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Alteration of Mesoscopic Properties and Mechanical Behavior of Sandstone Due to Hydro-Physical and Hydro-Chemical Effects

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Abstract

The hydro-physical and hydro-chemical interactions between groundwater and a rock mass can lead to changes in the mineral composition and structure of the rock (e.g., generation of voids and dissolution pores and an increase in the porosity), thereby altering the macroscopic mechanical characteristics of the rock mass. Sandstone specimens were saturated with distilled water and five aqueous solutions characterized by various ion concentrations and pH values for several months, and their porosity was measured in real time. Simultaneously, the concentration and pH of each aqueous solution were monitored every 30 days. The results indicate that after immersion in the aqueous solutions for 180 days, the porosity of the sandstone specimens and the ion concentrations and pH of the aqueous solutions tended to stabilize. Then, the immersed sandstone specimens were analyzed in thin section and subjected to computerized tomography scanning. It turns out that the mineral composition and structure of the specimens had all changed to various degrees. Finally, the uniaxial compression tests were conducted on the sandstone specimens to analyze the effects of the hydro-physical and hydro-chemical alteration on the macroscopic mechanical characteristics of the rock (e.g., the stress–strain relationship, elastic modulus, and peak strength). The results of this study can serve as a reference for investigations into theories and applications of water–rock interactions and for research in related fields.

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Acknowledgments

The laboratory tests were performed in the Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, CAS. The authors express their gratitude to the support for the laboratory tests. The first author acknowledges the financial supports from State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering with No. Z011004 and National Natural Science Foundation with No. 41202205. Wang Z. acknowledges the financial support from National Natural Science Foundation with No. 51579141.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, China

    Liping Qiao & Zhechao Wang

  2. State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2 Xiaohongshan, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, China

    Liping Qiao

  3. School of Civil Engineering, Shandong University, 17923 Jingshi Road, Jinan, 250061, Shandong, China

    Zhechao Wang & Anda Huang

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  1. Liping Qiao
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  2. Zhechao Wang
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  3. Anda Huang
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Correspondence to Zhechao Wang.

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Qiao, L., Wang, Z. & Huang, A. Alteration of Mesoscopic Properties and Mechanical Behavior of Sandstone Due to Hydro-Physical and Hydro-Chemical Effects. Rock Mech Rock Eng 50, 255–267 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-016-1111-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-016-1111-0

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