scholarly journals Damage Evolution of Coal with Inclusions Under Triaxial Compression

Author(s):  
Yufeng Zhao ◽  
Heinz Konietzky ◽  
Martin Herbst

AbstractAlong with the advance of the working face, coal experiences different loading stages. Laboratory tests and numerical simulations of fracture and damage evolution aim to better understand the structural stability of coal layers. Three-dimensional lab tests are performed and coal samples are reconstructed using X-ray computer tomography (CT) technique to get detailed information about damage and deformation state. Three-dimensional discrete element method (DEM)-based numerical models are generated. All models are calibrated against the results obtained from uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) tests and triaxial compression (TRX) tests performed in the laboratory. A new approach to simulate triaxial compression tests is established in this work with significant improved handling of the confinement to get realistic simulation results. Triaxial tests are simulated in 3D with the particle-based code PFC3D using a newly developed flexible wall (FW) approach. This new numerical simulation approach is validated by comparison with laboratory tests on coal samples. This approach involves an updating of the applied force on each wall element based on the flexible nature of a rubber sleeve. With the new FW approach, the influence of the composition (matrix and inclusions) of the samples on the peak strength is verified. Force chain development and crack distributions are also affected by the spatial distribution of inclusions inside the sample. Fractures propagate through the samples easily at low confining pressures. On the contrary, at high confining pressure, only a few main fractures are generated with orientation towards the side surfaces. The evolution of the internal fracture network is investigated. The development of microcracks is quantified by considering loading, confinement, and structural character of the rock samples. The majority of fractures are initiated at the boundary between matrix and inclusions, and propagate along their boundaries. The internal structure, especially the distribution of inclusions has significant influence on strength, deformation, and damage pattern.

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 3414
Author(s):  
Chaojun Jia ◽  
Qiang Zhang ◽  
Susheng Wang

The mechanical behavior of the sandstone at the dam site is important to the stability of the hydropower station to be built in Southwest China. A series of triaxial compression tests under different confining pressures were conducted in the laboratory. The critical stresses were determined and the relationship between the critical stress and confining pressure were analyzed. The Young’s modulus increases non-linearly with the confining pressure while the plastic strain increment Nϕ and the dilation angle ϕ showed a negative response. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) tests showed that the failure of the sandstone under compression is a coupled process of crack growth and frictional sliding. Based on the experimental results, a coupled elastoplastic damage model was proposed within the irreversible thermodynamic framework. The plastic deformation and damage evolution were described by using the micromechanical homogenization method. The plastic flow is inherently driven by the damage evolution. Furthermore, a numerical integration algorithm was developed to simulate the coupled elastoplastic damage behavior of sandstone. The main inelastic properties of the sandstone were well captured. The model will be implemented into the finite element method (FEM) to estimate the excavation damaged zones (EDZs) which can provide a reference for the design and construction of such a huge hydropower project.


1992 ◽  
Vol 38 (128) ◽  
pp. 65-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Kalifa ◽  
G. Ouillon ◽  
P. Duval

AbstractTriaxial and uniaxial compression tests have been carried out at –10°C on granular ice in order to study the role of microcracking on failure in the ductile-brittle transition zone. In the triaxial tests, the effect of confining pressure and strain rate on the crack population, as well as on strength and strain at the peak stress, was investigated. In the uniaxial tests, we measured the evolution of elastic and non-elastic components of deformation with the stress-strain history. The concept of effective stress, with a single scalar damage variable, was used to calculate the effect of microcracking on the strain components.


2021 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 846-852
Author(s):  
Yang Yan-Shuang ◽  
Li Kai-Yue ◽  
Zhou Hui ◽  
Tian Hao-Yuan ◽  
Cheng Wei ◽  
...  

