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.     

The nanogranular origin of friction and cohesion in shale—A strength homogenization approach to interpretation of nanoindentation results

An inverse micromechanics approach allows interpretation of nanoindentation results to deliver cohesive‐frictional strength behavior of the porous clay binder phase in shale. A recently developed strength homogenization model, using the Linear Comparison Composite approach, considers porous clay as a granular material with a cohesive‐frictional solid phase. This strength homogenization model is employed in a Limit Analysis Solver to study indentation hardness responses and develop scaling relationships for indentation hardness with clay packing density. Using an inverse approach for nanoindentation on a variety of shale materials gives estimates of packing density distributions within each shale and demonstrates that there exists shale‐independent scaling relations of the cohesion and of the friction coefficient that vary with clay packing density. It is observed that the friction coefficient, which may be interpreted as a degree of pressure‐sensitivity in strength, tends to zero as clay packing density increases to one. In contrast, cohesion reaches its highest value as clay packing density increases to one. The physical origins of these phenomena are discussed, and related to fractal packing of these nanogranular materials. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On spherical nanoindentations, kinking nonlinear elasticity of mica single crystals and their geological implications

In this paper, we show, using cyclic spherical nanoindentation experiments, that the deformation mechanisms in mica, including basal plane ruptures and delaminations, can be explained by invoking the presence of mobile dislocation walls, and incipient and regular kink bands. Our results clearly show that the energy dissipated or that was stored during the deformation of muscovite depends critically on its previous deformation history and/or the pre-existing defect concentration. Once nucleated, the dislocation-based incipient kink bands are believed to be responsible for the nonlinear elastic deformation and hysteretic loops obtained during cyclic loading. Moreover, a model is presented to estimate the number and distribution of dislocations and the energy consumed in their motion under the indenter. From the model, we also estimate the critical resolved shear stress for the motion of basal plane dislocations under the indenter. The implications of this work can be extended beyond mica to understand the nonlinear hysteretic deformation in other geological formations dominated by layered minerals.     

岩石-锚固剂结构水化失稳微观力学特性

为研究岩石-锚固剂结构水化失稳微观机制,基于泥岩锚固试样SEM试验与纳米压痕试验,分析了不同含水率下岩石-锚固剂结构微观力学性质演化规律。结果表明：干燥条件下岩石-锚固剂结构完整性好,界面呈一定宽度的黏结区域。随含水率增大,结构内出现溶蚀孔洞与裂隙,黏结区域范围缩小,饱和含水率下岩石-锚固剂结构脱黏失效。低含水率下,受各组分间力学性质差异影响,压痕数据离散性较大。高含水率下,各组分间胶结能力劣化,结构整体力学性能降低,数据离散性变小。水化损伤加剧使泥岩胶结结构失效并导致宏观破坏,而锚固剂会填充水化作用下界面产生的微孔隙,使其力学性能相对岩石部分有一定提升,故界面微观参数衰减幅度小于泥岩部分。