Porosity, permeability and rock mechanics of Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation deep shale under temperature-pressure coupling in the Sichuan Basin, SW China

To investigate the porosity, permeability and rock mechanics of deep shale under temperature-pressure coupling, we selected the core samples of deep shale from the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in the Weirong and Yongchuan areas of the Sichuan Basin for porosity and permeability experiments and a triaxial compression and sound wave integration experiment at the maximum temperature and pressure of 120 ℃ and 70 MPa. The results show that the microscopic porosity and permeability change and the macroscopic rock deformation are mutually constrained, both showing the trend of steep and then gentle variation. At the maximum temperature and pressure, the porosity reduces by 34%–71%, and the permeability decreases by 85%–97%. With the rising temperature and pressure, deep shale undergoes plastic deformation in which organic pores and clay mineral pores are compressed and microfractures are closed, and elastic deformation in which brittle mineral pores and rock skeleton particles are compacted. Compared with previous experiments under high confining pressure and normal temperature,the experiment under high temperature and high pressure coupling reveals the effect of high temperature on stress sensitivity of porosity and permeability. High temperature can increase the plasticity of the rock, intensify the compression of pores due to high confining pressure, and induce thermal stress between the rock skeleton particles, allowing the reopening of shale bedding or the creation of new fractures along weak planes such as bedding, which inhibits the decrease of permeability with the increase of temperature and confining pressure. Compared with the triaxial mechanical experiment at normal temperature, the triaxial compression experiment at high temperature and high pressure demonstrates that the compressive strength and peak strain of deep shale increase significantly due to the coupling of temperature and pressure. The compressive strength is up to 435 MPa and the peak strain exceeds 2%, indicating that high temperature is not conducive to fracture initiation and expansion by increasing rock plasticity. Lithofacies and mineral composition have great impacts on the porosity, permeability and rock mechanics of deep shale. Shales with different lithologies are different in the difficulty and extent of brittle failure. The stress-strain characteristics of rocks under actual geological conditions are key support to the optimization of reservoir stimulation program.

Innovation and future of mining rock mechanics

The 121 mining method of longwall mining first proposed in England has been widely used around the world.This method requires excavation of two mining roadways and reservation of one coal pillar to mine one working face.Due to considerable excavation of roadway,the mining roadway is generally destroyed during coal mining.The stress concentration in the coal pillar can cause large deformation of surrounding rocks,rockbursts and other disasters,and subsequently a large volume of coal pillar resources will be wasted.To improve the coal recovery rate and reduce excavation of the mining roadway,the 111 mining method of longwall mining was proposed in the former Soviet Union based on the 121 mining method.The 111 mining method requires excavation of one mining roadway and setting one filling body to replace the coal pillar while maintaining another mining roadway to mine one working face.However,because the stress transfer structure of roadway and working face roof has not changed,the problem of stress concentration in the surrounding rocks of roadway has not been well solved.To solve the above problems,the conventional concept utilizing high-strength support to resist the mining pressure for the 121 and 111 mining methods should be updated.The idea is to utilize mining pressure and expansion characteristics of the collapsed rock mass in the goaf to automatically form roadways,avoiding roadway excavation and waste of coal pillar.Based on the basic principles of mining rock mechanics,the“equilibrium mining”theory and the“short cantilever beam”mechanical model are proposed.Key technologies,such as roof directional presplitting technology,negative Poisson’s ratio(NPR)high-prestress constant-resistance support technology,and gangue blocking support technology,are developed following the“equilibrium mining”theory.Accordingly,the 110 and N00 mining methods of an automatically formed roadway(AFR)by roof cutting and pressure releasing without pillars are proposed.The mining methods have been applied to a large number of coal mines with different overburdens,coal seam thicknesses,roof types and gases in China,realizing the integrated mode of coal mining and roadway retaining.On this basis,in view of the complex geological conditions and intelligent mining demand of coal mines,an intelligent and unmanned development direction of the“equilibrium mining”method is prospected.

INTEGRATED ANALYSIS APPROACHES TO ROCK MECHANICS PROBLEMS

In order to effectively cope with exponent increase of the complexity faced to the rock mechanics analysis problems and the large incompatibility existing between the information level required to model the rock mass and engineering and our obtainable information level at hand,the integrated approaches with intelligent characters are proposed. Many previous standard methods,such as precedent type analysis,rock classification,analytic method stress-based,basic numerical methods (BEM,FEM,DEM,hybrid),and their extended numerical methods (fully coupled) to be developed,can be selected respectively or integrated accordingly. It is alternative to develop basic/fully integrated system,and internet-based approaches. These novel methods can also be selected or integrated each other or with the standard methods to perform rock mechanics analysis. Some key techniques to develop these alternative methods are discussed. It may focus in future on developing fully integrated systems and internet-based approaches. Developing an environmental,virtual facility/space shall be firstly done for this collaborative research on internet.

