This paper relates landslide inventories to erosion rates and provides quantitative estimates of the landslide hazard associated with earthquakes. We do this by utilizing a three-parameter inverse-gamma distribution, which fits the frequency– area statistics of three substantially dcompleteT landslide-event inventories. A consequence of this general distribution is that a landslide-event magnitude mL=logNLT can be introduced, where NLT is the total number of landslides associated with the landslide event. Using this general distribution, landslide-event magnitudes mL can be obtained from incomplete landslide inventories, and the total area and volume of associated landslides, as well as the area and volume of the maximum landslides, can be directly related to the landslide-event magnitude. Using estimated recurrence intervals for three landslide events and the time span for two historical inventories, we estimate regional erosion rates associated with landslides as typically 0.1–2.5 mm year � 1 . We next give an empirical correlation between the earthquake magnitude, associated landslideevent magnitude, and the total volume of associated landslides. Using these correlations, we estimate that the minimum earthquake magnitudes that will generate landslides is M=4.3F0.4. Finally, using Gutenberg–Richter frequency-magnitude statistics for regional seismicity, we relate the intensity of seismicity in an area and the magnitude of the largest regional earthquakes to erosion rates. We find that typical seismically induced erosion rates in active subduction zones are 0.2–7 mm year � 1 and adjacent to plate boundary strike-slip fault zones are 0.01–0.7 mm year � 1 .

Landslides, Earthquakes, and Erosion

The text deals with the identification of mineral species present and the classification of rocks through thin-sections. Igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks are included. Illustrations are presented as hand drawings rather than photographs of actual thin-sections. (Editor's note: This is a basic reference book for stone conservators.) -- AATA

Petrography : An Introduction To The Study Of Rocks In Thin Sections Vol-1,2

The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive state of the art of fatigue and cyclic loading of natural rock materials. Papers published in the literature are classified and listed in order to ease bibliographical review, to gather data (sometimes contradictory) on classical experimental results and to analyse the main interpretation concepts. Their advantages and limitations are discussed, and perspectives for further work are highlighted. The first section summarises and defines the different experimental set-ups (type of loading, type of experiment) already applied to cyclic/fatigue investigation of rock materials. The papers are then listed based on these different definitions. Typical results are highlighted in next section. Fatigue/cyclic loading mainly results in accumulation of plastic deformation and/or damage cycle after cycle. A sample cyclically loaded at constant amplitude finally leads to failure even if the peak load is lower than its monotonic strength. This subcritical crack is due to a diffuse microfracturing and decohesion of the rock structure. The third section reviews and comments the concepts used to interpret the results. The fatigue limit and S–N curves are the most common concepts used to describe fatigue experiments. Results published from all papers are gathered into a single figure to highlight the tendency. Predicting the monotonic peak strength of a sample is found to be critical in order to compute accurate S–N curves. Finally, open questions are listed to provide a state of the art of grey areas in the understanding of fatigue mechanisms and challenges for the future.

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Cyclic and Fatigue Behaviour of Rock Materials: Review, Interpretation and Research Perspectives

The effects of wet–dry, 
freeze–thaw, and heat–cool cycles on the physical and mechanical properties of Upper Red Formation sandstones located southwest of Qom, central Iran, were determined. Five different types of sandstones were selected, and freeze–thaw, wet–dry, and heat–cool cyclic tests were performed. The freeze–thaw test was carried out for 30 cycles, and the P-wave velocities, porosities, and uniaxial compressive strengths of the specimens were determined after every five cycles. Heat–cool and wet–dry cycles were repeated for 40 cycles. Based on the strength deterioration ratio, it was found that freeze–thaw cycles degrade the physical and mechanical properties of sandstones more strongly than heat–cool and wet–dry cycles do. The results also show that the presence of zeolite cement has a significantly effect on sandstone resistance to freeze–thaw cycles. Further, it was found that sandstone strength as well as petrographic properties such as grain size and grain contacts do not have the expected effect on sample deterioration during freeze–thaw cycles. Finally, it was concluded that pore size plays an important role in sandstone resistance to freeze–thaw cycles.

Influence of wet–dry, freeze–thaw, and heat–cool cycles on the physical and mechanical properties of Upper Red sandstones in central Iran

A statistical damage constitutive model under freeze-thaw and loading for rock and its engineering application

Predicting the long-term durability of building stones against freeze–thaw using a decay function model

Numerical simulation and prediction of regional land subsidence caused by groundwater exploitation in the southwest plain of Tehran, Iran

Effect of injected bacterial suspension volume and relative density on carbonate precipitation resulting from microbial treatment

Evaluation of the durability of Gerdoee travertine after freeze–thaw cycles in fresh water and sodium sulfate solution by decay function models

Contamination of soil by the leakage of gas oil may affect its physical, chemical and mechanical properties. There are many ways which could enhance the leakage of gas oil including; corroded storage tanks, processing plants and petroleum transportation. The aim of this paper is to consider the effect of gas oil contamination on the geotechnical properties of some soil specimens such as poorly graded sand (SP), low plasticity clay and silt (CL, ML). The uncontaminated specimens have undergone some basic laboratory tests such as plasticity, compaction, unconfined compression strength (UCS) and direct shear tests. The samples artificially contaminated with 3, 6 and 9 % of gas oil in relative to their dry weight. Results indicate a decrease in the friction angle and an increase in the cohesion of the soils with the increase of gas oil content. In addition, a reduction in the maximum dry density and optimum moisture content observed during the conduction of compaction test. The increase of gas oil percentage also showed a direct effect on the increases of liquid and plastic limits of clay and silt soils. On the other hands, the increase of gas oil percent reversely effect on the UCS of silt soil. According to the field emission scanning electron microscopy study, it can be stated that the increase of clay particles extends the rate of fabric flocculation is a key factor for increasing the unconfined compression strength in clayey soil.

Mohammad Reza Nikudel

Papers

Predicting the long-term durability of building stones against freeze–thaw using a decay function model

Numerical simulation and prediction of regional land subsidence caused by groundwater exploitation in the southwest plain of Tehran, Iran

Effect of injected bacterial suspension volume and relative density on carbonate precipitation resulting from microbial treatment

Evaluation of the durability of Gerdoee travertine after freeze–thaw cycles in fresh water and sodium sulfate solution by decay function models

Influence of Gas Oil Contamination on Geotechnical Properties of Fine and Coarse-Grained Soils