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Influences of Mineralogy and Water Content on the Mechanical Properties of Argillite

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Abstract

Callovo-Oxfordian (Cox) argillite was investigated in the context of feasibility studies for an underground repository for nuclear waste. In this study, the influence of mineralogical composition and water content on the mechanical properties of the Cox argillite was investigated. The samples were drilled from three representative depths at which the rock formations have different mineralogical compositions. Micro-indentation and mini-compression tests were performed on samples with different water contents. The elastic and failure properties of argillite were determined and were found to be related to the mineralogical composition and water content. Both the elastic modulus and strength decrease with increasing clay and water contents.

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Abbreviations

RH :

Relative humidity

E :

Elastic modulus

v :

Poisson’s ratio

D :

Diameter of indenter

e :

Penetration displacement

σ1max :

Peak stress

ε1max :

Axial peak strain

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the French National Agency for Radioactive Waste Management (ANDRA) for financially supporting this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Mécanique de Lille (LML), UMR 8107, University of Lille, 59655, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France

    D. W. Hu, F. Zhang & J. F. Shao

  2. ANDRA, Châtenay-Malabry, France

    B. Gatmiri

  3. Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China

    F. Zhang

Authors
  1. D. W. Hu
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  2. F. Zhang
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  3. J. F. Shao
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  4. B. Gatmiri
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Correspondence to J. F. Shao.

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Hu, D.W., Zhang, F., Shao, J.F. et al. Influences of Mineralogy and Water Content on the Mechanical Properties of Argillite. Rock Mech Rock Eng 47, 157–166 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-013-0413-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-013-0413-8

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