Microstructure and water-swelling mechanism of red-bed mudstone in the Xining region,Northeastern Tibetan Plateau

This paper examines the effect of the microstructure and electrical conductivity(EC)on the swelling ratio and pressure in red-bed mudstone sampled from arid areas in the Xining region in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau.A series of laboratory tests,including swelling experiments,X-ray diffraction(XRD),and scanning electron microscope(SEM),was carried out for mechanical and microstructural analysis.The coupled influence of the EC and microstructural parameters on the expansion ratio and pressure was investigated,and the weight coefficients were discussed by the entropy weight method.The results revealed an increasing exponential trend in EC,and the maximum swelling speed occurred at an EC of approximately 10 μS/cm.In addition,a method for predicting the expansion potential is proposed based on the microstructure,and its reliability is verified by comparing with swelling experimental results.In addition,according to the image analysis results,the ranges of the change in the clay minerals content(CMC),the fractal dimension(FD),the average diameter(AD)of pores,and the plane porosity(PP)are 23.75%-53%,1.08-1.17,7.53-22.45 mm,and 0.62%-1.25%,respectively.Moreover,mudstone swelling is negatively correlated with the plane porosity,fractal dimension and average diameter and is linearly correlated with the clay mineral content.Furthermore,the weight values prove that the microstructural characteristics,including FD,AD,and PP,are the main factors influencing the expansion properties of red-bed mudstones in the Xining region.Based on the combination of macro and micro-analyses,a quantitative analysis of the swelling process of mudstones can provide a better reference for understanding the mechanism of expansion behavior.

Erratum to:Unraveling engineering disturbance effects on deformation in red-bed mudstone railway cuttings:incorporating crack-facilitated moisture diffusion

Erratum to:J.Mt.Sci.(2024)21(5):1663-1682 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-023-8561-0 During the production process,the first author’s name was wrongly written as“Rang Huang”in the metadata.The correct name for the first author is“Kang Huang”.The first author’s name in the fulltext pdf is correct.

Unraveling engineering disturbance effects on deformation in red-bed mudstone railway cuttings:incorporating crack-facilitated moisture diffusion

Red-bed mudstone, prevalent in southwest China, poses a formidable challenge due to its hydrophilic clay minerals, resulting in expansion, deformation, and cracking upon exposure to moisture. This study addresses uplift deformation disasters in high-speed railways by employing a moisture diffusion-deformation-fracture coupling model based on the finite-discrete element method(FDEM). The model integrates the influence of cracks on moisture diffusion. The investigation into various excavation depths reveals a direct correlation between depth and the formation of tensile cracks at the bottom of the railway cutting. These cracks expedite moisture migration, significantly impacting the temporal and spatial evolution of the moisture field. Additionally, crack expansion dominates hygroscopic deformation, with the lateral coordinate of the crack zone determining peak vertical displacement. Furthermore, key factors influencing deformation in railway cuttings, including the swelling factor and initial moisture content at the bottom of the cutting, are explored. The number of tensile and shear cracks increases with greater excavation depth, particularly concerning shear cracks. Higher swelling factors and initial moisture contents result in an increased total number of cracks, predominantly shear cracks. Numerical calculations provide valuable insights, offering a scientific foundation and directional guidance for the precise prevention, control, prediction, and comprehensive treatment of mudstone-related issues in high-speed railways.

Liquefaction and post-liquefaction behaviors of sands affected by immersion-induced degradation of crushed mudstone

A series of undrained triaxial tests was conducted to investigate the effect of crushed mudstone with the immersion-induced degradation on the liquefaction and post-liquefaction properties,and the undrained shearing behavior without precedent cyclic-loading histories of sands containing crushed mudstone.The tested materials with a main particle diameter of 2-0.85 mm were prepared by mixing sands and crushed mudstone to reach the prescribed mudstone content defined by dry mass ranging from 0% to 50%.The mixtures were subjected to immersion under a certain stress level and were subsequently tested.In addition,one-dimensional compression tests were also supplementally performed to visually observe the immersion-induced degradation of crushed mudstone.The test results mainly showed that: (1) the liquefaction resistance,the post-liquefaction undrained strength,and the undrained strength without a precedent cyclic-loading history decreased significantly with increasing mudstone content,M c ,up to 20%;(2) even a small amount of crushed mudstone affected these strengths;(3) the above-mentioned large reductions in the strengths were attributed to the immersion-induced degradation of crushed mudstone;(4) at M_(c) >20%,the liquefaction resistance increased while the significant increase in the undrained static strengths with and without precedent cyclic-loading histories was not observed;and (5) the increase in the liquefaction resistance at M_(c) >20% may have been attributed to both the gradual increase in the plasticity and the formation of the soil aggregates among deteriorated crushed mudstone,while the increase in the specimen density did not play an important role in such behavior.

