Abstract
For better understanding the water influence on shale mechanical properties, the current research quantitatively studies the changes of mechanical properties, meanwhile qualitatively explains the mechanisms of changes. Uniaxial/triaxial compressive tests, SCB tests are conducted on Longmaxi outcrop shale samples which are processed to five different saturations. To prove the advantages of saturating Longmaxi outcrop by water vapor, shale samples are immersed directly in four solutions to observe the changing status of solutions and samples with time. Fracturing mode, compressive strength and their relationships with saturation, tensile strength estimation, volumetric strain theory, energy theory of uniaxial stress–strain curves and damage parameters which are originally suitable for other types of rock, can be applied to define the changing pattern of shale mechanical behaviors with rising moisture properly. For accurate control of Longmaxi outcrop saturation, water vapor produced by oversaturated K2SO4 solution in vacuum desiccator is better than directly immersing samples into brine or distilled water. Water weakens the shale structure due to more complicated fracturing mode, reduced strength, decreased crack damage and roughly increasing damage parameters, meanwhile enhances the heterogeneity by dissolving minerals, moving loose particles and other physical or chemical reactions. Due to two mechanisms, physical part, including Stefan effect, compressed force from expanded minerals and water flush caused by capillary force, chemical part including water mineralization, and water resists microcrack propagation.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by Joint Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant no. U19B6003-03-04) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants no. 51974330).
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This study was funded by Joint Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U19B6003-03-04), National Natural Science Foundation of China (51974330).
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Keming Gu1st: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Investigation, Writing, Formal analysis. Zhengfu Ning corresponding author,2nd: Supervision, Funding acquisition, Review. Ying Kang3rd: Review, Investigation
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Gu, K., Ning, Z. & Kang, Y. Analysis about water influence and mechanism on mechanical behavior of Longmaxi outcrop shale through uniaxial/triaxial compressive test and SCB test. Environ Earth Sci 82, 539 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-023-11248-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-023-11248-9