What process causes the slowdown of pressure solution creep

The slowdown of pressure solution creep has been thought to be caused by stress redistribution. This study presents a fresh view towards this creep behaviour. Basically, two rate-limiting mechanisms come into play amid pressure solution creep: (1) stress redistribution across expanding inter-granular contacts and (2) solute accumulation in the water film. Because non-hydrostatic dissolution occurs under open system conditions, solute accumulation in the water film is constrained by the ensuing solute transport process. Relying on the matter exchange across the contact surface boundary, the active processes in the voids, e.g., solute migration and deposition, affect pressure solution creep. Based upon the above, we sum up two requirements that have to be met for achieving chemical compaction equilibrium: (1) the Gibbs free energy of reaction, i.e., the driving force of non-hydrostatic dissolution process, gets depleted and (2) the concentration gradient between the water film and surrounding pore water vanishes. Highlights The slowdown of pressure solution creep is a combined result of stress migration across contacts and solute accumulation in the water film. Matter exchange with the surroundings inhibits solute accumulation in the water film. This article identifies two prerequisites that need to be fulfilled for achieving chemical compaction equilibrium.

Meter-scale stress heterogeneities and stress redistribution drive complex fracture slip and fracture growth during a hydraulic stimulation experiment

Summary We investigated the induced seismicity, source mechanisms and mechanical responses of a decameter-scale hydraulic stimulation of a pre-existing shear zone in crystalline rock, at the Grimsel Test Site, Switzerland. The analysis reveals the meter-scale complexity of hydraulic stimulation, which remains hidden at the reservoir-scale. High earthquake location accuracy allowed the separation of four distinct clusters, of which three were attributed to the stimulation of fractures in the damage zone of the shear zone. The source mechanism of the larger-magnitude seismicity varied by cluster, and suggests a heterogeneous stress field already prevailing before stimulation, which is further modified during stimulation. In the course of the experiment, stress redistribution led to the aseismic initiation of a tensile-dominated fracture, which induced seismicity in the fourth of the identified seismic clusters. The streaky pattern of seismicity separated by zones without seismicity suggests fluid flow in conduits along existing fracture planes. The observed sub-meter scale complexity questions the forecasting ability of induced seismic hazard at the reservoir scale from small-scale experiments.

Synthesis and Outlook

As a result of the GeomInt research project (Chap. 1) a broad combined experimental and numerical platform for the investigation of discontinuities due to swelling and shrinking processes (WP1, Sect. 2.3), pressure-driven percolation (WP2, Sect. 2.4) and stress redistribution (WP3, Sect. 2.4) for important reservoir and barrier rocks (clay, salt, crystalline) has been developed. Model comparisons for damage and fracture processes driven by different processes provide information on the optimal areas of application of the numerical methods (Sect. 2.5).

Subsidence deformations of the foundations of hydraulic structures

One of the most important tasks in designing and constructing reclamation network structures on loess subsidence soils is to ensure their long-term trouble-free operation. The improvement of methods for the design of hydraulic structures on subsidence foundations requires further study of very complex physical processes occurring in the foundations of structures during their construction and operation. This is confirmed by the fact that even if all the requirements and recommendations of regulatory documents for the design of irrigation systems on subsiding soils are observed, the deformations of the foundations of structures often significantly exceed the calculated ones, which can cause a loss of serviceability of irrigation structures. This determines the need for further study peculiarities of interaction of irrigation structures with their subsidence bases. This article is devoted to this problem, in particular, to the study of the influence of stress redistribution in wetted subsidence foundations of hydraulic structures on the stressed state of their elements and the stress-strain state of loess subsidence foundations on the models of float bets of hydraulic structures in the Karshi steppe.

Polymer Flexible Joint as a Repair Method of Concrete Elements: Flexural Testing and Numerical Analysis

Polymer Flexible Joint (PFJ) is a method for repairs of concrete elements, which enables carrying loads and large deformations effectively. This article presents the possibility of applying PFJ on beams subjected to bending and describes the influence of such joints on concrete elements. An experimental investigation was conducted to determine the behavior of concrete in a four-point bending test. The research program included flexural tests of plain concrete elements with a notch, as well as tests of elements which were repaired with PFJ after failure. Based on the experimental results, the numerical characteristics of analyzed polymer and concrete were calibrated. A nonlinear numerical model is developed, which describes the behavior of concrete elements and polymer in the experiments. The model is used to numerically analyze deformations and stresses under increasing load. The influence of flexible joint on concrete elements is described and behavior of elements repaired with PFJ is compared to original elements. Particular attention was paid to the stress redistribution in concrete. The application of flexible joint positively influences load capacity of the connected concrete elements. Furthermore, because of stress redistribution, connected elements can bear larger deformations than original ones. PFJ can therefore be considered an efficient repair method for connecting concrete elements.