Considerations on strength of intact sedimentary rocks

This study presents the results of laboratory testing of sedimentary rocks under point loading as well as in uniaxial and triaxial compression. From the statistical analysis of the data, different conversion factors relating uniaxial compressive and point loading strength were determined for soft to strong rocks. Additionally, the material constant m_i, an input parameter for the Hoek and Brown failure criterion, was also estimated for different limestone samples by analysing the results from a series of triaxial compression tests under different confining pressures. The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of intact rocks, as estimated from the point load index using conversion factors, together with the Hoek–Brown constant m_i, and the Geological Strength Index (GSI) constitute the parameters for the calculation of the strength and deformability of rock masses.     

The effect of weathering on pore geometry and compressive strength of selected rock types from Turkey

Weathering processes cause important changes in rock porosity. Besides porosity, distribution of pore sizes is significant for the identification of changes due to rock weathering and its effects on fabric. The formation of secondary porosity in different types of rock taken from different parts of Turkey was examined and the results are presented in this paper. The aim of this study was to observe changes in porosity due to weathering. Effective porosity, mercury intrusion porosimetry, and optical and scanning electron microscopy were used to evaluate the changes in pore geometry of the rocks. Additionally, the dry density, water absorption and uniaxial compressive strength of the rocks at different weathering stages were determined. Analysis of experimental data showed that microstructure of the rocks in relation to weathering is the main feature, which controls their physical and mechanical properties. The study revealed that fabric characteristics, particularly the pore and fracture geometry are very important characteristics for assessment of the behaviour of weathered rock.     

采场顶板稳定性动态预测及控制研究

运用人工神经网络技术,综合岩石介质条件、赋存环境条件以及工程因素3大方面的5个指标,即岩石单轴抗压强度、岩石质量指标、煤体强度、地下水状况、工作面月推进速度,建立了采场顶板稳定性动态预测模型。并以工作面月推进速度40m、60m、80m、100m分别预测了新集井田顶板稳定性分区。根据5个指标因素分析结果,对顶板稳定性影响程度由大到小排序为岩石质量指标、地下水状况、岩石单轴抗压强度、煤体强度、工作面月推进速度。     

A three-dimensional numerical investigation of the fracture of rock specimens containing a pre-existing surface flaw

Three-dimensional surface crack initiation and propagation in two kinds of heterogeneous rocks were numerically investigated via parallel finite element analysis using a supercomputer. Numerically simulated rock specimens containing a pre-existing flaw were subjected to uniaxial compression until failure. The initiation and propagation of wing cracks, anti-wing cracks, and shell-like cracks were reproduced by numerical simulations. The numerically simulated results demonstrate that the further propagation of wing cracks and shell-like cracks stop due to their wrapping (curving) behavior in three-dimensional spaces, even if the applied loads continue to increase. Furthermore, rock heterogeneity could significantly influence crack propagation patterns and the peak uniaxial compressive strengths of rock specimens. Moreover, anti-wing cracks only appeared in relatively heterogeneous rocks, and the peak uniaxial compressive strengths of the specimens were observed to depend on the inclination of the pre-existing flaw. Finally, the mechanism of surface crack propagation is discussed in the context of numerically simulated anti-plane loading tests, wherein it was identified that Mode III loading (anti-plane loading) does not lead to Mode III fracture in rocks due to their high ratio of uniaxial compressive strength to tensile strength. This finding could explain the lateral growth of an existing flaw in its own plane, which is a phenomenon that has not been observed in laboratory experiments.     

苏南宁镇地区震旦纪至白垩纪的岩石力学性质的系统测试数据浅析

苏南宁镇地区,震旦系至第四系出露完整,研究程度颇深,诸地层的不同特征,以作为华南各地区地层对比之标准而著称。近几年来,随着大规模勘探工作的进行,宁镇地区地层的物性参数、电性参数和力学参数等各种资料,均在不断完善之中。本文试以该区震旦系至白垩系地层的岩石单轴抗压强度等的系统测试数据,对其有关的岩石力学特性进行粗浅地分析。     

岩石受热后的强度,变形破坏特性的微观研究

本文对砂岩、灰岩、大理岩在不同温度条件下的单轴抗压强度进行了实验研究,并对岩石在各种温度下结构变化进行了镜下分析,探讨了岩石受热后的破裂机理,定性定量地分析了岩石裂纹随温度变化而发展的规律。研究和分析结果表明:在热应力和外应力的作用下,随着温度增加,砂岩单轴抗压强度有增加的趋势,而灰岩、大理石的强度则有所降低。温度对这几种岩石的变形和破坏特性也有很大影响。     

