Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Portland Cement Concrete Prepared with Coral Reef Sand

The feasibility of using coral reef sand（CRS） in Portland cement concrete is investigated by testing the mechanical property and microstructure of concrete. The composition, structure and properties of the CRS are analyzed. Mechanical properties and microstructure of concrete with CRS are studied and compared to concrete with natural river sand. The relationship between the microstructure and performance of CRS concrete is established. The CRS has a porous surface with high water intake capacity, which contributes to the mechanical properties of concrete. The interfacial transition zone between the cement paste and CRS is densified compared to normal concrete with river sand. Hydration products form in the pore space of CRS and interlock with the matrix of cement paste, which increases the strength. The total porosity of concrete prepared with CRS is higher than that with natural sand. The main difference in pore size distribution is the fraction of fine pores in the range of 100 nm.

Factors influencing physical property evolution in sandstone mechanical compaction:the evidence from diagenetic simulation experiments

In order to analyze the factors influencing sandstone mechanical compaction and its physical property evolution during compaction processes, simulation exper- iments on sandstone mechanical compaction were carried out with a self-designed diagenetic simulation system. The experimental materials were modem sediments from dif- ferent sources, and the experiments were conducted under high temperature and high pressure. Results of the exper- iments show a binary function relation between primary porosity and mean size as well as sorting. With increasing overburden pressure during mechanical compaction, the evolution of porosity and permeability can be divided into rapid compaction at an early stage and slow compaction at a late stage, and the dividing pressure value of the two stages is about 12 MPa and the corresponding depth is about 600 m. In the slow compaction stage, there is a good exponential relationship between porosity and overburden pressure, while a good power function relationship exists between permeability and overburden pressure. There is also a good exponential relationship between porosity and permeability. The influence of particle size on sandstone mechanical compaction is mainly reflected in the slowcompaction stage, and the influence of sorting is mainly reflected in the rapid compaction stage. Abnormally high pressure effectively inhibits sandstone mechanical com- paction, and its control on sandstone mechanical com- paction is stronger than that of particle size and sorting. The influence of burial time on sandstone mechanical compaction is mainly in the slow compaction stage, and the porosity reduction caused by compaction is mainly con- trolled by average particle size.

Effect of reclaimed sand additions on mechanical properties and fracture behavior of furan no-bake resin sand

In this work, the effects of reclaimed sand additions on the microstructure characteristics, mechanical properties and fracture behavior of furan no-bake resin sand have been investigated systematically within the temperature range from 25 to 600 oC. The addition of 20%-100% reclaimed sand showed dramatic strength deterioration effect at the same temperature, which is associated with the formation of bonding bridges. Both the ultimate tensile strength(UTS) and compressive strength(CS) of the moulding sand initially increase with the increase of temperature, and then sharply decrease with the further increase of temperature, which is attributed to the thermal decomposition of furan resin. The addition amount of reclaimed sand has a remarkable effect on the room temperature fracture mode, i.e., with the addition of 0-20% reclaimed sand, the fracture mode was mainly cohesive fracture; the fracture mode converts to be mixture fracture mode as the addition of reclaimed sand increases to 35%-70%; further increasing the addition to 100% results in the fracture mode of typical adhesive fracture. The fracture surface of the bonding bridge changes from a semblance of cotton or holes to smooth with the increase of test temperature.

Evaluation of the microstructure, secondary dendrite arm spacing, and mechanical properties of Al–Si alloy castings made in sand and Fe–Cr slag molds

The microstructure and mechanical properties of as-cast A356（Al–Si） alloy castings were investigated. A356 alloy was cast into three different molds composed of sand, ferrochrome（Fe–Cr） slag, and a mixture of sand and Fe–Cr. A sodium silicate–CO_2 process was used to make the necessary molds. Cylindrical-shaped castings were prepared. Cast products with no porosity and a good surface finish were achieved in all of the molds. These castings were evaluated for their metallography, secondary dendrite arm spacing（SDAS）, and mechanical properties, including hardness, compression, tensile, and impact properties. Furthermore, the tensile and impact samples were analyzed by fractography. The results show that faster heat transfer in the Fe–Cr slag molds than in either the silica sand or mixed molds led to lower SDAS values with a refined microstructure in the products cast in Fe–Cr slag molds. Consistent and enhanced mechanical properties were observed in the slag mold products than in the castings obtained from either sand or mixed molds. The fracture surface of the slag mold castings shows a dimple fracture morphology with a transgranular fracture nature. However, the fracture surfaces of the sand mold castings display brittle fracture. In conclusion, products cast in Fe–Cr slag molds exhibit an improved surface finish and enhanced mechanical properties compared to those of products cast in sand and mixed molds.

