Experimental Study on Permeability Evolution of Sandstone during Triaxial Compression Damage

Abstract

In order to investigate the mechanical properties and permeability characteristics of sandstone during damage evolution under hydromechanical condition, a series of coupled hydro-mechanical triaxial tests on sandstone specimens were conducted based on the Rock Top 50HT full-stress multi-field coupling triaxial test system. Variations in permeability as a function of confining pressure, seepage pressure gradient, and volumetric strain during damage evolution were obtained. The results show that: (1) When the confining pressure is constant and the specimen is gradually changed from a dry to a saturated state, the failure mode of sandstone changes from shear failure to single-slope shear failure. (2) There are four distinctive stages in the permeability evolution of sandstone: gradual decrease, steady development, gradual increase, and rapid growth. These stages correspond to the complete stress–strain curve under the respective working conditions. (3) Employing the Weibull distribution formula, this study investigates the evolution of fracture damage under varying working conditions and determines the permeability evolution relationships associated with damage variables. This exploration reveals an intrinsic link between permeability and damage variables. These findings enhance our understanding of the interplay between stress, deformation, permeability, and damage evolution in seepage-stress coupled sandstone. The results contribute valuable insights to the field of rock mechanics and hold implications for diverse geotechnical and engineering applications.