Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Experimental study on mechanical characteristics and permeability evolution during the coupled hydromechanical failure of sandstone containing a filled fissure

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Acta Geotechnica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, triaxial seepage tests on sandstone specimens containing a preexisting fissure were conducted for three different fissure filling states to investigate the effect of fillings on the mechanical characteristics, fracture behaviors and permeability evolution during the seepage stress-induced failure of jointed rocks. Furthermore, the final 3D crack networks were reconstructed using the X-ray CT technique to qualitatively and quantitatively reveal the internal damage characteristics. The results show that the enhancing effect of fillings on the stress thresholds of specimens with a low-dip fissure is greater than that of specimens with a high-dip fissure, especially for the peak strength, while the axial stiffness is more sensitive to the fissure inclination than the filling state. The mud and sand fillings obviously affect the crack initiation angles and change the failure types around the fissure from tension to shear, especially in specimens with a high-dip fissure. Interestingly, the types and initiation locations of the main cracks may change from those observed for unfilled specimens due to the presence of sand fillings. The reconstructed 3D internal failure models show that the crack paths and damage extent inside the specimens are both affected by the fillings and water pressure. Moreover, the permeability evolution is dependent on both the cracking behaviors and fillings. The permeability in the crack incubation stage is more affected by crack propagation than fillings, but the plugging effect of fillings is fully exerted after the crack networks and shear fractures are generated, especially in specimens with a low-dip fissure.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

References

  1. Alam AKMB, Niioka M, Fujii Y, Fukuda D, Kodama J (2014) Effects of confining pressure on the permeability of three rock types under compression. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 65:49–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2013.11.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Chen SW, Yang CH, Wang GB (2017) Evolution of thermal damage and permeability of Beishan granite. Appl Therm Eng 110:1533–1542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.09.075

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Chen X, Yu J, Tang CA, Li H, Wang SY (2017) Experimental and numerical investigation of permeability evolution with damage of sandstone under triaxial compression. Rock Mech Rock Eng 50(6):1529–1549. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-017-1169-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Cui ZD, Li X, Liu DA, Wang BN, Han WG, Zhang JY, Wang YZ (2018) In-situ observation of en echelon intermittent cracks of shale in micro-nano scale. J Eng Geol 26(1):85–90. https://doi.org/10.13544/j.cnki.jeg.2018.01.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Davy CA, Skoczylas F, Barnichon JD, Lebon P (2007) Permeability of macro-cracked argillite under confinement: gas and water testing. Phys Chem Earth 32(8–14):667–680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2006.02.055

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Du YT, Li TC, Li WT, Ren YD, Wang G, He P (2020) Experimental study of mechanical and permeability behaviors during the failure of sandstone containing two preexisting fissures under triaxial compression. Rock Mech Rock Eng 53(8):3673–3697. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-020-02119-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Fan WC, Yang H, Jiang XL, Cao P (2021) Experimental and numerical investigation on crack mechanism of folded flawed rock-like material under uniaxial compression. Eng Geol 291:106210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2021.106210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Feng XT, Chen SL, Zhou H (2004) Real-time computerized tomography (CT) experiments on sandstone damage evolution during triaxial compression with chemical corrosion. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 41(2):181–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1365-1609(03)00059-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Fu JW, Liu SL, Zhu WS, Zhou H, Sun ZC (2018) Experiments on failure process of new rock-like specimens with two internal cracks under biaxial loading and the 3-D simulation. Acta Geotech 13(4):853–867. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-018-0651-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Gao G, Meguid M, Chouinard L (2020) On the role of pre-existing discontinuities on the micromechanical behavior of confined rock samples: a numerical study. Acta Geotech 15(2):3483–3510. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-020-01037-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Gao YH, Wang KZ, Zhou C (2021) A numerical study on true triaxial strength and failure characteristics of jointed marble. Acta Geotech. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-021-01300-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Griffiths L, Heap MJ, Xu T, Chen CF, Baud P (2017) The influence of pore geometry and orientation on the strength and stiffness of porous rock. J Struct Geol 96:149–160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2017.02.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Han B, Xie SY, Shao JF (2016) Experimental investigation on mechanical behavior and permeability evolution of a porous limestone under compression. Rock Mech Rock Eng 49(9):3425–3435. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-016-1000-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Heiland J (2003) Permeability of triaxially compressed sandstone: influence of deformation and strain-rate on permeability. Pure Appl Geophys 160(5–6):889–908. https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00012571

