Influence of Loading Rate on Deformability and Compressive Strength of Three Thai Sandstones

Uniaxial and triaxial compressive strength tests have been performed using a polyaxial load frame to assess the influence of loading rate on the strength and deformability of three Thai sandstones. The applied axial stresses are controlled at constant rates of 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1.0 and 10 MPa/s. The confining pressures are maintained constant at 0, 3, 7 and 12 MPa. The sandstone strengths and elastic moduli tend to increase exponentially with the loading rates. The effects seem to be independent of the confining pressures. An empirical loading rate dependent formulation of both deformability and shear strength is developed for the elastic and isotropic rocks. It is based on the assumption of constant distortional strain energy of the rock at failure under a given mean normal stress. The proposed multiaxial criterion well describes the sandstone strengths within the range of the loading rates used here. It seems reasonable that the derived loading rate dependent equations for deformability and shear strength are transferable to similar brittle isotropic intact rocks.     

The effect of high temperature and high confining pressure on compressional wave velocities in quartz-bearing and quartz-free igneous and metamorphic rocks

Compressional wave velocities have been measured in granite, granulite, amphibolite and peridotite specimens under conditions of high temperature up to 700°C and confining pressures up to 6 kbar. In general, velocity increases with pressure and decreases with temperature.Quartz-bearing rocks show an anomalous behavior of their compressional wave velocities. The velocity—temperature relations exhibit a velocity-“deep” due to the high—low inversion of the constituent quartz crystals. The intrinsic effect of temperature on velocities is hard to determine due to thermal expansion and consequent loosening of the structure. The opening of new cracks and the widening of old cracks causes a large decrease in compressional wave velocities. The minimum pressure to prevent damage at a given temperature should, therefore, be about 1 kbar/100°C.The values obtained at these conditions are considered to be most nearly correct as intrinsic properties of the compact aggregates. Velocity anisotropies at high confining pressures and high temperatures correlate with preferred lattice orientation of the constituent minerals. The effect of dimensional orientation and microcracks on seismic anisotropy seems to be of minor importance in dry rocks. It is the more eliminated the higher the confining pressure. The data do not support the concept of a velocity maximum in depth of 10–20 km.     

Analytical simulation of the dynamic compressive strength of a granite using the sliding crack model

A sliding crack model is employed to simulate rock strength under dynamic compression. It is assumed that the growth and nucleation of a sliding crack array presented results in the shear fault failure and dominate the mechanical properties of rock material. The pseudo‐tractions method is used to calculate the stress intensity factor of the sliding crack array under compression. With the utilization of a dynamic crack growth criterion, the growth of the sliding crack array is studied and the simulated strengths of a granite under dynamic compression are correspondingly obtained. It is concluded that the simulated rock strengths increase with increasing strain rates at different confining pressures, and the rising rates have a trend to decrease with increasing confining pressures. It is also indicated that the simulated rock strengths increase with increment of confining pressure at different strain rates, and the rising rates are almost identical at different strain rates. The simulation results are validated by the experimental data for the granite. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于声波测试法对鹰滩页岩各向异性分析

页岩储层通常呈薄层状结构,一般认为其岩石力学参数具有横向各向同性,而其各向异性受围压（CP）、含水率和总有机质含量（TOC）等多种因素的影响。本文对不同围压下的鹰滩（Eagle Ford）页岩进行超声波波速进行测试实验,研究围压对鹰滩页岩波速及岩石力学各向异性的影响。实验结果表明,鹰滩页岩属于弱各向异性多孔介质,并具有横向各向同性、垂向各向异性的性质。纵波（P波）和横波（S波）波速随围压的增大而增大,特别是在低围压范围内增幅显著,同时围压增大会降低纵波和横波的各向异性,纵波各向异性比横波各向异性对围压更敏感。对鹰滩页岩各向异性分析为页岩储层压裂过程中裂缝的起裂和延伸规律研究提供了必要的力学参数。     

