# Experimental Study on Immersion Effects of Pressure Water on the Tensile Characteristics of Sandstone Samples

Authors: Dawei Yin; Shaojie Chen; Bing Chen; Rui Liu; Faxin Li
Journal: Geofluids
 (2021)

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## Abstract

In this study, Brazilian splitting tests were conducted on sandstone samples subjected to drying and immersing at water pressures of 0, 1, and 3 MPa (immersion duration of 120 h). Investigation of the immersion effects of pressure water on the tensile characteristics of the samples revealed that their tensile strengths decreased with the immersion water pressure. Relative to a sandstone sample subjected to drying alone, immersing at water pressures of 0, 1, and 3 MPa reduced the tensile strength by 12.96%, 19.03%, and 30.16%, respectively. Although the immersed samples experienced splitting failure indicative of obvious brittle failure characteristics, decreases in the postpeak stress reduction rate with immersion water pressure revealed that the intensity of brittle failure weakened with pressure. Based on the obtained data, the deformation evolution process of the sandstone samples could be divided into five stages: deformation adjustment, formation of local deformation zones, local deformation zone propagation, failure surface formation, and sample failure. The water pressure aggravated the physicochemical reactions between water and the hydrophilic minerals in the sandstone, promoting argillisation, dissolution, and loss of hydrophilic minerals and interparticle cementitious materials. As a result of these immersion micromechanisms, the deterioration of the sandstone samples increased with the immersion water pressure, with the average porosities of the fracture surfaces at 0, 1, and 3 MPa increasing by 142.86%, 368.37%, and 593.88%, respectively, relative to the dried sample. As a result of these morphological changes, the sandstone samples subjected to water pressure immersion failed at small axial stresses with low levels of applied mechanical energy.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Rock is an important building material used in many engineering applications, including water conservancy and hydropower engineering and tunnel engineering [1–9]. In such applications, the rock will inevitably be immersed in water for short to long durations [10–15], altering its mechanical properties. The tensile strength of rock is much lower than its compressive strength, and water-bearing rock is often subjected to tensile failure under loading [16–19]. Therefore, it is important to investigate the effects of water on the tensile characteristics of rock.Many studies have been carried to determine these effects. You et al. [18] investigated the tensile strengths of rock discs and rings under dry and saturated conditions. Deng et al. [16] analysed the effects of moisture content on the splitting tensile strength of layered sandstone. Vásárhelyi and Ván [20] proposed a method for estimating the sensitivity of sandstone rocks to water content based on published data. Inada and Yokota [17] investigated the tensile characteristics of dry and 70% saturated rocks under low-temperature (-160 to +20°C) conditions and freeze-thaw cycling, revealing that tensile strength decreased as temperature decreased. Wang et al. [21] performed Brazilian splitting tests on rocks with different moisture contents at different temperatures to determine the superposition effects of these factors on the tensile strength of the rock. Zhu et al. [22] investigated the tensile strengths of rock under dry, saturated, and long-term immersion conditions. Ma et al. [23] analysed the tensile strength and failure characteristics of coal samples immersed for different lengths of time and found that the tensile strengths first decreased and then stabilised as the immersion time increased. Wen et al. [24] studied the propagation mechanisms of microcracks in rock subjected to Brazilian splitting and noted that the coupling effects of intergranular and transgranular particle fractures led to the eventual tensile fracturing of the rock. Bresser et al. [25] quantitatively analysed the microstructures of marble fracture surfaces with different water contents and established a criterion for evaluating the effects of water on the evolution of damage in such microstructures.The investigations discussed above were necessary to understand the influences of water on the tensile characteristics of rock. In general, water pressure will be present within the environment of an engineering rock mass [26, 27]. For example, rocks located in different regions within a reservoir dam will be affected by different water pressures (Figure 1 [28]). Zhang et al. [28] investigated the long-term stability of the bank slide fluctuation zone (145–175 m) of the Three Gorges dam in terms of water pressure fluctuation and water-rock interaction. Liu and Yan [29] conducted triaxial compression and triaxial creep tests on rocks under the coupling action of axial and hydraulic pressure to assess the fracture surface microdamage mechanism. Despite this body of research, few studies to date have focused on the immersion effects of pressure water on the mechanical properties of rock. To address this gap in the literature, we performed Brazilian splitting tests on dried sandstone and sandstone samples immersed at water pressures of 0, 1, and 3 MPa, respectively, in this study. The immersion effects of pressure water on the tensile characteristics of the sandstone samples, including their tensile strengths, stress-time curves, energies, deformation evolution, and fracture surface microcharacteristics, were investigated, respectively.Figure 1
Water pressure distribution in fluctuating zone of Three Gorges dam bank slide [20].


