Abstract
Fracturing leading to the failure of rock material is related to the inherent properties of the rock, such as pores with different peculiarities. Most of the studies focusing on the effect of porosity and pore parameters on the failure behaviour of rock materials have significant limitations in assuming the porosity as a single value representing the whole. However, due to the complex structure, the scalar quantity of porosity can differ from the actual porosity. The three-staged method was applied to determine representative porosity, and the results were verified with a CT scan on the selected samples. This study investigated the effect of porosity and pore parameters on rock materials’ failure behaviour using experimental approaches involving unconfined and confined stress conditions. It was concluded that the samples involving regular-shaped pores show stepwise failure behaviour, which affects fracturing among the samples regardless of the pore diameter prior to the ultimate failure under unconfined stress conditions. Moreover, due to samples with a wide range of porosity values, 10%, a threshold value for the porosity, has emerged, separating a different relationship with peak strength and elasticity of modulus values. The primary parameter controlling failure in samples above this threshold value is the total porosity of the sample regardless of pore geometry. In addition, up to a 15-fold increase was obtained under the confined conditions compared to the unconfined peak strength values on the samples having regular-shaped pores. This difference is only up to two times on the sample having irregularly shaped pores.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Al-Harthi AA, Al-Amri RM, Shehata WM (1999) The porosity and engineering properties of vesicular basalt in Saudi Arabia. Eng Geol 54:313–320. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-7952(99)00050-2
Baud P, Wong TF, Zhu W (2014) Effects of porosity and crack density on the compressive strength of rocks. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 67:202–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2013.08.031
Blair SC, Cook NGW (1998) Analysis of compressive fracture in rock using statistical techniques: Part I. A non-linear rule-based model. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 35:837–848. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0148-9062(98)00008-4
Bobet A, Einstein HH (1998) Fracture coalescence in rock-type materials under uniaxial and biaxial compression. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 35:863–888. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0148-9062(98)00005-9
Bubeck A, Walker RJ, Healy D et al (2017) Pore geometry as a control on rock strength. Earth Planet Sci Lett 457:38–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2016.09.050
Chen Y, Zuo J, Liu D et al (2021) Experimental and numerical study of coal-rock bimaterial composite bodies under triaxial compression. International Journal of Coal Science and Technology 8:908–924. https://doi.org/10.1007/S40789-021-00409-5/FIGURES/15
Dearman WR (1974) Weathering classification in the characterisation of rock for engineering purposes in British practice. Bull Int Assoc Eng Geol. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02635301
Dunn DE, LaFountain J, Jackson RE (1973) Porosity dependence and mechanism of brittle fracture in sandstones. J Geophys Res 78:2403–2417
Dzik EJ, Lajtai EZ (1996) Primary fracture propagation from circular cavities loaded in compression. Int J Fract 79:49–64. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00017712
Ergüler ZA, Zengin E, Öngen AS (2015) Geological, geomorphological and geotechnical properties of Höyüktepe and Attepe archaeological settlement area. In: Türktüzün M, Ünan S (eds) Kureyşler Dam Rescue Excavations 2014. Kütahya, pp 11–37
Griffiths L, Heap MJ, Xu T et al (2017) The influence of pore geometry and orientation on the strength and stiffness of porous rock. J Struct Geol 96:149–160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2017.02.006
Hatzor YH, Palchik V (1997) The influence of grain size and porosity on crack initiation stress and critical flaw length in dolomites. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 34:805–816. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1365-1609(96)00066-6
Heap MJ, Violay MES (2021) The mechanical behaviour and failure modes of volcanic rocks: a review. Bull Volcanol 83:1–47. https://doi.org/10.1007/S00445-021-01447-2/FIGURES/29
Heap MJ, Xu T, Chen CF (2014) The influence of porosity and vesicle size on the brittle strength of volcanic rocks and magma. Bull Volcanol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-014-0856-0
ISRM (2007) The Complete ISRM Suggested Methods for Rock Characterization, Testing and Monitoring: 1974-2006. Suggested Methods Prepared by the Commission on Testing Methods, International Society for Rock Mechanics, Compilation Arranged by the ISRM Turkish National Group Ankara, Turkey, 628 p.