Pluton accommodation at high strain rates in the upper continental crust. The example of the Central Extremadura batholith,Spain

Emplacement in the tensional bridge of a stepped dextral shear zone system is proposed for the Central Extremadura batholith (Spain). The country rocks show a pervasive anisotropy that conditioned the style of the structures developed as a consequence of the transference of displacement from the stepped shear zones to the releasing area. The kinematic evolution of the resulting megakink fold provided the volume increase necessary for the granite emplacement. Thermal and kinematic models suggest that the growth of individual plutons took place in periods of no more than several hundred to a few thousand years. Fast strain rates (10⁻¹⁰–10⁻¹¹ s⁻¹) must concentrate in local structures (e.g. initiation of kink folds) even in zones deforming as a whole under typical strain rates (10^−14±1 s⁻¹). Granite plutons might be used as strain-rate gauges for syn-plutonic structures.     

Rock Mechanical Characterization of an Argillaceous Host Rock of a Potential Radioactive Waste Repository

Summary The physical properties of foliated marls and shales from the Swiss Central Alps were investigated in the laboratory as part of the site characterization of a potential low and intermediate level radioactive waste repository. The rocks were first characterized by density, porosity and water content, then P-wave velocity measurements and uniaxial compression tests were conducted on samples oriented parallel, perpendicular and ∼45° inclined to the foliation. Correlations between P-wave velocities, Young's moduli, and uniaxial strengths and directional dependence of compressibility and permeability (determined at elevated hydrostatic pressures) revealed that two distinct families of microcracks cause the significant anisotropy. The pressure and time dependence of strength was then measured in triaxial compression, creep, and relaxation tests. In triaxial compression at room temperature, confining pressures up to 90 MPa and strain-rates as low as 10⁻⁸ s⁻¹ failure occured after small inelastic strains. Failure strength exhibits a strong pressure and a weak strain-rate dependence. The low friction coefficient of clay minerals appears to dominate the bulk frictional properties. Micromechanical modeling of triaxial compression, creep, and relaxation tests suggests that inelastic deformation is accommodated by subcritical crack growth.     

不同围压下砂岩的变形力学特性与损伤机制

开展不同围压下砂岩的强度、变形和损伤演化研究,对岩体工程的结构设计和稳定性评价具有重要意义。对赵固一矿二1煤层顶板砂岩进行试验获得其力学参数,并采用颗粒流程序获得砂岩细观力学参数,结合编制的fish语言程序进行试验,研究砂岩在不同围压的强度、变形和损伤演化机制,得到如下结论:随着围压增加砂岩的屈服段变长,围压小于40 MPa时峰值强度随围压变化敏感,大于40 MPa时敏感性降低,随着围压增加砂岩由脆性破坏逐步转变为延性破坏;砂岩的扩容经历线性体缩、线性扩容和非线性扩容3个阶段,围压增大线性扩容阶段缩短而非线性扩容阶段增加,扩容指数和扩容起始点轴向应变与围压存在指数变化规律;砂岩的损伤破坏经历损伤弥散分布、聚集成核、形成局部裂隙和主控破裂面形成4个阶段,低围压下砂岩沿单一主控破裂面发生压剪破坏,高围压下主控破裂面呈X型交叉破坏岩体,为X型共轭斜面剪切破坏形式。      

