Porosity and microstructure characterization of building stones and concretes

The microstructure of building materials greatly influences engineering properties like permeability, strength and durability. To determine this microstructure, different techniques were developed, each with its own limitations. The purpose of this study on concrete and natural building stones was to compare and to combine data obtained by X-ray computed micro-tomography (micro-CT), water absorption under vacuum and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). Pore-size distribution curves ranging from 10 nm to 1 mm and total porosity results were obtained. Furthermore, micro-CT revealed the presence of an interfacial transition zone (ITZ) and of micro-cracks inside the aggregates of the concrete samples after mercury intrusion. Micro-CT visualized mercury inside large air bubbles within the concrete samples. Both micro-CT and MIP were compared and their respective advantages and disadvantages discussed.     

Effect of salt crystallization on weathering of pyroclastic rocks from Cappadocia,Turkey

Salt crystallization is the most significant factor in the degradation of the natural stones used in cultural and historical structures. Stones decay partially or fully as a result of this exposure. This study is the investigation of the degradation of historical monuments (underground cities and semi-underground settlements) carved in pyroclastic rocks in Cappadocian Region which takes part in World Cultural Heritage List. Samples of pyroclastic rocks were collected from six different quarries in Cappadocia, Turkey. To understand the contribution of salt crystallization to this weathering, dry weight loss (DWL) tests were performed on these samples. To investigate the correlations between salt crystallization and other rock properties, porosity, water absorption, ultrasonic velocity, uniaxial compressive strength, Brazilian tensile strength, and point load index were also measured. During the SC process of weathering, the results showed that porosity and water absorption increased for all the samples whereas ultrasonic velocity, uniaxial compressive strength, tensile strength, and point load index values decreased. Evaluation of the data obtained from these tests showed very high logarithmic correlations between the dry weight loss values and the mechanical properties.     

Determining soil permeability from pressuremeter tests

This paper presents a methodology for identifying soil permeability from pressuremeter test. On the first part we present a numerical analysis of the permeability effects on the test results. We demonstrate that different drainage conditions arise during test, as a function of the loading rate and the soil permeability. We also studied the pore pressure dissipation during strain holding stages. Based on this analysis of these tests, we propose a general procedure to identify simultaneously mechanical parameters and permeability from pressuremeter tests with strain holding test stages. This procedure was applied on tests performed on natural Saint–Herblain clay. An apparatus called pressio‐triax was developed for this purpose. The values of the mechanical parameters as well as of the permeability value were found to agree very well with the values of the same parameters obtained from conventional laboratory tests. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison between neuro-fuzzy and fractal models for permeability prediction

We have used different techniques for permeability prediction using porosity core data from one well at the Maracaibo Lake, Venezuela. One of these techniques is statistical and uses neuro-fuzzy concepts. Another has been developed by Pape et al. (Geophysics 64(5):1447–1460, 1999), based on fractal theory and the Kozeny–Carman equations. We have also calculated permeability values using the empirical model obtained in 1949 by Tixier and a simple linear regression between the logarithms of permeability and porosity. We have used 100% of the permeability–porosity data to obtain the predictor equations in each case. The best fit, in terms of the root mean-square error, was obtained with the statistical approach. The results obtained from the fractal model, the Tixier equation or the linear approach do not improve the neuro-fuzzy results. We have also randomly taken 25% of the porosity data to obtain the predictor equations. The increase of the input data density for the neuro-fuzzy approach improves the results, as is expected for a statistical analysis. On the contrary, for the physical model based on the fractal theory, the decrease in the data density could allow reaching the ideal theoretical Kozeny–Carman model, on which are based the fractal equations, and hence, the permeability prediction using these expressions is improved.     

