Volatile-consuming reactions fracture rocks and self-accelerate fluid flow in the lithosphere

Hydration and carbonation reactions within the Earth cause an increase in solid volume by up to several tens of vol%, which can induce stress and rock fracture. Observations of naturally hydrated and carbonated peridotite suggest that permeability and fluid flow are enhanced by reaction-induced fracturing. However, permeability enhancement during solid-volume–increasing reactions has not been achieved in the laboratory, and the mechanisms of reaction-accelerated fluid flow remain largely unknown. Here, we present experimental evidence of significant permeability enhancement by volume-increasing reactions under confining pressure. The hydromechanical behavior of hydration of sintered periclase [MgO + H2O → Mg(OH)2] depends mainly on the initial pore-fluid connectivity. Permeability increased by three orders of magnitude for low-connectivity samples, whereas it decreased by two orders of magnitude for high-connectivity samples. Permeability enhancement was caused by hierarchical fracturing of the reacting materials, whereas a decrease was associated with homogeneous pore clogging by the reaction products. These behaviors suggest that the fluid flow rate, relative to reaction rate, is the main control on hydromechanical evolution during volume-increasing reactions. We suggest that an extremely high reaction rate and low pore-fluid connectivity lead to local stress perturbations and are essential for reaction-induced fracturing and accelerated fluid flow during hydration/carbonation.

Mechanical Properties of Rock–Coal–Rock Composites at Different Inclined Coal Seam Thicknesses

A comprehensive understanding of the mechanical properties of coal and rock sections is necessary for interpreting the deformation and failure modes of such underground sections and for evaluating the potential dynamic hazards. However, most studies have focused on horizontal coal–rock composites and the mechanical properties of inclined coal–rock composites have not been considered. To explore the influence of different confining pressures and inclined coal seam thicknesses on the mechanical properties and failure characteristics of rock–coal–rock (RCR) composites, a numerical model based on the particle flow code was used to perform simulations on five inclined RCR composites at different confining pressures. The results show that the mechanical properties and failure characteristics of the RCR composites are affected considerably by the inclined coal seam thickness and the confining pressure. (1) When the inclined coal seam thickness is constant, the elasticity modulus of the inclined RCR composite increases nonlinearly with the confining pressure at first, and then remains constant. At the same confining pressure, the elasticity modulus of the inclined RCR composite decreases nonlinearly with the inclined coal seam thickness. (2) When the confining pressure is constant, the peak stress of the inclined RCR composite decreases with the increase of the inclined coal seam thickness. When the inclined coal seam thickness is constant, the peak stress increases with the confining pressure. (3) As the inclined coal seam thickness increases, the peak strain of the inclined RCR composite first decreases rapidly, and then remains constant when there is no confining pressure. When the confining pressure is between 5 and 20 MPa, the peak strain of the inclined RCR composite gradually increases. (4) In the absence of confining pressure, there are few microcracks in the rock at an inclined coal seam thickness of 10 mm, whereas all the other cracks are in the coal section. When the confining pressure ranges between 5 and 20 MPa, the failure modes of the RCR composite can be divided into Y- and X-types.

Dynamic Rock-Breaking Process of TBM Disc Cutters and Response Mechanism of Rock Mass Based on Discrete Element

Rock-breaking efficiency of full-face rock tunnel boring machine (TBM) is closely related to the performance of the disc cutter and the characteristics of the rock mass. In the point of view of mesomechanics, the particle flow code (PFC) is used to establish a numerical model of the rock mass and the disc cutter, and the process of TBM disc cutter intrusion into the rock mass is analyzed. The dynamic response mechanism and crack evolution process of the rock mass under the action of the disc cutter are studied on the basis of micromechanics, and the relationship between the rock mass crack, penetration, and cutting force during the intrusion of the disc cutter is revealed. The sensitivity analysis is carried out on the confining pressure conditions and the influence parameters of the disc cutter spacing. The results show that the rock breaking by disc cutter undergoes the transformation characteristics of compaction, shearing, and tension failure modes, and the failure process of the rock mass is the joint action of tension and shear. In the whole process of rock breaking, the disc cutter has the phenomenon of repeated loading-unloading alternation and leaping rock breaking; after the penetration of the disc cutter reached 9.0 mm, penetration creaks begin to appear on the surface of the rock mass; the penetration was obviously reduced with the increase of confining pressure, and it is mainly the penetration cracks on the surface; after the disc cutter spacing reaches 100.0 mm, there is no penetration crack between the two disc cutters. The research conclusion can provide a reference for the disc cutter optimization design.