热处理北山花岗岩变形特性试验与损伤力学分析

温度与荷载共同作用下岩石力学行为和损伤特性的研究,对于深入认识高放废物处置库围岩在热-力耦合作用下的渐进破坏规律具有重要意义。以国内高放废物处置库预选区甘肃北山花岗岩为研究对象,通过开展不同热处理温度后的物理力学性质测试,并借助偏光显微和X射线衍射细微观分析手段,对其宏观变形、损伤演化以及破坏特征开展了研究。研究结果表明：随着热处理温度的升高,质量、密度、纵波波速和峰值强度总体呈下降的趋势,而体积和峰值应变则逐渐增大,1 000 ℃时不同围压下的峰值强度分别减小了77.70%、57.28%、37.33%及33.97%,峰值应变分别增加了196.37%、115.27%、105.13%及90.38%。在低温、低围压下三轴压缩过程中北山花岗岩的损伤发展迅速,破坏形式以张拉劈裂为主,且试样破坏后极为破碎,在破坏面附近存在多条贯通的轴向裂纹;随着温度和围压的增大,北山花岗岩的变形由脆性向塑性转变,破坏形式都是陡倾角的剪切破坏。     

Microscopic feather fractures in the faulting process

The nature and development of microscopic feather fractures (mff) are investigated in experimentally deformed intact and precut cylinders of room-dry Tennessee and Coconino Sandstone. All specimens are deformed at 25° C, and at a shortening rate of 10⁻⁴ sec⁻¹ ; the intact ones are at confining pressures from 0.5 to 2.5 kbar; and the precut specimens at 1.0 and 1.5 kbar. Mff occur in grains adjacent to induced shear fractures or faults; they are wedge-shaped and die out within one or two grain diameters from the fault; and they make acute angles with the fault such that arrows directed into the apices of these angles on either side of the fault define its sense of shear. Occurrence of mff only after slip on precut surfaces clearly demonstrates that they form as a result of shear displacement. The average angle between the mff and fault is 10° greater than that between the load axis and the fault, and it increases with increasing confining pressure in initially intact specimens. Data suggest that the abundance of mff (mean number per grain) increases with increasing normal stress across the fault and with displacement. The wedgeshaped character of many mff and their consistent orientation at 10° to the load axis are distinguishing characteristics. Mff are shown to be parallel to the local maximum compressive stress and thus are extension microfractures. They are not to be confused with precursive micro fractures developed prior to macroscopic fracture, nor to Riedel shears developed during faulting.     

人工单节理砂岩的三轴试验研究

采用云石胶黏结岩块的方法制备人工节理面,通过直剪试验获得人工节理面的抗剪强度特性,基于完整和单节理砂岩的常规三轴试验,分析不同倾角（0°,30°,60°,90°）对单节理岩体试样力学响应的影响。结果表明:人工节理面在直剪试验中呈现脆性破坏,其抗剪强度符合M-C准则;不同围压下（2.5,5 0和7.5 MPa）完整砂岩的破坏形态和弹性模量基本相同,峰值强度随围压增大;相同围压下（2.5 MPa）不同倾角单节理岩体的破坏形态、弹性模量、峰值强度均不相同,单节理岩体试样的峰值强度-倾角曲线呈反对号“”形,节理倾角对岩体力学性质的影响明显,其中60°节理岩体试样的强度最低,仅为完整岩石强度的19.7%。推导了过圆柱体试样中心任意斜截面内力的三维计算公式,根据其理论预测所得完整岩石的破裂面角度和60°节理试样的破坏方式均与试验结果相符,其吻合度较传统的二维分析更高。     

Frictional properties of saponite-rich gouge from a serpentinite-bearing fault zone along the Gokasho-Arashima Tectonic Line,central Japan

We studied a serpentinite-bearing fault zone in Gokasho-Arashima Tectonic Line, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, characterizing its internal structures, mineral assemblage, permeability, and frictional properties. The fault core situated between the serpentinite breccia and the adjacent sedimentary rocks is characterized by a zone locally altered to saponite. The clayey gouge layer separates fault rocks of serpentinite origin containing talc and tremolite from fault rocks of sedimentary origin containing chlorite but no quartz. The minerals that formed within the fault are the products of metasomatic reaction between the serpentinite and the siliceous rocks. Permeability measurements show that serpentinite breccia and fault gouge have permeability of 10⁻¹⁴–10⁻¹⁷ m² and 10⁻¹⁵–10⁻¹⁸ m², respectively, at 5–120 MPa confining pressure. Frictional coefficient of the saponite-rich clayey fault gouge ranged between 0.20 and 0.35 under room-dry condition, but was reduced to 0.06–0.12 when saturated with water. The velocity dependence of friction was strongly positive, mostly ranging between 0.005 and 0.006 in terms of a–b values. The governing friction law is not constrained yet, but we find that the saponite-rich gouge possesses an evolutional behavior in the opposite direction to that suggested by the rate and state friction law, in addition to its direct velocity dependence.     