Volcanic tuffs from Hesse (Germany) and their weathering behaviour

In the Hessian region of Germany numerous deposits of tuffs are known from which natural building stones were extracted. Many buildings show examples of the use of this material in the past. In contrast to their attractive appearance and ease of extraction from quarries, tuffs are liable to destruction by weathering. Most common damages are disintegration, crumbling, cracking, scaling and flaking. In this paper, the causes of damage of selected varieties have been analysed using petrographical and petrophysical methods. The measured values are disadvantageous in comparison to other natural building stones. Large amounts of swellable clay minerals, mostly forming the cementing material, cause scaling due to repeated humidification. High porosity including negative pore structures and high adsorption effects results in structural damages while freezing. Consequently, most varieties of the described tuffs possess a limited usage as an outdoor building material.     

Weathering of volcanic tuff rocks caused by moisture expansion

Moisture expansion in natural building stones is considered one of the most important factors affecting their weathering and deterioration. The processes that may be responsible for the expansion under determinate relative humidity (hygric dilatation) and water-saturated conditions (hydric dilatation) are generally attributed to the presence of swellable clay minerals. In contrast to this assumption, our investigations show that moisture expansion also takes place in volcanic tuff building stones almost free from clay minerals. To provide a deeper understanding of the processes, swelling and deterioration were performed on 14 volcanic tuffs used as important building stones of different ages, compositions and weathering stages from Mexico, Germany and Hungary. The investigations undertaken include extensive chemical, petrophysical and fabric analyses. The samples show a wide range of effective porosity, microporosity, capillary water absorption, moisture expansion, and CEC values. High moisture expansion does not seem to depend on clay mineral content alone. We also observed that there is no significant effect on dilatation if clay minerals are present but only form a thin coat on the outer shell of bigger pores. Moreover, we identified a correlation between microporosity, average pore radius and moisture expansion. The investigations highlight the fact that moisture expansion cannot only be attributed to swellable clay minerals, and suggest that the presence and accumulation of micropores and their average radius and distribution play an important role for non-clay associated swelling intensity, which can most probably be attributed to the disjoining pressure.     

Evaluation of Portuguese limestones’ susceptibility to salt mist through laboratory testing

The salt mist present in the coastal shoreline constitutes an important weathering agent of the building materials applied in these regions. Portugal has an extensive coastline, which has a high population density. It holds a long tradition in the use of stone as a building material, due to the abundance of this natural resource, but also because of its durability and beauty. Considering the main ornamental stones mined in Portugal, limestones are the most susceptible to the action of saline atmospheric aerosol, because, in most cases, they present open porosities higher than those of other stone types. This feature facilitates the penetration of saline aerosol in their structures. Six widely applied Portuguese limestones, with different technological properties, were selected for this study. After accessing their petrographic and main technological features, the limestones were submitted to salt mist test. The test method, established in the respective European standard, was complemented with further determinations (variation on water absorption and flexural strength after salt mist cycling). The results allowed evaluating the limestones’ suitability for the main types of applications and for specific usage conditions, within each one. Thus, it was possible to set the recommended uses for each limestone, in order to maximize its durability. Salt mist testing made possible to determine the limestones’ resistance to the climatic conditions of coastal areas. The detailed analysis of the salt mist results strengthens the knowledge that the open porosity plays a decisive role in the limestones’ behaviour to this test.     

Prediction of dilation and permeability changes in rock salt

A numerical procedure has been developed for predicting dilation (porosity) and gas permeability changes in rock salt. The hierarchical single-surface constitutive model of Desai and co-workers is used a finite element program to calculate the state of stress and strain surrounding excavations in rock salt. The elastoplastic constitutive model accounts for strain hardening, a non-associative volumetric response and stress-path-dependent behaviour. The calculated stress and strain fields are used in a flow model based on the equivalent channel concept to predict permeability. Parameters for both the mechanical and permeability models are developed from laboratory test results. Two field experiments adjacent to underground excavations are modelled. The extent of the dilated rock zone around the excavation is predicted well, but the magnitude of the porosity and gas permeability is underpredicted very near the excavations. This discrepancy is attributed to model parameters derived from loading-only laboratory tests, whereas significant unloading occurs in the field. The shape of the yield surface was found to be an important factor in dilation and permeability predictions. Similar stress, strain and permeability fields were obtained with different model types (plane strain or axisymmetric) and initial stress states, and with instantaneous and progressive excavation.     