Failure Criteria and Constitutive Relationship of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete under Triaxial Compression

This paper investigates the compression behavior and failure criteria of lightweight aggregate concrete (LAC) under triaxial loading. A total of 156 specimens were tested for three parameters: concrete strength, lateral confining pressure and aggregate immersion time, and their effects on the failure mode of LAC and the triaxial stress-strain relationship of LAC is studied. The research indicated that, as the lateral constraint of the specimen increases, the failure patterns change from vertical splitting failure to oblique shearing failure and then to indistinct traces of damage. The stress-strain curve of LAC specimens has an obvious stress plateau, and the curve no longer appears downward when the confining pressure exceeds 12 MPa. According to the experimental phenomenon and test data, the failure criterion was examined on the Mohr–Coulomb theory, octahedral shear stress theory and Rendulic plane stress theory, which well reflects the behavior of LAC under triaxial compression. For the convenience of analysis and application, the stress-strain constitutive models of LAC under triaxial compression are recommended, and these models correlate well with the test results.

Gas Permeability Change With Deformation and Cracking of a Sandstone Under Triaxial Compressiongas Permeability Change With Deformation and Cracking of a Sandstone Under Triaxial Compression

In this paper, a THMC (Thermal-Hydrological-Mechanical-Chemical) multi-field coupling triaxial cell was used to systematically study the evolution of gas permeability and the deformation characteristics of sandstone. The effects of confining pressure, axial pressure, and air pressure on gas permeability characteristics were fully considered in the test. The gas permeability of sandstone decreases with increasing confining pressure. When the confining pressure is low, the variation of gas permeability is greater than the variation of gas permeability at high confining pressure. The gas injection pressure has a significant effect on the gas permeability evolution of sandstone. As the gas injection pressure increases, the gas permeability of sandstone tends to decrease. At the same confining pressure, the gas permeability of the sample during the unloading path is less than the gas permeability of the sample in the loading path. When axial pressure is applied, it has a significant influence on the permeability evolution of sandstone. When the axial pressure is less than 30 MPa, the gas permeability of the sandstone increases as the axial pressure increases. At axial pressures greater than 30 MPa, the permeability decreases as the axial pressure increases. Finally, the micro-pore/fracture structure of the sample after the gas permeability test was observed using 3D X-ray CT imaging.

Cyclic behavior of late quaternary alluvial soil along Indo-Gangetic Plain: Northern India

The A.D. 1803 and 1934 Bihar-Nepal border earthquake affected Indo-Gangetic Plain with evidences of liquefaction in cities like Patna, Varanasi, Agra, and Delhi in historical past. Recent strong shaking all along the Indo-Gangetic Plains and seismic induced damage to the buildings in Bihar during Mw 7.8 Gorkha earthquake raises the concern for site specific liquefaction potential estimation of alluvial soils. Cyclic triaxial tests were conducted on soil samples from Kanpur, Allahabad, Patna city to know the cyclic behavior, estimate the dynamic soil properties and the effect of relative density, confining pressure and frequency of loading on the cyclic behavior of the soil tested. The test results indicate the cyclic strength of Allahabad soil is less than Patna and Kanpur soil. The Allahabad soil with 80% sand, 10% silt and clay each is more prone to liquefaction than Kanpur soil (82% silt, 16% clay and 2% sand) and Patna soil (10% Kankar, 95% sand, 5% silt). This study indicates soils having sand with silt percentage are more liquefiable than clean sand or silty soil. It can be concluded that the soil of Allahabad and Patna city is more prone to liquefaction than Kanpur soil.

Experimental Study on Crack Extension Rules of Hydraulic Fracturing Based on Simulated Coal Seam Roof and Floor

Hydraulic fracturing can increase the fracture of coal seams, improve the permeability in the coal seam, and reduce the risk of coal and gas outburst. Most of the existing experimental specimens are homogeneous, and the influence of the roof and floor on hydraulic fracture expansion is not considered. Therefore, the hydraulic fracturing test of the simulated combination of the coal seam and the roof and floor under different stress conditions was carried out using the self-developed true triaxial coal mine dynamic disaster large-scale simulation test rig. The results show that (1) under the condition of triaxial unequal pressure, the hydraulic fractures are vertical in the coal seam, and the extension direction of hydraulic fractures in the coal seam will be deflected, with the increase of the ratio of the horizontal maximum principal stress to the horizontal minimum principal stress. The angle between the extension direction of the hydraulic fracture and the horizontal maximum principal stress decreases. (2) Under the condition of triaxial equal confining pressure, the extension of hydraulic fractures in the coal seam are random, and the hydraulic fracture will expand along the dominant fracture surface and form a unilateral expansion fracture when a crack is formed. (3) When the pressure in one direction is unloaded under the condition of the triaxial unequal pressure, the hydraulic fractures in the coal seam will reorientate, and the cracks will expand in the direction of the decreased confining pressure, forming almost mutually perpendicular turning cracks.