Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of freeze-thaw cycles on mechanical properties and permeability of red sandstone under triaxial compression

  • Published:
Journal of Mountain Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Geological disasters will happen in cold regions because of the effects of freeze-thaw cycles on rocks or soils, so studying the effects of these cycles on the mechanical characteristics and permeability properties of rocks is very important. In this study, red sandstone samples were frozen and thawed with 0, 4, 8 and 12 cycles, each cycle including 12 h of freezing and 12 h of thawing. The P-wave velocities of these samples were measured, and the mechanical properties and evolution of the steady-state permeabilities were investigated in a series of uniaxial and triaxial compression tests. Experimental results show that, with the increasing of cyclic freeze-thaw times, the P-wave velocity of the red sandstone decreases. The number of freeze-thaw cycles has a significant influence on the uniaxial compressive strength, elastic modulus, cohesion, and angle of internal friction. The evolution of permeability of the rock samples after cycles of freeze-thaw in a complete stress-strain process under triaxial compression is closely related to the variation of the microstructure in the rock. There is a highly corresponding relationship between volumetric strain and permeability with axial strain in all stages of the stress-strain behaviour.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Azania M, Yoshiaki F, Nariaki K, et al. (2010) Analysis of natural rock slope deformations under temperature variation: A case from a cool temperate region in Japan. Cold Regions Science and Technology 65: 488–500.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brace WF, Walsh JB, Frangos WT (1968) Permeability of granite under high pressure. Journal of Geophysical Research 70: 2225–2236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chamberlain EJ, Gow AJ (1979) Effect of freezing and thawing on the permeability and structure of soils. Engineering Geology 13: 73–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen CG (2012) Analysis on the tensile characteristic test and thermo-hydro-mechanics coupling of the freeze-thaw rock. Master’s thesis, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, China. (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen TC, Yeung MR, Mori N. (2004) Effect of water saturation on deterioration of welded tuff due to freeze-thaw action. Cold Regions Science and Technology 38: 27–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen YL, Ni J, Jiang LH, et al. (2014) Experimental study on mechanical properties of granite after freeze-thaw cycling. Environmental Earth Sciences 71: 3349–3354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng GD, MA W (2003) A research review of international permafrost engineering — 5th international symposium on permafrost engineering. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology 25: 303–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coutard JP, Francou B (1989) Rock temperature measurements in two alpine environments: implications for frost shattering. Arctic and Alpine Research 21: 399–416.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darcy H (1856) Determination of flow laws of the water through the sand. Appendix. Note D. In: Public fountains in the city of Dijon. Victor Dalmont. pp 590–594. (In French)

    Google Scholar 

  • Davy CA, Skoczylas F, Barnichon JD, et al. (2007) Permeability of macro-cracked argillite under confinement: Gas and water testing. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth 32: 667–680.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dixon JC, Thorn CE (2005) Chemical weathering and landscape development in mid-latitude alpine environments. Geomorphology 67: 127–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Domenico SN (1984) Rock lithology and porosity determination from shear and compressional wave velocity. Geophysics 49: 1188–1195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gatelier N, Pellet F, Loret B (2002) Mechanical damage of an anisotropic porous rock in cyclic triaxial tests. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 39: 335–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guéguen Y, Palciauskas V (1992) Introduction to rock physics. Hermann, France. (In French)