Determining air permeability in reclaimed coastal land based on tidal fluctuations

Coastal land reclamation is a common practice in many regions around the World. A reclaimed coastal land often has a two-layer system: a highly permeable layer consisting of crushed rock fragments underneath a less permeable layer. This study deals with vertical airflow in a reclaimed coastal land induced by the periodic variations of water table elevation due to tide fluctuations. The influence of atmospheric pressure fluctuations can be easily dealt with through a simple superposition procedure reported by Li and Jiao, thus is not considered here. A time-series Fourier analysis method is developed to determine air permeability based on a tide-induced airflow model reported by Li and Jiao for the reclaimed coastal land. This method employs the amplitude attenuations of subsurface air pressure to search for values of dimensionless air-leaking-resistance which can be subsequently used to calculate air permeability. Two types of data, the air pressure data in the upper less permeable layer and the tidal fluctuation data, are required to calculate the air permeability. Type curves relating to the amplitude attenuations and the relative depth can also be used to determine the values of air permeability. A field site in Hong Kong International Airport is used to demonstrate the applicability of this method for reclaimed coastal land consisting of a marine sand layer above a layer of crushed rock fragments. The application shows that the amplitude attenuations of diurnal and semi-diurnal components in the Fourier series are most reliable for determining the value of air permeability.     

New correlations of permeability and porosity versus confining pressure,cementation, and grain size and new quantitatively correlation relates permeability to porosity

In sandstone, there is a trend between porosity (?) and permeability (k). It is a linear relationship having the form log (k)?=?a?+?(b ?). The slope, intercept, and degree of scatter of the log(k)???? trends vary from formation to another. These variations are attributed to differences in initial grain size and sorting, diagenetic history, cementation, clay content, pore geometry, and compaction history. In the literature, permeability and porosity modeling by using lab experiments was carried out by using unconsolidated sandstone, sand packs, or synthetic particles. Such models cannot be applied to predict flow properties of consolidated natural sandstone. Furthermore in these models, sand grain size, shape, and sorting factors were considered as the main factors that affect porosity and permeability. Hardly, any attention was paid to the confining pressure and the fraction of cementing material that bind the grain to form a coherent rock. If these two crucial aspects are not taken into consideration during the model development, the model cannot be applied to natural consolidated sandstone. The main objective of the present paper is to develop a new model for porosity versus permeability taking into account important factors such as sand grain size and sorting, compaction pressure, and concentration of cementing material that bind the sand grains. The effect for clay swelling or migration was however discarded, as the sand grains were washed prior to consolidation. The sand used in producing the sandstone cores was medium- to fine-sized well-sorted sand grains. The grain’s sphericity was measured to be in the range of (0.8–0.9) with little angularity. The fabricated cores have an average compressive strength of 5,700 psi, which is comparable with Bera sandstone strength. Also, the produced cores were stable in the fluid media as they were subjected to 300 °C to allow cementing material to be crystallized. The aspect of the present work was to analyze the dependence of both the permeability as well as the porosity on the variables of the present study that consist of grain size, cementation fraction, and the confining pressure. Using the experimental data, a linear relationship, in terms of each variable, was developed here that can eventually help researchers to fabricate cores with desired properties. The second step was to generate more general models to be used as references for scholars for further work in this research field. Nonlinear regression analysis was carried out on all the three variables of the present study to obtain two nonlinear correlations: one describes the behavior of permeability and the other describes porosity. In the third step, an advanced correlation that describes permeability versus porosity in a quantitative manner was developed by using nonlinear regression analysis. Permeability was studied accordingly as a function of all the three variables of the present study as well as porosity. This step represents the main objective of this paper.     

