Micromechanic view on influence of thermal treatment and real-time high temperature on the uniaxial compressive properties of granite

Abstract

The effect of real-time high temperature and thermal treatment on the mechanical characteristics and crack evolution of granite with different grain sizes (i.e., 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm and 1.0 mm) is investigated by numerical simulation employing a grain-based model, and the impact of initial cracks on thermal-induced strengthening is also examined by integrating random cracks within the model before tests. The results revealed that thermal stress, induced by the mismatch in thermal expansion coefficient between various minerals, is the primary distinction between rock specimens in real-time high temperature and thermal treatment. With increasing temperature, the thermal stress gradually accumulates in quartz minerals under real-time high temperature but releases after thermal treatment. The high local contact force significantly affects the peak stress and crack evolution. Uniaxial compression simulation results demonstrate that progressive accumulation of thermal stress induces degradation in macroscopic peak strength and increase of microcrack density. The grain size controls the ratio of intergranular contacts to intragranular contacts, and leads to an increase in strong contact number in the intragrain and a decrease in strong contact number in the intergrain. The strengthening of uniaxial compression strength in the experiment can be well simulated by controlling the number of pre-existing initial cracks in the numerical model. Our conclusions are beneficial to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of thermal damage and thermal strengthening of granite for deep geological engineering.

Keywords

high temperature / thermal damage / numerical simulation / grain-based model / thermal strengthening

References

[1] Lu S M. A global review of enhanced geothermal system (EGS) [J]. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2018, 81: 2902-2921.

[2] Lei Z-h, Zhang Y-j, Yu Z-wet al. . Exploratory research into the enhanced geothermal system power generation project: The Qiabuqia geothermal field, Northwest China [J]. Renewable Energy. 2019, 139: 52-70.

[3] David C, Menéndez B, Darot M. Influence of stress-induced and thermal cracking on physical properties and microstructure of La Peyratte granite [J]. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. 1999, 36(4): 433-448.

[4] Zuo J-p, Wang J-t, Sun Y-jet al. . Effects of thermal treatment on fracture characteristics of granite from Beishan, a possible high-level radioactive waste disposal site in China [J]. Engineering Fracture Mechanics. 2017, 182: 425-437.

[5] Chaki S, Takarli M, Agbodjan W P. Influence of thermal damage on physical properties of a granite rock: Porosity, permeability and ultrasonic wave evolutions [J]. Construction and Building Materials. 2008, 22(7): 1456-1461.

[6] Yavuz H, Demirdag S, Caran S. Thermal effect on the physical properties of carbonate rocks [J]. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. 2010, 47(1): 94-103.

[7] Dwivedi R D, Goel R K, Prasad V V Ret al. . Thermo-mechanical properties of Indian and other granites [J]. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. 2008, 45(3): 303-315.

[8] Yang S-q, Ranjith P G, Jing H-wet al. . An experimental investigation on thermal damage and failure mechanical behavior of granite after exposure to different high temperature treatments [J]. Geothermics. 2017, 65: 180-197.

[9] Wu Y, Li X-z, Huang Zet al. . Effect of thermal damage on tensile strength and microstructure of granite: A case study of Beishan, China [J]. Geomechanics and Geophysics for Geo-Energy and Geo-Resources. 2021, 7(3): 82.

[10] Zhang F, Zhao J-j, Hu D-wet al. . Laboratory investigation on physical and mechanical properties of granite after heating and water-cooling treatment [J]. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2018, 513677-694.

[11] Yang S-q, Tian W-l, Elsworth Det al. . An experimental study of effect of high temperature on the permeability evolution and failure response of granite under triaxial compression [J]. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2020, 53(10): 4403-4427.

[12] Zhou H-y, Liu Z-b, Shen W-qet al. . Mechanical property and thermal degradation mechanism of granite in thermal-mechanical coupled triaxial compression [J]. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. 2022, 160: 105270.

[13] Shao S-s, Ranjith P G, Wasantha P L Pet al. . Experimental and numerical studies on the mechanical behaviour of Australian Strathbogie granite at high temperatures: An application to geothermal energy [J]. Geothermics. 2015, 5496-108.

[14] Wang F, Konietzky H. Thermo-mechanical properties of granite at elevated temperatures and numerical simulation of thermal cracking [J]. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2019, 52(10): 3737-3755.

[15] Xu J J, Zhang Y H, Rutqvist Jet al. . Thermally induced microcracks in granite and their effect on the macroscale mechanical behavior [J]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 2023, 128: e2022JB024920.

[16] Zhao Z-hong. Thermal influence on mechanical properties of granite: A microcracking perspective [J]. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2016, 49(3): 747-762.

[17] Yin T-b, Zhuang D-d, Li M-jet al. . Numerical simulation study on the thermal stress evolution and thermal cracking law of granite under heat conduction [J]. Computers and Geotechnics. 2022, 148: 104813.

[18] Zhang Y-h, Wong L N Y, Chan K K. An extended grain-based model accounting for microstructures in rock deformation [J]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 2019, 1241125-148.

[19] Sun Y, Kwok C Y, Duan K. Size effects on crystalline rock masses: Insights from grain-based DEM modeling [J]. Computers and Geotechnics. 2024, 171: 106376.

[20] Chen G-q, Li T-b, Zhang G-fet al. . Temperature effect of rock burst for hard rock in deep-buried tunnel [J]. Natural Hazards. 2014, 722915-926.

[21] Meng F-z, Song J, Wong L N Yet al. . Characterization of roughness and shear behavior of thermally treated granite fractures [J]. Engineering Geology. 2021, 293: 106287.