## 2. Experimental Procedure

### 2.1. Sample Preparation

Sandstone is common in engineering application. Therefore, the samples used in the tests were compact sandstones obtained from the Dingbao Sandstone Factory in Linyi City, Shandong Province, China. The sandstones comprised maroon, fine-grained (average grain size of 0.174 mm) rock material with a bulk density of 2686 kg/m3. This type of sandstone primarily comprises quartz and feldspar, with a small amount of hematite and mica. The processes used to prepare the sandstone samples are described as follows.Sandstone blocks were first drilled into cylindrical samples with diameters of 50 mm using a ZS-50/100 automatic coring machine (Jiangyan Xingguang Instrument Equipment Factory). The cylindrical samples were then cut to heights of 25 mm by a DQ1-4 stone sawing machine (Jiangyan Xingguang Instrument Equipment Factory). To meet the experimental requirements, both ends of the cylinder samples were flattened and smoothed by using an SCM-200 stone grinding machine (Cangzhou Longhui Road Railway Test Equipment Factory). The parallel misalignment of each sample’s ends had to be less than 0.005 cm with a dimensional deviation of less than 0.02 cm [30]. The prepared sandstone samples used for Brazilian splitting testing are shown in Figure 2.Figure 2
Sandstone samples.The twelve sandstone samples were categorised into groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. To analyse the immersion effects of water pressure on the tensile characteristics of samples, one group (A) was subjected to drying as a control and groups B, C, and D were immersed in water at pressures of 0, 1, and 3 MPa (immersion duration of 120 h), respectively.


### 2.2. Testing System

The Brazilian splitting test setup is shown in Figure3. It comprises a loading system, a water immersion system, a digital speckle system, and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). To facilitate the analysis of the experimental results, the loading and digital speckle systems were synchronised to produce simultaneous timestamps.Figure 3
System for the Brazilian splitting testing of sandstone samples.The loading system was a servo-controlled testing device (AG-X250, SHIMADZU) with a maximum test load of 250 kN. A double screw loading structure was used to achieve the working flexibility needed by the testing system to execute conventional compression, tensile, and other mechanical testing [31, 32]. In the experiments, a stress loading control method with a loading rate of 0.05 kN/s was adopted.The water pressure immersion system primarily comprised an immersion chamber, water filling device, and water pump. A maximum water pressure of 30 MPa could be achieved using the system. The immersion chamber was cylindrical with external and internal diameters of 300 and 250 mm, respectively. The experimental immersion water pressure settings were 0, 1, and 3 MPa, respectively, with an immersion time of 120 h in each case.The digital speckle system was an XTDIC strain measurement and analysis system provided by Xi’an Xintuo 3D Optical Measurement Technology Co., Ltd. The hardware system comprised a camera, image acquisition card, monitor, computer, and A/D card. The camera was used to capture surface images of the sandstone samples during the Brazilian splitting testing. These images were transferred to the image card for digitisation and stored in a computer for processing. The monitor displayed real-time images of samples over the duration of testing. The computer served as the control core of the overall system, sending instructions to coordinate the functioning of each component, saving and processing images, and outputting the final results. The software system was used to process speckle images collected during the experiment to obtain the required deformation field, including the displacement, strain, and correlation coefficient distribution fields. During the testing, the image data acquisition speed was 15 frames/s.The SEM was a JSM-6510lv high- and low-vacuum device. The accelerating voltage of the SEM was 0.530 kV, and the high- and low-vacuum resolutions were 3 and 15 nm, respectively. Each sample was magnified by a factor of 50–300000.


### 2.3. Testing Method

The sandstone samples were first dried using a drying oven at a temperature of 105°C for 24 h. Three samples were then selected as group A, and the remainder, corresponding to groups B, C, and D, were immersed in water for 72 h to achieve a water-saturated state. The saturated sandstone samples were then immersed in water at pressures of 0, 1, and 3 MPa, respectively, by using the pressurised immersion system. Prior to Brazilian splitting tests, an artificial speckle field was constructed on the surface of each sandstone sample by using black and white spray paint. These fields were used to monitor the deformation characteristics of the sandstone samples. After samples’ failure, the SEM was used to analyse the microcharacteristics of the failure surfaces to reveal its tensile characteristics.