Natural building stones of Mexico–Tenochtitlán: their use, weathering and rock properties at the Templo Mayor, Palace Heras Soto and the Metropolitan Cathedral

In the Aztec period and in colonial times different natural stones originating in the Valley of Mexico were used for building construction. Stone weathering was investigated onsite at various historical buildings within the old quarter of Mexico City. In this study, different aspects of weathering and deterioration at three significant historical buildings will be presented, the Aztec excavation site Templo Mayor, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the colonial palace of the dukes of Heras Soto. Petrophysical properties of the main building stones of these structures were investigated like density, porosity, pore radii distribution, water uptake rate and coefficient, thermal and hygric expansion, and the mechanical properties of uniaxial compressive strength. A relationship between single critical property values, according to anisotropy fabric characteristics, and specific weathering forms could be deduced.     

Logging evaluation of deep multi-type unconventional gas reservoirs in the Songliao basin,northeast China: Implications from continental scientific drilling

Multi-type unconventional gas-bearing reservoirs with different lithologies and gas accumulation potential occur in the deep part of the Songliao basin. However, the reservoirs are non-homogeneous, the gas components differ substantially, and not all types of gas-bearing reservoirs have been identified or evaluated. The International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) is used as an example to conduct qualitative and quantitative evaluations of deep multi-type unconventional gas-bearing reservoirs using conventional and specialized logging data. The core test data are used to determine the physical properties. The porosity and permeability are compared and analyzed using different methods and models. The results show that the reservoirs have low to ultra-low porosity and ultra-low permeability. Based on the comparison of the rock mechanical parameters and mineral composition, brittleness evaluation parameters are proposed for different types of deep reservoirs in the study region. The mineral brittleness index is highly consistent with the brittleness index based on rock mechanics. An identification method for deep multi-type gas-bearing reservoir and a classification approach for different gas properties are established based on the logging response and parameter interpretation. The methane gas reservoirs have low density (DEN) and low compensated neutron logging (CNL) values and high acoustic (AC) time difference and high resistivity (RT) values. The CO₂ gas reservoirs have lower RT values and higher CNL values than the hydrocarbon gas reservoirs. The comprehensive analysis of deep gas source rock conditions and of the source-reservoir relationship provides insights for the evaluation of deep multi-type unconventional gas reservoirs. The discovery of high hydrogen content is of significant importance for developing new areas for deep natural gas exploration.     

Order of diagenetic events controls evolution of porosity and permeability in carbonates

The properties of carbonate rocks are often the result of multiple, diagenetic events that involve phases of cementation (porosity occlusion) and dissolution (porosity enhancement). This study tests the hypothesis that the order of these events is a major control on final porosity and permeability. A three-dimensional synthetic model of grainstone is used to quantify trends that show the effect of early cementation, non-fabric selective dissolution, and then a second-generation of (post-dissolution) cement. Models are 3 mm³ with a resolution of 10 μm. Six simple paragenetic sequences are modelled from an identical starting sediment (without accounting for compaction) where the same diagenetic events are placed in different sequences, allowing for quantification of relative changes in the resultant porosity and permeability for each diagenetic event, the trajectory through time, as well as for each final rock. All modelled paragenetic sequences result in reductions in porosity and permeability, but the order of diagenetic events controls the trajectory and final rock properties. Differences in the order of early cement precipitation alone produce variable final values, but all follow the porosity–permeability relationship as expressed by the Kozeny-Carman equation. However, final values for the sequences which include a phase of dissolution fall on a new curve, which departs from that predicted by the Kozeny-Carman relationship. This allows an alternative form of porosity–permeability relationship to be proposed: κ = 2280ϕ–30,400, where ϕ is porosity (%) and κ is permeability (mD). Hence while the Kozeny-Carman relationship predicts porosity–permeability changes that occur with cementation, it is unable to capture accurately changes within the pore network as a result of dissolution. Although the results may be dependent on the properties of the initial carbonate sediment and simplified diagenetic scenarios, it is suggested that this new porosity–permeability relationship may capture some generalized behaviour, which can be tested by modelling further sediment types and diagenetic scenarios.     

