Experimental study of thermal effects on the mechanical behaviour of a clay

The paper presents the results of an experimental study of thermal effects on the mechanical behaviour of a saturated clay. The study was performed on CM clay (Kaolin) using a temperature-controlled triaxial apparatus. Applied temperatures were between 22 and 90°C. A comprehensive experimental program was carried out, including: (i) triaxial shear tests at ambient and high temperatures for different initial overconsolidation ratios; (ii) consolidation tests at ambient and high temperatures; and (iii) drained thermal heating for different initial overconsolidation ratios. The obtained results provide observations concerning a wide scope of the thermo-mechanical behaviour of clays. Test results obtained at 90°C were compared with tests performed at ambient temperature. Based on these comparisons, thermal effects on a variety of features of behaviour are presented and discussed. Focus is made on: (i) induced thermal volume change during drained heating; (ii) experimental evidence of temperature influence on preconsolidation pressure and on compressibility index; (iii) thermal effects on shear strength and critical state; and (iv) thermal effects on elastic modulus. Thermal yielding is discussed and yield limit evolution with temperature is presented. The directions of the induced plastic strains are also discussed. Several remarks on the difference in the mechanical behaviour at ambient and high temperatures conclude the paper. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

塑性梯度体元及应变局部化启动机制分析

利用代表性体元可较好地反映出并非理想连续均匀的岩土介质破坏前强度和变形行为。但当材料出现高的应变梯度(应变局部化)时,在体元上的应力、应变呈现高次非线性变化,代表性体元不能如实地反映出介质的力学性能。提出一种可包含局部化变形的研究基元--塑性梯度体元(Plasticity Gradient Volume Element) ,塑性应变在其内可用微分形式表达。该体元不但可反映介质的平均力学响应,而且可反映应变呈高次非线性变化时的影响。随着硬(软)化模量从正值变为负值,变形模式将由均匀变形模式变为局部化变形模式,这就是应变局部化的启动机制。     

基于数字图像相关方法的裂隙砂岩应变场演化规律及前兆识别

目前数字图像相关方法在岩石力学领域的应用主要集中于获取变形场云图,缺乏结合一些指标对变形数据进行定量分析。采用数字图像相关方法对裂隙砂岩试件压缩加载过程进行非接触式、实时变形测量,结合方差量化描述应变场分异特征;而后对应变场方差变化曲线进行有限差分求导,量化描述应变场分异速率,分析应变场演化规律及前兆特征。研究结果表明：裂隙砂岩试件的变形破裂过程可划分为压密、弹性变形、裂纹稳定扩展、裂纹快速扩展及破坏等4个阶段。加载过程中裂隙砂岩试件的裂纹萌生和扩展行为,在应变场上表现为应变局部化带的产生与发展,进而导致应变场方差和分异速率发生变化。应变场方差-轴向应变曲线表现出阶段性特征,可划分为稳定分异、加速分异以及加加速分异等3个阶段。应变场分异速率-轴向应变曲线在张拉裂纹起裂时均出现第一个尖峰,可作为裂隙岩体失稳破坏前的前兆信号,对应的前兆应力与峰值应力之比为0.80～0.96。研究成果对工程岩体失稳预测具有较好的理论参考价值。     

A Physical and Numerical Investigation on the Stability of Shallow Tunnels in Strain Softening Media

Summary The behaviour up to failure of shallow underground openings is discussed on the basis of some laboratory, small-scale model tests and of finite element simulation. The experimental results are first illustrated. They were obtained from two-dimensional (plane strain) and three-dimensional tunnel models tested under standard gravity conditions. Then, the phenomenon of strain localisation that characterizes the medium surrounding the model tunnels is discussed, recalling two alternative approaches for its numerical interpretation. On this basis, a finite element procedure for strain softening analyses is outlined and applied to the simulation of the tests in both two- and three-dimensional conditions. The comparison between experimental and numerical results leads to some conclusions on the influence of strain localisation on the overall behaviour of shallow tunnels and on the stability of their headings.     

Soil porosity resulting from the assemblage of silt grains with a clay phase: New perspectives related to utilization of X-ray synchrotron computed microtomography

Understanding the assemblage of basic grains is essential for predicting many soil properties. X-ray synchrotron microtomography with a high resolution was used for visualisation and quantification of the assemblage of silt grains with a clay phase containing 20% of clays. The 3D computed image was analysed after appropriate segmentation by using: (i) autocorrelation functions which enables anisotropy discussion of the assemblage; (ii) chord distribution which gives information on the size distribution of the void and solid phases; and (iii) the Hoshen-Kopelman algorithm (6-connectivity) in order to label each void with a unique number and thus enabling discussion of the connectivity. Our results show that X-ray synchrotron microtomography enables a more accurate analysis of the assemblage of silt grains with a clay phase than with conventional methods. Thus, it showed the isotropy of the silt-clay assemblage in the studied soil material. The void and solid phase volumes were smaller than 80 and 120 μm in all directions, respectively. The mean distance between two interfaces was 6.9 and 13.4 μm for the void and solid phase, respectively. X-ray synchrotron microtomography of the soil material studied also showed that the voids resulting from the assemblage of the silt grains with the clay phase can be considered as fully connected in the studied dried materials.     

Multi-scale study of permeability evolution of a bentonite clay owing to pollutant transport: Part II. Application to an MG-bentonite

This paper is concerned with the application of a multi-scale model of permeability evolution to the simulation of permeation tests of lead nitrate solutions in a compacted natural bentonite. In a previous work, the weathered hydraulic conductivity has been measured for different pollutant concentrations. Textural and structural evolutions induced by heavy metal sorption have also been investigated, therefore giving us information about the various pore spaces that may be encountered during the process of pollutant leaching. Such knowledge has been exploited during the construction of the numerical microstructures. First of all, pure water permeability tests have been simulated, this has allowed us to ascertain the representation of compacted clay before pollutant permeation. For both Prrenjas and Wyoming clays, permeation tests after pollutant permeation have then been simulated, using connected and non-connected macro-voids configurations. Different conclusions have been drawn based on simulation results for the two different clays investigated, which are supported by experimental evidence.