Abstract Computed tomography (CT) scanning technology is helpful in investigating rock materials as it can demonstrate the micro structure of rock clearly. Conventional triaxial compression tests and the corresponding graded triaxial loading tests were carried out to investigate the complex failure mechanism of the marble at the Jinping Hydropower Station. After that CT-scanning tests were done on the loaded marble specimens. The test results show that (1) the CT numbers of the specimens have a certain statistical regularity, that is, the CT numbers of the specimens under different confining pressures satisfy the Weibull distribution, as the confining pressure increases, the mean values rise while variances decrease; (2) in the two groups of tests, the average CT numbers corresponding to the conventional triaxial tests are higher than those corresponding to the graded loading tests, but the CT number variances are lower than those of the graded loading tests; and (3) according to meso-damage mechanics, the damage variables of the rock specimens were established based on the definition of CT numbers. The calculation results show that the damage variables decrease with the increase in confining pressure, the damage variables of the rock specimens in the graded loading tests are higher than those in the conventional triaxial test, and the differences between the two loading tests have grown with the increase in confining pressure.


1993 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 848-858 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.M. Kirkgard ◽  
P.V. Lade

An experimental study is presented of the influence of the intermediate principal stress on the stress–strain, pore-pressure, and strength characteristics of a normally consolidated, natural anisotropic clay, San Francisco Bay Mud, under undrained conditions. Consolidated undrained triaxial compression tests and triaxial tests with independent control of all three principal stresses on cubical specimens were performed. The stress–strain behavior and the pore-pressure characteristics as well as the effective stress failure surface can be described as being cross-anisotropic. Key words : anisotropic soils, clays, deformation, shear strength, triaxial tests.


1992 ◽  
Vol 38 (128) ◽  
pp. 65-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Kalifa ◽  
G. Ouillon ◽  
P. Duval

AbstractTriaxial and uniaxial compression tests have been carried out at –10°C on granular ice in order to study the role of microcracking on failure in the ductile-brittle transition zone. In the triaxial tests, the effect of confining pressure and strain rate on the crack population, as well as on strength and strain at the peak stress, was investigated. In the uniaxial tests, we measured the evolution of elastic and non-elastic components of deformation with the stress-strain history. The concept of effective stress, with a single scalar damage variable, was used to calculate the effect of microcracking on the strain components.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Yang Zhang ◽  
Yongjie Yang ◽  
Depeng Ma

In order to understand the influence of unloading path on the mechanical properties of coal, triaxial unloading confining pressure tests with different initial confining pressure and different unloading rate were carried out. The test results show that the triaxial unloading strength of coal samples under different test conditions is lower than conventional triaxial tests, but the brittleness characteristics are more obvious. This result indicates that the coal samples are easily damaged under unloading conditions. In the axial loading stage of the confinement unloading tests, the axial strain plays a leading role. However, during the confining pressure unloading stage, the circumferential deformation is large, which is the main deformation in this stage. Higher unloading rates of confining pressure are associated with shorter times between the peak stress position and sample complete failure. This shows that samples are more easily destroyed under higher unloading rates and the samples are more difficultly destroyed under lower unloading rates. In addition, with increasing unloading rate, the peak principal stress difference and confining pressure at failure decrease gradually, whereas the confining pressure difference at failure increases gradually. Compared with conventional triaxial compression tests, the cohesion of coal is reduced and the internal friction angle is increased under the condition of triaxial unloading test.


Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 3421
Author(s):  
Lianchong Li ◽  
Mingyang Zhai ◽  
Liaoyuan Zhang ◽  
Zilin Zhang ◽  
Bo Huang ◽  
...  

Tight glutenite reservoirs are typically characterized by highly variable lithology and permeability, low and complex porosity, and strong heterogeneity. Glutenite brittleness is an essential indicator for screening fracture targets, selecting technological parameters, and predicting the hydraulic fracturing effect of tight glutenite reservoir exploitation. Glutenite formations with high brittleness are more likely to be effectively fractured and form complex fractures. Accurate evaluation of glutenite brittleness facilitates the recovery of oil and gas in a tight glutenite reservoir. Accordingly, two brittleness indexes are proposed in this paper based on energy balance and damage evolution analysis of complete stress–strain curves to evaluate the brittleness of glutenite. Uniaxial and triaxial compression tests of glutenite specimens were carried out and the brittleness indexes were verified by comparison with other existing indexes. The relationships between the mechanical properties and brittleness of glutenite under confining pressure were analyzed based on experimental results and the effects of mechanical and structural parameters on glutenite brittleness are investigated with a numerical approach. The brittleness of glutenite increases with the increase of gravel size and/or volume content. During hydraulic fracturing design, attention should be paid to the brittleness of the matrix and the size and content of gravel. This paper provides a new perspective for glutenite brittleness evaluation from the perspectives of energy dissipation and damage evolution. Our results provide guidance for fracturing layer selection and may also facilitate field operations of tight glutenite fracturing.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongjie Yang ◽  
Huiqiang Duan ◽  
Luyi Xing ◽  
Shan Ning ◽  
Jiakun Lv

