Experimental study on cracking behaviour of moulded gypsum containing two non-parallel overlapping flaws under uniaxial compression

Failure of rock mass that is subjected to compressive loads occurs from initiation, propagation, and linkage of new cracks from preexisting fissures. Our research investigates the cracking behaviour and coalescence process in a brittle material with two non-parallel overlapping flaws using a high-speed camera. The coalescence tensile crack and tensile wing cracks were the first cracks to occur from the preexisting flaws. The initiation stresses of the primary cracks at the two tips of each flaw were simultaneous and decreased with reduced flaw inclination angle. The following types of coalescence cracks were identified between the flaws: primary tensile coalescence crack, tensile crack linkage, shear crack linkage, mixed tensile-shear crack, and indirect crack coalescence. Coalescence through tensile linkage occurred mostly at pre-peak stress. In contrast, coalescence through shear or mixed tensile-shear cracks occurred at higher stress. Overall, this study indicates that the geometry of preexisting flaws affect crack initiation and coalescence behaviour.

Macro and micro grouting process and the influence mechanism of cracks in soft coal seam

Grouting is an important method to reinforce soft coal roadway,and the presence of primary cracks in the coal body has an important influence on the grouting effect.With the discrete element simulation method,the grouting process of the soft coal seam was simulated.The mechanism of primary cracks on grouting was revealed,while the influence of fracture characteristics and grouting pressure on the grouting effect was analyzed.The results demonstrated that grouting in the soft coal seam involves the stages of seepage,rapid splitting,slow splitting,and stability.Due to the presence of primary cracks,the grouting diffusion radius increased significantly.Under the slurry pressure,the tensile stress concentration was formed at the crack tip,and the slurry split the coal once the splitting pressure was reached.In addition,the distribution characteristics of fractures are found to have a great influence on the grouting effect.It is observed that smaller fracture spacing is associated with a larger slurry diffusion radius and thus easier penetration of the primary crack tips.The fracture angle affects the direction of fracture propagation.The secondary fracture formed by splitting is a tensile fracture,which is more likely to extend along the direction parallel to the maximum principal stress.Overall,these simulation results have guiding significance for the setting of reasonable spacing of grouting holes in the practice of grouting engineering.

Geochemical characteristics of natural gases and source rocks in Obayied sub-basin,north Western Desert,Egypt:implications for gas-source correlation

Western Desert represents a major oil and gas province in Egypt producing more than 50%of the country’s oil production.Oil and gas blend occurs in most producing fields,however,the genetic link between gas and liquid hydrocarbon phases are not well-constrained.Obayied sub-basin in the Western Desert where oil and gas phases coexist in the Middle Jurassic sandstones of the Khatatba Formation provides an ideal place to investigate the link between oil and gas generation.Geochemical analyses on rock samples(Rock–Eval pyrolysis,vitrinite reflectance,R_(o))and gases(molecular and isotopic composition)were conducted in order to identify the genetic characteristics of the hydrocarbon phases produced.Maturity-relevant parameters(Rock–Eval T_(max),vitrinite reflectance R_(o))elucidate that only Middle Jurassic Khatatba organofacies capable of generating wet and dry hydrocarbon gases.Additionally,the enrichment of C_(7)normal alkanes,mono-branched alkanes relative to polybranched components in the Obayied gases reflect their generation via cracking of oil.Basin modelling results confirm gas generation through both primary and secondary cracking.However,secondary cracking of liquid hydrocarbon phases is volumetrically more significant.Primary cracking of the Khatatba organofacies likely predate and catalyze the secondary cracking of the liquid phases and therefore the volume of generated gas increases incrementally eastward where both processes coexist.The present study highlights the significant role of secondary cracking in the generation and accumulation of huge gas accumulations in the basins containing oil-prone source intervals.