Physical and Mechanical Properties of Coral Sand in the Nansha Islands

Coral sand is a unique material developed in the tropical ocean environment, which is mainly composed of coral and other marine organism debris, with the CaCO3 content up to 96 %. It has special physical and mechanical properties due to its composition, structure and sedimentary environment. In this contribution, we discuss its specific gravity, porosity ratio compressibility, crushing, shearing and intensity for coral sand samples from the Nansha islands based on laboratory mechanical tests. Our results show distinct high porosity ratio, high friction angle and low intensity as compared with the quartz sand. We believe that grain crushing is the main factor that influences the deformation and strength of coral sand. Comprehensive study on the physical and mechanical properties of coral sands is significant in providing reliable scientific parameters to construction on coral islet, and thus avoids accidents in construction.

张峰水库供水发电洞地质评价

通过对张峰水库供水发电洞段地表裸露基岩、隧洞中段及后段覆盖层进行实验,并对其物理力学性质做出评价。针对供水发电洞的进水塔地基、主洞段地质、支洞段施工地质进行评价,并提出施工处理措施,为工程设计、维护提供了重要依据。

Effects of thermal treatment on physical and mechanical characteristics of coal rock

To study the physical and mechanical properties of coal rock after treatment at different temperatures under impact loading, dynamic compression experiments were conducted by using a split Hopkinson pressure bar(SHPB). The stress–strain curves of specimens under impact loading were obtained, and then four indexes affected by temperature were analyzed in the experiment: the longitudinal wave velocity, elastic modulus, peak stress and peak strain. Among these indexes, the elastic modulus was utilized to express the specimens' damage characteristics. The results show that the stress–strain curves under impact loading lack the stage of micro-fissure closure and the slope of the elastic deformation stage is higher than that under static loading. Due to the dynamic loading effect, the peak stress increases while peak strain decreases. The dynamic mechanical properties of coal rock show obvious temperature effects. The longitudinal wave velocity, elastic modulus and peak stress all decrease to different extents with increasing temperature, while the peak strain increases continuously. During the whole heating process, the thermal damage value continues to increase linearly, which indicates that the internal structure of coal rock is gradually damaged by high temperature.

Influence of the characteristics of fault gouge on the stability of a borehole wall

How to find more effective way to stabilize the borehole wall in the fault gouge section is the key technical challenge to control the stability of the borehole wall in the Wenchuan fault gouge section during the process of core drilling. Here we try to describe the characters of deep fault gouge in fracture zones from the undisturbed fault gouge samples which are obtained during the core drilling. The X- Ray Diffraction （XRD）, X-Ray Fluorescence （XRF） and Scanning Electron Microscope （SEM） provided the detailed information of the fault gouge＇s microscopic characteristics on the density, moisture content, expansibility, dispersity, permeability, tensile strength and other main physical-mechanical properties. Based on these systematic experimental studies above and analysis of the fault gouge instability mechanism, a new technical procedure to stabilize the borehole wall is proposed -- a low water and a low loss low permeability drilling fluid system that consists of 4% day ＋ 0.5% CMC-HV ＋ 2% S-1 ＋ 3%sulfonated asphalt ＋ 1% SMC ＋ 0.5% X-1 ＋ 0-5% T type lubricant ＋ barite for core drilling in fault gouge sections.