost regions. Most of the analytical methods have been used to calculate the longitudinal stress of buried pipelines. These analytical methods are subjected to slope-thaw slumping load, and the elastic characteristic of the soil in a nonlinear interaction behavior is ignored. Also, these methods have not considered the real boundary at both ends of the slope. This study set out to introduce an improved analytical method to accurately analyze the longitudinal strain characteristics of buried pipelines subjected to slope-thaw slumping load. In this regard, an iterative algorithm was based on an ideal elastoplastic model in the pipeline-soil interaction. Based on field monitoring and previous finite element results, the accuracy of the proposed method was validated. Besides, a parametric analysis was conducted to study the effects of wall thickness, internal pressure, ultimate soil resistance, and slope angle on the maximum longitudinal strain of the pipeline. The results from the compression section showed that the pipeline is more likely to yield, indicating an actual situation in engineering. Moreover, the maximum longitudinal tensile and compression strain of pipelines decrease with increasing the wall thickness, internal pressure, ultimate resistance of soil, and slope angle. Finally, based on the pipeline limit state equations in CSA Z662-2007 and CRES which considered the critical compression factor comprehensively, the critical slumping displacements for both tensile and compressive strain failures were derived for reference. The research results attach great significance to the safety of pipeline under slope.

Precision manufacturing techniques are required for the fabrication of small and large optical components in various fields. To prepare molding dies with highly precise geometric shapes and surface roughness that are used in certain molding processes, polishing techniques have been investigated for many materials. In this research, the polishing techniques used for a SUS310S stainless steel molding die for the glass forming technology “slumping method” were investigated. The surface roughness of the polished SUS310S molding die surface was below Rz = 120 nm (P–V), Ra = 20 nm after 35 h of polishing with 0.5% alumina polishing liquid under a pressure of 1.7 kPa. In addition, the centerless polishing machine was designed and manufactured to polish cylindrical molding die surfaces with same polishing conditions. As the result of using cylindrical molding dies that made by this centerless polishing machine, the surface roughness of the glass plate formed using the slumping method with the polished molding die was below Ra = 20 nm. These results indicate that the surface roughness of the molding die had a small effect on the glass plate surface formed using the slumping method.