Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• A novel deep-sea sediment pressure-retaining sampler achieves pressure preservation rates of 94.21% and 92.02% at depths of 9298.4 m and 9142.8 m, significantly exceeding the current 80% technical indicator. • A radial disturbance model based on spherical cavity expansion theory was developed to quantify sediment disturbance, using the plastic deformation radius as an evaluation index. • Indoor experiments with embedded sensors validated the theoretical model, confirming the accuracy of predicted radial stress and pore water pressure distributions. • On-site sea trials in the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench retrieved sediment samples with clear stratification and minimal disturbance, demonstrating the sampler's effectiveness for deep-sea geological research.
Abstract
Obtaining high-quality 10000-meter-deep seafloor sediment samples is the prerequisite and foundation for conducting deep-sea geological and environmental scientific research. The bottom structure of the deep seafloor is complex, and the physical and mechanical properties and disturbance resistance of sediments of different lithologies vary greatly, so the sediment sampler inevitably disturbs the sediments during the sampling process and affects the quality of the sediment samples. A new type of deep-sea sediment pressure retaining sampler is introduced, the force state and elastic–plastic state of the sampler destroying sediments are analyzed, the radial disturbance model of sediment coring based on the spherical cavity expansion theory is established, and the radius of sediments undergoing plastic deformation around the spherical holes is used as an index for evaluating the radial disturbance of sediments. The distribution of stress and strain fields in the sediments during the expansion of the spherical cavity and the influencing factors of the radius of the radially disturbed region (plastic region) are analyzed using an arithmetic example, and the influence law is analyzed. A sediment disturbance experimental platform was built indoors to simulate the sediment coring process. The radial stress field and pore water pressure of the sediment during the coring process were monitored by sensors arranged inside the sediment, and the results of indoor tests verified the correctness of the perturbation theory model. The sampler was carried aboard the deep-sea manned submersible FENDOUZHE and conducted on-site tests at depths of 9298.4 and 9142.8 m in the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench. Pressure-preserved sediment samples were retrieved, with preservation rates of 94.21% and 92.02%, respectively, which are much higher than the current technical indicator of 80% of pressure-holding ratio for deep-sea sediments. The retrieved sediments have obvious stratification characteristics and little disturbance.
1. Introduction
The seafloor is rich in hydrocarbons, minerals, organisms, sediments, and other resources [1], and the acquisition of these seafloor resources is entirely dependent on advanced seafloor collection methods and technical equipment [2]. As the stratigraphic structure of the deep seabed is very complex, and the physical and mechanical properties of sediments of different lithologies and their resistance to disturbance vary greatly [3,4], sampling equipment inevitably disturbs the sediments during the sampling process, which affects the quality of the sediment samples and even prevents the retrieval of the sediment samples. In addition to not reflecting its basic composition, the disturbed samples cannot effectively reflect its engineering properties and in-situ characteristics, and it is inaccurate to use them as the basis for seafloor scientific research and resource development, especially as the basis for seafloor engineering and construction, which is extremely dangerous [5,6]. Therefore, it is of great significance to obtain in-situ low-disturbance sediment samples.
At present, the basis of sediment disturbance discrimination includes three ways...
Loading authentic research manuscript (Pages 1–5)...
Guangping Liu, Shanqiang Jiang, Yongping Jin, Buyan Wan, Liang Liu, Youduo Peng (2025). Mechanism of low-disturbance and high-pressure-retaining sampling of seafloor sediments at 10000-meter depth and its laboratory experiment and on-site sea trials. SinoTechIntel Verified Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmst.2025.06.001
Research & Educational Purpose Only:The translations, structured abstracts, analytical annotations, and data reports provided by SinoTechIntel are intended exclusively for academic research, internal corporate R&D, and educational benchmarking. They do not constitute formal engineering, chemical safety, legal, or professional advice.
Copyright & Intellectual Property Notice: Original copyright of the underlying source articles and experimental data remains with the respective authors, institutions, and original publishing journals. SinoTechIntel claims intellectual property only over its proprietary translations, analytical syntheses, and AEO structured enhancements in accordance with international fair use and academic citation principles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of obtaining high-quality deep-sea sediment samples?
High-quality deep-sea sediment samples are essential for accurate geological and environmental research, as disturbed samples fail to reflect in-situ properties and can lead to dangerous engineering decisions.
How does the new sampler achieve high pressure retention?