Macro-micro behaviors and failure mechanism of frozen weakly cemented mudstone

Understanding the mechanical properties and multiscale failure mechanism of frozen soft rock is an important prerequisite for the construction safety of tunnels,artificially frozen ground and other infrastructure in cold regions.In this study,the triaxial compression test are performed on mudstone in the weakly cemented soft rock strata in the mining area of western China,and the mechanical characteristics and failure mechanism of weakly cemented mudstone are systematically investigated under the combined action of freezing and loading.Furthermore,the quantitative relationship between the microstructural parameters and the macroscopic strength and deformation parameters is established based on fractal theory.Thus,the failure mechanism of frozen weakly cemented mudstone is revealed on both micro- and macro-scales.The results show that temperature and confining pressure significantly affects the elastic modulus and peak strength of weakly cemented mudstone.With decreasing temperature,the compressive strength increases,while the corresponding peak strain decreases gradually.On the deformation curve,the plastic deformation stage is shortened,and the brittle fracture feature at the post-peak stage is more prominent,and the elastic modulus correspondingly increases with decreasing temperature.Under low-temperature conditions,most of the weakly cemented mudstone undergoes microscopic shear failure along the main fracture surface.The micro-fracture morphology characteristics of weakly cemented mudstone under different temperatures are quantified via the fractal dimension,and an approximately exponential relationship can be obtained among the fractal dimension and the temperature,compressive strength and elastic modulus.

Damage degradation mechanism and macro-meso structural response of mudstone after water wetting

The predominant presence of weak interlayers primarily composed of mudstone renders them highly susceptible to a reduction in bearing capacity due to the water-rock weakening effect,significantly impacting the safety of open-pit mining operations.This study focuses on the weak mudstone layers within open-pit mine slopes.The mineral composition of mudstone and the microstructure evolution characteristics before and after water wetting were analyzed by X-ray diffraction(XRD)and scanning electron microscope(SEM).The meso-structure and parameter variation characteristics of mudstone interior space after water-rock interaction were quantified by computed tomography scanning test,and the damage variable characterization method was proposed.Additionally,according to the uniaxial compression test,the degradation characteristics of the macroscopic mechanical behavior of mudstone under different water wetting time were explored,and the elastic modulus and strength attenuation model of mudstone based on mesoscopic damage were established.Finally,building upon the macro-meso structural response characteristics of mudstone,an exploration of the failure characteristics and deterioration mechanism under the influence of water-rock interactions was undertaken.The results show that the water-rock interaction makes the internal defects of mudstone gradually develop and form a fracture network structure,which eventually leads to the deterioration of its macroscopic mechanical properties.The porosity,fractal dimension and damage characteristics of mudstone show an exponential trend with the increase of water wetting time.Moreover,the deterioration mechanism of mudstone after water wetting are postulated to encompass factors such as the hydrophilicity of mineral molecular structures,hydration stress and expansion effects on clay particles,as well as the spatial distribution of microcracks and the phenomenon of fracture adsorption.The outcomes of this research endeavor aim to provide certain reference value for further understanding the water-rock interaction and stability control of mudstone slope.