普光气田礁滩相复杂孔隙类型储集层渗透率地震预测方法*

礁滩相碳酸盐岩储集层孔隙类型多样,孔—渗关系复杂,由于缺少相应的岩石物理模型,储集层渗透率地震预测一直是一个难题。作者以普光气田为例,通过分析复杂孔隙类型对储集层渗透率的控制作用及不同孔隙类型储集层在常规测井和声学测井上的响应特征,引入反映孔隙形态和连通性的 “孔构参数”表征相似孔隙度样品的岩石物理参数变化;进而建立基于孔构参数的孔隙类型判别标准和不同孔隙类型储集层孔—渗关系模型,对储集层测井渗透率进行精细解释和评价;并通过分析不同孔隙类型储集层的弹性参数与孔构参数的关系,建立起基于孔构参数的岩石物理量版;采用叠前统计学反演方法首先开展孔隙度、孔构参数的地震反演,进一步开展基于孔隙度和孔构参数的渗透率地震反演,实现了复杂孔隙类型储集层渗透率的定量预测。     

Influence of damage on pore size distribution and permeability of rocks

The model proposed in this article relates permeability to porosity measurements that can easily be performed in the laboratory. The pore size distribution (PSD) curve is updated with strains and damage. The updated volumetric fractions of natural pores and cracks are introduced in the expression of permeability. Contrary to classical permeability models based on PSD integrations, the model proposed in this article accounts for possible changes in the porosity modes: one mode for undamaged samples and two modes for cracked samples. The proposed approach also accounts for varying states of damage, as opposed to classical fracture network models, in which the cracks pattern is fixed. The only material parameters that are required to describe the microstructure are the lower and upper bounds of the pores size for both natural pores and cracks. All the other PSD parameters involved in the model are related to macroscopic parameters that can easily be determined in the laboratory, such as the initial void ratio. The framework proposed in this article can be used in any damage constitutive model to determine the permeability of a brittle porous medium. Drained triaxial compression tests have been simulated. Before cracks initiation, permeability decreases while the larger natural pores are getting squeezed. After the occurrence of damage, permeability grows due to the increase of cracks density. The model performs well to represent the influence of the confining pressure on damage evolution and permeability variations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

不同粒径级砂土渗透特性试验研究

渗透性是砂土的重要工程性质之一,影响砂土渗透性的因素有很多,比如土体密实程度、土颗粒自身特性、流体性质等,其中孔隙率与颗粒粒径是两个重要影响因素。而以往基于混合粒径的天然砂土的研究很难分别对这两个因素进行独立的研究。基于此,首先开展了单一粒径级砂土的常水头渗透试验,分别研究了同一粒径级砂土渗透系数随孔隙率的变化和同一孔隙率下不同粒径级砂土渗透系数随均值粒径的变化规律。试验结果显示,渗透系数随着孔隙率的增加而线性增加、随均值粒径二次方的增加而线性增加,其中均值粒径的影响较大,其变化能导致渗透系数量级上的差异。在此基础上,开展了多粒径混合砂土的渗透试验,讨论了曲率系数、不均匀系数等级配参数对渗透性的影响,从而将单一粒径级的研究成果推广到天然砂土,最终拟合出渗透系数与相关影响因素的经验公式,以便工程实践参考使用。     

Image analysis and estimation of porosity and permeability of Arnager Greensand,Upper Cretaceous,Denmark