基于软硬石模板库的土石混合体细观损伤与力学特性分析

为了探究含软、硬两种岩性碎块石土石混合体的变形破坏过程与力学性质,发展了一种基于软硬石模板库的土石混合体建模方法。通过在PFC2D中建立符合原位结构特征的软硬石模板库,利用此模板库生成了不同含石量土石混合体颗粒流模型,对土石混合体进行了单轴压缩颗粒流模拟。结果表明：土石混合体破坏始于土-石接触面,土石介质分离大多因剪切破坏导致,加载前期微裂纹迅速增长,中、后期微裂纹增长速率减缓,但宏观变形渐趋显著;随着含石量的增加,土石混合体单轴抗压强度逐渐降低,块石的转动与侧向移动会加剧土石混合体的整体破坏;相同含石量下,随着软石比例的增加,单轴抗压强度呈下降趋势,试验后试样破裂率与单个软石颗粒的破裂程度均保持在较高水平,软石颗粒破裂是引起土石混合体单轴抗压强度降低的重要原因。     

Mechanical Behaviour of Reservoir Rock Under Brine Saturation

Acoustic emissions (AE) and stress–strain curve analysis are well accepted ways of analysing crack propagation and monitoring the various failure stages (such as crack closure, crack initiation level during rock failure under compression) of rocks and rock-like materials. This paper presents details and results of experimental investigations conducted for characterizing the brittle failure processes induced in a rock due to monocyclic uniaxial compression on loading of two types of sandstone core samples saturated in NaCl brines of varying concentration (0, 2, 5, 10 and 15 % NaCl by weight). The two types of sandstone samples were saturated under vacuum for more than 45 days with the respective pore fluid to allow them to interact with the rocks. It was observed that the uniaxial compressive strength and stress–strain behaviour of the rock specimens changed with increasing NaCl concentration in the saturating fluid. The acoustic emission patterns also varied considerably for increasing ionic strength of the saturating brines. These observations can be attributed to the deposition of NaCl crystals in the rock’s pore spaces as well some minor geo-chemical interactions between the rock minerals and the brine. The AE pattern variations could also be partly related to the higher conductivity of the ionic strength of the high-NaCl concentration brine as it is able to transfer more acoustic energy from the cracks to the AE sensors.     

针贯入仪在软岩强度测试中的应用

软岩强度较低,结构松散,难以加工成标准试件测其单轴抗压强度,为解决这一工程实践难题,引入了日本的一种通过测试软岩针贯入指标间接推算其抗压强度的试验仪器——针贯入仪。首先简要地介绍了针贯入试验的仪器装置、操作过程、注意事项以及数据处理方法,然后运用该仪器在现场和室内分别对不同软岩进行强度测试。统计分析测试结果表明,测试数据离散性大小与岩性均一程度、结构面分布情况密切相关。最后,选取了一组软岩岩样进行针贯入和点荷载对比试验,计算得出两种试验结果相差不大。因此,采用针贯入仪测试软岩强度是合理可行的,可在软岩工程中推广使用。     

A new rock mass failure criterion for biaxial loading conditions

To simulate brittle rocks, a mixture of glastone, sand and water was used as a model material. Thin galvanized sheets of thickness 0.254 mm were used to create joints in blocks made out of the model material. To investigate the failure modes and strength, both the intact material blocks as well as jointed model material blocks of size 35.6 × 17.8 × 2.5 cm having different joint geometry configurations were subjected to uniaxial and biaxial compressive loadings. A new intact rock failure criterion is proposed at the 3-D level. This criterion is validated for biaxial loading through laboratory experimental results obtained on intact model material blocks. Results obtained from both the intact and jointed model material blocks are used to develop a strongly non-linear new rock mass failure criterion for biaxial loading. In this failure criterion, the fracture tensor component is used to incorporate the directional effect of fracture geometry system on jointed block strength. The failure criterion shows the important role, the intermediate principal stress plays on rock mass strength.     

