Deterioration characteristics and semi-empirical constitutive modelling of red glutenite under acidic wet-dry cycles and loading effects

This study delves into the deterioration characteristics and semi-empirical constitutive modeling of red glutenite under acidic wet-dry cycles and loading effects. The research focuses on the Wuyi Mountain Scenic Area, a World Heritage site known for its unique Danxia landform and rich biodiversity. The study examines how environmental factors such as acid rain erosion and solar radiation impact the physical and mechanical properties of red glutenite, including porosity, permeability, elastic modulus, compressive strength, and tensile strength. Through a series of indoor acidic wet-dry cycle experiments, the study analyzes the nonlinear evolutionary characteristics of water absorption, uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), elastic modulus, and microstructure in red glutenite. The findings reveal a clear negative correlation between UCS and microscopic porosity, leading to the establishment of a UCS empirical correlation model. Furthermore, a semi-empirical constitutive model is developed based on the theory of damage mechanics in continuous media and Lemaitre’s strain equivalence assumption. The model simulations agree well with experimental curves, accurately capturing the deterioration process of red glutenite under the coupling effect of acidic wet-dry cycles and load. The study concludes that acidic wet-dry cycles significantly alter the microstructure and macro-mechanical properties of red glutenite, highlighting the importance of considering these factors in rock engineering design and construction.