    Google Scholar 

  • Han DH, Nur A, Morgan D (1986) Effects of porosity and clay content on wave velocities in sandstones. Geophysics 51: 2093–2107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hale PA, Shakoor A (2003) A laboratory investigation of the effect of cylic heating and cooling, wetting and drying, and freezing and thawing on the compressive strength of selected sandstones. Environmental and Engineering Geoscience 9: 117–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall K (2007) Evidence for freeze-thaw events and their implications for rock weathering in northern Canada: II. The temperature at which water freezes in rock. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 32: 249–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He J, Pei P, Ling K, et al. (2013) Quantification of rock porosity changes before and after freezing. Journal of Petroleum Science Research 2: 128–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hori M, Morihiro H (1998) Micromechanical analysis on deterioration due to freezing and thawing in porous brittle materials. International Journal of Engineering Science 36: 511–522.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kodama J, Goto T, Fujii Y. et al. (2013) The effects of water content, temperature and loading rate on strength and failure process of frozen rocks. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 62: 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kraus JF, Benson CH, Erickson AE, et al. (1997) Freeze-thaw cycling and hydraulic conductivity of bentonitic barriers. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 123: 229–238.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lai YM, Wu Z, Zhu Y et al. (1999) Nonlinear analysis for the coupled problem of temperature and seepage fields in cold regions tunnels. Cold Regions Science and Technology 29: 89–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lai YM, Wu H, Wu ZW, et al. (2000) Analytical viscoelastic solution for frost force in cold-region tunnels. Cold Regions Science and Technology 31: 227–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lemaitre J, Desmorat R. (2005) Engineering damage mechanics: ductile, creep, fatigue and brittle failures. Springer, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li SP, Li YS, Li Y, et al. (1994) Permeability-strain equations corresponding to the complete stress-strain path of Yinzhuang Sandstone. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics 31: 383–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li SP, Wu DX, Xie WH, et al. (1997) Effect of confining pressure, pore pressure and specimen dimension on permeability of Yinzhuang sandstone. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 34: 1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu H, Niu FJ, Xu ZY, et al. (2012) Acoustic experimental study of two types of rock from the Tibetan Plateau under the condition of freeze-thaw cycles. Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions 4: 21–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu QS, Xu GM, Liu XY (2008) Experimental and theoretical study on freeze-thawing damage propagation of saturated rocks. International Journal of Modern Physics B 22: 1853–1858.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Martínez J, Benavente D, Gomez-Heras M, et al. (2013) Non-linear decay of building stones during freeze-thaw weathering processes. Construction and Building Materials 38: 443–454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matsuoka N (1990) Mechanisms of rock breakdown by frost action: An experimental approach. Cold Regions Science and Technology 17: 253–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matsuoka N (2001) Direct observation of frost wedging in alpine bedrock. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 26: 601–614.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neaupane KM, Yamabe T, Yoshinaka R (1999) Simulation of a fully coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical system in freezing and thawing rock. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 36: 563–580.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neaupane KM, Yamabe T (2001) A fully coupled thermo-hydromechanical nonlinear model for a frozen medium. Computers and Geotechnics 28: 613–637.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nicholson H, Dawn T, Nicholson FH (2000) Physical deterioration of sedimentary rocks subjected to experimental freeze-thaw weathering. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 25: 1295–1307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nicholson DT (2001) Pore properties as indicators of breakdown mechanisms in experimentally weathered limestones. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 26: 819–838.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oda M, Suzuki K, Maeshibu T (1984) Elastic compliance for rock-like materials with random cracks. Japanese Society of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering 24: 27–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ondrasina J, Kirchner D, Siegesmund S (2002) Freeze-thaw cycles and their influence on marble deterioration a long-term experiment. Geological Society 205: 9–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Othman MA, Benson CH (1993) Effect of freeze-thaw on the hydraulic conductivity and morphology of compacted clay. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 30: 236–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prick A (1995) Dilatometrical behaviour of porous calcareous rock samples subjected to freeze-thaw cycles. Catena 25: 7–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruiz de Argandoña VG, Rey AR, Celorio C, et al. (1999) Characterization by computed X-ray tomography of the evolution of the pore structure of a dolomite rock during freeze-thaw cyclic tests. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Part A: Solid Earth and Geodesy 24: 633–637.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seto M (2010) Freeze-thaw cycles on rock surfaces below the timberline in a montane zone: Field measurements in Kobugahara, Northern Ashio Mountains, Central Japan. Catena 82: 218–226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takarli M, Prince W, Siddique R (2008) Damage in granite under heating/cooling cycles and water freeze-thaw condition. International Journal of Rock Mechanics & Mining Sciences 45: 1164–1175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan X, Chen W, Yang J, et al. (2011) Laboratory investigations on the mechanical properties degradation of granite under freeze-thaw cycles. Cold Regions Science and Technology 68: 130–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Timoshenko S, Goodier JN (1953) Theory of Elasticity. McGraw-Hill Book Company, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Viklander P (1998) Permeability and volume changes in till due to cyclic freeze/thaw. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 35: 471–477.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang DY, Ma W, Niu YH, et al. (2007) Effects of cyclic freezing and thawing on mechanical properties of Qinghai-Tibet clay. Cold Regions Science and Technology 48: 34–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang JA, Park HD (2002) Fluid permeability of sedimentary rocks in a complete stress-strain process. Engineering Geology 63: 291–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang W, Li LQ, Xu WY, et al. (2012) Creep failure mode and criterion of Xiangjiaba sandstone. Journal of Central South University 19: 3572–3581.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang GS, Zhang QS, Pu YB (2004) A Study on the damage propagation characteristics of rock under the frost and thaw condition. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering 26: 838–842. (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang TY, Liu J, Zhu WC, et al. (2007) A coupled flow-stress-damage model for groundwater outbursts from an underlying aquifer into mining excavations. International Journal of Rock Mechanics & Mining Sciences 44: 87–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yavuz H, Altindag R, Sarac S, et al. (2006) Estimating the index properties of deteriorated carbonate rocks due to freeze-thaw and thermal shock weathering. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 43: 767–775.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang SJ, Lai YM, Zhang XF, et al. (2004) Study on the damage propagation of surrounding rock from a cold-region tunnel under freeze-thaw cycle condition. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology 19: 295–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang XF, Lai YM, Yu WB, et al. (2002) Non-linear analysis for the freezing-thawing situation of the rock surrounding the tunnel in cold regions under the conditions of different construction seasons, initial temperatures and insulations. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology 17: 315–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu WL, Wong TF (1997) The transition from brittle faulting to cataclastic flow: Permeability evolution. Journal of Geophysical Research 102: 3027–3041.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361021, China

    Jin Yu, Xu Chen & Yan-yan Cai

  2. School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China

    Hong Li

  3. State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China

    Jia-wen Zhou

Authors
  1. Jin Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xu Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hong Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jia-wen Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yan-yan Cai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jin Yu.

Additional information

0000-0003-0088-7652

0000-0001-8522-8941

0000-0002-7614-3484

0000-0002-6817-1071

0000-0001-5884-5952

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yu, J., Chen, X., Li, H. et al. Effect of freeze-thaw cycles on mechanical properties and permeability of red sandstone under triaxial compression. J. Mt. Sci. 12, 218–231 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-013-2946-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-013-2946-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation