scholarly journals Effect of Grain Size on Microscopic Pore Structure and Fractal Characteristics of Carbonate-Based Sand and Silicate-Based Sand

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 152
Author(s):  
Shao-Heng He ◽  
Zhi Ding ◽  
Hai-Bo Hu ◽  
Min Gao

In this study, a series of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tests was conducted on calcareous sand, quartz sand, and glass bead with a wide range of grain sizes, to understand the effect of grain size on the micro-pore structure and fractal characteristics of the carbonate-based sand and silicate-based sand. The pore size distribution (PSD) of the tested materials were obtained from the NMR T2 spectra, and fractal theory was introduced to describe the fractal properties of PSD. Results demonstrate that grain size has a significant effect on the PSD of carbonate-based sand and silicate-based sand. As grain size increases, the PSD of sands evolves from a binary structure with two peaks to a ternary structure with three peaks. The increase in the grain size can cause a remarkable increase in the maximum pore size. It is also found that the more irregular the particle shape, the better the continuity between the large and medium pores. In addition, grain size has a considerable effect on the fractal dimension of the micro-pore structure. The increase of grain size can lead to a significant increase in the heterogeneity and fractal dimension in PSD for calcareous sand, quartz sand and glass bead.

Fractals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (01) ◽  
pp. 1940006 ◽  
Author(s):  
LEI ZHANG ◽  
XUEJUAN ZHANG ◽  
HAO CHAI ◽  
YAOCAI LI ◽  
YONGJIE ZHOU

Fractal dimension is an important parameter in the evaluation of tight reservoirs. For an outcrop section of the Nenjiang formation in the Songliao Basin, China, the pore structure and pore fractal characteristics of shale parasequences were investigated using fractal theory. In addition, factors causing pore structure changes were analyzed using the results of low-temperature nitrogen adsorption and scanning electron microscope (SEM) experiments. Conducive to gas migration and secondary pores development such as dissolution, results showed that nanoscale pores dominated by fracture-like morphology and consequent good internal connectivity were observed in each pore size section within the target layer. Each parasequence is characterized by a sequential upward decrease of average pore size and an upward increase of total pore volume, with an increasing number of pores from 2[Formula: see text]nm to 50[Formula: see text]nm. Pores are isolated from each other, with poor connectivity and relatively complex composition of brittle minerals and clay minerals. Main components of the brittle minerals, quartz and feldspar, occur in 20–50% and higher clay mineral content ranging from 50% to 70%. In the parasequence cycle, clay mineral gradually decreases while the brittle mineral content increases. Fractal dimension is negatively correlated with clay mineral content and positively correlated with brittle mineral (quartz and feldspar) content. The fractal dimension calculated by the imaging method and the FHH method shows an upward increasing tendency in each of the parasequence cycles. This is as a result of different phenomena, varied sediment hydrodynamic forces leading to particle size differences and increased brittle minerals resulting in microcracks, therefore, the fractal dimension of the large pores (imaging method) increases upward in the parasequence. Simultaneously, with increased content and accompanied dissolution of brittle minerals causing an increase of small pores from base to top of the parasequence, the fractal dimension of the small pores (FHH method) grows.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 274-283
Author(s):  
Liang Liu ◽  
Wuling Mo ◽  
Min Wang ◽  
Nengwu Zhou ◽  
Yu Yan ◽  
...  

The fractal characteristics of marine shale from the Middle-Upper Ordovician Wulalike Formation (O2w) in the southwest margin of the Ordos Basin are studied. Based on low-temperature nitrogen adsorption experiments, the FHH (Frenkel-Halsey-Hill) model was employed to investigate the relationship between the marine shale composition, such as TOC, mineral content and shale gas content, and pore structure parameters, such as BET specific surface area, average pore diameter, porosity and fractal dimension. The results show that the pore size distribution curve of shale slowly decreased after the pore size was greater than 50 nm, the pore size distribution showed multiple peaks, and the peak value was mainly in the range of 2–10 nm. Most pores are nanopores, although the pore type and shape are different. Two different fractal dimensions D1 and D2 are obtained from the two segments with relative pressures of 0–0.5 and 0.5–1.0, respectively: the D1 range is 2.77–2.82, and the D2 range is 2.63–2.66. As D1 is larger than D2, the pore structure of small pores is more uniform than that of large pores in the shale samples. The relationship between the fractal dimensions D1 and D2 and the total organic carbon (TOC) content is a convex curve. Fractal dimension D reaches its maximum when TOC is 0.53 wt.%. Fractal dimension D decreases with increasing specific surface area, porosity and average pore size. The fractal dimension has a different influence on the gas storage and migration in shale; the larger the fractal dimension is, the stronger the heterogeneity and the more complex the pore structure, and this outcome is conducive to the storage of gas in shale but not beneficial to the permeability and production of gas.


Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 3238
Author(s):  
Yue Li ◽  
Aiqin Shen ◽  
Hua Wu

In this study, we focused on exploring the correlations between the pore surface fractal dimensions and the pore structure parameters, strength and shrinkage properties of basalt fiber-reinforced concrete (BFRC). The pore structure of BFRCs with various fiber contents and fiber lengths was investigated using mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) measurements. Through Zhang’s model, the fractal characteristics of BFRCs in the whole pore size range and in different pore size ranges were calculated from the MIP test data. The results showed that the addition of BF increased the total porosity, total pore volume and pore area but decreased the average pore diameter, indicating that BFs refined the pore structure of the concrete. BFRC presented obvious fractal characteristics in the entire pore-size range and individual pore-size ranges; generally, the fractal dimension increased with increasing fiber content. Moreover, correlation analysis suggested that the fractal dimension of BFRC in the whole pore-size range (FD) was closely related to the fractal dimension in the macropore region (Dm) and average pore diameter (APD). The influence of pore structure factors on mechanical strength and shrinkage was studied by grey correlation theory, and the results showed that Dm showed positive correlations with strength and fracture energy, with increasing Dm tending to strengthen and toughen the concrete. An increase in fiber content and length was detrimental to reducing the drying shrinkage strain. In the transition pore region, the fractal dimension (Dt) at diameters ranging from 20 to 50 nm and shrinkage strain exhibited a highly linear relation. These results merit careful consideration in macro-property evaluation by using the pore surface fractal dimension in a specific region instead of the whole region. Finally, grey target theory was applied to evaluate the rank of the mechanical strength and shrinkage of concrete, and the results showed that the overall properties of concrete with a BF length of 18 mm and a BF content of 0.06% ranked the best.


2018 ◽  
Vol 159 ◽  
pp. 01006
Author(s):  
Bagus Hario Setiadji ◽  
Supriyono ◽  
Djoko Purwanto

Several studies have shown that fractal theory can be used to analyze the morphology of aggregate materials in designing the gradation. However, the question arises whether a fractal dimension can actually represent a single aggregate gradation. This study, which is a part of a grand research to determine aggregate gradation based on known asphalt mixture specifications, is performed to clarify the aforementioned question. To do so, two steps of methodology were proposed in this study, that is, step 1 is to determine the fractal characteristics using 3 aggregate gradations (i.e. gradations near upper and lower bounds, and middle gradation); and step 2 is to back-calculate aggregate gradation based on fractal characteristics obtained using 2 scenarios, one-and multi-fractal dimension scenarios. The results of this study indicate that the multi-fractal dimension scenario provides a better prediction of aggregate gradation due to the ability of this scenario to better represent the shape of the original aggregate gradation. However, careful consideration must be observed when using more than two fractal dimensions in predicting aggregate gradation as it will increase the difficulty in developing the fractal characteristic equations.


Fractals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (07) ◽  
pp. 2050138
Author(s):  
QI ZHANG ◽  
XINYUE WU ◽  
QINGBANG MENG ◽  
YAN WANG ◽  
JIANCHAO CAI

Complicated gas–water transport behaviors in nanoporous shale media are known to be influenced by multiple transport mechanisms and pore structure characteristics. More accurate characterization of the fluid transport in shale reservoirs is essential to macroscale modeling for production prediction. This paper develops the analytical relative permeability models for gas–water two-phase in both organic and inorganic matter (OM and IM) of nanoporous shale using the fractal theory. Heterogeneous pore size distribution (PSD) of the shale media is considered instead of the tortuous capillaries with uniform diameters. The gas–water transport models for OM and IM are established, incorporating gas slippage described by second-order slip condition, water film thickness in IM, surface diffusion in OM, and the total organic carbon. Then, the presented model is validated by experimental results. After that, sensitivity analysis of gas–water transport behaviors based on pore structure properties of the shale sample is conducted, and the influence factors of fluid transport behaviors are discussed. The results show that the gas relative permeability is larger than 1 at the low pore pressure and water saturation. The larger pore pressure causes slight effect of gas slippage and surface diffusion on the gas relative permeability. The larger PSD fractal dimension of IM results in larger gas relative permeability and smaller water relative permeability. Besides, the large tortuosity fractal dimension will decrease the gas flux at the same water saturation, and the surface diffusion decreases with the increase of tortuosity fractal dimension of OM and pore pressure. The proposed models can provide an approach for macroscale modeling of the development of shale gas reservoirs.