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Kang G, Ning YJ, Chen PW, Pang SP, Shao YB (2022) Comprehensive simulations of rock fracturing with pre-existing cracks by the numerical manifold method. Acta Geotech 17(3):857–876. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-021-01252-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Kou MM, Liu XR, Wang ZQ, Tang SD (2021) Laboratory investigations on failure, energy and permeability evolution of fissured rock-like materials under seepage pressures. Eng Fract Mech 247:107694. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2021.107694

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Le HL, Sun SR, Kulatilake PHSW, Wei JH (2018) Effect of grout on mechanical properties and cracking behavior of rock-like specimens containing a single flaw under uniaxial compression. Int J Geomech 18(10):4018129. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Li TC, Du YT, Zhu QW, Ren YD, Zhang H, Ran JL (2021) Hydro-mechanical coupling behaviors in the failure process of pre-cracked sandstone. Geomech Eng 24(6):573–588. https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2021.24.6.573

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Li YC, Wu CZ, Jang BA (2020) Effect of bedding plane on the permeability evolution of typical sedimentary rocks under triaxial compression. Rock Mech Rock Eng 53(11):5283–5291. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-020-02204-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Liu LW, Li HB, Li XF, Wu D, Zhang GK (2020) Underlying mechanisms of crack initiation for granitic rocks containing a single pre-existing flaw: insights from digital image correlation (DIC) analysis. Rock Mech Rock Eng 54(2):857–873. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-020-02286-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Liu G, Sun WC, Lowinger SM, Zhang ZH, Huang M, Peng J (2019) Coupled flow network and discrete element modeling of injection-induced crack propagation and coalescence in brittle rock. Acta Geotech 14(3):843–868. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-018-0682-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Martin CD, Chandler NA (1994) The progressive fracture of lac du bonnet granite. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 31(6):643–659. https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(94)90005-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Miao ST, Pan PZ, Li SJ, Chen JQ, Konicek P (2021) Quantitative fracture analysis of hard rock containing double infilling flaws with a novel DIC-based method. Eng Fract Mech 252:107846. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2021.107846

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Mondal S, Olsen-Kettle L, Gross L (2019) Simulating damage evolution and fracture propagation in sandstone containing a preexisting 3-D surface flaw under uniaxial compression. Int J Numer Anal Methods 43(7):1448–1466. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.2908

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Nguyen T, Vu M, Tran N, Dao N, Pham D (2020) Stress induced permeability changes in brittle fractured porous rock. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 127:104224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2020.104224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Pan PZ, Miao ST, Jiang Q, Wu ZH, Shao CY (2020) The influence of infilling conditions on flaw surface relative displacement induced cracking behavior in hard rock. Rock Mech Rock Eng 53(10):4449–4470. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-019-02033-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Sharafisafa M, Shen L, Zheng Y, Xiao J (2019) The effect of flaw filling material on the compressive behaviour of 3D printed rock-like discs. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 117:105–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2019.03.031

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Shirole D, Hedayat A, Walton G (2021) Damage monitoring in rock specimens with pre-existing flaws by non-linear ultrasonic waves and digital image correlation. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 142:104758. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2021.104758

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Tang Y, Okubo S, Xu J, Peng SJ (2019) Progressive failure behaviors and crack evolution of rocks under triaxial compression by 3D digital image correlation. Eng Geol 249:172–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2018.12.026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Vajdova V, Baud P, Wong TF (2004) Permeability evolution during localized deformation in Bentheim sandstone. J Geophys Res-Sol Earth 109:B10406. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JB002942

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Wang Q, Hu XL, Zheng WB, Li LX, Zhou C, Ying CY, Xu C (2021) Mechanical properties and permeability evolution of red sandstone subjected to hydro-mechanical coupling: experiment and discrete element modeling. Rock Mech Rock Eng 54(5):2405–2423. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-021-02396-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Wang JA, Park HD (2002) Fluid permeability of sedimentary rocks in a complete stress-strain process. Eng Geol 63(3):291–300. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-7952(01)00088-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Wang HL, Xu WY, Jia CJ, Cai M, Meng QX (2016) Experimental research on permeability evolution with microcrack development in sandstone under different fluid pressures. J Geotech Geoenviron 142(6):1–9. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Wang YX, Zhang H, Lin H, Zhao YL, Li X, Liu Y (2020) Mechanical behavior and failure analysis of fracture-filled gneissic granite. Theor Appl Fract Mech 108:102674. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tafmec.2020.102674

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Wei C, Zhang B, Zhu W, Wang S, Li J, Yang L, Lin C (2020) Fracture propagation of rock like material with a fluid-infiltrated pre-existing flaw under uniaxial compression. Rock Mech Rock Eng 54(2):875–891. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-020-02256-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Wong LNY, Einstein HH (2009) Systematic evaluation of cracking behavior in specimens containing single flaws under uniaxial compression. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 46(2):239–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2008.03.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Xiao WJ, Zhang DM, Wang XJ (2020) Experimental study on progressive failure process and permeability characteristics of red sandstone under seepage pressure. Eng Geol 265:105406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.105406

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Xu GW, Hu XY, Tang R, Hou ZK (2022) Fracture evolution of transversely isotropic rocks with a pre-existing flaw under compression tests based on moment tensor analysis. Acta Geotech 17(1):169–203. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-021-01214-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Yang SQ (2011) Crack coalescence behavior of brittle sandstone samples containing two coplanar fissures in the process of deformation failure. Eng Fract Mech 78(17):3059–3081. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2011.09.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Yang SQ, Huang YH, Ranjith PG (2018) Failure mechanical and acoustic behavior of brine saturated-sandstone containing two pre-existing flaws under different confining pressures. Eng Fract Mech 193:108–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2018.02.021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Yang SQ, Ranjith PG, Huang YH, Yin PF, Jing HW, Gui YL, Yu QL (2015) Experimental investigation on mechanical damage characteristics of sandstone under triaxial cyclic loading. Geophys J Int 201(2):662–682. https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggv023

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Yang SQ, Tian WL, Liu XR, Huang YH, Yang J (2021) An experimental study on failure mechanical behavior and cracking mechanism of rectangular solid sandstone containing two non-coplanar fissures under conventional triaxial compression. Theor Appl Fract Mech 114:102975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tafmec.2021.102975

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Yu J, Chen SJ, Chen X, Zhang YZ, Cai YY (2015) Experimental investigation on mechanical properties and permeability evolution of red sandstone after heat treatments. J Zhejiang Univ-Sci A 16(9):749–759. https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.A1400362

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Yu J, Yao W, Duan K, Liu XY, Zhu YL (2020) Experimental study and discrete element method modeling of compression and permeability behaviors of weakly anisotropic sandstones. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 134:104437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2020.104437

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Zhang CL (2016) The stress-strain-permeability behaviour of clay rock during damage and recompaction. J Rock Mech Geotech 8(1):16–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2015.10.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Zhang GK, Wang MY, Li XF, Yue SL, Wen Z, Han ST (2021) Micro- and macrocracking behaviors in granite and molded gypsum containing a single flaw. Constr Build Mater 292:123452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.123452

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Zhao YS, Gao YT, Wu SC, Chen L, Zhang CL (2021) Experimental and numerical study of failure characteristics of brittle rocks with single internal 3D open-type flaw. Acta Geotech 16(10):3087–3113. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-021-01285-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Zhao ZH, Zhou D (2016) Mechanical properties and failure modes of rock samples with grout-infilled flaws: a particle mechanics modeling. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 34(11):702–715. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2016.07.022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Zhou XP, Niu Y, Cheng H, Berto F (2021) Cracking behaviors and chaotic characteristics of sandstone with unfilled and filled dentate flaw. Theor Appl Fract Mec 112:102876. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tafmec.2020.102876

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Zhu QQ, Li DY, Han ZY, Li XB, Zhou ZL (2019) Mechanical properties and fracture evolution of sandstone specimens containing different inclusions under uniaxial compression. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 115:33–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2019.01.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Zhu W, Wong TF (1997) The transition from brittle faulting to cataclastic flow: permeability evolution. J Geophys Res-Sol Earth 102:3027–3041. https://doi.org/10.1029/96JB03282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Zhuang XY, Zhou SW (2020) An experimental and numerical study on the influence of filling materials on double-crack propagation. Rock Mech Rock Eng 53(12):5571–5591. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-020-02220-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41772299 and 51279096) and the Scientific Research Foundation of Shandong University of Science and Technology for Recruited Talents (No. 2014RCJJ043).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shandong Key Laboratory of Civil Engineering Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266590, China

    Yiteng Du, Tingchun Li, Binxu Wang, Shilin Zhang, Hui Li, Hao Zhang & Qingwen Zhu

  2. Department of Architectural Engineering, Binzhou University, Binzhou, 256600, China

    Yiteng Du

  3. Huadong Engineering and Geotechnical Engineering Branch, China Petroleum Engineering and Construction Crop, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Shilin Zhang

Authors
  1. Yiteng Du
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tingchun Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Binxu Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Shilin Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Hui Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Hao Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Qingwen Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tingchun Li.

Ethics declarations

Competing interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Du, Y., Li, T., Wang, B. et al. Experimental study on mechanical characteristics and permeability evolution during the coupled hydromechanical failure of sandstone containing a filled fissure. Acta Geotech. 18, 4055–4075 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-023-01816-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-023-01816-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation