Characteristics and mechanism of time on sand powder 3D printing rock analogue: a new method for fractured rock mechanics

Abstract

AbstractLaboratory tests are one of the most fundamental and crucial methods in rock mechanics and engineering research. Natural rock specimens are challenging to acquire, and traditional casting methods involve prolonged curing times and cannot produce rock-like specimens with complex internal fractures. Furthermore, 3D printing technologies such as SLA, SLS, and FDM possess inherent limitations. In this study, high-silica sand was used as the printing material, and sand powder 3D printing technology was harnessed to fabricate rock-like specimens. Uniaxial compression tests were performed on specimens with varying placement times, aimed at investigating the impact of placement time on the mechanical properties of sand 3D-printed rock-like specimens. Acoustic emission technology was used to explore the internal state changes during deformation and failure of specimens with different placement times. The findings indicate that the mechanical properties of sand powder 3DP rock-like specimens exhibited no deterioration over time after approximately 7 days of placement. The internal structure remained unchanged across different placement times. This study's outcomes underscore the superiority of sand powder 3D printing technology within the realm of rock mechanics and establish the groundwork for the accurate and efficient fabrication of rock-like specimens through sand powder 3D printing technology in the future.