Advances in Materials Science and Engineering

Volume 2012 (2012), Article ID 418729, 9 pages

doi:10.1155/2012/418729

Research Article

Rock Mechanical Property Influenced by Inhomogeneity

Yunliang Tan, Dongmei Huang, and Ze Zhang

State Key Laboratory of Mine Disaster Prevention and Control, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Shandong, Qingdao 266590, China

Received 26 March 2012; Revised 6 April 2012; Accepted 10 April 2012

Academic Editor: Amit Bandyopadhyay

Copyright © 2012 Yunliang Tan et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

In order to identify the microstructure inhomogeneity influence on rock mechanical property, SEM scanning test and fractal dimension estimation were adopted. The investigations showed that the self-similarity of rock microstructure markedly changes with the scanned microscale. Different rocks behave in different fractal dimension variation patterns with the scanned magnification, so it is conditional to adopt fractal dimension to describe rock material. Grey diabase and black diabase have high suitability; red sandstone has low suitability. The suitability of fractal-dimension-describing method for rocks depends on both investigating scale and rock type. The homogeneities of grey diabase, black diabase, grey sandstone, and red sandstone are 7.8, 5.7, 4.4, and 3.4, separately; their average fractal dimensions of microstructure are 2.06, 2.03, 1.72, and 1.40 correspondingly, so the homogeneity is well consistent with fractal dimension. For rock material, the stronger brittleness is, the less profile fractal dimension is. In a sense, brittleness is an image of rock inhomogeneity in macroscale, while profile fractal dimension is an image of rock inhomogeneity in microscale. To combine the test of brittleness with the estimation of fractal dimension with condition will be an effective approach for understanding rock failure mechanism, patterns, and behaviours.

1. Introduction

Many investigations showed that rock failure patterns are related the inhomogeneity of rock microstructure [1–8]. In order to make clear the relations between rock failure patterns and rock microstructure, some detecting techniques such as scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray tomographic microscopy (XTM), laser speckle interferometry, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, and electron microscopy are used. For example, Nasseri et al. [9] observed the saw-tooth structure of rock failure pattern by SEM. Raynaud et al. [10] adopted XTM and SEM to study the relations between hydraulic properties of clayey rocks. With the help of SEM, Alkan [11] presented a percolation model to predict the dilatancy-induced permeability in an excavation damaged zone of rocks salt.

Bearing this in mind, we firstly used the high-low vacuum scanning electron microscope named after JSM-6510LV which was manufactured by the JEOL, to learn the microstructure of four type rocks: grey diabase, black diabase, grey sand stone, and red sandstone. We then analysed the relations between inhomogeneity of these rocks and the profile fractal dimensions and further investigated the relation between brittleness and rock profile fractal dimension [8, 12], so as to make better understanding of rock failure mechanism and patterns resulted from inhomogeneity.

2. Methodology

2.1. SEM Scanning

The scanning device is a new type of SEM called JSM-6510LV, which was manufactured by the JEOL. It consists of the following basic components: electron optics system, scanning system, signal detection amplification system, image display and record system, battery, and vacuum.

The experimental procedure was as follows: first, a 50.0 mm diameter borehole was drilled, and the boring sample was taken from the hole. Second, some standard specimens with 100 mm high and 50 mm wide were cut processed. Third, compressive test was carried out in RLJW-2000 servo compression test machine. Fourth, the rock fragments were filled with nitrogen gas, with a pressure of 2 bars, blew axially from the nozzle to protect the focusing lens and to assist the scanning process. Finally, the scanning work was carried out using a continuous wave and multimode CO₂ laser with a maximum output power of 2 kW. Laser parameters used in the experiment were as follows: laser power 1000 W, beam size in diameter 4.0 mm, and scanning velocity 8 mm/s. The focusing lens was protected by a coaxially flowing gas N₂. The cross-sections or surfaces were characterized by SEM incorporating energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) using a JSM-6510LV scanning electron microscope.

2.2. Box-Counting Approach for Fractal Dimension

Fractal geometry popularized by Mandelbrot [13] has gained much support in the field of image analysis. From the properties of self-similarity, fractal dimension of a set defined by Pentland [14] is as follows:

where is the total number of distinct copies similar to and is scaled down by a ratio of . There are several approaches to estimate the fractal dimension for an image surface, such as reticular cell counting method [15], Keller’s approach [16], and differential box-counting method [17]. In order to estimate the roughness effectively due to improper limits and box size, many authors have assumed certain bounds according the procedure adopted by them [18–20].

In this paper, the box counting approach suggested by Sarkar and Chaudhuri [21] was adopted. It is expressed as follows: suppose a three-dimensional image has pixel and gray level progression, presenting in a form of . The first dimension and the second dimension determine the position of a pixel in a two-dimensional image plane, the third dimension shows its gray scale. When reducing its scale to ( is an integer) using a proportion factor of in two-dimensional plane, the gray level is expressed by the third dimension. The volume of each box is , where the new gray level progression meets

where   is the minimum integer greater than is the minimum integer greater than . The space of is composed of a series boxes with the space of . Suppose that in an area the minimum and maximum gray level grade is, respectively, dropped in the area of number and number box according to the new gray level progression, so the box quantity covered the area is

The box count needed to cover the whole target object is

By changing the scale , we can obtain the different box count needed to cover the target object. At last, a diagram of is drafted. Some research results [13–16, 22, 23] have shown that the mean square slope values of   and are suitable to be used to calculate the fractal dimension. It must be pointed out that should be used, where is an integer [24]. The procedure of calculation was demonstrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Flow chart for calculating fractal dimension.

