Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• Dynamic stress fields significantly increase rheological strain in sandstone compared to creep conditions. • Rheological tests alter pore structure, decreasing small pores and increasing medium-sized pores, forming new seepage channels. • High initial rheological stress reduces sandstone permeability by accelerating fracture compression and closure of seepage channels. • A novel rock rheological constitutive model incorporating dynamic stress and seepage fields was developed and validated through numerical simulations.
Abstract
The generalized rheological tests on sandstone were conducted under both dynamic stress and seepage fields. The results demonstrate that the rheological strain of the specimen under increased stress conditions is greater than that under creep conditions, indicating that the dynamic stress field significantly influences the rheological behaviours of sandstone. Following the rheological tests, the number of small pores in the sandstone decreased, while the number of medium-sized pores increased, forming new seepage channels. The high initial rheological stress accelerated fracture compression and the closure of seepage channels, resulting in reduction in the permeability of sandstone. Based on the principles of generalized rheology and the experimental findings, a novel rock rheological constitutive model incorporating both the dynamic stress field and seepage properties has been developed. Numerical simulations of surrounding rock deformation in geotechnical engineering were carried out using a secondary development version of this model, which confirmed the applicability of the generalized rheological numerical simulation method. These results provide theoretical support for the long-term stability evaluation of engineering rock masses and for predicting the deformation of surrounding rock.
1. Introduction
During deep mine construction and mining, the stress and seepage fields of deep rock undergo continuous changes, especially the impact of groundwater on the long-term stability of surrounding rock in deep geotechnical engineering requires further investigation [1–3]. The interaction between the stress and seepage fields adversely affects the rheological behaviour of rock, increasing the risk of rock instability and water inrush [4]. These challenges highlight the need for further research into rock rheology in deep-earth conditions, particularly for the long-term stability analysis of rock in deep geotechnical engineering under coupled seepage and stress effects [5,6].
In deep geotechnical engineering, groundwater activity generates high pore water pressure in the initial cracks of rock. The seepage field influences the physical properties and mechanical behaviours of the rock through processes such as softening, lubrication and erosion [7]. Numerous conventional triaxial compression tests were conducted on sandstone specimens under varying conditions of porosity, particle size and seepage pressure. The results indicated that the permeability of the sandstone specimens increases with the augment in porosity, particle size and seepage pressure [8]. Additionally, the permeability of rock under the influence of the seepage field is also dependent on its joint angle and is highly sensitive to the anisotropy of the rock as well as the distribution of seepage channels [9]. The failure modes of rock subjected to triaxial loading over a short period can be categorized into three types: tensile failure, shear failure, and mixed failure. Experimental studies have demonstrated that seepage pressure at the crack tip promotes tensile failure, leading to a rough fracture surface, while effective stress favours the development of shear failure [10]. The mechanical behaviours, seepage properties, and short-term fracture modes of rock under seepage-stress coupling have been widely investigated.
In geotechnical engineering, the mechanical behaviours and seepage properties of surrounding rock can be significantly influenced by the stress and seepage fields over extended periods. As a result, many scholars have begun investigating the rheological behaviours and long-term failure modes of rock [11–13]. Creep tests on rock show that rheological fractures can occur in all rock types, with the rheological rate being highly sensitive to factors such as initial stress level, confining pressure, and seepage field. Even minor changes in these factors can lead to significant variations in the rheological behaviour of rock.
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CHEN Yian, ZHAO Guangming, XU Wensong, PENG Shoujian, XU Jiang (2025). Development and application of rock rheological constitutive model considering dynamic stress field and seepage field. SinoTechIntel Verified Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmst.2025.02.002
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main contribution of this research?
The research develops a novel rock rheological constitutive model that incorporates both dynamic stress and seepage fields, validated through experiments and numerical simulations, providing theoretical support for long-term stability evaluation of engineering rock masses.
How does dynamic stress affect sandstone rheology?
Dynamic stress significantly increases rheological strain compared to creep conditions, indicating its important influence on the rheological behavior of sandstone.
What changes occur in sandstone pore structure after rheological tests?
After rheological tests, the number of small pores decreases while medium-sized pores increase, leading to the formation of new seepage channels.
How does high initial rheological stress affect permeability?
High initial rheological stress accelerates fracture compression and closure of seepage channels, resulting in a reduction in sandstone permeability.
What is the practical application of the developed model?
The model is applied in numerical simulations of surrounding rock deformation in geotechnical engineering, confirming its applicability for predicting long-term deformation and stability.
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