Damage by wind-blown sand and its control measures along the Taklimakan Desert Highway in China

Desertification is one of the most serious environmental problems in the world,especially in the arid desert regions.Combating desertification,therefore,is an urgent task on a regional or even global scale.The Taklimakan Desert in China is the second largest mobile desert in the world and has been called the''Dead Sea''due to few organisms can exist in such a harsh environment.The Taklimakan Desert Highway,the longest desert highway(a total length of 446 km)across the mobile desert in the world,was built in the 1990s within the Taklimakan Desert.It has an important strategic significance regarding oil and gas resources exploration and plays a vital role in the socio-economic development of southern Xinjiang,China.However,wind-blow sand seriously damages the smoothness of the desert highway and,in this case,mechanical sand control system(including sand barrier fences and straw checkerboards)was used early in the life of the desert highway to protect the road.Unfortunately,more than 70%of the sand barrier fences and straw checkerboards have lost their functions,and the desert highway has often been buried and frequently blocked since 1999.To solve this problem,a long artificial shelterbelt with the length of 437 km was built along the desert highway since 2000.However,some potential problems still exist for the sustainable development of the desert highway,such as water shortage,strong sandstorms,extreme environmental characteristics and large maintenance costs.The study aims to provide an overview of the damages caused by wind-blown sand and the effects of sand control measures along the Taklimakan Desert Highway.Ultimately,we provide some suggestions for the biological sand control system to ensure the sustainable development of the Taklimakan Desert Highway,such as screening drought-resistant species to reduce the irrigation requirement and ensure the sound development of groundwater,screening halophytes to restore vegetation in the case of soil salinization,and planting cash crops,such as Cistanche,Wolfberry,Apocynum and other cash crops to decrease the high cost of maintenance on highways and shelterbelts.

Sediment mathematical model for sand ridges and sand waves

A new theoretical model is formulated to describe internal movement mechanisms of the sand ridges and sand waves based on the momentum equation of a solid-liquid two-phase flow under a shear flow. Coupling this equation with two-dimensional shallow water equations and wave reflection-diffraction equation of mild slope, a two-dimensional coupling model is established and a validation is carried out by observed hydrogeology, tides,waves and sediment. The numerical results are compared with available observations. Satisfactory agreements are achieved. This coupling model is then applied to the Dongfang 1-1 Gas Field area to quantitatively predict the movement and evolution of submarine sand ridges and sand waves. As a result, it is found that the sand ridges and sand waves movement distance increases year by year, but the development trend is stable.

Development,sand control mechanism and hydrocarbon accumulation of beach-bar sandstone in a saline lake basin:A case from the Neogene of southwestern Qaidam Basin,NW China

Based on the data of field outcrops,drilling cores,casting thin sections,well logging interpretation,oil/gas shows during drilling,and oil/gas testing results,and combined with modern salt-lake sediments in the Qinghai Lake,the Neogene saline lake beach-bars in southwestern Qaidam Basin are studied from the perspective of sedimentary characteristics,development patterns,sand control factors,and hydrocarbon accumulation characteristics.Beach-bar sand bodies are widely developed in the Neogene saline lake basin,and they are lithologically fine sandstone and siltstone,with wavy bedding,low-angle cross bedding,and lenticular-vein bedding.In view of spatial-temporal distribution,the beach-bar sand bodies are stacked in multiple stages vertically,migratory laterally,and extensive and continuous in NW-SE trending pattern in the plane.The stacking area of the Neogene beach-bar sandstone is predicted to be 3000 km^(2).The water salinity affects the sedimentation rate and offshore distance of beach-bar sandstone,and the debris input from the source area affects the scale and enrichment of beach-bar sandstone.The ancient landform controls the morphology and stacking style of beach-bar sandstone,and the northwest monsoon driving effect controls the long-axis extension direction of beach-bar sandstone.The beach-bars have a reservoir-forming feature of“one reservoir in one sand body”,with thick beach-bar sand bodies controlling the effective reservoir distribution and oil-source faults controlling the oil/gas migration and accumulation direction.Three favorable exploration target zones in Zhahaquan,Yingdong-eastern Wunan and Huatugou areas are proposed based on the analysis of reservoir-forming elements.

A New Elastoplastic 3D Sand Production Model for Fractured Gas Fields

Reservoirs characterized by high temperature,high-pressure,medium high cementation strength,low porosity,and low permeability,in general,are not affected by sand production issues.Since 2009,however,it is known that cases exists where sand is present and may represent a significant technical problem(e.g.,the the Dina II condensate gas field).In the present study,the main factors affecting sand production in this type of reservoir are considered(mechanical properties,stress fields,production system,completion method and gas flow pattern changes during the production process).On this basis,a new liquid-solid coupled porous elasto-plastic 3D sand production model is introduced and validated through comparison with effective sand production data.The related prediction errors are found to be within 15%,which represents the necessary prerequisite for the utilization of such a model for the elaboration of sand prevention measures.

Influence of desert sand on the mechanical properties of concrete subjected to impact loading

A74-mm-diameter Split Hopkinson pressure bar was used to carry out the dynamic compression experiment of concrete made of desert sand.The dynamic failure processes of concrete different in specimen size,impact velocity,desert sand replacement ratio,size and volume content of coarse aggregate were simulated.Research results showed that concrete made of desert sand had size-effect and was rate-dependent.The peak stress of concrete made of desert sand declined with the minimum size of coarse aggregate.However,the peak stress of concrete made of desert sand increased first,and then declined with the volume content and maximum size of coarse aggregate.