The sampler is designed to maintain pressure during retrieval, achieving preservation rates of 94.21% and 92.02% in sea trials, far exceeding the 80% standard, through advanced mechanical design and pressure-retaining mechanisms.
What is the spherical cavity expansion theory used for?
It is used to model the radial disturbance of sediments during coring, providing a quantitative index (plastic deformation radius) to evaluate and minimize disturbance.
How were the theoretical models validated?
Indoor experiments with embedded sensors monitored radial stress and pore water pressure, and the results matched the theoretical predictions, confirming the model's correctness.
What were the results of the on-site sea trials?
The sampler was tested at depths of 9298.4 m and 9142.8 m in the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench, retrieving pressure-preserved sediment samples with high pressure retention and minimal disturbance, showing clear stratification.
Related Technical Papers & Translations
A Novel Approach for Enhanced Brain Tumor Segmentation Using Multimodal MRI and Deep Learning
Brain tumor segmentation from multimodal MRI is crucial for diagnosis and treatment planning. In this study, we propose a novel deep learning framework that integrates structural and functional imaging modalities to improve segmentation accuracy. Our method employs a multi-scale attention mechanism and a hybrid loss function to handle class imbalance and boundary ambiguity. Evaluated on the BraTS benchmark, our approach achieves state-of-the-art performance, with Dice scores of 0.91, 0.87, and 0.84 for whole tumor, core, and enhancing tumor, respectively. Furthermore, we demonstrate the generalizability of our model across different scanners and protocols. Our findings suggest that the proposed method can significantly aid clinical decision-making and surgical planning.
Investigation of coupled acoustic and electrical responses and early warning approaches during re-loading of damaged coal
Initial damage from engineering disturbances in deep coal mining degrades mechanical properties and heightens dynamic-hazard risks, challenging conventional monitoring. This study probes the coupled acoustic-electrical responses of initially damaged coal under reloading and develops a multi-parameter, multi-level dynamic integrated early-warning model. Using a true-triaxial Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) system, we prepared specimens with graded damage by varying static deviatoric stresses and dynamic impacts. Uniaxial compression reloading was conducted with synchronous acoustic emission (AE) and resistivity monitoring. Joint time-domain responses of force, acoustics, and electricity delineated distinct loading stages. Time-frequency features were extracted via Fourier and wavelet transforms; crack architecture was quantified by 3D AE localization and fractal-dimension analysis. Initial damage markedly reduced load-bearing capacity. Resistivity decreased sharply with increasing deviatoric stress, while cumulative AE counts increased strongly. The AE spectrum evolved from bimodal to broadband with low- and high-frequency enhancement. The resistivity spectrum showed progressive bandwidth broadening, energy amplification, and high-frequency advancement. The AE spatial fractal dimension rose significantly during compaction. An integrated warning system combining multiscale entropy fusion, Temporal Convolutional Network (TCN)-Transformer forecasting, recurrence-network analysis, and a Bayesian framework yielded a 28.4 s lead time, offering a theoretical basis and technical pathway for intelligent prevention of dynamic hazards.
Influence of aggregate particle size on fracture behavior and energy evolution of cemented rockfill in the post-peak stage
Cemented rockfill (CRF) combines structural support with sustainable reuse of coal-derived solid waste. This study integrates digital image correlation, acoustic emission monitoring, and finite–discrete element simulations to investigate mechanical behavior, fracture development, and energy evolution of CRF containing 54% aggregate content with three grain-size distributions (5–10, 10–20, and 20–30 mm). Results indicate finer aggregates raise compressive strength and elastic modulus, and increase post-peak softening and residual stiffness. Fracture patterns transition from dominantly unidirectional failure in coarse specimens to pronounced X-shaped conjugate shear in fine specimens, with cracks initiating at boundaries and propagating inward. The proportion of failed joints at comparable strains decreases markedly with finer gradation, reflecting a more homogeneous crack network that enhances post-peak load retention and produces frequent minor stress fluctuations. Energy analyses reveal a coarse > medium > fine ordering in cumulative dissipation; however, finer aggregates delay rapid kinetic and dissipative energy release, promoting slower energy redistribution and improved load resistance. These findings quantify how aggregate gradation controls deformational mechanisms, crack topology, and energy partitioning, and provide design guidance for optimizing aggregate size and cementitious composition to enhance ductility, energy absorption, and structural reliability of CRF in underground engineering.