## 2.1. Sample Preparation

Sandstone is common in engineering application. Therefore, the samples used in the tests were compact sandstones obtained from the Dingbao Sandstone Factory in Linyi City, Shandong Province, China. The sandstones comprised maroon, fine-grained (average grain size of 0.174 mm) rock material with a bulk density of 2686 kg/m3. This type of sandstone primarily comprises quartz and feldspar, with a small amount of hematite and mica. The processes used to prepare the sandstone samples are described as follows.Sandstone blocks were first drilled into cylindrical samples with diameters of 50 mm using a ZS-50/100 automatic coring machine (Jiangyan Xingguang Instrument Equipment Factory). The cylindrical samples were then cut to heights of 25 mm by a DQ1-4 stone sawing machine (Jiangyan Xingguang Instrument Equipment Factory). To meet the experimental requirements, both ends of the cylinder samples were flattened and smoothed by using an SCM-200 stone grinding machine (Cangzhou Longhui Road Railway Test Equipment Factory). The parallel misalignment of each sample’s ends had to be less than 0.005 cm with a dimensional deviation of less than 0.02 cm [30]. The prepared sandstone samples used for Brazilian splitting testing are shown in Figure 2.Figure 2
Sandstone samples.The twelve sandstone samples were categorised into groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. To analyse the immersion effects of water pressure on the tensile characteristics of samples, one group (A) was subjected to drying as a control and groups B, C, and D were immersed in water at pressures of 0, 1, and 3 MPa (immersion duration of 120 h), respectively.


## 2.2. Testing System

The Brazilian splitting test setup is shown in Figure3. It comprises a loading system, a water immersion system, a digital speckle system, and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). To facilitate the analysis of the experimental results, the loading and digital speckle systems were synchronised to produce simultaneous timestamps.Figure 3
System for the Brazilian splitting testing of sandstone samples.The loading system was a servo-controlled testing device (AG-X250, SHIMADZU) with a maximum test load of 250 kN. A double screw loading structure was used to achieve the working flexibility needed by the testing system to execute conventional compression, tensile, and other mechanical testing [31, 32]. In the experiments, a stress loading control method with a loading rate of 0.05 kN/s was adopted.The water pressure immersion system primarily comprised an immersion chamber, water filling device, and water pump. A maximum water pressure of 30 MPa could be achieved using the system. The immersion chamber was cylindrical with external and internal diameters of 300 and 250 mm, respectively. The experimental immersion water pressure settings were 0, 1, and 3 MPa, respectively, with an immersion time of 120 h in each case.The digital speckle system was an XTDIC strain measurement and analysis system provided by Xi’an Xintuo 3D Optical Measurement Technology Co., Ltd. The hardware system comprised a camera, image acquisition card, monitor, computer, and A/D card. The camera was used to capture surface images of the sandstone samples during the Brazilian splitting testing. These images were transferred to the image card for digitisation and stored in a computer for processing. The monitor displayed real-time images of samples over the duration of testing. The computer served as the control core of the overall system, sending instructions to coordinate the functioning of each component, saving and processing images, and outputting the final results. The software system was used to process speckle images collected during the experiment to obtain the required deformation field, including the displacement, strain, and correlation coefficient distribution fields. During the testing, the image data acquisition speed was 15 frames/s.The SEM was a JSM-6510lv high- and low-vacuum device. The accelerating voltage of the SEM was 0.530 kV, and the high- and low-vacuum resolutions were 3 and 15 nm, respectively. Each sample was magnified by a factor of 50–300000.


## 2.3. Testing Method

The sandstone samples were first dried using a drying oven at a temperature of 105°C for 24 h. Three samples were then selected as group A, and the remainder, corresponding to groups B, C, and D, were immersed in water for 72 h to achieve a water-saturated state. The saturated sandstone samples were then immersed in water at pressures of 0, 1, and 3 MPa, respectively, by using the pressurised immersion system. Prior to Brazilian splitting tests, an artificial speckle field was constructed on the surface of each sandstone sample by using black and white spray paint. These fields were used to monitor the deformation characteristics of the sandstone samples. After samples’ failure, the SEM was used to analyse the microcharacteristics of the failure surfaces to reveal its tensile characteristics.