Swelling behaviors of heterogeneous red-bed mudstone subjected to different vertical stresses

In this study,the axial swelling strain of red-bed mudstone under different vertical stresses are measured by swell-under-load method,and the microstructure of mudstone after hygroscopic swelling is studied by mercury intrusion porosimetry(MIP).The weakening coefficient and Weibull distribution function are introduced into the coupling model of mudstone moisture diffusion-swelling deformation-fracture based on finite-discrete element method(FDEM).The weakening effect of moisture on mudstone's mechanical parameters,as well as the heterogeneity of swelling deformation and stress distribution,is considered.The microcrack behavior and energy evolution of mudstone during hygroscopic swelling deformation under different vertical stresses are studied.The results show that the axial swelling strain of mudstone decreases with increase of the vertical stress.At low vertical stresses,moisture absorption in mudstone leads to formation of cracks caused by hydration-induced expansion.Under high vertical stresses,a muddy sealing zone forms on the mudstone surface,preventing further water infiltration.The simulation results of mudstone swelling deformation also demonstrate that it involves both swelling of the mudstone matrix and swelling caused by crack expansion.Notably,crack expansion plays a dominant role in mudstone swelling.With increasing vertical stress,the cracks in mudstone change from tensile cracks to shear cracks,resulting in a significant reduction in the total number of cracks.While the evolution of mudstone kinetic energy shows similarities under different vertical stresses,the evolution of strain energy varies significantly due to the presence of different types of cracks in the mudstone.The findings provide a theoretical basis for understanding the hygroscopic swelling deformation mechanism of red-bed mudstone at various depths.

Constitutive model for Ya'an mudstone based on mesoscopic breakage mechanism

The slope stability of Ya’an expressway in Sichuan dominated by mudstone strata,is influenced greatly by both the mechanical properties and stressstrain relationship of mudstone.In this paper,the mechanical properties of the Ya’an mudstone samples under triaxial compression conditions were studied,based on an established constitutive model under the framework of breakage mechanics to simulate the mechanical properties of mudstone.Firstly,triaxial compression tests and SEM tests at the confining pressures of 0.5 MPa,1.0 MPa,and 2.0 MPa were carried out on the mudstone samples,and it was found that the mudstone sample undergoes strain softening and dilatancy followed by the volumetric compaction.Then,based on analysis on the breakage mechanism of the above test results,we idealized the mudstone sample as a binary medium material consisting of the bonded elements and frictional elements,of which the bonded elements are composed of solid matrix and pores,and the frictional elements are composed of broken aggregates.During the loading process,the cementation between clay minerals and non-clay minerals in the mudstone sample is first destroyed,leading to the formation of micro-cracks within the particle aggregate,that is,the bonded elements are gradually damaged during the loading process and gradually turned into the frictional elements,and the two jointly bear the external load.The bonded elements are composed of mudstone matrix and pores,which have the cementitious characteristics of mudstone,and the frictional elements are composed of the broken aggregate with the frictional characteristics of the broken particles.Based on the homogenization theory,the constitutive model for the mudstone is established,and the determining method for model parameters is also given.Finally,the results of the triaxial compression tests of the mudstone samples are predicted by the constitutive model proposed here,which can reflect the main mechanical properties of the mudstone samples.

Wetting-drying-freezing-thawing cycle effect on the hydro-mechanical behaviour of Yanji swelling mudstone

Swelling geomaterials in northwestern and northeastern China are exposed to both seasonal wettingdrying(DW)and freezing-thawing(FT)processes.The influence of full-process wetting-dryingfreezing-thawing(WDFT)cycles on their hydro-mechanical behaviour has not been well investigated.In this study,a series of swelling and compression tests was conducted on Yanji weathered mudstone subjected to different WD,FT and WDFT processes and the effects of seasonal processes and cyclic number on the swelling strain,compression index,rebound index and hydraulic conductivity were experimentally determined.With the increasing WD,FT and WDFT cycles,the starting time of primary swelling decreased first due to the increasing water infiltration with the appearance of large pores,and then increased because of the decreasing swelling potential of compact aggregates after two cycles.Moreover,as the cyclic number increased,the final swelling strain declined.Upon loading,the specimens after cyclic processes exhibited a smaller compression index at low stresses due to their smaller interparticle distance after swelling,but a larger one owing to the collapse of large pores and cracks at high vertical stresses.After unloading,the rebound index decreased with the increase of cyclic number due to the irreversible collapse of large pores and cracks.The hydraulic conductivity increased with the increasing cyclic number at low vertical stresses(large void ratios).With the further increase of vertical stress,the increase of hydraulic conductivity induced by cyclic processes became indiscernible.Moreover,a comparison among three processes suggested that the WDFT process exerted a more pronounced influence on the hydro-mechanical behaviour of Yanji mudstone than the separate WD or FT process.

Sedimentary environment controls on the accumulation of organic matter in the Upper Ordovician Wufeng–Lower Silurian Longmaxi mudstones in the Southeastern Sichuan Basin of China

The Upper Ordovician–Lower Silurian mudstones(including the Wufeng, Guanyinqiao and Longmaxi Formations) in the Sichuan Basin are some of the most important shale gas plays in China. In order to enhance our understanding of the process of formation of organic carbon up to 10%, optical, microscopy and geochemical methods have been used to investigate the petrographic and geochemical characteristics of the formation. Firstly, three mudstone lithofacies were identified based on a wide variety of mudstone laminations. These are:(a) indistinctly laminated mudstone;(b) parallellaminated mudstone; and(c) nonparallel-laminated mudstone. Then, combining with the evidence from depocenter migration, Th/U ratios and total organic carbon, the abundant organo-minerallic fabrics suggest that organic carbon was preferentially deposited and preserved in anoxic, low energy and stagnant water conditions during deposition of the Wufeng and Longmaxi Formations. On the contrary, the Guanyinqiao Formation with poor organic carbon was deposited in oxic and high-energy water conditions.

Deformation Characteristics of Loess Landslide along the Contact between Loess and Neocene Red Mudstone

The loess landslide along the contact between loess and Neogene red mudstone (NRM) is one of those that have occurred extensively and frequently in loess areas of China. To better understand the mechanism of this type of landslides, a distressed loess slope being subjected to deformation along the loess-NRM contact was comprehensively investigated through approaches of field monitoring and laboratory physical modeling. Field observation and physical modeling shows that the slope deformation will experience two distinct processes: 1) laterally retrogressive and vertically progressive propagation, which was initiated by falling of the slope head; and 2) retrogressively separate mass sliding along the weak basal zone of the loess-NRM contact with minor sliding along the paleosols within the loess. Shear failure of the loess-NRM contact may initiate in the middle section, followed by a progressive propagation towards the slope toe and inner slope. Analysis reveals that the deformation characteristics of the distressed slope are largely constrained by slope topography, the unique structure, physical and mechanical properties of loess and paleosols, and occurrence and nature of the loess-NRM contact. Rainfall has significantly influence on the deformation characteristics of the slope through its interaction with the loess and soil of the loess-NRM contact. Additionally, improper style and intensity of cutting on the slope greatly enhance and accelerate the deformation course of the slope.

Swelling experiments on mudstones

This paper studies the swelling of highly consolidated mudstones by theoretical considerations and laboratory experiments. A key assumption was made that saturated and uncemented clays behave as heavily dense colloid without direct contacts among solid particles. It leads to an important conclusion that the swelling pressure acting on adsorbed interparticle water-films is equivalent to the effective stress, This so-called clay-colloid concept is validated by various swelling experiments on two kinds of mudstones, the Callovo-Oxfordian argillite in France and the Opalinus clay in Switzerland. In the tests, water adsorption-desorption, swelling pressure and strain were measured on the samples at various suctions and load-controlled conditions. Results suggest that： （1） the mudstones can take up great amounts of water from the humid environment, much more than the water content in the natural and saturated states; （2） the swelling pressure increases with water uptake to high levels of the overburden stresses at the sampling depths of 230 to 500 m, indicating that the adsorbed water-films are capable of carrying the lithostatic stress; and （3） the large amount of water uptake causes a significant expansion of mudstones even under the lithostatic stresses.

Geochemical Evidence for Coal and Carbonaceous Mudstone as the Possible Major Oil Source Rock in the Jurassic Turpan Basin, Northwest China