This paper presents an experimental investigation of the fatigue properties of limestone subjected to triaxial compression with axial cyclic loading. Tests were conducted on intact limestone samples with a loading frequency of 0.5 Hz and a confining pressure of 10 MPa. The test results show the following five points. (1) Under triaxial conditions, the axial and circumferential deformations at the failure point induced by cyclic loading are slightly larger than the corresponding deformations at the peak stress achieved by conventional compression tests. (2) The first level cyclic loading process has a strong influence on rock deformation in the primary phase during subsequent level cyclic loading. A smaller difference in stress amplitude between the two loading stress levels leads to less deformation during the latter. (3) Circumferential and volumetric changes are more sensitive to fatigue failure in terms of deformation and strain rate than axial changes. (4) The three phases of dissipated energy evolution are consistent with a sample’s deformation such that the energy dissipation characteristics reflect the fatigue damage evolution process. (5) A new damage formula is proposed that can concisely describe a rock’s zero-cycle damage and damage evolution.


2021 ◽  
pp. 105678952199119
Author(s):  
Kai Yang ◽  
Qixiang Yan ◽  
Chuan Zhang ◽  
Wang Wu ◽  
Fei Wan

To explore the mechanical properties and damage evolution characteristics of carbonaceous shale with different confining pressures and water-bearing conditions, triaxial compression tests accompanied by simultaneous acoustic emission (AE) monitoring were conducted on carbonaceous shale rock specimens. The AE characteristics of carbonaceous shale were investigated, a damage assessment method based on Shannon entropy of AE was further proposed. The results suggest that the mechanical properties of carbonaceous shale intensify with increasing confining pressure and degrade with increasing water content. Moisture in rocks does not only weaken the cohesion but also reduce the internal friction angle of carbonaceous shale. It is observed that AE activities mainly occur in the post-peak stage and the strong AE activities of saturated carbonaceous shale specimens appear at a lower normalized stress level than that of natural-state specimens. The maximum AE counts and AE energy increase with water content while decrease with confining pressure. Both confining pressure and water content induce changes in the proportions of AE dominant frequency bands, but the changes caused by confining pressure are more significant than those caused by water content. The results also indicate that AE entropy can serve as an applicable index for rock damage assessment. The damage evolution process of carbonaceous shale can be divided into two main stages, including the stable damage development stage and the damage acceleration stage. The damage variable increases slowly accompanied by a few AE activities at the first stage, which is followed by a rapid growth along with intense acoustic emission activities at the damage acceleration stage. Moreover, there is a sharp rise in the damage evolution curve for the natural-state specimen at the damage acceleration stage, while the damage variable develops slowly for the saturated-state specimen.


2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 448-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.S. Lees ◽  
J. Clausen

Conventional methods of characterizing the mechanical properties of soil and geogrid separately are not suited to multi-axial stabilizing geogrid that depends critically on the interaction between soil particles and geogrid. This has been overcome by testing the soil and geogrid product together as one composite material in large specimen triaxial compression tests and fitting a nonlinear failure envelope to the peak failure states. As such, the performance of stabilizing, multi-axial geogrid can be characterized in a measurable way. The failure envelope was adopted in a linear elastic – perfectly plastic constitutive model and implemented into finite element analysis, incorporating a linear variation of enhanced strength with distance from the geogrid plane. This was shown to produce reasonably accurate simulations of triaxial compression tests of both stabilized and nonstabilized specimens at all the confining stresses tested with one set of input parameters for the failure envelope and its variation with distance from the geogrid plane.


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