Arnager Greensand consists of unconsolidated, poorly sorted fine-grained, glauconitic quartz sand, often silty or clayey, with a few horizons of cemented coarse-grained sand. Samples from the upper part of the Arnager Greensand were used for this study to estimate permeability from microscopic images. Backscattered Scanning Electron Microscope images from polished thin-sections were acquired for image analysis with the software PIPPIN®. Differences in grey levels owing to density differences allowed us to estimate porosity, clay and particle content. The images were simplified into two phases, pores and particles, and the specific surface of the solid phase was calculated. We used the Kozeny Equation to calculate the permeability. The petrophysical properties, porosity and permeability obtained from image analysis were compared to results using laboratory methods. The 150x magnification of the image can not resolve the microporosity within the clay fraction, so we suggest that the imaged porosity at 150x magnification is close to the effective porosity for permeability assessment. The Heporosity, however, represents the total porosity of the Arnager Greensand. For permeability estimation, a local permeability was calculated for each image. For calculation of the plug scale permeability, we compare three different averaging methods: arithmetic, harmonic, and geometric mean. In every case the calculated permeability overestimates the measured permeability. Only the lowest calculated local permeabilities corresponds to the measured permeabilities, suggesting that the overall permeability for these samples is governed by the least permeable parts.     

Pore scale study of permeability and tortuosity for flow through particulate media using Lattice Boltzmann method

In this paper, Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) has been used to study the effects of permeability and tortuosity on flow through saturated particulate media and identify the relationships between permeability and tortuosity with other parameters such as particles diameter, grain specific surface, and porosity. LBM is a simple kinematic model that can incorporate the essential physics of microscopic and mesoscopic processes involved in flow through granular soils. The obtained results indicate that the 2D LB model, due to its inherent theoretical advantages, is capable of demonstrating that the porosity and specific surface are the most influential parameters in determining the intrinsic permeability of granular media. The obtained results show that particles' size diameter has a two‐fold effect on the coefficient of permeability: one is through specific surface and the other is by tortuosity factor. Numerical study also reveals that tortuosity of granular soils decreases almost linearly with increasing the porosity. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fractures,hydrothermal alterations and permeability in the Soultz Enhanced Geothermal System

Borehole studies of the Soultz-sous-Forêts granite are dedicated to deep geothermics. The hydraulic properties of the reservoir are mainly controlled by the occurrence of some altered cataclastic shear zones showing a low natural permeability characterized by the occurrence of brines. Those zones show a fracture cluster organisation with sealed fractures of various types (post-filled joints, sheared fractures, veins). The main hydrothermal deposits observed within the permeable zones are geodic quartz, carbonates, illite and more locally sulphides. The fracture wall–rocks are intensely transformed: dissolution of igneous minerals, crystallization of new minerals, porosity and permeability increase. It is important to characterize the newly-formed minerals in order to choose the reagents used to improve the permeability of the exchanger by chemical stimulations. This article represents a synthesis of the studies completed by the authors between 1990 and 2008 on the fracture networks, hydrothermal alterations and mineral crystallizations they induced and data about the flow pathways in the exchanger.     

Relationship between porosity and permeability with stress using pore volume compressibility characteristic of reservoir rocks

Effective stress is one of the most important parameters which strongly affects pore volume compressibility curve, which is used in assessing the reservoir rock properties. It causes change in porosity as well as permeability of the reservoir rocks. In the present study, pore volume compressibility characteristics of the reservoir rocks at different effective stresses were used to derive the relationship of porosity and permeability with the effective stress. To this end, analytical processes for deriving the porosity–stress and permeability–stress relationships are discussed in relation to the reservoir rocks. As a result, a porosity–stress formulation is proposed which is in good agreement with the experimental data. Also, two formulas are proposed for permeability–stress relationship; one on the base of Kozeny–Carman permeability–porosity model and the other one is based on a differential form of permeability–porosity relationship. After calibrating the required coefficients for one sandstone and three limestones, it was concluded that the first permeability–stress model is the upper bound correlation while the latter is the lower bound. Furthermore, it is shown that the latter has better agreement to the real experimental data of the sansdstone samples, while the first one is close to the experimental observations from limestone samples. Also, it is concluded that structure of pores is a key factor on permeability–stress relationship, so that there is a significant difference between the experimental data and the proposed relationship for a limestone sample with vuggy pore spaces.