Petroleum geologists have debated whether the hydrocarbons from Jurassic coal measures are derived from the coals, carbonaceous mudstones or coal-measure mudstones in the Turpan Basin. Based on the geochemistry analysis of the 20 crude oils and 40 source rocks from the Turpan Basin, some data have been obtained as follows： carbon preference index and methylphenanthrene index of the Jurassic oils are 1.16-1.45 and 0.28-0.80, and the ααα C29 sterane 20S/（20S＋20R） and C29 sterane ββ/（ββ＋αα） are 0.44-0.51 and 0.4-0.54 respectively, which show the normal maturity of oils; the vitrinite reflectance of the source rocks from the Xishanyao to Badaowan Formations range from 0.47% to 0.97%, which indicate immature to mature thermal evolutionary stage and sufficient conditions for generating mass mature oil. The effect of hydrocarbon expulsion should be considered when studying the source of coal-derived oil by using Biomarkers. Biomarkers in the Jurassic oils from the basin are similar to those in the coals and carbonaceous mudstones, with a strong predominant content of pristane, relatively high ratio of C15 /C16 sesquiterpenoids （1）, a relatively high content of low carbon number tricyclic terpanes and C 24 tetracyclic terpane, little gammacerane and C 29 Ts detected, an absolute predominant content of C29 sterane and a relatively high content of diasterane. However, the opposite characteristics are shown in mudstones, with an approximately equal content of pristane and phytane, relatively low ratio of C15 /C16 sesquiterpenoids （1）, a relatively high content of high carbon number tricyclic terpanes and a low content of C 24 tetracyclic terpane, peaks of gammacerane and C29 Ts detected obviously and an increasing C27 sterane content. All of these characteristics identify the coals and carbonaceous mudstones as the possible major oil source rocks in this area, and they were formed in the stronger oxidizing environment with shallower water than mudstones.

Permeability Heterogeneity in a Fractured Sandstone-Mudstone Rock Mass in Xiaolangdi Dam Site,Central China

Heterogeneity of permeability in fractured media is a hot research topic in hydrogeology. Numerous approaches have been proposed to characterize heterogeneity in the last several decades. However, little attention has been paid to correlate permeability heterogeneity with geological information. In the present study, several causes of permeability heterogeneity, that is, lithology, tectonism, and depth, are identified. The unit absorption values （denoted as ω）, which are results obtained from the packer test, are employed to represent permeability. The variability of permeability in sandstone-mudstone is so significant that the value of unit absorptions span 3-4 orders of magnitude at any depth with several test sections. By declustering, it has been found that under a similar tectonic history, the means of permeability differ greatly at different formations as a result of different mudrock contents. It has also been found that in the same formation, permeability can be significantly increased as a result of faulting. The well-known phenomenon, the decrease in permeability with depth, is found to be caused by the fractures in the rock mass, and the relationship between permeability and depth can be established in the form of logoω-logd. After subtracting the trend of ω with absolute depth, the mean of the residual value at each relative depth can be well correlated with the distribution of mudstone. The methods proposed in this paper can be utilized to research in similar study areas.

Experimental investigation of Daqing Oilfield mudstone's creep characteristic under different water contents

In order to analyze mechanism of casing damage,the uniaxial compression experiment and creep experiment of interbedded mudstone samples from Sanan development area of Daqing Oilfield under different water contents were carried out.The changes of the mudstone's mechanical parameters and creep characteristics with the increment of water saturation were studied.The results indicate that the rock strength and elastic modulus decrease rapidly with the increment of water content,at the same time,the creep strain and creep strain rate of steady state increase with the increment of water content,and also the steady state creep strain rate is enhanced with the increment of deviatoric stress.Through the creep characteristic curves,a non-linear creep constitutive equation of mudstone considering the change of water contents is established,which will be used in future numerical analysis.

Dynamic behaviour of weathered red mudstone in Sichuan(China)under triaxial cyclic loading

The construction of a high-speed railway(HSR) in Southwest China is being hindered by a severe shortage of high-quality subgrade materials. However, red mudstone is widely distributed in the Sichuan Basin of China. The ability to use weathered red mudstone(WRM) to fill subgrade beds by controlling its critical stress and cumulative strain would enable substantial savings in project investments and mitigate damage to the ecological environment. To better understand the dynamic behaviour of WRM, both monotonic and cyclic triaxial tests were performed. The evolution of the cumulative strain vs. increased loading cycles was measured. The influences of confining pressure and loading cycles on the dynamic modulus, damping ratio, critical cyclic stress ratio(CSR), and dynamic stress level(DSL) were investigated. The relationship between the CSR and loading cycles under different failure strain criteria(0.1%-1.0%) was analysed. The prediction model of cumulative strain was also evaluated. The results indicated that the shear strength of WRM sufficiently meets the static strength requirements of subgrade. The critical dynamic stress of WRM can thus satisfy the dynamic stress-bearing requirement of the HSR subgrade. The critical CSR decreases and displays a power function with increasing confining pressure. As the confining pressure increases, the DSL remains relatively stable, ranging between 0.153 and 0.163. Furthermore, the relationship between the dynamic strength and loading cycles required to cause failure was established. Finally, a newly developed model for determining cumulative strain was established. A prediction exercise showed that the model is in good agreement with the experimental data.

Seepage characteristics of a fractured silty mudstone under different confining pressures and temperatures

To investigate the influence of confining pressures and temperatures on the seepage characteristics of fractured rocks, seepage tests were conducted on a fractured silty mudstone using a self-developed experimental system, and the effects of different factors on coefficient of permeability were discussed. The results showed that the increasing confining pressure will gradually decrease the coefficient of permeability, and this process is divided into two stages: 1) the fast decrease stage, which corresponds to a confining pressure less than 30 kPa, and 2) the slow decrease stage, which corresponds to a confining pressure larger than 30 kPa. Unlike confining pressure, an increase in temperature will increase the coefficient of permeability. It is noted that fracture surface roughness will also affect the variation of coefficient of permeability to a certain extent. Among the three examined factors, the effect of confining pressure increases is dominant on fracture permeability coefficient. The relationship between the confining pressure and coefficient of permeability can be quantified by an exponential function.

Types of Organic Fades and Source Rock Assessment of the Coal-Measure Mudstone in the Turpan-Hami Basin

This paper discusses the enviromental characteristics of carbonaceous mudstone and mudstone (coal-measure mudstone in short) of the Early and Middle Jurassic in the Turpan-Hami basin, which were formed in swamps. Through the organic facies study of the coal-measure mudstone in this area, the authors clarify that the flowing-water swamp is the most advanced organic facies belt. Furthermore, according to the practical materials of coal-measure mudstone in the area and with the evaluation criteria of lacustrine mudstone in the past, the authors have established the integrated symbol systems from the abundance of organic matter and the type of organic matter, which can be used in the source rock evaluation of the coal-measure mudstone.

Mechanical behavior and microstructural mechanism of improved disintegrated carbonaceous mudstone

This study aims to improve the mechanical behavior of disintegrated carbonaceous mudstone, which is used as road embankment filler in southwestern China. Triaxial tests were performed on disintegrated carbonaceous mudstone modified by fly ash, cement, and red clay. Then the stress-strain relationships and shear strength parameters were analyzed. The microstructure and mineral composition of the materials were identified via scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results show that the stress-strain relationships changed from strain-hardening to strain-softening when disintegrated carbonaceous mudstone was modified with cement. By contrast, the addition of fly ash and red clay did not change the type of stress-strain relationships. The order of these three additives is cement, red clay and fly ash according to their influences on the cohesion. Disintegrated carbonaceous mudstone without cement all showed bulging failures, and that modified with cement exhibited shear failures or bulging-shear failures. The soil particles of the improved soil were well bonded by cementitious substances, so the microstructure was denser and more stable, which highly enhanced the mechanical behavior of disintegrated carbonaceous mudstone. The findings could offer references for the use of carbonaceous mudstone in embankment engineering.

Experimental Study into Permeability of Broken Mudstone

Much attention should be paid to the permeability of broken rocks in goafs for the sake of water preservation in mining and to prevent disasters. Using a special device together with the MTS815.02 Rock Mechanics Test System,we tested the permeability of broken mudstone during its compacting process,and obtained the relations between axial stress and differential seepage pressure and between the pressure gradient and the seepage velocity. The effect of axial stress,grain size,and seepage velocities on the permeability coefficient is analyzed. The results show that 1) permability varies abruptly when the load reaches the compressive strength of rock samples,2) for a constant seepage velocity,the differential seepage pressure and the axial stress can be expressed by an exponential function,3) for a constant axial stress,the pressure gradient and the seepage velocity can be also expressed by an exponential function and 4) the permeability coefficient of broken mudstone of different sizes is closely related to its compaction state and will decrease with the increase of axial stress,expressed as a logarithmic function.