Micromechanisms of inelastic deformation in sandstones: an insight using x-ray micro-tomography

This study investigates the grain-scale mechanisms that lead to failure by strain localisation in specimens of Fontainebleau sandstone with different degrees of cementation. While the effects of inter-particle bonding on the mechanical behaviour of granular geomaterials, including soft rocks, have been largely studied, the physical micro-scale mechanisms governing the material deformation are still poorly understood. In this study, laboratory techniques have been developed to allow a non-invasive investigation of the internal deformation of sandstones during triaxial compression to failure. The material investigated was Fontainebleau sandstone, a quartzite formation from the Paris basin (France), which can be found as very hard, tightly cemented sandstone or more porous and less cemented material. Specimens with porosities of 6 and 21% were investigated. Triaxial compression tests at confining pressures of 2 and 7 MPa were conducted on dry cylindrical specimens of 11 mm diameter and 22 mm height. Three-dimensional (3D) images of the full specimens were obtained by carrying out x-ray micro-tomography scans at key points throughout the test. The high-resolution 3D tomographic images have a voxel size of 8·5 μm (0·033d 50 ), allowing clear identification of the grains. This analysis suggests that dilatancy of the material, which depends on the degree of bonding between grains, plays a fundamental role in the failure mode of granular media. Insights into bonding rupture mechanisms and grain damage by inter- and intra-granular cracking are presented.