Fractals ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (03) ◽  
pp. 1440010 ◽  
Author(s):  
LIEHUI ZHANG ◽  
JIANCHAO LI ◽  
HONGMING TANG ◽  
JINGJING GUO

The complex structure and surface property of porous media have significant impact on its accumulation and adsorption capacity. Based on the fractal theory, this paper presents a fractal pore structure model for shales. The effect of different pore structures on fractal dimension is discussed, and the influence of fractal dimension and pore size distribution on porosity is also analyzed. It is shown that the fractal dimension D decreases with the increase of structure parameter q/m for a certain pore diameter ratio, and porosity has positive relationship with fractal dimension. This paper also presents a multilayer fractal adsorption model which takes into account the roughness of adsorption surface by using fractal theory. With the introduction of pseudo-saturated vapor pressure in the supercritical temperature condition, the proposed adsorption model can be applied into a wider range of temperature. Based on the low-pressure nitrogen adsorption and methane isothermal adsorption experiments, the effect of fractal dimension on the adsorption behavior of shales is discussed. Fractal dimension has significant impact on the surface adsorption property and adsorption layer number n. The monolayer saturated adsorption volume Vm increases with the increase of D, while parameter C has the opposite variation trend. Finally, the optimal combination of fractal parameters for describing pore structure of shale samples is selected.


2012 ◽  
Vol 204-208 ◽  
pp. 1923-1928
Author(s):  
Bo Tan ◽  
Rui Hua Yang ◽  
Yan Ting Lai

The paper presents the fractal dimension formula of distribution of asphalt mixture aggregate diameter by the deducing mass fractal characteristics function. Taking AC-20 and SMA-20 as examples, selected 6 groups of representative grading curves within the grading envelope proposed by the present specification, and calculated their fractal dimensions. The asphalt mixture gradation has fractal dimension D (D∈(1,3)), and the fractal of continuous gradation is single while the fractal of gap-gradation shows multi-fractal with 4.75 as the dividing point. Fractal dimension of aggregate gradation of asphalt mixture reflect the structure characteristics of aggregate distribution, that is, finer is aggregate, bigger is the fractal dimension.


Fractals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (04) ◽  
pp. 2050072 ◽  
Author(s):  
GUANNAN LIU ◽  
BOMING YU ◽  
DAYU YE ◽  
FENG GAO ◽  
JISHAN LIU

In the process of gas extraction, fracture-pore structure significantly influences the macroscopic permeability of coal seam. However, under the multi-field coupling, the mechanism of coal seam fracture-pore evolution remains to be clarified. In this paper, considering the effect of adsorption expansion, the fractal theory for porous media coupled with the multi-field model for coal seam is considered, and a multi-field coupling mechanical model is constructed by considering the influence of fracture-pore structure. Furthermore, the evolution mechanism of fractal dimension with physical and mechanical parameters of coal seam is studied. It is found that the fractal dimension for coal seam is inversely proportional to mining time and in situ stress, proportional to elastic modulus, Langmuir volume constant and Langmuir volume strain constant, and inversely proportional to Langmuir pressure constant. Compared with other factors, Langmuir pressure constant and Langmuir volume strain constant have the significance influence on the fractal dimension for the fracture length.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 7350
Author(s):  
Qindong Fan ◽  
Fengtian Du ◽  
Hu Li

In order to improve the study of the spatial form of villages, fractal theory is used to analyze the plane and facade of Maling Village, Changdai Town, Mengjin County, Luoyang City, Henan Province, China. The results show that the village facade and plane spatial shape of Maling Village have obvious fractal characteristics and the fractal dimension can be used as an important index to evaluate the plane and facade shape of the village. The fractal dimension of each land use type is between 1.2415 and 1.7443. The stability index of land use types in the village follows the order of village construction land > cultivated land > road > garden land > woodland > grassland. The research results can provide decision-making information for the rational use and planning of village land.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhaoyun Chai ◽  
Jinbo Bai ◽  
Haiyang Zhang ◽  
Pan Yang

Failure of rocks is commonly induced by compressive and shear coupling loading. Knowledge of the mechanism and process of deformation and failure of rocks under compressive shear loading condition is an important basis for the study of stability in rock engineering. Based on the nonlinear fractal theory, it is possible to examine the evolution rules of fractures in mudstone under compression shear load and the fractal characteristics of broken blocks using the shear compression test with variable angles of mudstone specimens in natural conditions. This research shows that the cohesion and friction angle parameters of rock samples are achieved by draw Mohr’s strength envelope according to the test date of variable-angle shear compression test. It also shows that the shape of load-displacement curves of rocks can be divided into four stages: compaction, elastic, plastic, and fracture, and the curve can accurately represent the transformation and breakage characteristics of rock during shear fracture. And the distribution of broken blocks shows a strong statistical resemblance to the fractal distribution, and the fractal dimension is able to reflect the distribution characteristics of broken blocks. With increasing the shear angle, the fractal dimension of broken blocks decreases in a logarithmic relationship.


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