The Complicated Link Between Material Properties and Microfracture Density for an Underground Explosion in Granite
Abstract
Fracture identification in the subsurface using geophysical techniques would help resolve many geoscience problems. The relationship between seismic velocities and fractures is the most widely used to identify fractures, but the correlation is not always well-defined. Here we present material property data: unconfined compressive strength (UCS), bulk density (ρ), Young’s modulus (E), Poisson’s ratio (ν), P-wave velocity (Vp), and S-wave velocity (Vs), in conjunction with measured microfracture densities on samples of granite from before and after underground chemical explosions. Results indicate the relationship between fractures and elastic properties is complex, even in this single-lithology environment. We interpret this complexity as arising from the differences in fracture mechanics (e.g. dilational fracturing vs closing existing fracture) in different parts of the core, due to differences in stress conditions. Additional complexity may result from chemical interactions between the fresh fractures and the fluids in the area. Water content appears to have a significant, if not dominant, role in the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of the samples.
- Authors:
-
[1];
- Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos NM USA
- Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos NM USA, Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque NM USA
- Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque NM USA
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1708923
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1429706; OSTI ID: 1699477; OSTI ID: 1721597; OSTI ID: 1786777
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-2017-13177J; LA-UR-17-30903; SAND-2020-8590J; LA‐UR‐-20‐21813-V.2
Journal ID: ISSN 2169-9313; e2020JB019894
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525; AC52‐06NA25946; 89233218CNA000001; AC52-06NA25946; DE‐AC52‐06NA25946; DE‐NA0003525
- Resource Type:
- Published Article
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth Journal Volume: 125 Journal Issue: 11; Journal ID: ISSN 2169-9313
- Publisher:
- American Geophysical Union
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 58 GEOSCIENCES; material properties; elastic properties; microfractures; granite
Citation Formats
Swanson, E., Wilson, J., Broome, S., and Sussman, A. The Complicated Link Between Material Properties and Microfracture Density for an Underground Explosion in Granite. United States: N. p., 2020.
Web. doi:10.1029/2020JB019894.
Swanson, E., Wilson, J., Broome, S., & Sussman, A. The Complicated Link Between Material Properties and Microfracture Density for an Underground Explosion in Granite. United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JB019894
Swanson, E., Wilson, J., Broome, S., and Sussman, A. Wed .
"The Complicated Link Between Material Properties and Microfracture Density for an Underground Explosion in Granite". United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JB019894.
@article{osti_1708923,
title = {The Complicated Link Between Material Properties and Microfracture Density for an Underground Explosion in Granite},
author = {Swanson, E. and Wilson, J. and Broome, S. and Sussman, A.},
abstractNote = {Fracture identification in the subsurface using geophysical techniques would help resolve many geoscience problems. The relationship between seismic velocities and fractures is the most widely used to identify fractures, but the correlation is not always well-defined. Here we present material property data: unconfined compressive strength (UCS), bulk density (ρ), Young’s modulus (E), Poisson’s ratio (ν), P-wave velocity (Vp), and S-wave velocity (Vs), in conjunction with measured microfracture densities on samples of granite from before and after underground chemical explosions. Results indicate the relationship between fractures and elastic properties is complex, even in this single-lithology environment. We interpret this complexity as arising from the differences in fracture mechanics (e.g. dilational fracturing vs closing existing fracture) in different parts of the core, due to differences in stress conditions. Additional complexity may result from chemical interactions between the fresh fractures and the fluids in the area. Water content appears to have a significant, if not dominant, role in the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of the samples.},
doi = {10.1029/2020JB019894},
journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth},
number = 11,
volume = 125,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Oct 14 00:00:00 EDT 2020},
month = {Wed Oct 14 00:00:00 EDT 2020}
}
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