The origin and impact of the Shizhuang ground fissure, Yingxian area, Datong Basin, China

Wang, Feiyong; Peng, Jianbing; Meng, Zhenjiang; Qiao, Junfei; Wen, Haiguang; Ma, Penghui; Liu, Yang; Jia, Zhijie; Zhao, Jie

doi:10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.105283

Cited by 23 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…The generation of earth fissures is mainly influenced by geomorphic units, geologic formations, faults, and land subsidence 6 , 10 , 11 , 23 , 36 72 73 , 74 . The dataset and mapping procedure are detailed in the Methods.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A probabilistic method for mapping earth fissure hazards

Zang

Peng

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Earth fissures caused by tectonic forces, human activities, or both seriously threaten the safety of people’s lives and properties. The Taiyuan Basin, a Cenozoic downfaulted basin located in the centre of the Fen-Wei Basin tectonic belt, in northwestern China, presents the ideal study area for a hazard assessment of earth fissures. A total of 104 earth fissures have been observed in the Taiyuan Basin, with a total length of approximately 128 km. In this paper, we proposed a probabilistic method for mapping earth fissure hazards by integrating the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), the area under the curve (AUC), and the certainty factor model (CFM). Geomorphic units, geologic formations, active faults and land subsidence zones of the Taiyuan Basin were mapped in detail. Correlations between these factors and earth fissures were evaluated through spatial modelling in ArcGIS. The AUC was introduced into the AHP to weight each factor and thus, to derive an earth fissure susceptibility map. Finally, the modelled earth fissure susceptibility was compared with a digital inventory of earth fissures to develop a probability function and map the spatial variability in failure probability through the CFM. The study indicates that active faults have the greatest contribution to the generation of earth fissures. Earth fissures are prone to develop in the piedmont alluvial-diluvial clinoplain and the transitional zone near the geomorphic boundary. This mapping procedure can assist in making rational decisions regarding urban planning and infrastructure development in areas susceptible to earth fissures.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A probabilistic method for mapping earth fissure hazards

Zang

Peng

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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“…Thus, the differential movement of fault blocks can cause extensional tension and shear deformation at the fault surface. Fault activity controls the generation and development of fissures and establishes the fracture prototype of ground fissures in the Weihe Basin (Zhang et al 2011;Wang et al 2019b).…”

Section: Differential Movement Of Fault Blocks and Fault Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pumping activity causes two strain areas in the aquifer around a pumping well: an inner radial compression zone (P) and an outer radial tension zone (T) (Wang et al 2019b). When a fissure is located in the outer radial tension zone, the frictional force on the fault plane is reduced.…”

Section: Hydrodynamic Processes Induced By Pumping and Rainingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, continuous groundwater pumping without sufficient precipitation can significantly decrease the groundwater elevation and increase the effective stresses in the soil mass. Uneven compression of strata induces a settlement funnel on the ground surface, generating tensile zones and enhancing the appearance of the fissure (Wang et al 2019b).…”

Section: Hydrodynamic Processes Induced By Pumping and Rainingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Under heavy rainfall conditions, large volumes of water seep into a hidden fissure, which is a good water guide channel. Water content and dry density are the two most important factors in the tensile strength of soil and exhibit decreasing and increasing exponential relationships, respectively, with the tensile strength (Wang et al 2019b). A massive infiltration of rain water has strong erosion and washout effects on the soil in a hidden fissure (Wang et al 2019a).…”

Section: Hydrodynamic Processes Induced By Pumping and Rainingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Development characteristics and dynamic mechanisms of tectonic ground fissures in Weihe Basin, China

Wang

Peng

et al. 2021

Bull Eng Geol Environ

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The Weihe Basin is part of the regionally extensive Fenwei Graben System, which is a major tectonic block impacted by active tectonics and human activities. There are 200 tectonic ground fissures in the Weihe Basin, some of which have resulted in loss of life and severe damage to infrastructure. The development characteristics and dynamic mechanisms of these fissures were investigated by surveying, mapping, and geological drilling. The fissures are distributed along the boundary faults between fault blocks with prominent regional, zoning, and directional characteristics. On the profiles of fissures, the tectonic ground fissures are connected with underlying faults and possess the characteristics of synsedimentary faults. The deeper the stratum is, the greater the fault displacement of the stratum is, and the greater the thickness of the strata on the hanging walls is than that on the heading walls. These fissures are driven by dynamic tectonic processes, including uplift of the upper mantle and extension of the crust, differential movement of the fault blocks, and fault activity. The extension and opening of fissures are accelerated by hydrodynamic progresses, including pumping and raining. This paper describes a study of the mechanisms of the fissures and provides guidance for prevention of disasters and reduction of disaster severity in this area.

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Generative mechanism analysis of ground fissure in the Nairobi–Malaba Railway area across the East African Rift

Li,

Zhang,

et al. 2024

Earthquake Engineering and Resilience

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As the Nairobi–Malaba Railway traverses the East African Rift Valley, it has complex engineering geological conditions due to the development of its geological formations. Since March 2018, four large ground fissures have occurred in the East African Rift Valley area crossed by the Nairobi–Malaba Railway engineering construction, posing a significant threat to the safety of the railway engineering. According to the field investigation, it is initially considered that the ground fissures are caused by the loss of strength of the lower soil layers. In view of the fact that the settlement occurred during the rainy season and no earthquake events were recorded in the local and nearby areas during that period, it is inferred that the ground fissures originated from the subduction of the underlying soil layer by the submerged erosion of groundwater. For this reason, a further field investigation was conducted and a geological trench was directly excavated to the underlying rock for the uneven ground settlement, which revealed that the overlying soil layers are mainly silty clay layers and volcanic ash layers, and there are some deep and long cracks of a certain width on the underlying volcanic rock layer and there is gas flow spilling from the cracks. The field investigation also found the existence of some penetrating holes in the volcanic rock layer and caves beneath the volcanic rock layer. Based on the field investigation and phenomenological analysis, it is concluded that during the rainy season, the alternating action phenomenon of downward seepage of water in the surface soil layer and upward reflux of water beneath the volcanic rock layer happened through the cracks and penetrating holes on the volcanic rock layer, and the alternating effect of groundwater flow causes some silty clay and volcanic ash particles to flow into the caves and cracks beneath the volcanic rock layer, which leads to the generation of ground fissures. In addition, to further confirm the reliability of this interpretation of the generative mechanism of ground fissures, related results of conventional geotechnical tests on the overlying soil were studied, which verified the conclusion obtained.

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The origin and impact of the Shizhuang ground fissure, Yingxian area, Datong Basin, China

Cited by 23 publications

References 33 publications

A probabilistic method for mapping earth fissure hazards

A probabilistic method for mapping earth fissure hazards

Development characteristics and dynamic mechanisms of tectonic ground fissures in Weihe Basin, China

Generative mechanism analysis of ground fissure in the Nairobi–Malaba Railway area across the East African Rift

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