Work

The Crack Initiation Stress, Crack Damage Stress, and Failure Characteristics of Mudstone Under Seepage Conditions in Different Principal Stress Directions

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: In deep underground engineering projects, the rock mass is frequently subjected to extreme environments characterized by high geostress and high permeation pressure. This makes the rock mass highly prone to disasters such as collapses, significant deformations, and water seepage. Among these factors, the direction of seepage plays a critical role. In this study, true triaxial tests were performed to investigate the characteristic stress and failure behaviors of mudstone under seepage conditions in different principal stress directions. The test results indicate that, under permeation pressure (σp), the characteristic stresses are significantly reduced. After TTS-1 shifts to TTS-2, the permeability of the mudstone decreases significantly. A volumetric dilation hysteresis effect of mudstone was discovered. Furthermore, the increase in β1 and decrease in β2 indicate that, after the transition from TTS-1 to TTS-2, the stable crack propagation stage in the mudstone is prolonged, while the unstable crack propagation stage is shortened. In the σ1–σ3 plane, after TTS-1 shifts to TTS-2, the change in the included angle between the mudstone fracture surface and the σ1 direction shows a reverse trend with the increase in σp.

Source: Water

DOI: 10.3390/w17243519

Authors: Wei Yao, Peng Zhang, Xianqi Zhou, Jin Yu, Yonggang Gou

Institutions: Xiamen University of Technology, Huaqiao University, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hohai University

Language: English

Topic: Rock Mechanics and Modeling

Subfield: Mechanics of Materials

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137

Funders: Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Xiamen University of Technology, Xiamen University