The Effects of Temperature and Pressure on the Porosity Evolution of Flechtinger Sandstone

A porosity change influences the transport properties and the elastic moduli of rock while circulating water in a geothermal reservoir. The static and dynamic elastic moduli can be derived from the slope of stress–strain curves and velocity measurements, respectively. Consequently, the acoustic velocities were measured while performing hydrostatic drained tests. The effect of temperature on static and dynamic elastic moduli and porosity variations of Flechtinger sandstone was investigated in a wide range of confining pressure from 2 to 55 MPa. The experiments were carried out in a conventional triaxial system whereas the pore pressure remained constant, confining pressure was cycled, and temperature was increased step wise (25, 60, 90, 120, and 140 °C). The porosity variation was calculated by employing two different theories: poroelasticity and crack closure. The porosity variation and crack porosity were determined by the first derivative of stress–strain curves and the integral of the second derivative of stress–strain curves, respectively. The crack porosity analysis confirms the creation of new cracks at high temperatures. The porosity variation was increasing with an increase in temperature at low effective pressures and was decreasing with a rise in temperature at high effective pressures. Both compressional and shear wave velocities were increasing with increasing pressure due to progressive crack closure. Furthermore, the thermomechanical behavior of Flechtinger sandstone was characterized by an inversion effect where the sign of the temperature derivative of the drained bulk modulus changes.     

三轴应力下不同粒径破碎砂岩渗透特性试验

地下工程中破碎岩体往往处于三向应力状态,此类岩体具有孔隙率大、渗透性高等特点,在地应力与高水头作用下易发生渗流失稳破坏,诱发突水灾害。为研究三轴应力下破碎砂岩的渗透特性,运用自主研发的破碎岩石三轴渗流试验系统,采用稳态渗透法进行5种粒径破碎砂岩的渗流试验,得到了三轴应力下破碎砂岩渗透特性变化规律,推导了有效应力与渗流速度之间的关系。试验结果表明：三轴应力下破碎砂岩的有效应力与渗流速度呈线性关系,且轴向位移越大时,随有效应力的增加渗流速度减小的幅度越小;三轴应力下5种粒径破碎砂岩的孔压梯度与渗流速度服从Forchheimer关系,两者之间的相关系数达0.95以上;轴向位移恒定时,随着围压的增大,破碎砂岩渗透率k减小,非Darcy流β因子增大,各级轴向位移下,破碎砂岩的渗透率与围压之间呈指数函数关系;随着孔隙率的减小,5种粒径的破碎砂岩渗透率呈减小趋势,非Darcy流β因子整体增大,且渗透率量级为10-14～10-11 m2,非Darcy流β因子的量级为106～1012 m-1。     

Predicting mechanical properties and ultimate shear strength of gypsum,limestone and sandstone rocks using Vipulanandan models

ABSTRACT

In this study, over 1000 data from the literature was used to characterize and compare the density, strengths, modulus, fracture toughness, porosity and the ultimate shear strengths of the gypsum, limestone and sandstone rocks. The compressive modulus and Mode-1 fracture toughness of the gypsum rock, limestone rock and sandstone rocks varied from 0.7 GPa to 70 GPa, and from 0.03 MPa.m^0.5 to 2.6 MPa.m^0.5  respectively. Vipulanandan correlation model was effective in relating the modulus of elasticity, fracture toughness with the relevant strengths of the rocks. A new nonlinear Vipulanandan failure criterion was developed to quantify the tensile strength, pure shear (cohesion) strength and to predict the maximum shear strength limit with applied normal stress on the gypsum, limestone and sandstone rocks. The Vipulanandan failure model predicts the maximum shear strength limit was, as the Mohr-Coulomb failure model does not have a limit on the maximum shear strength. With the Vipulanandan failure model based on the available data, the maximum shear strengths predicted for the gypsum, limestone and sandstone rocks were 64 MPa, 114 MPa and 410 MPa respectively.     

Effect of high-low quartz transition on compressional and shear wave velocities in rocks under high pressure

The compressional and shear wave velocities in quarzite, granite, and granulite are determined at a fixed confining pressure of 2 kb as a function of temperature up to 720° C. The high-low quartz transition of the constituent quartz minerals is associated with a pronounced decrease in velocity of the compressional waves when approaching the transition and with a significant velocity increase after the transition. In contrast, the effect of the α-β transition on shear wave velocities is small. The drop of V _P is explained by the elastic softening of structure of the constituent quartz minerals near the α-β transition and the opening of grain-boundary cracks, caused by the very high volumetric thermal expansion of the quartz relative to the other component minerals. The velocity increase in the β-field may be attributed to an elastic hardening of the quartz structure. Poisson ratios computed from the velocity data are anomalous for a solid: they become negative within the transition regime. The transition temperature, as indicated by the minimum velocities, is higher in the polycristalline rocks than is expected on grounds of single crystal behavior, and the discrepancy is more marked in granite than in quartzite. The shift of the transition temperature to higher values is explained by internal stresses that arise from the anisotropy of the thermal expansion and compressibility of individual grains and the differences in thermal expansion and compressibility between different component minerals. The role of the α-β quartz transition as a possible cause of low-velocity layers is discussed.     

Numerical 3D modeling of the effects of strain rate and confining pressure on the compressive behavior of Kuru granite

This paper deals with numerical modeling of the compressive behavior of granite rock under high strain rate dynamic loading and wide range of confining pressure. For this end, a constitutive model based on damage mechanics and viscoplasticity for rock is formulated and implemented in explicit dynamics FEM. The viscoplastic part is based on a simple power law type yield criterion that incorporates the rate-dependency with a linear viscosity term. Moreover, a Rankine type of tensile cut-off is employed. The damage part of the model is formulated with separate scalar damage variables in tension and compression. The model is calibrated for Kuru granite and validated with the experimental data from dynamic compression tests at the strain rate of 600 1/s up to 225 MPa of confining pressure. The numerical simulations demonstrate that, despite the underlying continuum modeling approach, the model captures the correct experimental failure modes, including the transition from single-to-multiple fragmentation, as well as the dynamic compressive strengths at different confining pressures.     

上部地壳岩石流动与显微构造演化--天然与实验岩石变形证据

岩石流动性和变形显微构造的发育直接受温度、压力、应变速率和流体相等制约 ,致使在不同地壳层次岩石的流动性表现出很大的差异。对上部地壳环境条件下天然和实验变形岩石的显微构造分析揭示出一系列具有不同特点以及由不同的成核、扩展和联合方式形成的破裂与微破裂型式的存在。讨论了在上部地壳环境中 ,温度与围压的变化对岩石破裂的影响 ,并阐述了高压破裂与低压破裂及其力学、流变学和显微构造特点 ,提出高压破裂对应于天然变形环境下出现的剪切 (挤压 )破裂 ,而碎裂岩带是典型的天然低压破裂 ,其低压环境的出现可以是浅部低围压或深部高流体压力所致。流体相的存在不仅可以引起石英 ,也可以引起方解石类碳酸盐岩矿物的水解弱化 ,并进而导致岩石流动机制的转变。岩石变形及流体等因素所致的岩石粒度变化 ,则从另一个方面影响着上部地壳岩石流动性的变化。从变形环境考虑 ,随着深度的加大 ,温度和压力升高 ,导致岩石由脆性向韧性转变 ;转变域内岩石的变形是一个复杂过程 ,是多种不同脆性和晶质塑性机制的综合。     

