Abstract
This paper outlines the need for a description to quantify the natural response of rock to the presence of water. It discusses the change in mass that occurs in a sample exposed to water vapour over time could provide such a description, and the reason for preferring this method over that of immersing samples in water. The systematic testing required to assess the influence of experimental variables upon the mass-vs-time signature is illustrated. Three quantities are obtained from the test: the change in mass under a given relative humidity, the time required for that change to occur and the rate of change of mass with time. This kinetic response of samples to water vapour also provides a simple way of assessing the specific surface of samples. Examples of the calculations required to obtain these quantities are provided so that the kinetic response of samples to water vapour may be added to other petrophysical descriptions.
Resumé
L’article souligne la nécessité, pour bien décrire une roche, de quantifier son évolution naturelle en présence d’eau. Il examine le changement de masse dans le temps d’un échantillon soumis à une variation de la teneur en vapeur d’eau de l’atmosphère ambiante. On présente l’expérimentation proposée pour évaluer l’influence des variables expérimentales sur la signature «masse en fonction du temps» de l’échantillon. L’essai fournit trois données : la variation de masse pour une variation d’humidité relative donnée ; le temps nécessaire pour obtenir cette variation ; le taux de variation en fonction du temps. La cinétique de la variation fournit aussi une façon simple d’évaluer la surface spécifique des échantillons. Des exemples des calculs proposés pour accéder à ces valeurs sont fournis. Il est donc possible d’ajouter ce paramètre aux autres caractérisations pétrophysiques.
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Acknowledgement
We wish to acknowledge the advice and support we have received from Prof. G. Butenuth and from K. and I. Hamm, without whom this work would not have been possible.
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T. Hamm, is a former research student of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, London SW7 2BU, UK
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Butenuth, C., Hamm, T. & de Freitas, M.H. The kinetic response of rock to water vapour. Bull Eng Geol Environ 63, 179–189 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-004-0241-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-004-0241-x
Keywords
- Chilmark Stone
- Kinetic responses
- Petrophysical descriptions
- Specific surface area
- Tisbury Stone
- Water vapour