Jespersen C, MacLaughlin M, Hudyma N (2010) Strength, deformation modulus and failure modes of cubic analog specimens representing macroporous rock. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 47:1349–1356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2010.08.015
Karakuş H, Özkul C, Ergüler ZA et al (2017) Geothermal resource estimation of the Simav field using Monte Carlo simulation. Pamukkale University Journal of Engineering Sciences 23:323–329. https://doi.org/10.5505/pajes.2016.90907
Kong R, Tuncay E, Ulusay R et al (2021) An experimental investigation on stress-induced cracking mechanisms of a volcanic rock. Eng Geol 280:105934. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENGGEO.2020.105934
Le Maitre RW, Streckeisen A, Zanettin B et al (2002) Igneous rocks: a classification and glossary of terms (Recommendations of the IUGS Subcommission on the Systematics of Igneous Rocks)
Lian C, Zhuge Y, Beecham S (2011) The relationship between porosity and strength for porous concrete. Constr Build Mater 25:4294–4298. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2011.05.005
Lin P, Wong RHC, Tang CA (2015) Experimental study of coalescence mechanisms and failure under uniaxial compression of granite containing multiple holes. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2015.04.017
Lumb P (1983) Engineering properties of fresh and decomposed igneous rocks from Hong Kong. Eng Geol. https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-7952(83)90027-3
Meille S, Lombardi M, Chevalier J, Montanaro L (2012) Mechanical properties of porous ceramics in compression: on the transition between elastic, brittle, and cellular behavior. J Eur Ceram Soc 32:3959–3967. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2012.05.006
Miao S, Pan PZ, Wu Z et al (2018) Fracture analysis of sandstone with a single filled flaw under uniaxial compression. Eng Fract Mech 204:319–343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2018.10.009
Ni X, Shen X, Zhu Z (2019) Microscopic characteristics of fractured sandstone after cyclic freezing-thawing and triaxial unloading tests. Adv Civil Eng. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/6512461
Oyan V, Keskin M, Lebedev VA et al (2016) Magmatic evolution of the early Pliocene Etrüsk stratovolcano, Eastern Anatolian Collision Zone, Turkey. Lithos 256–257:88–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2016.03.017
Palchik V (1999) Influence of porosity and elastic modulus on uniaxial compressive strength in soft brittle porous sandstones. Rock Mech Rock Eng 32:303–309. https://doi.org/10.1007/s006030050050
Palchik V, Hatzor YH (2002) Crack damage stress as a composite function of porosity and elastic matrix stiffness in dolomites and limestones. Eng Geol 63:233–245. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-7952(01)00084-9
Palchik V, Hatzor YH (2004) The influence of porosity on tensile and compressive strength of porous chalks. Rock Mech Rock Eng 37:331–341. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-003-0020-1
Roche RC, Abel RA, Johnson KG, Perry CT (2010) Quantification of porosity in Acropora pulchra (Brook 1891) using X-ray micro-computed tomography techniques. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 396:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2010.10.006
Sabatakakis N, Koukis G, Tsiambaos G, Papanakli S (2008) Index properties and strength variation controlled by microstructure for sedimentary rocks. Eng Geol 97:80–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2007.12.004
Schaefer LN, Kendrick JE, Oommen T et al (2015) Geomechanical rock properties of a basaltic volcano. Front Earth Sci. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2015.00029
Song R, Cui M, Liu J (2017) Single and multiple objective optimization of a natural gas liquefaction process. Energy 124:19–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENERGY.2017.02.073
Song R, Zheng L, Wang Y, Liu J (2020) Effects of Pore Structure on Sandstone Mechanical Properties Based on Micro-CT Reconstruction Model. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/9085045
Tokçaer M, Agostini S, Savaşçın MY (2005) Geotectonic setting and origin of the youngest Kula volcanics (Western Anatolia), with a New Emplacement Model. Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences 14:145–166
Wang S, Li X, Du K et al (2018) Experimental study of the triaxial strength properties of hollow cylindrical granite specimens under coupled external and internal confining stresses. Rock Mech Rock Eng 51:2015–2031. https://doi.org/10.1007/S00603-018-1452-Y
Wang X, Jiang Y, Li B (2017) Experimental and numerical study on crack propagation and deformation around underground opening in jointed rock masses. Geosci J 21:291–304. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-016-0051-8
Wilson AJC (1964) Stratigraphy and sedimentation by W. C Krumbein and l l Sloss Acta Crystallographica. https://doi.org/10.1107/s0365110x64004170
Yang S-Q (2022) Mechanical damage characteristics of red sandstone under triaxial cyclic loading. Mechanical Behavior and Damage Fracture Mechanism of Deep Rocks. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-7739-7_3
Yang SQ, Huang YH, Tian WL, Zhu JB (2017) An experimental investigation on strength, deformation and crack evolution behavior of sandstone containing two oval flaws under uniaxial compression. Eng Geol 217:35–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2016.12.004
Yang SQ, Yin PF, Huang YH, Cheng JL (2019) Strength, deformability and X-ray micro-CT observations of transversely isotropic composite rock under different confining pressures. Eng Fract Mech 214:1–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENGFRACMECH.2019.04.030
Zhu Q, Li D, Han Z et al (2019) Mechanical properties and fracture evolution of sandstone specimens containing different inclusions under uniaxial compression. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 115:33–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2019.01.010
Zhu W, Baud P, Vinciguerra S, Wong TF (2011) Micromechanics of brittle faulting and cataclastic flow in Alban Hills tuff. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JB008046
Acknowledgements
The authors of this study would like to thank Assoc. Prof. Dr. Levent Selcuk from Van Yuzuncu Yil University (Turkey) for granting access to the Rock Mechanics Laboratory for a part of the sampling and coring studies, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huseyin Karakus, Dr. Irem Aksoy, and Dr. Recep Ugur Acar from Kutahya Dumlupinar University for their help during the field investigations, laboratory tests, and contributions.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Zengin, E., Erguler, Z.A. Experimental investigation of pore-fracture relationship on failure behaviour of porous rock materials. Bull Eng Geol Environ 81, 351 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-022-02857-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-022-02857-y