Application and prospective of 3D printing in rock mechanics: A review

This review aims to discuss the application and development of three-dimensional printing(3DP) technology in the field of rock mechanics and the mechanical behaviors of 3D-printed specimens on the basis of various available printing materials.This review begins with a brief description of the concepts and principles associated with 3DP, and then systematically elaborates the five major applications of 3DP technology in the field of rock mechanics, namely, the preparation of rock(including pre-flawed rock) specimens, preparation of joints, preparation of geophysical models, reconstruction of complex rock structures, and performance of bridging experimental testing and numerical simulation.Meanwhile, the mechanical performance of 3D-printed specimens created using six different printing materials, such as polymers, resin,gypsum, sand, ceramics, and rock-like geological materials, is reviewed in detail.Subsequently, some improvements that can make these 3D-printed specimens close to natural rocks and some limitations of 3DP technology in the application of rock mechanics are discussed.Some prospects that are required to be investigated in the future are also proposed.Finally, a brief summary is presented.This review suggests that 3DP technology, especially when integrated with other advanced technologies, such as computed tomography scanning and 3D scanning, has great potential in rock mechanics field.

Application of artificial intelligence to rock mechanics:An overview

Different artificial intelligence(AI)methods have been applied to various aspects of rock mechanics,but the fact that none of these methods have been used as a standard implies that doubt as to their generality and validity still exists.For this,a literature review of application of AI to the field of rock mechanics is presented.Comprehensive studies of the researches published in the top journals relative to the fields of rock mechanics,computer applications in engineering,and the textbooks were conducted.The performances of the AI methods that have been used in rock mechanics applications were evaluated.The literature review shows that AI methods have successfully been used to solve various problems in the rock mechanics field and they performed better than the traditional empirical,mathematical or statistical methods.However,their practical applicability is still an issue of concern as many of the existing AI models require some level of expertise before they can be used,because they are not in the form of tractable mathematical equations.Thus some advanced AI methods are still yet to be explored.The limited availability of dataset for the AI simulations is also identified as a major problem.The solutions to the identified problems and the possible future research focus were proposed in the study subsequently.

Key issues in rock mechanics of the Three Gorges Project in China

The Three Gorges Project is one of the essential key projects for flood controlling and water resources regulation in the Yangtze River. The project includes a river-crossing dam, underground powerhouses, and navigation structures. Because of the huge size and complicated construction technologies, the project faced a series of challenging engineering issues. In terms of rock mechanics, there are many key technical issues, including the sliding resistance and stability of the dam section along the foundations of powerhouses No.l-5, the ,,;lope stability of the double-line five-stage shiplock, excavation of large-scale underground powerhouses, and curtain grouting under the dam. With decades of scientific research and 16 years of practical construction experiences and reservoir operations, these key technical issues in construction of the Three Gorges Project are successfully resolved, which will attribute to the development of hydropower technology. On the basis of the monitoring data during construction and normal operation periods of the Three Gorges Project, this paper presents a systematic analysis of these key rock mechanical issues in terms of behaviors, solutions, dynamic controlling, monitoring arrangement and integrated assessment.

Geological conditions and key rock mechanics issues in the Western Route of South-to-North Water Transfer Project

In terms of special geological conditions of the Western Route of South-to-North Water Transfer Project, the classification method for surrounding rocks is discussed by combining with the construction method of tunnel boring machine （TBM）. The classification standard of surrounding rocks is put forward on the basis of physical simulations and engineering practices. Damage, deformation and evolution of surrounding rocks induced by TBM excavation are discussed. Meanwhile, the long-term deformation mechanisms and stability of surrounding rocks are also studied. On this basis, a three-dimensional constitutive model for interbedded sandstone slate and a fiat shell-joint element-foundation system for calculating internal forces of segment lining are established. The deformation features of surrounding rocks of deep and steep interbedded sandstone slate and their influences on internal forces of segment lining are presented. Finally, the design methods of segment lining constructed in deep and steep flysch are proposed.