## 3. Results

### 3.1. Tensile Strength Characteristics of Sandstone Samples

The tensile strengthσt of a sandstone sample can be obtained by solving the following equation [33–35]:
(1)σt=2PπDH,where P is the ultimate axial load at failure of the sandstone sample and D and H are the diameter (50 mm) and thickness (25 mm) of the sample, respectively. Table 1 lists values of σt of the groups A, B, C, and D sandstone samples.Table 1
Tensile strength test results.
Immersion conditionSample No.P/kNσt/MPaDryA-19.835.00A-28.814.49A-310.475.33Average value9.704.94Immersed in water at pressure of 0 MPaB-18.554.36B-28.644.40B-38.134.14Average value8.444.30Immersed in water at pressure of 1 MPaC-17.723.93C-27.974.06C-37.874.01Average value7.854.00Immersed in water at pressure of 3 MPaD-17.103.61D-26.643.38D-37.383.36Average value7.043.45It can be seen from the table that the values ofσt differed by group and sample, indicating that the immersion water pressure affected the tensile strengths of sandstone samples. To more quantitatively analyse this effect, the values of σt were compared in Figure 4.Figure 4
Comparison of sandstone sample tensile strengths.The group A samples had the highestσt values, with an average group value of 4.94 MPa. The group D samples had the lowest σt values, with an average of 3.45 MPa. Increasing the immersion water pressure caused the value of σt to gradually decrease, with the average values of σt for groups B, C, and D decreasing by 12.96, 19.03, and 30.16%, respectively, relative to group A. These results reveal that the pressure induced by immersion in water weakened the tensile strength of the sandstone samples, with a weakening effect that increased with the water pressure. The weakening was primarily induced by the increased efficiency of water-rock interaction under immersion; that is, the water pressure aggravated the water-rock interaction, as will be further analysed in Discussion.


### 3.2. Stress-Time Curve Characteristics of Sandstone Samples

Figure5 shows typical stress-time curves of sandstone samples under different immersion conditions. It can be seen that the stress-time curves of the four groups of samples are all similar. In each case, the samples are weakened by three stages: an initial compaction stage, a linear elastic stage, and a postpeak failure stage. As shown in Figure 6, the samples experienced splitting failure, producing obvious brittle failure characteristics, and the corresponding postpeak stress-time curve of the sandstone samples dropped sharply.Figure 5
Typical stress-time curves of sandstone samples.Figure 6
Sandstone sample macrofailure.
(a)
Sample A-2(b)
Sample B-2(c)
Sample C-2(d)
Sample D-2To analyse the intensities of brittle failure in the sandstone samples, we calculated their postpeak stress reduction rates by using the following formula:(2)δ=σp−σitp−ti,where δ is the postpeak stress reduction rate, σp is the peak stress, σi is the axial stress at the conclusion of loading, tp is the time at which peak stress occurs, and ti is the time at which the end of loading occurs. Figure 7 shows the postpeak stress reduction rates of the sandstone samples.Figure 7
Postpeak stress reduction rates of sandstone samples.It is seen from the figure that theδ values of the group A sandstone samples were the largest among the four groups, with an average value of 9.97 MPa/s, indicating that this group of sandstone samples experienced the most serious brittle failure. The values of δ for the group D sandstone samples were the smallest, with an average value of 2.49 MPa/s, indicating the least degree of brittle failure. As the immersion water pressure increased from 0 to 3 MPa, the values of δ gradually decreased; relative to the group A samples, the average values of δ for groups B, C, and D were reduced by 27.88, 47.19, and 75.07%, respectively. Overall, the intensity of sandstone sample brittle failure was reduced as the immersion water pressure rose.


