Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Multiscale Study of the Deterioration of Sandstone in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area Subjected to Cyclic Wetting–Cooling and Drying–Heating

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Seasonal changes in the reservoir water level (RWL) and groundwater level can lead to cyclic actions of wetting–drying and accelerate the weathering process of rocks within the hydrofluctuation belt in the reservoir region, which over many years would eventually result in many geological disasters, such as landslides and rock mass collapse. The cyclic wetting–cooling and heating–drying process, exerted on the rock mass within the hydrofluctuation belt in the TGR area, is a combination of wetting–drying cycles and cooling–heating cycles, however, these processes have not been clearly identified and quantified. In this paper, a multiscale study is conducted to investigate the physical and mechanical features of sandstone samples in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) region subjected to 20 wetting–cooling and drying–heating cycles under temperature changes of 0 °C, 30 °C, 60 °C, and 100 °C. Then the deterioration mechanism of the rock masses within the hydrofluctuation belt in the TGR area is discussed. The results show that the multiscale physical properties, including mineral compositions, microstructures, pore size distribution characteristics, permeability and macromechanical parameters, are markedly altered during the cyclic wetting–cooling and drying–heating process. The two physical processes (cyclic wetting–drying and cyclic cooling–heating) are both found to deteriorate the sandstone samples in the experiment, and the coupled action of the two processes can accelerate the deterioration rate of the sandstone samples. The deterioration rates of the multiscale physical and mechanical properties of the sandstone samples under larger temperature changes are higher. Furthermore, rock masses at different depths are subjected to cyclic wetting–cooling and drying–heating with different temperature changes, which is an important reason for the stratification of the deterioration zone in the hydrofluctuation belt in the TGR area.

Highlights

  • The rock masses within the hydro-fluctuation belt in the reservoir bank are actually subjected to the combined action of cyclic wetting–drying and cooling–heating.

  • The two physical processes (cyclic wetting–drying and cyclic cooling–heating) both are found to deteriorate the sandstone experimentally.

  • The coupled action of the cyclic wetting–drying and cooling–heating can accelerate the deterioration rate of the sandstone.

  • Rock masses at different depths are subjected to different temperature changes, which is an important reason for the deterioration stratification in the reservoir bank.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Asahina D, Houseworth JE, Birkholzer JT, Rutqvist J, Bolander JE (2014) Hydro-mechanical model for wetting/drying and fracture development in geomaterials. Comput Geosci 65:13–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Browning J, Meredith P, Gudmundsson A (2016) Cooling-dominated cracking in thermally stressed volcanic rocks. Geophys Res Lett 43(16):8417–8425

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castellanza R, Gerolymatou E, Nova R (2008) An attempt to predict the failure time of abandoned mine pillars. Rock Mech Rock Eng 41:377–401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chai B, Tong J, Jiang B, Yin K (2014) How does the water–rock interaction of marly rocks affect its mechanical properties in the Three Gorges reservoir area, China? Environ Earth Sci 72(8):2797–2810

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fourniadis IG, Liu JG, Mason PJ (2007) Regional assessment of landslide impact in the Three Gorges area, China, using ASTER data: Wushan-Zigui. Landslides 4(3):267–278

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friesen WI, Mikula RJ (1987) Fractal dimensions of coal particles. J Colloid Interface Sci 120(1):263–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao X, Liu H, Zhang W, Wang W, Wang Z (2019) Influences of reservoir water level drawdown on slope stability and reliability analysis. Georisk Assess Manag Risk Eng Syst Geohazards 13(2):145–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao Z, Hu Q (2013) Estimating permeability using median pore-throat radius obtained from mercury intrusion porosimetry. J Geophys Eng 10(2):025014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gong WP, Juang CH, Wasowski J (2021) Geohazards and human settlements: lessons learned from multiple relocation events in Badong, China – engineering geologist’s perspective. Eng Geol 285:106051. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2021.106051

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gratchev I, Pathiranagei SV, Kim DH (2019) Strength properties of fresh and weathered rocks subjected to wetting–drying cycles. Geomech Geophys Geo-Energy Geo-Resour 5(3):211–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gu D, Liu H, Gao X, Huang D, Zhang W (2021) Influence of cyclic wetting-drying on the shear strength of limestone with a soft interlayer. Rock Mech Rock Eng 54(8):4369–4378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hale PA, Shakoor A (2003) A laboratory investigation of the effects of cyclic heating and cooling, wetting and drying, and freezing and thawing on the compressive strength of selected sandstones. Environ Eng Geosci 9(2):117–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall K, Hall A (1996) Weathering by wetting and drying: some experimental results. Earth Surf Proc Land 21(4):365–376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hosseini M (2017) Effect of temperature as well as heating and cooling cycles on rock properties. J Mining Environ 8(4):631–644

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu XL, Wu SS, Zhang GC (2021) Landslide displacement prediction using kinematics-based random forests method: a case study in Jinping Reservoir Area, China. Eng Geol 283:105975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2020.105975

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu QH, Robert P, Ewing H (2015) Low nanopore connectivity limits gas production in barnett formation. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 120(12):8073–8087

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang B, Yin Y, Zhang Z, Wang J, Qin Z, Yan G (2019) Study on deterioration characteristics of shallow rock mass in water the level fluctuation zone of karst bank slopes in Three Gorges Reservoir area. Chin J Rock Mech Eng 38(9):1786–1796 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang D, Gu DM, Song YX, Cen DF, Zeng B (2018) Towards a complete understanding of the triggering mechanism of a large reactivated landslide in the three gorges reservoir. Eng Geol 238:36–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2018.03.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katz AJ, Thompson AH (1986) Katz and Thompson respond. Phys Rev Lett 56(19):2112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katz AJ, Thompson AH (1987) Prediction of rock electrical conductivity from mercury injection measurements. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 92(B1):599–607

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khanlari G, Abdilor Y (2015) Influence of wet-dry, freeze-thaw, and heat-cool cycles on the physical and mechanical properties of upper red sandstones in central Iran. B Eng Geol Environ 74:1287–1300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kundu P, Gupta N (2022) Impact of residual strength of soil in reactivated landslide: case studies of a few landslides in different regions of the globe. Earthquake Geotech 3:249–258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liao K, Wu Y, Miao F, Li L, Xue Y (2021) Time-varying reliability analysis of Majiagou landslide based on weakening of hydrofluctuation belt under wetting-drying cycles. Landslides 18(1):267–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu X, Jin M, Li D, Zhang L (2018) Strength deterioration of a Shaly sandstone under dry–wet cycles: a case study from the Three Gorges Reservoir in China. Bull Eng Geol Env 77(4):1607–1621

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu X, Wang Z, Fu Y, Yuan W, Miao L (2016) Macro/microtesting and damage and degradation of sandstones under dry-wet cycles. Adv Mater Sci Eng 2016:1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo SL, Jin XG, Huang D (2019) Long-term coupled effects of hydrological factors on kinematic responses of a reactivated landslide in the three gorges reservoir. Eng Geol 261:105271–105271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.105271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miao F, Wu Y, Li L, Tang H, Xiong F (2020) Weakening laws of slip zone soils during wetting–drying cycles based on fractal theory: a case study in the Three Gorges Reservoir (China). Acta Geotech 15(7):1909–1923

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miao FS, Wu YP, Xie YH, Li YN, Li LW (2018) Centrifugal test on retrogressive landslide influenced by rising and falling reservoir water level. Rock Soil Mech 39(2):605–613. https://doi.org/10.16285/j.rsm.2016.2518 (In Chinese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michalopoulos AP, Triandafilidis GE (1976) Influence of water on hardness, strength, and compressibility of rock. Bull Assoc Eng Geol 13(1):1–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Miščević P, Vlastelica G (2019) Estimation of embankment settlement caused by deterioration of soft rock grains. Bull Eng Geol Env 78(3):1843–1853

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osipov VL (1990) Engineering geology and building stones of historic monuments: Miscellaneous subjects. In Marinos PG, Koukis BS (eds), Proceedings of Engineering Geology of Ancient Works, Monuments and Historic Sites, Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 1899–1907

  • Qin Z, Chen X, Fu H (2018) Damage features of altered rock subjected to drying-wetting cycles. Adv Civil Eng 2018:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Pape H, Clauser C, Iffland J (1999) Permeability prediction based on fractal pore-space geometry. Geophysics 64(5):1447–1460

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Selley RC (1988) Applied sedimentology. Academic Press Inc., San Diego, CA, pp 26–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Shakoor A, Haney MG (1993) The relationship between tensile and compressive strengths for selected sandstones as influenced by their index properties and petrographic characteristics. In: Oliviera R, Rodriguez LF, Coelho AG, Cunha AP (eds), Proceedings of the 7th International Congress of the International Association of Engineering Geologists, Vol. 2, Lisbon, Portugal, pp 493–500

  • Shoaib M, Yang W, Liang Y, Rehman G (2021) Stability and deformation analysis of landslide under coupling effect of rainfall and reservoir drawdown. Civil Eng J 7(7):1098–1111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Song Z, Liang S, Feng L, He T, Song XP, Zhang L (2017) Temperature changes in three gorges reservoir area and linkage with three gorges project. J Geophys Res Atmos 122(9):4866–4879

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sumner PD, Loubser MJ (2008) Experimental sandstone weathering using different wetting and drying moisture amplitudes. Earth Surf Proc Land 33(6):985–990

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang HM, Wasowski J, Juang CH (2019a) Geohazards in the three Gorges Reservoir Area, China-Lessons learned from decades of research. Eng Geol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.105267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang MG, Xu Q, Yang H (2019b) Activity law and hydraulics mechanism of landslides with different sliding surface and permeability in the three gorges reservoir area, China. Eng Geol 260:105212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.105212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Topal T, Sözmen B (2003) Deterioration mechanisms of tuffs in Midas monument. Eng Geol 68(3–4):201–223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torres MC, Alarcon A, Berdugo MR (2014) Effects of loading–unloading and wetting–drying cycles on geomechanical behaviors of mudrocks in the Colombian Andes. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 6(3):257–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang C, Hu DJ, Liu HW, Xu Q, Huang RQ (2003) Creep tests of sliding zone soils of Xietan landslide in Three Gorges Area. Rock Soil Mech 24(6):1007–1010 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang F, Cao P, Wang Y, Hao R, Meng J, Shang J (2020a) Combined effects of cyclic load and temperature fluctuation on the mechanical behavior of porous sandstones. Eng Geol 266:105466

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang L, Yin Y, Huang B, Dai Z (2020b) Damage evolution and stability analysis of the Jianchuandong dangerous rock mass in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area. Eng Geol 265:105439

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang L, Yin Y, Zhou C, Huang B, Wang W (2020c) Damage evolution of hydraulically coupled Jianchuandong dangerous rock mass. Landslides 17(5):1083–1090

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whiteley JS, Chambers JE, Uhlemann S, Wilkinson PB, Kendall JM (2019) Geophysical monitoring of moisture-induced landslides: a review. Rev Geophys 57(1):106–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winkler EM (1986) A durability index for stone. Bull Assoc Eng Geol 23(3):344–347

    Google Scholar 

  • Yavuz H (2011) Effect of freeze–thaw and thermal shock weathering on the physical and mechanical properties of an andesite stone. Bull Eng Geol Env 70(2):187–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yao W, Li C, Zhan H, Zhou JQ, Criss RE, Xiong S, Jiang X (2020) Multiscale study of physical and mechanical properties of sandstone in three Gorges reservoir region subjected to cyclic wetting–drying of yangtze river water. Rock Mech Rock Eng 53(5):2215–2231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yin YP, Huang BL, Wang WP, Wei YJ, Ma X, Ma F, Zhao C (2016) Reservoir-induced landslides and risk control in Three Gorges Project on Yangtze River, China. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 8(5):577–595. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2016.08.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yin Y, Huang B, Zhang Q, Yan G, Dai Z (2020) Research on recently occurred reservoir-induced Kamenziwan rockslide in Three Gorges Reservoir, China. Landslides 17(8):1935–1949

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang C, Yin Y, Yan H, Li H, Dai Z, Zhang N (2021a) Reactivation characteristics and hydrological inducing factors of a massive ancient landslide in the three Gorges Reservoir, China. Eng Geol 292:106273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, Deng Z, Sun M, Lin J, Jiang S (2021b) Characterization of closed pores in longmaxi shale by synchrotron small-angle x-ray scattering. Energy Fuels 35(8):6738–6754

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou Z, Cai X, Cao W, Li X, Xiong C (2016) Influence of water content on mechanical properties of rock in both saturation and drying processes. Rock Mech Rock Eng 49(8):3009–3025

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou Z, Cai X, Chen L, Cao W, Zhao Y, Xiong C (2017) Influence of cyclic wetting and drying on physical and dynamic compressive properties of sandstone. Eng Geol 220:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The research was supported by funding from the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (ID:2020CFB352), a follow-up of the Geological Disaster Prevention and Control Project in the Three Gorges area (Grant No. 000121 2019C C60 001& Grant No. 000121 2021C C60 001), Chongqing Natural Science Key program: Key Technology for Treatment of Massive Hydraulic Landslide in Three Gorges Reservoir Area (ID: cstc2020jcyj-zdxmX0019), and Excellent Doctoral Fund of China University of Geosciences (Wuhan).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Chenyang Zhang & Yuting Yang

  2. Wuhan Center, China Geological Survey (Central South China Innovation Center for Geosciences), Wuhan, 430205, China

    Chenyang Zhang & Zhenwei Dai

  3. Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Zamboni 67, 40126, Bologna, Italy

    Chenyang Zhang

  4. College of Geological Engineering and Geomatics, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710021, China

    Weijia Tan

  5. Key Laboratory of Tectonics and Petroleum Resources, Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Linhao Zhang

Authors
  1. Chenyang Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhenwei Dai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Weijia Tan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yuting Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Linhao Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhenwei Dai.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

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

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, C., Dai, Z., Tan, W. et al. Multiscale Study of the Deterioration of Sandstone in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area Subjected to Cyclic Wetting–Cooling and Drying–Heating. Rock Mech Rock Eng 55, 5619–5637 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-022-02929-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-022-02929-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation