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Dynamic tensile failure is one of the main failure modes of layered rock masses during the excavation of underground engineering. This study investigates the influence of loading rate and layered inclination angle on the mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of layered slate using a split-Hopkinson pressure bar system and high-speed cameras. The results show that, overall, the dynamic elastic modulus E, postpeak stress reduction rate K, and failure load of the discs with the 7 tested bedding angles increase with the increasing loading rate. A nonlinear formula is proposed to describe the relationship between loading rate and failure load for the 7 tested inclination angles. As the inclination angle of the bedding planes increases from 0° to 90°, both the static and dynamic failure loads of the slate increased. However, with increasing loading rate, the anisotropic influence coefficient N ranges from 3.25 under the static load to 1.35 under the dynamic load, and the bedding effect gradually decreases. From the dynamic Brazilian splitting tests, the failure of the discs is mainly observed along the bedding planes when the inclination angle is less than or equal to 45°. Failure of the discs mainly occurs along the centre of the disc and previously intact planes when the inclination angle is greater than 60°. This study provides significant data to evaluate the mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of layered rock and the safety and stability of layered rock under dynamic loading.

Nanobubble technology, as an emerging and sustainable approach, has been used for remediation of eutrophication. However, the influence of nanobubbles on the restoration of aquatic vegetation and the mechanisms are unclear. In this study, the effect of nanobubbles at different concentrations on the growth of Iris pseudacorus (Iris) and Echinodorus amazonicus (Echinodorus) was investigated. The results demonstrated that nanobubbles can enhance the delivery of oxygen to plants, while appropriate nanobubble levels will promote plant growth, excess nanobubbles could inhibit plant growth and photosynthesis. The nanobubble concentration thresholds for this switch from growth promotion to growth inhibition were 3.45 × 107 and 1.23 × 107 particles/mL for Iris and Echinodorus, respectively. Below the threshold, an increase in nanobubble concentration enhanced plant aerobic respiration and ROS generations in plants, resulting in superior plant growth. However, above the threshold, high nanobubble concentrations induced hyperoxia stress, particularly in submergent plants, which result in collapse of the antioxidant system and the inhibition of plant physiological activity. The expression of genes involved in modulating redox potential and the oxidative stress response, as well as the generation of relevant hormones, were also altered. Overall, this study provides an evidence-based strategy to guide the future application of nanobubble technology for sustainable management of natural waters.

In underground engineering practice, the surrounding rocks are subjected to a nonuniform stress field with various radial gradients. In this study, a series of conventional triaxial repetitive impact tests using hollow cylindrical sandstone (HOS) specimens were conducted to reveal the impact waveform features and failure properties of rocks under nonuniform stress conditions. The tests were conducted using a modified large diameter split Hopkinson pressure bar testing system. The confining pressure was set as 5, 10 and 12 MPa. The data of specimens under equilibrium stress states were chosen and analyzed, and the results showed that more applied numbers of cyclic impact loads were needed to break rocks with the increase of confining pressure. Three types of cracks, i.e., ring-shaped cracks around the hole in the center of specimens, axial cracks located in the outer cylindrical surface, and lateral cracks fracturing rock fragments into small pieces appeared in HOS specimens. The failure degrees of HOS specimens could be judged by the waveform features of the reflected wave, and the waveform features of reflected wave are similar in the same failure mode, regardless of the impact velocity and the number of impacts, which only affect the failure degree.

Research on the dynamic compressive characteristics of sandstone under radial gradient stress and confining pressure is conducive to understanding the characteristics of the surrounding rock, especially in an excavation operation for an underground mine roadway and tunnel. The present work aimed at studying the effects of radial gradient stress and confining pressure on the impact of compression of sandstone using a large-diameter split Hopkinson pressure bar. The results showed that the dynamic strength of sandstone under radial gradient stress increased with strain rate following a power function, and the dynamic strength of the sandstone under radial gradient stress was lower and more sensitive to strain rate. The increase in strain at peak stress (peak strain) was linearly correlated with the strain rate under different confining pressures. The sensitivity of the peak strain to confining pressure was lower for the sandstone with a hole, while the values of the elastic modulus were decreased. However, further increasing the stain rate would lead to an increase in the elastic modulus. Also, the ductility of the sandstone with a hole tested in this study was found to improve more significantly. Finally, with an increase in the incident energy, the absorbed energy per unit volume would increase, but would not be affected obviously by the radial gradient stress.