3. Results and Discussion

In order to estimate the different rock profile fractal dimension, we firstly obtained the images of four type rocks: black diabase, grey diabase, grey sandstone, and red sandstone; by using JSM-6510LV scanning electron microscope, the scanning amplification factor was 1000. The microstructures of above four type rocks were obtained by SEM, as shown in Figure 2. In order to describe the inhomogeneity quantitatively, digital image processing (DIP) has been used [25, 26]. The procedure is first to make the feature extraction from rock profile in digital. Secondly to obtain the shape and quantity of minerals. Again to classify mineral categories by the information of feature extraction. At last to obtain the homogeneity of a rock. Previous work [27] indicated that the Weibull’s function suits for describing the distribution of rock mechanical parameters. The homogeneous coefficient, , was adopted in Weibull’s distribution function:

where is the strength of rock, is the density of distribution, is the average strength for all rock elements. Both and are indicated by grayscale easily in DIP. The coefficient, , indicates homogeneous extent of rock material, that is, the larger value is, the more homogeneous material is.

(a) Magnification 500

(b) Magnification 1000

(c) Magnification 2500

(d) Magnification 5000

Figure 2: SEM images of grey diabase with different magnifications.

We firstly obtained the SEM scanned images of above four kind stones with magnification 500. We then easily used DIP method and formula (5) to obtain the efficient of above four kind stones as 7.8, 5.7, 4.4, and 3.4, correspondingly.

In order to investigate the self-similarity of rock microstructure in different microscales, we obtained the SEM scanned images with four magnifications: 500, 1000, 2500, and 5000 in centre region of a sample, as shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5. Then box-counting approach for fractal dimension as shown in Figure 1 was performed. In this procedure, the linear fitting method was adopted. For example, the fractal dimensions and correlation coefficients of grey diabase with different microscales were easily obtained by this way, as shown in Figures 6 and 7. The fitted results of all above four type stones were listed in Table 1.

Table 1: Fitting results of fractal dimension for different magnification.

Rock type
Magnification 500
Magnification 1000
Magnification 2500
Magnification 2500
Average

RC

RC

RC

RC

Grey diabase
1.92
0.87
1.87
0.82
2.17
0.91
2.28
0.95
2.06
0.89

Black diabase
1.95
0.89
1.85
0.80
2.20
0.90
2.12
0.93
2.03
0.88

Grey sandstone
1.77
0.75
1.72
0.72
1.70
0.65
1.68
0.61
1.72
0.68

Red sandstone
1.35
0.62
1.59
0.74
1.38
0.61
1.29
0.59
1.40
0.64

(a) Magnification 500

(b) Magnification 1000

(c) Magnification 2500

(d) Magnification 5000

Figure 3: SEM images of black diabase with different magnifications.

(a) Magnification 500

(b) Magnification 1000

(c) Magnification 2500

(d) Magnification 5000

Figure 4: SEM images of grey sandstone with different magnification.

(a) Magnification 500

(b) Magnification 1000

(c) Magnification 2500

(d) Magnification 5000

Figure 5: SEM images of red sandstone with different magnification.

(a) Magnification 500

(b) Magnification 1000

(c) Magnification 2500

(d) Magnification 5000

Figure 6: Fitted of grey diabase for different magnification.

Figure 7: variation with magnification.

We found that diabase and black diabase have the same fluctuation pattern of “high-low-high” (Figure 7); that is, when magnification is 500, their fractal dimensions are 1.92 and 1.95 separately; when magnification reaches 1000, their fractal dimensions decrease to 1.87 and 1.82 separately; when magnification is 2500, their fractal dimensions increase to 2.17 and 2.2; when magnification increases to 5000, their fractal dimensions are 2.28 and 2.12. Grey sandstone has a decreasing pattern, that is, when magnification varies from 500, 1000, 2500 to 5000, its fractal dimension decreases from 1.77, 1.72, 1.70 to 1.68 correspondingly. When magnification reaches 1000, their fractal dimensions decrease to 1.87 and 1.82 separately; when magnification is 2500, their fractal dimensions increase to 2.17 and 2.2; when magnification increases to 5000, their fractal dimensions are 2.28 and 2.12. Red sandstone has a fluctuation pattern of “low-high-low,” that is, when magnification is 500, its fractal dimensions is 1.35; when magnification reaches 1000, its fractal dimensions increase to 1.59; when magnification is 2500, its fractal dimension gets to 1.38; when magnification increases to 5000, its fractal dimensions decrease to 1.29. Moreover, the fitted results showed related efficient (RC) has the same variation pattern with the increase of magnification (Figure 8). It is clear that the self-similarity of rock microstructure markedly changes with the scanned microscale. Different rocks behave different fractal dimension variation patterns with magnification. Grey diabase and black diabase have high suitability, red sandstone has low suitability. So the suitability of fractal dimension describing method for rocks depends on both investigating scale and rock type.

