Evaluating the Effect of Brine on Water Absorption and Expansion of Red-Layer Mudstone in Central Sichuan Using Digital Image Correlation
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 23, Issue 12
Abstract
Red-layer mudstone is a typical expandable rock, that is, it easily expands and deforms in water. This study focused on the dynamic quantitative analysis of the mudstone hygroscopic process and development of strain caused by the hydration expansion of clay, by combining a self-designed simple self-imbibition device with the digital image correlation method. The mudstone samples were self-imbibed in deionized water and salt solutions of different concentrations under the same atmospheric conditions (25°C and 50% humidity). The effects of the salt type and salt concentration on the water absorption quality, expansion rate, crack initiation and expansion, matrix deformation, and water migration of mudstone over time were analyzed. The change in the water absorption capacity of mudstone with time was determined from the water absorption characteristic curve. The location and strain development of the local high-strain area during the water–rock interaction was captured from the full-field strain cloud image. The migration of water on the rock surface at different times was observed using camera photographs. Finally, water absorption was combined with strain, water migration, and crack propagation. The effect of saltwater on the hygroscopic expansion of mudstone was evaluated.
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Acknowledgments
This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 42172308) and the Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS (No. 2022331).
Notation
The following symbols are used in this paper:
- L1
- distance between the center points of the two calculation areas at the beginning of the water absorption process;
- L2
- distance between the center points of the two calculation areas at any time during the mudstone water absorption process;
- t
- time during the mudstone water absorption process;
- V
- volume of the sample;
- VP
- dimensionless pore volume;
- Δm
- water absorption mass of the mudstone during the self-absorption process;
- ɛ
- expansion rate at any time during the hygroscopic process of mudstone;
- ɛxx
- horizontal normal strains;
- ɛyy
- vertical normal strains;
- ρ
- density of the self-absorption liquid; and
- φ
- void ratio.
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Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 23 • Issue 12 • December 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 15, 2022
Accepted: Jun 27, 2023
Published online: Oct 6, 2023
Published in print: Dec 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Mar 6, 2024
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