A rock test cell with true triaxial capability

Conventional so-called triaxial test cells apply the axial stress to a cylindrical sample using steel platens, with the confining stress developed via an annulus of hydraulic fluid retained by a liner in a pressure cell. This does not allow differentiation between the two principal stresses around the core and inhibits the realism with which the rocks can be tested, for example in determining the effect of the intermediate principal stress on the strength of the sample.This paper describes the development and application of a new test cell – believed to be the first in the world – which enables truly triaxial stresses to be applied to cylindrical core samples, opening up the possibility to test rocks routinely in a more realistic manner. An array of 24 trapped tubes replace the single annulus which usually generates the uniform radial stress. Selective pressurization of the tubes enables differential radial stresses to be generated, while axial stresses are applied as before through steel platens. The first results of multi-state failure and permeability stress sensitivity of samples tested in the cell are presented. These demonstrate the influence of the intermediate principal stress on measured rock properties and the orientation of induced fracture planes.     

利用室内和现场水压致裂试验联合确定地应力与岩石抗拉强度

钻杆式水压致裂原地应力测试系统的柔性会影响最大水平主应力的计算精度。利用空心岩柱液压致裂试验获得的岩石抗拉强度来取代重张压力计算最大水平主应力是降低钻杆式测试系统柔性的负面影响的重要途径。在福建某隧道深度为65 m的钻孔内开展了8段的高质量水压致裂原地应力测试,随后利用钻孔所揭露的完整岩芯开展了17个岩样的空心岩柱液压致裂试验。利用空心岩柱液压致裂所得的抗拉强度平均值为8.40 MPa,与经典水压致裂法确定的岩体抗拉强度8.22 MPa接近。对于20 m的范围内8个测段的原地应力量值,最小水平主应力平均值为8.41 MPa,基于重张压力P_r的最大水平主应力平均值为16.70 MPa;基于空心岩柱抗拉强度的最大水平主应力量值平均值为16.88 MPa,两种方法获得的最大水平主应力平均值基本一致。最大最小水平主应力与垂直主应力之间的关系表现为σ_H > σ_V > σ_h,这种应力状态有利于区域走滑断层活动。通过对比分析可知,对于钻杆式水压致裂原地应力测试系统,当测试深度小且测试系统柔性小时,基于重张压力和基于空心岩柱抗拉强度得到的最大水平主应力量值差别不大,这说明基于空心岩柱的岩石抗拉强度完全可以用于水压致裂最大水平主应力的计算,同时基于微小系统柔性的水压致裂测试系统获得的现场岩体强度也是可靠的。      

地下洞室围岩脆性破坏时的应力特征研究

在高应力作用下,岩爆、钻孔崩落、片帮都是地下空间硬脆围岩中常见的破坏现象,这三类现象本质上均可归于完整岩体的脆性破坏,它们分别反映了高应力作用下完整岩体不同的破坏程度。通过对前人关于岩爆判据、钻孔崩落判据和片帮应力强度比判据研究成果的类比分析可知,这些脆性破坏现象在破坏时具备相同的应力背景条件。脆性破坏的应力条件可以用地下空间周边切向最大应力与岩石单轴抗压强度之比（ / ）或者工程区最大主应力与岩石单轴抗压强度之比（ / ）来描述,两种指标本质上反映了相同的应力背景条件。对于 / , / = 0.4 ± 0.1是发生脆性破坏的应力临界条件;对于 / , / = 0.15 ± 0.05是发生脆性破坏的应力临界条件。大量的工程实例和基于Hoek-Brown强度准则的力学分析也证明了这一背景条件的正确性。这里两种指标都取了一个范围,主要是由于不同的岩体分级、岩性和工程地质条件会对指标的界定产生较为显著的影响。     

Application and evaluation of ground surface pre-grouting reinforcement for 800-m-deep underground opening through large fault zones

Faults are complex geological conditions that are commonly encountered during underground excavation. Many support schemes, such as using a single pilot heading method and 30-m-long borehole pre-grouting, have been implemented during the pilot excavation of an 800-m-deep underground opening that passes through large fault zones in East China. However, various geo-hazards, including groundwater inrush, debris flow, and roof collapse, are still occurring, which seriously threaten tunneling safety. To eliminate the geo-hazards and ensure tunneling safety, ground surface pre-grouting (GSPG) was proposed and implemented for the first time to reinforce the regional engineering rock mass for this proposed 800-m-deep underground opening passing through large fault zones. The minimum grouting pressure of GSPG at a depth of 800 m below the surface is put forward based on hydraulic fracturing theory, providing valuable guidance for GSPG engineering practice. Engineering practice demonstrates that GSPG eliminates geo-hazards, improves the objective rock mass stability, and ensures tunneling safety. Field measurements indicate that the displacement velocity of the surrounding rock shows an obvious fluctuation response under the influence of GSPG, and the impact of GSPG on the stability of the 800-m-deep underground opening that has been excavated dramatically decreases as the distance from the grouting borehole increases. Moreover, there is a strong negative exponential correlation between the maximum velocity of deformations and the distance from the grouting borehole. In addition, the safe distance underground during GSPG is greater than 137 m.     

Continuous measurements of stress and temperature during testing of a fibre shotcrete pressure plug

The paper describes an investigation of pressure barriers (plugs) for an underground gas storage facility which were to be constructed from fibre shotcrete. An extensive measurement program on a test plug was carried out to verify the suitability of fibre shotcrete for this purpose. The results of stress and temperature measurements carried out during the construction of the test plug and during cyclic loading of the plug to a water pressure up to 13 MPa are presented. The measurement program provided information on the stress and temperature development inside the plug body during hydration and hardening and also on the residual tensile stresses at the interface between the plug and the rock mass after the end of hydration. Another important output was information on the quality of the plug-rock mass interface, which was critical for a possible leakage. The results obtained during the cyclic loading of the plug revealed uneven stress distribution at the contact and in the adjacent rock mass. It also provided information on the rate of stress redistribution at the contact and inside the rock mass. The results were used to modify the technology of the shotcrete technique to be applied in the final plugs. The gas storage facility using the modified design has been in trial operation since the end of 1998.     

Approaches to stress monitoring in deep boreholes for future CCS projects

There is no monitoring technology available to observe possible changes of stress in the rock mass of a CO₂ reservoir or its cap rock formations. Any development of a stress-monitoring technique must be related to the natural regional stress conditions and must be adjusted to the possibly changing in situ stress conditions due to CCS activity. As a step towards an in situ stress-monitoring probe, a lab scale device was developed and used for investigations on the practicability of a hard-inclusion tool for stress monitoring. In situ stress conditions, as deduced from the Altmark Gas Field, were applied to evaluate the efficiency and the limits of this stress-monitoring technique. At lab-scale the applied stresses resp. stress differences with moderate amounts of 9?C15?% of the vertical stress component Sv coincide sufficiently with the resulting strain answers of the hard inclusion tool (i.e., a steel tube corresponding to the liner in the borehole). Therefore, it was possible to re-calculate the stresses and to compare them with the applied ones. The resulting coincidence, however, can be disturbed at high pressure levels due to rock failure around the borehole with extended deformations. In addition, the results are influenced by the mechanical behaviour of the surrounding rock mass type. Nevertheless, a further development of a hard inclusion probe for monitoring of stress changes in deep boreholes can be successful and may be the only possible way to detect stress changes without fracturing damages in deep boreholes.     

Field stresses around an inclined shaft

In this study, the vertical overburden pressure in the vicinity of an inclined circular underground opening is defined by relation to the geometry of the medium. The stresses around the opening consisting of six components are induced by geostatic field stress. In this regard, the inclined circular opening i.e. shaft changes the original stress condition and an interrupted region develops beneath it. Three zones are defined on a plane which is perpendicular to the axis of shaft. The mathematical expressions of vertical overburden stresses at these three zones are established, respectively. The example given in appendix demonstrates the variation of radial and tangential stresses around the inclined shaft. It is seen that the stress distributions in the third zone, which includes the interrupted region, beneith the shaft display different configurations than that of those obtained by undisturbed field stresses. In the interrupted region the stresses around the shaft linearly grow up due to increasing overburden pressure by radial distance from the periphery of the shaft. At the boundary of interrupted region stresses jump to the original values induced by field stresses. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal stresses in borehole heat exchangers

The backfilling materials of borehole heat exchangers (BHE), particularly the grout material, must provide a suitable thermal contact and ensure durability to the induced thermal stresses because of the heat loading. In this paper, the thermal stresses that occurred in BHEs because of heat injection or extraction is investigated with an analytical solution of a hollow cylinder model that is adapted for time‐dependent heat loading, the geometry of a BHE, and the thermo‐mechanical properties of surrounding ground conditions. Firstly, the hollow cylinder model is solved with the considered boundary conditions in 2D plane stress. Secondly, the temperature differences at the inner and outer circles of the cylinder are evaluated with the heat line source models for continuous and discontinuous loading to observe the impact of the heat loading schedule. The developed analytical solution for thermal stress investigation is validated with numerical models. It is demonstrated that the analytical solutions agree well with numerical results for two types of BHE configurations (co‐axial and single U‐shaped pipes). Furthermore, the calculated maximum stresses are compared with the tensile strength of grout materials obtained from Brazilian tests. It is predicted that the thermal contraction of the grout, partially constrained by the surrounding rock, generates tensile stresses that may lead to cracking in the BHE. According to the results, the stiffness of rock has a primary role on the developed tensile stresses, and the relationship between the thermal conductivity of the ground and of the grout induces a proportional impact on the magnitude of thermal stresses. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

裂隙岩体水力劈裂研究综述

作为裂隙岩体渗流-应力耦合研究的一个子课题,岩体水力劈裂问题的研究尚处于初始阶段,许多基本的理论问题尚待深入研究。当今许多大型工程的建设已经在向地下发展,建设在地下的各种建筑结构离不开水压的作用。工程建设的需要正在推动岩体水力劈裂理论的研究。水力劈裂作为一种技术最初在石油工业用来增加油井产量,后来逐渐用于初始地应力测量等其他工程项目。随着水电工程建设、地下核废料储存、地热开发、井工矿产采掘等岩体工程越来越多的处于高水头、大埋深等恶劣水文地质条件下,水力劈裂作用正在受到越来越多工程岩体稳定性研究者的关注。通过对水力劈裂研究的现状作较为详细地综述,列举了当今研究的理论、方法和成果,以及目前水力劈裂研究的热点问题,并作了简单评述。最后,指出了目前需要重点研究的几个关键问题。     

Experimental Investigation on the Basic Law of Hydraulic Fracturing After Water Pressure Control Blasting

Because of the advantages of integrating water pressure blasting and hydraulic fracturing, the use of hydraulic fracturing after water pressure control blasting is a method that is used to fully transform the structure of a coal-rock mass by increasing the number and range of hydraulic cracks. An experiment to study hydraulic fracturing after water pressure blasting on cement mortar samples (300 × 300 × 300 mm³) was conducted using a large-sized true triaxial hydraulic fracturing experimental system. A traditional hydraulic fracturing experiment was also performed for comparison. The experimental results show that water pressure blasting produces many blasting cracks, and follow-up hydraulic fracturing forces blasting cracks to propagate further and to form numerous multidirectional hydraulic cracks. Four macroscopic main hydraulic cracks in total were noted along the borehole axial and radial directions on the sample surfaces. Axial and radial main failure planes induced by macroscopic main hydraulic cracks split the sample into three big parts. Meanwhile, numerous local hydraulic cracks were formed on the main failure planes, in different directions and of different types. Local hydraulic cracks are mainly of three types: local hydraulic crack bands, local branched hydraulic cracks, and axial layered cracks. Because local hydraulic cracks produce multiple local layered failure planes and lamellar ruptures inside the sample, the integrity of the sample decreases greatly. The formation and propagation process of many multidirectional hydraulic cracks is affected by a combination of water pressure blasting, water pressure of fracturing, and the stress field of the surrounding rock. To a certain degree, the stress field of surrounding rock guides the formation and propagation process of the blasting crack and the follow-up hydraulic crack. Following hydraulic fracturing that has been conducted after water pressure blasting, the integrity of the sample is found to be far lower than after traditional hydraulic fracturing; moreover, both the water injection volume and water injection pressure for hydraulic fracturing after water pressure blasting are much higher than they are for traditional hydraulic fracturing.     

基于水压致裂法的岩石抗拉强度研究

为了揭示水压致裂法和巴西劈裂法测量岩石抗拉强度的关系,开展了理论和现场试验研究。基于经典的水压致裂法理论,推导了不同围压下钻孔破裂压力和抗拉强度。利用断裂力学理论建立了水压致裂法和巴西劈裂法测得抗拉强度的关系。利用预制切槽方法模拟天然裂纹,对水力裂缝的起裂压力进行了研究。结果表明：围压为最大主应力等于3倍最小主应力测得的抗拉强度大于围压为0测得的抗拉强度;水压致裂法和巴西劈裂法测量抗拉强度关系与应力场、裂纹长度、断裂韧度3个变量有关;通过在晋城矿区王台铺矿的预制切槽试验,运用断裂力学建立的抗拉强度计算式更为符合现场实际。研究结果可为坚硬难垮落顶板预制切槽的水力压裂设计提供参考。     

单轴加载条件下页岩层理角度对水力压裂缝扩展规律影响研究

水力压裂作为一种改造储层渗透性、压裂增产的技术,对页岩气开采具有重要意义。为研究射孔附近水力压裂过程中页岩各向异性特征对破裂压力及裂缝扩展的影响规律,开展了单轴试验条件下不同层理角度的页岩水力压裂试验。研究表明:页岩的破裂压力存在明显的各向异性,破裂压力随层理角度的分布曲线呈U型分布,其中0°和90°破裂压力最大,30°最小;页岩的破裂形态主要有两种,一种为沿着最大主应力方向即竖直方向起裂并延伸,另一种模式为裂缝先沿着最大主应力方向起裂并延伸,延伸过程中直接穿过层理面,随后渐渐转向为沿层理面方向扩展;破裂机制则包括拉张破坏和拉张剪切混合破坏。研究结果对于深入了解页岩裂缝起裂和延伸机理、水力压裂施工设计等具有重要的意义。     

3D instability analysis of an underground geological repository—an Indian case study

Conceptual geological repositories are generally used for disposing spent nuclear wastes containing both high and low level of nuclear radiation and heat. Due to its long-lasting effect, it is imperative to analyze its long-term effect on the surrounding rock. Before analyzing radiation and thermal effect, it is important to have structurally stable cavern because designing an opening in rock is a more difficult problem than designing the structure made of steel. Underground rocks are under stress because of the weight of the overlying rock, and in addition, an underground opening will produce a stress concentration and stress relaxation in the surrounding rock. If the induced stress in the surrounding rock exceeds its strength, the opening will fail either by fracturing or by deforming more than the tolerable limit. In this paper, the stability of four different shapes of excavation has been examined for conceptual geological repositories in Indian context. This has been done using equivalent continuum numerical model which has been incorporated in the commercial finite difference code-FLAC-3D. Effects of opening shapes on stress distribution, subsidence of crown and side wall, and their stability have been analyzed and discussed. The validation of FLAC^3D software for its applicability in conceptual underground geological repositories has been done with a published literature.     

圆形巷道围岩层裂或板裂化的等效连续介质模型及侧压系数的影响

为了避免均质和非均质模型不能较好地模拟围岩的层裂或板裂化现象,将岩石视为等效连续介质,即颗粒体材料。颗粒被视为弹性材料,而颗粒之间的界面破坏后被视为摩尔-库仑材料。颗粒和界面均被离散为正方形单元。采用FLAC研究了不同侧压系数时圆形巷道围岩中的剪切应变增量、最小、最大主应力等的分布规律。研究发现,颗粒体材料模型在压应力作用下诱发出的拉应力值接近于在模型边界上所施加的最大压应力,而最大压应力是所施加的最大压应力的数倍。这些结果意味着均质和非均质模型的计算结果是偏于不安全的。另外,最小主应力和剪切应变增量的等值线图均显示,这些量的高值区的距离大致相等,这与V形岩爆坑内的板裂化现象类似。围岩层裂现象的原因是环向的高压应力和径向的高拉应力的共同作用的结果。     