Engineering rock mechanics practices in the underground powerhouse at JinpingⅠhydropower station

Based on the analyses of data obtained from the underground powerhouse at Jinping I hydropower station, a comprehensive review of engineering rock mechanics practice in the underground powerhouse is first conducted. The distribution of strata, lithology, and initial geo-stress, the excavation process and corresponding rock mass support measures, the deformation and failure characteristics of the surrounding rock mass, the stress characteristics of anchorage structures in the cavern complex, and numerical simulations of surrounding rock mass stability and anchor support performance are presented. The results indicate that the underground powerhouse of Jinping I hydropower station is characterized by high to extremely high geo-stresses during rock excavation. Excessive surrounding rock mass deformation and high stress of anchorage structures, surrounding rock mass unloading damage, and local cracking failure of surrounding rock masses, etc., are mainly caused by rock mass excavation. Deformations of surrounding rock masses and stresses in anchorage structures here are larger than those found elsewhere： 20% of extensometers in the main powerhouse record more than 50 mm with the maximum at around 250 mm observed in the downstream sidewall of the transformer hall. There are about 25% of the anchor bolts having recorded stresses of more than 200 MPa. Jinping I hydropower plant is the first to have an underground powerhouse construction conducted in host rocks under extremely high geo-stress conditions, with the ratio of rock mass strength to geo-stress of less than 2.0. The results can provide a reference to underground powerhouse construction in similar geological conditions.

Recent advances of digitization in rock mechanics and rock engineering

In recent years, there are growing demands of representing rock mechanics and rock engineering in a digital format that can be easily managed, manipulated, analyzed and shared. The objective of this paper is to give a comprehensive review of the status quo and future trends of digitization in rock mechanics and rock engineering. Research topics essential to the process of digitization are firstly discussed, including data acquisition, data standardization, geological modeling, visualization and digital-numerical integration. New techniques that will play an important role in digitization process but require further improvement are then briefly proposed. Finally, achievements of present methods and techniques for digitization in substantial rock mechanics and rock engineering are presented.

Congratulatory Letter to the Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering

Over many years now, I have had the privilege to observe China＇s spectacular growth, not only in terms of the expansive construction of infrastructural facilities built on and in rock masses, but also in terms of the associated rock mechanics and rock engineering advances. Moreover, over the years, I have enjoyed looking through the issues of the existing Chinese Journal of Rock Mechanics and Engineering （CJRME）. The content of this Journal, initiated in 1982, is partially accessible to foreigners because the Contents, paper Abstracts and Figure captions are published in English. The number of rock mechanics articles in each monthly issue of the Journal is far more than any other country can produce. This activity is also reflected in the fact that China now has more ISRM members （502） than any other country -- and the number is no doubt continuing to grow! Furthermore, the Editor-in-Chief of the CJRME, Professor Feng Xiating, will be the next ISRM President for the period 2011-2015.

JOURNAL OF ROCK MECHANICS AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING Instructions to authors

Aims and scope Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering （JRMGE） is a quarterly journal focused on the latest research achievements in rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering, and provides an opportunity for colleagues from all over the world to understand the current developments in rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering.

The 12^(th) International Congress on Rock Mechanics will be held in Beijing in 2011

With the rapid economic development of China,a number of large-scale rock engineerings in the area of hydropower,transportation,energy,etc.,have entered a high-speed construction period.

JOURNAL OF ROCK MECHANICS AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING Instructions to authors

Aims and scope Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geoteclmical Engineering （JRMGE） is a quarterly journal focused on the latest research achievements in rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering, and provides an opportunity for colleagues fxom all over the world to understand the current developments in rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering. The scope of articles includes new theories, new technologies, new methods and experience, in-situ and laboratory tests, new developments, and timely reviews on selected subjects in rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering in China and overseas. Articles should contain original data and facts that support the conclusions. Manuscripts should conform to the format guidelines set out below.

JOURNAL OF ROCK MECHANICS AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING Instructions to authors

A more detailed set of instructions can be found in the journal’s home page at： http：//www.rockgeotech.orgAims and scopeJournal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering （JRMGE）,

JOURNAL OF ROCK MECHANICS AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING Instructions to authors

A more detailed set of instructions can be found in the journal’s home page at: http://www.rockgeotech.orgAims and scopeJournal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (JRMGE) is a quarterly journal focused on the latest

JOURNAL OF ROCK MECHANICS AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING Instructions to authors

A more detailed set of instructions can be found in the journal’s home page at: http://www.rockgeotech.orgAims and scopeJournal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (JRMGE)

JOURNAL OF ROCK MECHANICS AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Aims and scope Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering （JRMGE） is a quarterly journal focused on the latest research achievements in rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering, and provides an opportunity for colleagues from all over the world to understand the current developments in rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering. The scope of articles includes new theories, new technologies, new methods and experience, in-situ and laboratory tests, new developments, and timely reviews on selected subjects in rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering in China and overseas. Articles should contain original data and facts that support the conclusions. Manuscripts should conform to the format guidelines set out below.

Welcome to subscribe to the new journal Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering

Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering（JRMGE）is a new academic publication in English launched in 2009,co-sponsored by Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics,China Academy of Sciences,Chinese Society for Rock Mechanics and Engineering and Wuhan University.