Damage evolution of rock salt under cyclic loading in unixial tests

Cyclic loading tests of rock salt were performed to investigate the characteristics of damage evolution of the surrounding rock in gas caverns. In this experiment, the cyclic loading process was carried out on seven stress levels from 20 to 86 % of the uniaxial compressive strength. The sine wave with a frequency of 1 Hz was adopted in the cyclic loading test. Experimental results show that at the first stress level, the damage evolution is rather limited or negligible under cyclic loading, which is controlled within the elastic limit. With the increase in stress level, the damage evolution becomes more evident. An increasing tendency of damage variable can be observed if the stress level surpasses 40 % of the uniaxial compressive strength. A maximum damage value of around 0.95 is recorded when the stress level is over 85 % of the uniaxial strength. In this paper, a damage evolution equation is also introduced and good agreement is obtained with the experimental data. Based on the experimental data, it is shown that the design practice of gas cavern concerning the degree of strength utilization of the surrounding rock is rather conservative considering the reducing effect of the minimal gas pressure on the damage evolution.     

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.     

丹江口水库区岩石软化性能试验研究

通过采用岩样干燥、自然和饱和状态下的物理力学性能试验,对丹江口水库库区代表性岩样的软化性能进行了研究,以此探讨岩石软化作用,为丹江口水库续建工程诱发地震机理研究提供基础数据。结果表明,随着试件含水率的增加,岩石单轴抗压强度、弹性模量和泊松比均下降,岩石的软化系数与孔隙比有直接关系。     

液氮冻结对岩石抗拉及抗压强度影响试验研究

液氮温度极低（?195.8℃）,当与储层岩石接触时,能够改变岩石物性并对岩石结构产生损伤致裂,因此,可用于储层压裂改造。为了研究液氮压裂时低温对岩石力学性能的影响,分别对不同含水状态（干燥与饱和）的不同类型（大理岩、砂岩和花岗岩）岩石进行液氮冻结处理,并对冻结前、后岩样进行抗拉及单轴抗压强度对比测试。结果表明,经液氮冻结后,岩石的单轴抗压强度、抗拉强度和弹性模量都降低;岩石在干燥状态下,液氮冻结对大理石强度的影响大于对红砂岩的影响;岩石饱和水状态下,液氮冻结对红砂岩强度的影响大于对大理岩的影响;饱和水状态岩石经液氮冻结后,其应力-轴应变曲线在弹性变形阶段出现一个拐点;对于同种类型岩石,饱和水状态能加剧液氮冻结并对岩石损伤,岩石强度影响显著;对3种岩样微观结构进行了电镜扫描（以大理岩为例进行分析）,发现经液氮冻结后在矿物颗粒之间生成了微裂隙。研究结果可为进一步研究液氮压裂机制提供试验依据。     

多尺度节理岩体力学特性的颗粒流分析

以白云鄂博露天铁矿东矿岩质高边坡为工程背景,结合现场地质调查、室内岩石和节理力学试验等数据,采用等效岩体技术,构建能充分反映节理分布特征的实验室、现场原位试验和工程尺度等多尺度等效岩体模型。通过对各类等效岩体模型进行单轴压缩试验,研究岩体单轴抗压强度、弹性模量等力学特性的尺寸效应和各向异性。研究表明：节理的存在使岩体表现出尺寸效应和各向异性,且随着尺寸的增大,这种特性基本呈逐渐减弱的趋势;研究区域岩体的表征单元体积、单轴抗压强度和弹性模量分别为20 m×10 m×10 m、1.46 MPa和3.91 GPa;岩体单轴抗压强度、弹性模量与轴向尺寸的关系,近似符合渐进式指数函数关系,且该函数能直观地给出工程尺度岩体的力学特性。     

Correlation of mineralogical and textural characteristics with engineering properties of selected granitic rocks from Turkey

Granitic rocks show a variety of engineering properties that may affect quarrying operations, tunneling, mining, slope stability and the use of rock as a construction material. The physical and mechanical properties are a function of the mineralogical and textural characteristics of the rock. The purpose of this study is to apply correlation analysis to investigate the relationships between petrographical and engineering properties of granitic rocks. A variety of granitic rock samples from different parts of Turkey were subjected to petrographic studies. The same samples were then tested to determine specific gravity, dry and saturated unit weight, water absorption, effective and total porosity, sonic velocity, Schmidt hardness, point load strength index, uniaxial compressive strength, tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. The relationships between these properties and the petrographical characteristics are described by simple regression analyses. The study revealed that the influence of the textural characteristics on the engineering properties appears to be more important than the mineralogy. It also determined that the types of contacts, grain (mineral) shape and size significantly influence the engineering properties of the granitic rocks.     