### 3.3. Energy Characteristics of Sandstone Samples

Tavallali and Vervoort [35] developed a method for calculating the mechanical energy (W) applied to a rock sample by a testing machine:
(3)W=12PS,where P is the axial force of sandstone failure and S is the axial displacement at the ultimate axial stress. The values of W for the four sandstone samples are listed in Table 2.Table 2
Mechanical energies applied to sandstone samples.
Immersion conditionSample No.W/JDryA-11.82A-21.68A-32.34Average value1.95Immersion in water at pressure of 0 MPaB-11.47B-21.82B-31.33Average value1.54Immersion in water at pressure of 1 MPaC-11.18C-21.33C-31.32Average value1.28Immersion in water pressure at of 3 MPaD-11.23D-21.03D-31.34Average value1.20It is seen from the table that the values ofW differ by sample, indicating that the pressure of the water in which the samples were immersed affected their energy characteristics. To quantitatively analyse these effects, the values of W are compared in Figure 8.Figure 8
Comparison of sandstone sampleW values.The group A values ofW were the largest, with an average value of 1.95 J, whereas group D had the smallest values, with an average value of 1.95 J. As the water pressure increased, the values of W gradually decreased; relative to the dry-treated group A samples, groups B, C, and D had average values that were reduced by 21.03, 34.36, and 38.46%, respectively.Damage and failure of coal or rock samples during loading are understood to be instability phenomena driven by energy. It will undergo instability and failure when the energy input reaches the sample’s energy storage limit. In the stress experiments carried out in this study, theW values of the sandstone samples decreased as the immersion water pressure increased, indicating that their energy storage capacities weakened as the water pressure increased. As a result, the sandstone samples (group A samples) with relatively high energy storage capacities failed at large axial stresses, indicating that they had relatively high tensile strengths. By contrast, the sandstone samples (group D samples) with relatively weak energy storage capacities failed at small axial stresses, indicating that they had low tensile strengths. These results confirmed the accuracy of the immersion analysis results.


### 3.4. Deformation Evolution Characteristics of Sandstone Samples

Figure9 shows the deformation evolution processes of sandstone samples A-2, B-2, C-2, and D-2, respectively, during the Brazilian splitting tests.Figure 9
Sandstone sample deformation evolution processes.
(a)
Sandstone sample A-2(b)
Sandstone sample B-2(c)
Sandstone sample C-2(d)
Sandstone sample D-2It can be seen from the figure that the deformation evolution processes of all samples were similar to each other. The deformation evolution processes can be divided into five stages: deformation adjustment, production of local deformation zones, propagation of local deformation zones, failure surface formation, and sample failure.The sandstone samples contained natural defects that led to the formation of microcracks and dissolution pores following water treatment. In the deformation adjustment stage, natural cracks and newly formed cracks and pores closed under loading, and the sandstone particles dislocated to adapt to the increase on axial stress. As the immersion water pressure increased, the water-rock interaction was strengthened, and as a result, the number of new defects increased, enhancing the dislocations between particles owing to their low mutual adhesion. As a result, the deformation in this stage was affected by the natural defects in the sandstone, increased with the immersion water pressure.As the axial stress increased, local deformation zones appeared in the upper and lower ends of the sandstone samples. The deformations in the upper local deformation zones were larger than those in the lower local deformation zones. As the axial stress increased further, the local deformation zones became more obvious and began to propagate toward the central area along the centre line of the samples. The local deformation zone propagation stage was the longest stage of loading process and, as a result of water-rock interaction, decreased in duration as the immersion water pressure increased. Finally, the upper and lower local deformation zones connected and failure surfaces form, leading to failure of the sandstone samples.


### 3.5. Microcharacteristics of Fracture Surfaces on Sandstone Samples

The water-rock interactions constitute the degradation of macromechanical properties induced by the variations in microstructures. We used the SEM system to analyse the microcharacteristics of the fracture surfaces on the sandstone samples. Figure10 shows SEM images of fracture surfaces on samples A-2, B-2, C-2, and D-2 following the Brazilian splitting tests.Figure 10
SEM photos of fracture surfaces on sandstone samples.
(a)
Sample A-2(b)
Sample B-2(c)
Sample C-2(d)
Sample D-2In Figure10(a), the fracture surface particles on sandstone sample A-2 were clear. The fracture surface was quite compact and homogeneous, and there were few microcracks or pores. Because the cementation force between particles was relatively high, the corresponding tensile strength was relatively high.After pressure water treatment, the physicochemical reactions between hydrophilic minerals of the sandstone sample and water were strengthened. The hydrolytic argillisation of the hydrophilic minerals and cementitious materials between particles were also enhanced. As a result, the fracture surfaces of samples B-2, C-2, and D-2 were very loose, as shown in Figures10(b)–10(d), respectively. There were many microcracks and dissolution pores. As the immersion water pressure increased, the fracture surface morphology gradually developed into a honeycomb.


