Research on Hydraulic Conductivity of Coarse Sandstone under Triaxial Compression

Abstract

Permeability test for complete stress-strain process of coarse sandstone were carried out in triaxial test instrument. On the basis of test results, the influence of confining pressure and strain on the hydraulic conductivity was discussed. It is shown that in the complete stress-strain process, hydraulic conductivity changes in the law that presents the same character with the curve of stress-strain. The hydraulic conductivity reduces slightly with the increase of deviatoric stress in the stage of micro fracture compressing and elastic; In the elastoplastic stage, along with the expansion of new fractures, the hydraulic conductivity increases slowly at first and then reaches sharply to the maximum value after peak point; In the post-peak stage, the fracture which controls the hydraulic conductivity of coarse sandstone is compressed because of the confining pressure and the hydraulic conductivity decreases. During the process of deformation and failure, the hydraulic conductivity is more sensitive to the change of circumferential strain. With the increase of confining pressure, the increased value from initial to peak value and the decreased value from peak to residual value decreases.