煤层水压致裂后煤岩应力解析

水压致裂后煤岩应力分布规律对水压致裂防冲效果起关键性作用。采用理论研究方法得出高压注水压致裂后及卸水后水区和气区的孔隙、瓦斯压力和煤体应力解析解。结果表明,致裂后水区孔隙压力沿径向变化不大,与注水压力接近;气区瓦斯压力沿径向呈递减趋势;在水区外围一定范围内形成瓦斯压力升高区;水区煤体环向应力将会减小,直到变为拉应力;气区煤体径向应力沿径向递减。卸水后水区孔隙压力、煤体径向应力沿径向呈递增趋势;气区煤体径向应力沿径向呈递增趋势,趋近于原始煤体应力;气区煤体环向应力沿径向呈递减趋势;气区孔隙压力沿径向呈递减趋势。这为煤层水压致裂预防冲击地压提供理论基础。      

Fracturing and Episodic Fluid Expulsion in Pressure Compartments

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In-situ rock stress measurement from rock cores using the acoustic emission method and deformation rate analysis

In this study the possibilities of the acoustic emission (AE) technique and deformation rate analysis (DRA) were investigated to measure in situ rock stress. The rock cores were obtained from three vertically drilled exploratory boreholes from the surface and one borehole drilled from within an underground coal mine. The AE method was found to determine in situ rock stress with reasonable accuracy using AE signatures in repeated loadings of a rock core specimen. Based on the results of in situ stress estimation from the AE method, the time interval, up to seven years, did not strongly influence the previous stress determination using the AE method. Cored rock recollected the in situ stress condition reasonably well (within ±10%), when compared to the results from over coring and hydraulic fracturing technique. Also, there was significant correlation between overburden pressure and estimated vertical stress from the AE method.     

考虑洞室岩体应力型破坏特征的局部地应力反演方法及应用

介绍了一种考虑地下洞室片帮、钻孔剥落等岩体应力型破坏特征为信息源,通过数值模拟智能反演方法预测高应力大型地下洞室群围岩局部应力场的新思路。该方法将地下洞室群片帮、钻孔剥落等应力型破坏的位置、深度或者宽度进行定量描述,以弹性模型计算获得的常偏应力大于岩体启裂强度的范围来表示应力型破坏范围,通过分析实测地应力数据约束部分地应力数量,然后采用智能数值反演方法得到其他的地应力分量。采用该方法预测了白鹤滩水电站右岸地下厂房0+76断面附近围岩地应力场,反演获得最大主应力在34 MPa左右。通过其他部位岩体破裂的数值模拟和观测结果对比,验证了地应力场预测的合理性。     

盐岩三轴卸荷力学特性试验研究

结合金坛地下盐穴储气库工程,以腔体围岩实际受力状态为研究依据,进行了盐岩卸围压力学特性试验,得到了盐岩卸围压过程的应力-应变关系、变形特征及其规律。试验结果表明,在卸围压初始阶段,试样的轴向和径向应变增加相对缓慢,且应变值和围压基本呈线性,随着围压继续降低,轴向与径向应变值急剧增加;卸载曲线与加载曲线相比,在最大主应力 相等的条件下,当卸载围压达到与常规三轴压缩围压相对应值时,对应的轴向和径向应变值较三轴压缩时应变值要大,表明卸荷试验能引起试样更大的变形,卸荷产生的扩容量比加载时扩容量更大,更容易导致试样变形破坏;盐岩卸围压表现为塑性变形特征,与其他硬岩卸围压属脆性破坏有较大区别。研究结果对盐穴储气库工程的稳定性评价和注采气过程具有一定的指导意义和参考价值。     

隧洞边界超欠挖的摄动法解析分析

钻爆法施工常造成隧道边界不平整,隧道分析模型一般将开挖界面光滑处理,忽略了边界不平整对围岩应力的扰动作用。将隧道超欠挖值当作中心偏量小参数,利用摄动法得到了静水压力下圆形隧道的弹性应力解。计算分析表明:超欠挖改变了隧道洞壁附近围岩的应力状态,围岩应力随超欠开挖曲线呈波浪状变化,应力变化量与超欠挖曲线幅值及曲线斜率有关;环向应力变化最大值在洞壁处,其应力集中系数分别在超挖及欠挖顶点达到局部极大与极小值,径向应力变化最大值靠近洞壁表面,切应力变化最大值位于超挖与欠挖表面相交处;扰动应力在径向衰减较快,影响范围约为1~2倍的隧道半径。