An investigation of the relationship between uniaxial compressive strength and degradation for selected rock types

The relationship between uniaxial compressive strength and degradation was investigated for selected rock types, by using regression analyses to determine whether degradation was a useful predictor of compressive strength. In addition, the effects of aggregate particle size, number of hammer blows during the degradation test, engineering index properties, petrographic characteristics, and water saturation on the compressive strength-degradation relationship were evaluated. The results show that strong inverse relationships exist between compressive strength and degradation (measured on a 9.5-4.75-mm size aggregate) for sandstones and igneous/metamorphic rocks, but that no significant relationship exists for limestones/dolomites. The results also indicate a strong positive correlation between degradation and L.A. abrasion loss and can be used to establish a limit of allowable degradation for practical applications. Engineering index properties do not significantly affect the relationship between compressive strength and degradation but petrographic characteristics are important in explaining the strength and degradation behavior of the rocks studied. Water saturation decreases compressive strength and increases degradation to varying degrees.     

软岩旁压试验与单轴抗压试验对比研究

在我国广泛分布的白垩系至第三系泥质粉砂岩是一种软质岩石,具有较大的地基潜力。按现行规范确定的承载力值往往偏低。在大量试验资料基础上,建立了旁压试验特征参数与岩石单轴抗压强度的相关方程,并同岩基载荷试验进行对比。实践证明,旁压试验是一种有效的原位测试方法,对确定同类地区软岩地基的承载力具有推荐价值和指导意义。     

Numerical Study of Failure Mechanism of Serial and Parallel Rock Pillars

Using a numerical modelling code, rock failure process analysis, 2D, the progressive failure process and associated acoustic emission behaviour of serial and parallel rock samples were simulated. Both serial- and parallel sample models are presented for investigating the mechanism of rock pillar failure. As expected, the numerical results show that not only the stiffness, but also the uniaxial compressive strength of the rock plays an important role in pillar instability. For serial pillars, the elastic rebound of a rock pillar with higher uniaxial compressive strength can lead to the sudden failure of an adjacent rock pillar with lower uniaxial compressive strength. The failure zone forms and develops in the pillar with lower uniaxial compressive strength; however, the failure zone does not pass across the interface of the two pillars. In comparison, when two pillars have the same uniaxial compressive strengths but different elastic moduli, both serial pillars fail, and the failure zone in the two pillars can interact, passing across the interface and entering the other pillar. For parallel pillars, damage always develops in the pillar having the lower uniaxial compressive strength or lower elastic modulus. Furthermore, in accordance with the Kaiser effect, the stress-induced damage in a rock pillar is irreversible, and only when the previous stress state in the failed rock pillar is exceeded or the subsequent applied energy is larger than the energy released by the external loading will further damage continue to occur. In addition, the homogeneity index of rock also can affect the failure modes of parallel pillars, even though the uniaxial compressive strength and stiffness of each pillar are the same.     

Prediction of uniaxial compressive strength of sandstones using petrography-based models

The uniaxial compressive strength of intact rock is the main parameter used in almost all engineering projects. The uniaxial compressive strength test requires high quality core samples of regular geometry. The standard cores cannot always be extracted from weak, highly fractured, thinly bedded, foliated and/or block-in-matrix rocks. For this reason, the simple prediction models become attractive for engineering geologists. Although, the sandstone is one of the most abundant rock type, a general prediction model for the uniaxial compressive strength of sandstones does not exist in the literature. The main purposes of the study are to investigate the relationships between strength and petrographical properties of sandstones, to construct a database as large as possible, to perform a logical parameter selection routine, to discuss the key petrographical parameters governing the uniaxial compressive strength of sandstones and to develop a general prediction model for the uniaxial compressive strength of sandstones. During the analyses, a total of 138 cases including uniaxial compressive strength and petrographic properties were employed. Independent variables for the multiple prediction model were selected as quartz content, packing density and concavo–convex type grain contact. Using these independent variables, two different prediction models such as multiple regression and ANN were developed. Also, a routine for the selection of the best prediction model was proposed in the study. The constructed models were checked by using various prediction performance indices. Consequently, it is possible to say that the constructed models can be used for practical purposes.