Experimental analysis of kaolinite particle orientation during triaxial path

The goal of this study was to analyze the relation between the behaviour of a clayey material at the macroscopic scale and its microfabric evolution. This may lead to a better understanding of macroscopic strain mechanisms especially the contractancy and dilatancy phenomena. The approach proposed in this paper is based on the study of clay particles orientation by SEM picture analysis after different phases of triaxial loading. In the initial state of the samples (one‐dimensional compression), the SEM observations highlight a microstructural anisotropy with a preferential orientation of the particles normal to the loading direction. During isotropic loading, densification of the clayey matrix occurs related to a random orientation of particles indicated by the term ‘depolarization’. In the earlier stages of constant σ₃ drained triaxial path on slightly overconsolidated specimens, the microstructural depolarization seems to persist inside a macroscopic domain, in which only the volumetric strains due to the isotropic part of the stress tensor evolve. Then, a rotation mechanism of the particles towards preferred directions seems to be activated. The phenomenon appears directly linked to the evolution of the deviatoric part of the stress tensor. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effect of particle shape and grain‐scale properties of shale: A micromechanics approach

Traditional approaches for modeling the anisotropic elasticity response of the highly heterogeneous clay fabric in shale have mainly resorted to geometric factors such as definitions of particles shapes and orientations. However, predictive models based on these approaches have been mostly validated using macroscopic elasticity data. The recent implementation of instrumented indentation aimed at probing nano‐scale mechanical behaviors has provided a new context for characterizing and modeling the anisotropy of the porous clay in shale. Nanoindentation experimental data revealed the significant contribution of the intrinsic anisotropy of the solid clay to the measured elastic response. In this investigation, we evaluate both the effects of geometric factors and of the intrinsic anisotropic elasticity of the solid clay phase on the observed anisotropy of shale at multiple length scales through the development of a comprehensive theoretical micromechanics approach. It was found that among various combinations of these sources of anisotropy, the elastic response of the clay fabric represented as a granular ensemble of aligned effective clay particles with spherical morphology and anisotropic elasticity compares satisfactorily to nanoindentation and ultrasonic pulse velocity measurements at nano‐ and macroscopic length scales, respectively. Other combinations of sources of anisotropy could yield comparable predictions, particularly at macroscopic scales, at the expense of requiring additional experimental data to characterize the morphology and orientations of particles. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

VTI介质中的地层弹性参数反演

在VTI介质中，用非双曲线可以很好地近似P－P波中长排列情况下的旅行时；而对P－SV波来说，应用非双曲线却不能很好地近似P－SV波的施行时。对P－P波、P－SV波的旅行时进行三项泰勒展开时，它们的系数却包含了地震波的各向异性信息及其垂直速度信息，这为地震波的弹性参数反演提供了基础。实验分析表明，在中等排列长度下可以精确地得到了P－P波，P－SV波旅行时的三项泰勒展式系数，从而可以精确地进行地层弹性参数反演。     

Changes in magnetic and fractal properties of fractured granites near the Nojima Fault, Japan

Abstract Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) has been used to infer finite strain fabrics in plastically deformed rocks, but there are few studies of magnetic properties in fractured fault rocks. Changes in magnetic and fractal properties of fractured granites from the Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University (DPRI) 500 m drilling core towards the Nojima Fault and of the well-foliated fault gouge are described. Fractal analysis of fractured granites shows that the fractal dimension ( D ) increases linearly toward the gouge zone of the fault. In weakly fractured granites ( D = 1.05–1.24), it was found that the degree of AMS correlates positively with the fractal dimension, suggesting a fracture-related magnetic fabric due to fracturing. In strongly fractured granites ( D = 1.25–1.50), weaker, nearly isotropic AMS is found, suggesting erasure by the fragmentation of the magnetic minerals. Within the fault gouge zone, an isotropic AMS fabric was found, as well as twofold increases in magnetic intensity and susceptibility. These changes reflect the production of new magnetite grains, subsequently confirmed by hysteresis studies, which suggests that fault gouge might be regarded as the source of the regional geomagnetic field contrast along active faults. Thus, AMS is clearly a potentially useful tool for inferring the fracturing texture of magnetic minerals in fractured rocks and detecting active faults from the high susceptibility contrast of fault gouge.     

Fractal analysis of 2-D fracture networks of geothermal reservoirs in south-western Turkey

Natural fracture patterns of producing geothermal formations in south-western Turkey are mapped at different scales. The fractal dimensions of different fracture network properties, such as spatial distribution, density, connectivity, orientation, and length are measured by different methods. Analysis of the natural fracture patterns from giga to microscales identifies the descending behavior of box-counting fractal dimension with respect to the scale. It is observed that the fracture networks represent scale-invariant properties, but fractal dimensions might notably differ when the mass dimension is measured applying different methods. Anisotropic nature of fracture networks is also included in the fractal analysis.     

The CQU Regional Seismic Network and applications to underground mining in Central Queensland,Australia

Digital seismograms continuously recorded from 1988 to 1992 by two stations of the RESNOM seismic network in northern Baja California, Mexico, were used to search for probable shear-wave anisotropic characteristics in the region of the Cerro Prieto fault. Shear-wave splitting was identified in many of the three-component records analyzed. We measured the polarization direction of the leadingS wave inside theS-wave window as well as the delay times between fast and slow phases on those records displaying shear-wave splitting. For station CPX, which is nearest the Imperial Valley region to the north, the preferred polarization direction found in this study (azimuth 180°±10°) coincides with the direction of the regional maximum compressive stress determined for the region. This polarization direction can be interpreted in terms of the “Extensive Dilatancy Anisotropy” model as the effect of vertical parallel aligned cracks. The preferred polarization direction measured at LMX, however, gives an azimuth of 45°±5°. Thus, it appears that faults and fractures aligned oblique to the main tectonic trend have a greater influence on the anisotropic characteristics of the crust south of Cerro Prieto volcano than that of the regional stress field. Time delays between slow and fastS waves observed at CPX appear constant from 1988 to 1992 while delays measured at LMX for the same interval indicate a small increase with time which cannot be attributed to azimuthal variations of paths.     

Crack－induced anisotropy in the crust from shear wave splitting observed in Tangshan region，North China

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Generation of three dimensional flow fields for statistically anisotropic heterogeneous porous media

A methodology for generating three dimensional (3D) flow fields for statistically anisotropic heterogeneous porous media is presented and demonstrated. The simulated flow fields are shown to exhibit the input spatial correlation structure and observe mass continuity. Sample flow fields are presented in the form of cross sectional slices of the 3D formation. These cross sections demonstrate visually the characteristics of subsurface flow. The method was found to be faster than traditional techniques in terms of its computational requirements. Given this method, it is possible to generate the large number of realizations of a velocity field necessary to compute high order statistics in transport problems.