Figure 8: RC variation with magnification.

As we know, rock is a typical inhomogeneous material. In order to investigate the macromechanical property of rock influenced by inhomogeneity, a concept named after brittleness [28] was adopted. It implies that higher brittleness represents low value of elongation, fine fracture formation, and high ratio of compressive to tensile strength. A general law with regard to brittleness is that a more brittle rock breaks at very little deformation [29]. At present, five common approaches are used to measure the brittleness value: strain-based approach [30], reversible energy-based approach [31], Mohr’s envelope-based approach [25], strength ratio-based approach [32], and Protodyakonov impact test [33]. For simplicity, we adopted the strength ratio-based approach in this paper:

where is brittleness, is uniaxial compressive strength, and is uniaxial tensile strength.

The brittleness, , was obtained by experiments, as listed in Table 2. The brittlenesses of grey diabase, black diabase, grey sandstone, and red sandstone are 2.40, 3.05, 3.63, and 3.96, separately.

Table 2: Typical rock brittleness obtained by experiment.

Order
Rock type
(Mpa)
(Mpa)

a
Grey diabase
127.9
53.3
2.40

b
Black diabase
102.7
33.7
3.05

c
Grey sandstone
75.4
20.8
3.63

d
Red sandstone
68.8
17.3
3.96

Through uniaxial compression tests, we found the four kinds of stone behaved different failure patterns (Figure 9). For grey diabase and black diabase which have lower brittleness value, and , cleavage crackings along axial direction happened. But for grey sandstone and red sandstone which have higher brittleness value, and , main failures occurred along breaking angle, and . Obviously, as brittleness value, , increases, the rock failure angle decreases. As we know, the rock failure angle, , where is the internal friction angle of rock. So the higher homogeneity of rock is, the closer particles inner rock coheres, and the lager internal friction angle is.

(a) Grey diabase

(b) Black diabase

(c) Grey sandstone

(d) Red sandstone

Figure 9: Rock failure patterns under uniaxial compression.

Comparing estimated fractal dimension with brittleness of above four kind rocks, we found that the less the rock brittleness is, the larger the rock profile fractal dimension is, as shown in Figure 10. In situ investigations showed the high homogeneous grey diabase has an intense rock burst tendentiousness, the less high homogeneous black diabase has a feeble rock burst tendentiousness, but the inhomogeneous grey sandstone and red sandstone have no rock burst tendentiousness. In a sense, brittleness, , is a map of rock macromechanical property arising from inhomogeneity, while fractal dimension of microstructure on rock profile is an image of inhomogeneous microstructure distribution of rock in a sense. Thus, for the rocks which have high self-similarity in microscale, we can combine the fractal dimension of profile and brittleness to investigate their failure mechanism, pattern, and behaviours.

Figure 10: Corresponding relationship between fractal dimension and brittleness of rocks.

4. Conclusions

The aim of the laboratory SEM scanning tests and fractal dimension estimation was to identify the influence of microstructure inhomogeneity on rock mechanical property. By comparing with the past investigation, this research contains at least three original aspects.

(1)The SEM tests on microstructure inhomogeneity and fractal dimension estimation of four type rocks were performed.(2)The differences of self-similarity of microstructures for different rocks were investigated primarily.(3)The relation between rock profile fractal dimension and rock brittleness influenced by different inhomogeneities was obtained.

The investigations showed the following.

(1)The self-similarity of rock microstructure markedly changes with the scanned microscale. Different rocks behave different fractal dimension variation patterns with the change of magnification. So it is conditional to adopt fractal dimension to describe rock material. It is suitable for some rocks, but it is not suitable for some other rocks. For instance, grey diabase and black diabase have high suitability, and red sandstone has low suitability. The suitability of fractal dimension describing method for rocks depends on both investigating scale and rock type.(2)The homogeneities of grey diabase, black diabase, grey sandstone, and red sandstone are 7.8, 5.7, 4.4, and 3.4, separately; their average fractal dimensions of microstructure are 2.06, 2.03, 1.72, and 1.40, correspondingly, so the homogeneity is well consistent with fractal dimension.(3)The brittleness of black diabase, grey diabase, grey sandstone, and red sandstone are 2.40, 3.05, 3.63, and 3.96, separately. For rock material, the stronger brittleness is, the less profile fractal dimension is. In a sense, brittleness is an image of rock inhomogeneity in macro-scale, while profile fractal dimension is an image of rock inhomogeneity in microscale.(4)To combine the test of brittleness with the estimation of fractal dimension with condition will be an effective approach for understanding rock failure mechanism, patterns, and behaviours.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) Grant No. 2010CB226805, China Natural Science Fund (no. 51074099, no. 51004068), and SDUST Research Fund (no. 2010KYTD105).

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