Fracture strength of dry silicate rocks at high confining pressures and activity of acoustic emission

Three dry silicate rocks, gabbro, dunite and eclogite, were triaxially compressed up to a confining pressure of 3 GPa at room temperature. These rocks exhibited brittle fracture behavior up to the highest confining pressure. The change of the mechanism of fracture in the brittle region is suggested from the measurement of the compressive fracture strength and the activity of acoustic emission. The existence of the “high-pressure brittle-fracture” phase is proposed. The fracture strength increased with increase of confining pressure. The increasing rate of strength was lowered at a value of confining pressure: at about 0.8 GPa on gabbro; at about 1.0 GPa on dunite; and at about 1.5 GPa on eclogite. At lower confining pressures than the above value, the acoustic emission rate began to increase at the onset of dilatancy and increased rapidly followed by fracture as the axial stress was increased. At the higher confining pressures, however, the acoustic emission rate did not increase rapidly before final fracture, and stayed constant to the fracture. The similar behavior was shown on the granite studied previously. It is interesting that the frictional strength forms the boundary between “low- and high-pressure brittle-fracture” phases.     

循环加载时围压对岩石动力特性的影响

针对砂岩岩样,探讨了在不同围压作用下和轴向循环加载时岩样的动力力学性质,研究围压对砂岩岩样的动力力学性质的影响。采用的试验设备是MTS－815岩石和混凝土试验系统,5组围压分别为10、20、30、40、50 MPa。岩样为汶川地区的干砂岩,轴向荷载施加的频率为1 Hz。结果表明,（1）随着围压的逐渐增加,试样的残余轴向应变和体变逐渐增加,且剪胀发生时的残余体变也逐渐增加;（2）动力荷载作用时岩样在高围压比低围压下的初始刚度和强度高;（3）不同围压作用下,当应力比Rs较大时,岩样在较小的循环次数下发生破坏;（4）试样的破坏模式为剪切破坏,动力荷载作用下试样形成的局部化破坏带更宽。     

Physical properties of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks from the Sulu terrain, eastern central China: implications for the seismic structure at the Donghai (CCSD) drilling site

About 30 samples representing major lithologies of Sulu ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks were collected from surface exposures and exploration wells, and compressional (Vp) and shear wave (Vs) velocities and their directional dependence (anisotropy) were determined over a range of constant confining pressures up to 600 MPa and temperatures ranging from 20 to 600 °C. Samples range in composition from acidic to ultramafic. P- and S-wave velocities measured at 600 MPa vary from 5.08 to 8.64 km/s and 2.34 to 4.93 km/s, respectively. Densities are in the range from 2.60 to 3.68 g/cm³. To make a direct tie between seismic measurements (refraction and reflection) and subsurface lithologies, the experimental velocity data (corresponding to shallow depths) were used to calculate velocity profiles for the different lithologies and profiles of reflection coefficients at possible lithologic interfaces across the projected 5000-m Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Program (CCSD) crustal segment. Comparison of calculated in situ velocities with respective intrinsic velocities suggests that the in situ velocities at shallow depths are lowered by an increased abundance of open microcracks. The strongly reflective zone beneath the Donghai drill site can be explained by the impedance contrasts between the different lithologies. Contacts between eclogite/peridotite and felsic rocks (gt-gneiss, granitic gneiss), in particular, may give rise to strong seismic reflections. In addition, shear-induced (lattice preferred orientation (LPO)-related) seismic anisotropy can increase reflectivity. For the explanation of the high velocity bodies (>6.4 km/s) around 1000 m and below 3200-m depth, large proportions of eclogite/peridotite (about 40 and 30 vol.%, respectively) are needed.