## 3.1. Tensile Strength Characteristics of Sandstone Samples

The tensile strengthσt of a sandstone sample can be obtained by solving the following equation [33–35]:
(1)σt=2PπDH,where P is the ultimate axial load at failure of the sandstone sample and D and H are the diameter (50 mm) and thickness (25 mm) of the sample, respectively. Table 1 lists values of σt of the groups A, B, C, and D sandstone samples.Table 1
Tensile strength test results.
Immersion conditionSample No.P/kNσt/MPaDryA-19.835.00A-28.814.49A-310.475.33Average value9.704.94Immersed in water at pressure of 0 MPaB-18.554.36B-28.644.40B-38.134.14Average value8.444.30Immersed in water at pressure of 1 MPaC-17.723.93C-27.974.06C-37.874.01Average value7.854.00Immersed in water at pressure of 3 MPaD-17.103.61D-26.643.38D-37.383.36Average value7.043.45It can be seen from the table that the values ofσt differed by group and sample, indicating that the immersion water pressure affected the tensile strengths of sandstone samples. To more quantitatively analyse this effect, the values of σt were compared in Figure 4.Figure 4
Comparison of sandstone sample tensile strengths.The group A samples had the highestσt values, with an average group value of 4.94 MPa. The group D samples had the lowest σt values, with an average of 3.45 MPa. Increasing the immersion water pressure caused the value of σt to gradually decrease, with the average values of σt for groups B, C, and D decreasing by 12.96, 19.03, and 30.16%, respectively, relative to group A. These results reveal that the pressure induced by immersion in water weakened the tensile strength of the sandstone samples, with a weakening effect that increased with the water pressure. The weakening was primarily induced by the increased efficiency of water-rock interaction under immersion; that is, the water pressure aggravated the water-rock interaction, as will be further analysed in Discussion.


## 3.2. Stress-Time Curve Characteristics of Sandstone Samples

Figure5 shows typical stress-time curves of sandstone samples under different immersion conditions. It can be seen that the stress-time curves of the four groups of samples are all similar. In each case, the samples are weakened by three stages: an initial compaction stage, a linear elastic stage, and a postpeak failure stage. As shown in Figure 6, the samples experienced splitting failure, producing obvious brittle failure characteristics, and the corresponding postpeak stress-time curve of the sandstone samples dropped sharply.Figure 5
Typical stress-time curves of sandstone samples.Figure 6
Sandstone sample macrofailure.
(a)
Sample A-2(b)
Sample B-2(c)
Sample C-2(d)
Sample D-2To analyse the intensities of brittle failure in the sandstone samples, we calculated their postpeak stress reduction rates by using the following formula:(2)δ=σp−σitp−ti,where δ is the postpeak stress reduction rate, σp is the peak stress, σi is the axial stress at the conclusion of loading, tp is the time at which peak stress occurs, and ti is the time at which the end of loading occurs. Figure 7 shows the postpeak stress reduction rates of the sandstone samples.Figure 7
Postpeak stress reduction rates of sandstone samples.It is seen from the figure that theδ values of the group A sandstone samples were the largest among the four groups, with an average value of 9.97 MPa/s, indicating that this group of sandstone samples experienced the most serious brittle failure. The values of δ for the group D sandstone samples were the smallest, with an average value of 2.49 MPa/s, indicating the least degree of brittle failure. As the immersion water pressure increased from 0 to 3 MPa, the values of δ gradually decreased; relative to the group A samples, the average values of δ for groups B, C, and D were reduced by 27.88, 47.19, and 75.07%, respectively. Overall, the intensity of sandstone sample brittle failure was reduced as the immersion water pressure rose.


## 3.3. Energy Characteristics of Sandstone Samples

Tavallali and Vervoort [35] developed a method for calculating the mechanical energy (W) applied to a rock sample by a testing machine:
(3)W=12PS,where P is the axial force of sandstone failure and S is the axial displacement at the ultimate axial stress. The values of W for the four sandstone samples are listed in Table 2.Table 2
Mechanical energies applied to sandstone samples.
Immersion conditionSample No.W/JDryA-11.82A-21.68A-32.34Average value1.95Immersion in water at pressure of 0 MPaB-11.47B-21.82B-31.33Average value1.54Immersion in water at pressure of 1 MPaC-11.18C-21.33C-31.32Average value1.28Immersion in water pressure at of 3 MPaD-11.23D-21.03D-31.34Average value1.20It is seen from the table that the values ofW differ by sample, indicating that the pressure of the water in which the samples were immersed affected their energy characteristics. To quantitatively analyse these effects, the values of W are compared in Figure 8.Figure 8
Comparison of sandstone sampleW values.The group A values ofW were the largest, with an average value of 1.95 J, whereas group D had the smallest values, with an average value of 1.95 J. As the water pressure increased, the values of W gradually decreased; relative to the dry-treated group A samples, groups B, C, and D had average values that were reduced by 21.03, 34.36, and 38.46%, respectively.Damage and failure of coal or rock samples during loading are understood to be instability phenomena driven by energy. It will undergo instability and failure when the energy input reaches the sample’s energy storage limit. In the stress experiments carried out in this study, theW values of the sandstone samples decreased as the immersion water pressure increased, indicating that their energy storage capacities weakened as the water pressure increased. As a result, the sandstone samples (group A samples) with relatively high energy storage capacities failed at large axial stresses, indicating that they had relatively high tensile strengths. By contrast, the sandstone samples (group D samples) with relatively weak energy storage capacities failed at small axial stresses, indicating that they had low tensile strengths. These results confirmed the accuracy of the immersion analysis results.


## 3.4. Deformation Evolution Characteristics of Sandstone Samples

Figure9 shows the deformation evolution processes of sandstone samples A-2, B-2, C-2, and D-2, respectively, during the Brazilian splitting tests.Figure 9
Sandstone sample deformation evolution processes.
(a)
Sandstone sample A-2(b)
Sandstone sample B-2(c)
Sandstone sample C-2(d)
Sandstone sample D-2It can be seen from the figure that the deformation evolution processes of all samples were similar to each other. The deformation evolution processes can be divided into five stages: deformation adjustment, production of local deformation zones, propagation of local deformation zones, failure surface formation, and sample failure.The sandstone samples contained natural defects that led to the formation of microcracks and dissolution pores following water treatment. In the deformation adjustment stage, natural cracks and newly formed cracks and pores closed under loading, and the sandstone particles dislocated to adapt to the increase on axial stress. As the immersion water pressure increased, the water-rock interaction was strengthened, and as a result, the number of new defects increased, enhancing the dislocations between particles owing to their low mutual adhesion. As a result, the deformation in this stage was affected by the natural defects in the sandstone, increased with the immersion water pressure.As the axial stress increased, local deformation zones appeared in the upper and lower ends of the sandstone samples. The deformations in the upper local deformation zones were larger than those in the lower local deformation zones. As the axial stress increased further, the local deformation zones became more obvious and began to propagate toward the central area along the centre line of the samples. The local deformation zone propagation stage was the longest stage of loading process and, as a result of water-rock interaction, decreased in duration as the immersion water pressure increased. Finally, the upper and lower local deformation zones connected and failure surfaces form, leading to failure of the sandstone samples.


## 3.5. Microcharacteristics of Fracture Surfaces on Sandstone Samples

The water-rock interactions constitute the degradation of macromechanical properties induced by the variations in microstructures. We used the SEM system to analyse the microcharacteristics of the fracture surfaces on the sandstone samples. Figure10 shows SEM images of fracture surfaces on samples A-2, B-2, C-2, and D-2 following the Brazilian splitting tests.Figure 10
SEM photos of fracture surfaces on sandstone samples.
(a)
Sample A-2(b)
Sample B-2(c)
Sample C-2(d)
Sample D-2In Figure10(a), the fracture surface particles on sandstone sample A-2 were clear. The fracture surface was quite compact and homogeneous, and there were few microcracks or pores. Because the cementation force between particles was relatively high, the corresponding tensile strength was relatively high.After pressure water treatment, the physicochemical reactions between hydrophilic minerals of the sandstone sample and water were strengthened. The hydrolytic argillisation of the hydrophilic minerals and cementitious materials between particles were also enhanced. As a result, the fracture surfaces of samples B-2, C-2, and D-2 were very loose, as shown in Figures10(b)–10(d), respectively. There were many microcracks and dissolution pores. As the immersion water pressure increased, the fracture surface morphology gradually developed into a honeycomb.


## 4. Discussion

The internal cohesive forces of sandstone samples played an important role in their mechanical properties. The analysis of the effects of pressurised water on the cohesive forces revealed the mechanism through which the water pressure deteriorated the mechanical properties of the samples.The internal cohesive forces of a sandstone sample can be simplified into the internal cohesive force of an individual particle (F1), the cementation force between particles (F2), the surface friction force between particles (F3), and the occlusal resistance force between particles (F4), as shown in Figure 11 [36].Figure 11
Diagram of deterioration of sandstone sample under pressurised water immersion [27].The primary components of the sandstone samples were clay and detrital minerals. Physicochemical reactions between hydrophilic minerals and water caused the particles to become filled with water molecules, altering the porosity and microstructures of the particles. At the same time, the hydrophilic and cementitious materials between particles underwent hydrolysis and argillisation, causing them to dissolve and become lost in the water. As a result, the sample particle sizes decreased along with the interparticle contact areas and the adhesion between particles was weakened (Figure11), causing the value of F1 to drop sharply. The loss of cementitious materials between particles also caused a decrease in F2. Owing to the smoothness of the particle surfaces and the increase in the numbers of pores between particles, the values of F3 and F4 decreased. Because the effects of water pressure on the cohesive forces in the sandstone samples increased with the immersion pressure, increasing the pressure enhanced the deterioration of the samples’ mechanical properties.The analysis above indicates that the internal cohesive forces of the sandstone samples were directly affected by the dissolution and loss of mineral components, which in turn increased the number of pores and microcracks in the samples. To quantitatively analyse the deterioration effects of immersion water pressure on the mechanical properties of the sandstone samples, the porosities of their fracture surfaces were calculated using the PCAS software package [37]. The full name of PCAS software is called Particles (Pores) and Cracks Analysis System. The software is mainly used for the identification and quantitative analysis of pore system and fracture system. It has been applied to more than twenty universities and research institutions at home and abroad.SEM images of the fracture surfaces were first converted into binary images using multicolor segmentation and spot removal operations, as shown in Figure12. The PCAS software was then used to identify the pores and particles of the fracture surfaces [38] to obtain the surfaces’ porosities. The average porosities of the fracture surfaces on samples A-2, B-2, C-2, and D-2 are compared in Figure 13.Figure 12
Binary image of fracture surface on sandstone sample.Figure 13
Comparison of average porosities of sandstone sample fracture surfaces.The A-2 and D-2 samples had the smallest and largest average porosities (0.98% and 6.80%, respectively). As the immersion water pressure increased, the average porosity of the fracture surface increased. Relative to sample A-2, the average fracture surface porosities of samples B-2, C-2, and D-2 were enhanced by 142.86, 368.37, and 593.88%, respectively. This suggests that the number of pores and microcracks in the sandstone samples increased with the immersion water pressure, i.e., that the internal cohesive forces within the samples were weakened in proportion to the immersion water pressure.


## 5. Conclusions

In this study, Brazilian splitting tests were conducted on sandstone samples subjected to drying and immersion at water pressures of 0, 1, and 3 MPa (immersion duration of 120 h). The immersion effects of pressure water on the tensile strengths, stress-time curves, energies, deformation evolution, and microcharacteristics of the samples’ fracture surfaces were investigated. The main conclusions are as follows:(1)
Immersion in pressurised water weakened the tensile strengths of the sandstone samples, with the weakening effect increasing with the water pressure. Relative to a sandstone sample subjected to drying alone, the tensile strengths of samples subjected to immersion at pressures of 0, 1, and 3 MPa were reduced by 12.96%, 19.03%, and 30.16%, respectively(2)
All sandstone samples experienced splitting failure with obvious brittle failure characteristics. Relative to the samples subjected to drying, the average postpeak stress reductions under immersion at water pressures of 0, 1, and 3 MPa were reduced by 27.88%, 47.19%, and 75.07%, respectively. The intensity of brittle failure decreased with the immersion water pressure(3)
The mechanical energy needed to cause failure in the sandstone samples decreased with the immersion water pressure. Relative to the dried samples, the average mechanical energies applied to the immersed samples subjected to pressures of 0, 1, and 3 MPa were reduced by 21.03%, 34.36,%, and 38.46%, respectively(4)
The deformation evolution processes of a sandstone sample can be divided into five stages: deformation adjustment, local deformation zone creation, local deformation zone propagation, failure surface formation, and sample failure(5)
The pressure of the water in which the samples were immersed aggravated the physicochemical reactions between water and hydrophilic minerals in the samples, promoting argillisation, dissolution, and loss of hydrophilic minerals and cementitious materials between particles. This led to decreases in particle size and contact surfaces, enhancements in the particle surface smoothness, and deterioration of the mechanical properties of particle surface attachment(6)
The deterioration in the sandstone samples became stronger as the immersion water pressure increased. Relative to the dried samples, the average porosities of the fracture surfaces in the samples subjected to water pressures of 0, 1, and 3 MPa increased by 142.86%, 368.37%, and 593.88%, respectivelyThe rock masses of reservoirs with different water levels bear different water pressures. The experimental results on tensile properties of sandstones under three kinds of water pressures obtained in this paper have guiding significance for engineering applications such as dams and underground reservoirs. In the later work, we will further explore the influence of water pressure immersion on other mechanical properties of sandstones.



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