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Exploration of weakening mechanism of uniaxial compressive strength of deep sandstone under microwave irradiation

微波作用下深部砂岩单轴抗压强度弱化机理

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Abstract

Traditional mechanical rock breaking method is labor-intensive and low-efficient, which restrictes the development of deep resources and deep space. As a new rock-breakage technology, microwave irradiation is expected to overcome these problems. This study examines the failure characteristics, weakening law, and breakdown mechanism of deep sandstone (depth=1050 m) samples in a microwave field. The macroscopic and microscopic properties were determined via mechanical tests, mesoscopic tests, and numerical simulations. Microwave application at 1000 W for 60 s reduced the uniaxial compressive strength of the sandstone by 50%. Thermal stress of the sandstone was enhanced by uneven expansion of minerals at the microscale. Moreover, the melting of some minerals in the high-temperature environment changed the pore structure, sharply reducing the macroscopic strength. The temperature remained high in the lower midsection of the sample, and the stress was concentrated at the bottom of the sample and along its axis. These results are expected to improve the efficiency of deep rock breaking, provide theoretical and technical support for similar rock-breakage projects, and accelerate advances in deep-Earth science.

摘要

传统的机械破岩方法劳动强度大, 效率低, 制约了深部资源和深部空间的开发。而微波技术作 为一种新型破岩手段有望破解此类难题。本文从宏观到细观综合运用力学测试, 细观试验以及数值模 拟等手段探讨了微波场内埋深1050 m砂岩试样的破坏特征, 弱化规律及破裂机制。研究表明, 微波作 用下砂岩单轴抗压强度会大幅降低, 当1000 W功率作用60 s 时, 强度折减幅度可达50%; 结合单轴和 细观试验发现, 矿物不均匀膨胀导致砂岩内部热应力增大的同时, 高温环境下部分矿物会同步发生熔融, 从而使试样内部孔裂隙结构发生急剧改变然后体现为强度的大幅下降微波场内试样的中下部温 度较高, 高应力区出现在试样底部并沿轴向扩展。本文研究结果将为类似岩石破碎工程提供破岩理论 依据与技术支撑。

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Funding

Projects(51822403, 51827901) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China; Project(2018HH0159) supported by the Sichuan International Technological Innovation Cooperation, China

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, College of Water Resource & Hydropower, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China

    Ben-gao Yang  (杨本高), Ming-zhong Gao  (高明忠), Jing Xie  (谢晶), Jun-jun Liu  (刘军军), Fei Wang  (王飞), Ming-yao Wang  (王明耀), Xuan Wang  (王轩), Xiang-yue Wen  (温翔越) & Zhao-ying Yang  (杨钊颖)

  2. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Deep Earth Sciences and Geothermal Energy Exploitation and Utilization, Institute of Deep Earth Sciences and Green Energy, College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China

    Ben-gao Yang  (杨本高), Ming-zhong Gao  (高明忠), Xuan Wang  (王轩), Xiang-yue Wen  (温翔越) & Zhao-ying Yang  (杨钊颖)

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  1. Ben-gao Yang  (杨本高)
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  2. Ming-zhong Gao  (高明忠)
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Correspondence to Ming-zhong Gao  (高明忠).

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Contributors

The overarching research goals were developed by GAO Ming-zhong, XIE Jing and YANG Ben-gao. YANG Ben-gao, LIU Jun-jun and WANG Fei carried out the microwave irradiation experiment, then recorded and analyzed the phenomena and data. YANG Ben-gao, WANG Xuan and WENG Xiang-yue established the model of microwave irradiation, and analyzed the distribution characteristics of electric field, temperature field and stress field in the microwave field. The mesoscopic tests of the sandstone were completed by WANG Ming-yao and YANG Zhao-ying. YANG Ben-gao and LIU Jun-jun analyzed the calculated results. The initial draft of the manuscript was written by YANG Ben-gao, GAO Ming-zhong and XIE Jing. All authors replied to reviewers’ comments and revised the final version.

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Yang, Bg., Gao, Mz., Xie, J. et al. Exploration of weakening mechanism of uniaxial compressive strength of deep sandstone under microwave irradiation. J. Cent. South Univ. 29, 611–623 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-022-4910-3

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