[22] Géraud Y, Mazerolle F, Raynaud S. Comparison between connected and overall porosity of thermally stressed granites [J]. Journal of Structural Geology. 1992, 148981-990. 9

[23] Chen S-w, Yang C-h, Wang G-bin. Evolution of thermal damage and permeability of Beishan granite [J]. Applied Thermal Engineering. 2017, 110: 1533-1542.

[24] Griffiths L, Heap M J, Baud Pet al. . Quantification of microcrack characteristics and implications for stiffness and strength of granite [J]. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. 2017, 100: 138-150.

[25] Sirdesai N N, Gupta T, Singh T Net al. . Studying the acoustic emission response of an Indian monumental sandstone under varying temperatures and strains [J]. Construction and Building Materials. 2018, 168: 346-361.

[26] Ma X, Wang G-l, Hu D-wet al. . Mechanical properties of granite under real-time high temperature and three-dimensional stress [J]. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. 2020, 136: 104521.

[27] Yao M-d, Rong G, Zhou C-bet al. . Effects of thermal damage and confining pressure on the mechanical properties of coarse marble [J]. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2016, 4962043-2054.

[28] Sun Q, Zhang W-q, Xue Let al. . Thermal damage pattern and thresholds of granite [J]. Environmental Earth Sciences. 2015, 7432341-2349.

[29] Kumari W G P, Ranjith P G, Perera M S Aet al. . Mechanical behaviour of Australian Strathbogie granite under in situ stress and temperature conditions: An application to geothermal energy extraction [J]. Geothermics. 2017, 65: 44-59.

[30] Kumari W G P, Ranjith P G, Perera M S Aet al. . Temperature-dependent mechanical behaviour of Australian Strathbogie granite with different cooling treatments [J]. Engineering Geology. 2017, 229: 31-44.

[31] Liu Z-b, Wang C, Zhang M-set al. . Cracking property and brittleness evaluation of granite under high-temperature true triaxial compression in geothermal systems [J]. Geomechanics and Geophysics for Geo-Energy and Geo-Resources. 2023, 9(1): 99.

[32] Meng F-z, Yue Z-f, Zhou Xet al. . Fracture slip behavior in granite under high-temperature true triaxial loading tests [J]. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2024, 57119669-9694.

[33] Meng F-z, Han J-h, Li Z-yet al. . The sequence of heating and loading affects shear properties of granite fractures under high temperature [J]. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2024, 57(9): 6543-6566.

[34] Gao J-w, Xi Y, Fan L-fet al. . Real-time visual analysis of the microcracking behavior of thermally damaged granite under uniaxial loading [J]. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2021, 54(12): 6549-6564.

[35] Hu X-j, Hu H-b, Xie Net al. . The effect of grain size heterogeneity on mechanical and microcracking behavior of pre-heated Lac du Bonnet granite using a grain-based model [J]. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2023, 56(8): 5923-5954.

[36] Wu Q-h, Weng L, Zhao Y-let al. . On the tensile mechanical characteristics of fine-grained granite after heating/cooling treatments with different cooling rates [J]. Engineering Geology. 2019, 253: 94-110.

[37] Wong L N Y, Zhang Y-h, Wu Z-jun. Rock strengthening or weakening upon heating in the mild temperature range [J]. Engineering Geology. 2020, 272: 105619.

[38] Kang F-c, Li Y-c, Tang C-nan. Grain size heterogeneity controls strengthening to weakening of granite over high-temperature treatment [J]. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. 2021, 145104848.

[39] Xu R-c, Gao L, Jin Y-det al. . Influence of strain measurement methods on crack initiation and crack damage thresholds of shale [J]. Geomechanics and Geophysics for Geo-Energy and Geo-Resources. 2025, 11(1): 34.

[40] Xu R-c, Zhao Y, Dou B-yet al. . Experimental investigation of the effect of strain rate on the cracking behaviour and acoustic emission characteristics of red sandstone containing orthogonal cross flaws under quasistatic uniaxial compression [J]. Engineering Failure Analysis. 2025, 170109323.

[41] Potyondy D O. A grain-based model for rock: approaching the true microstructure [J]. Proceedings of Rock Mechanics in the Nordic Countries. 20109-12

[42] Zhang Y-h, Wong L N Y. A review of numerical techniques approaching microstructures of crystalline rocks [J]. Computers & Geosciences. 2018, 115: 167-187.

[43] Zhang X-p, Ji P-q, Peng Jet al. . A grain-based model considering pre-existing cracks for modelling mechanical properties of crystalline rock [J]. Computers and Geotechnics. 2020, 127: 103776.

[44] Guo P-y, Zhang P, Bu M-het al. . Microcracking behavior and damage mechanism of granite subjected to high temperature based on CT-GBM numerical simulation [J]. Computers and Geotechnics. 2023, 159105385.

[45] He C-d, Mishra B, Shi Q-wet al. . Correlations between mineral composition and mechanical properties of granite using digital image processing and discrete element method [J]. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology. 2023, 338949-962.

[46] Peng J, Wong L N Y, Teh C I. Influence of grain size heterogeneity on strength and microcracking behavior of crystalline rocks [J]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 2017, 12221054-1073.

[47] Peng J, Wong L N Y, Teh C I. Effects of grain size-to-particle size ratio on micro-cracking behavior using a bonded-particle grain-based model [J]. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. 2017, 100: 207-217.

[48] Zhang T, Yu L-y, Wu B-bet al. . Influence of grain-to-particle size ratio on the tensile mechanical response of granite based on a novel three-dimensional grain-based model [J]. Engineering Fracture Mechanics. 2022, 259: 108161.

[49] Hofmann H, Babadagli T, Yoon J Set al. . A grain based modeling study of mineralogical factors affecting strength, elastic behavior and micro fracture development during compression tests in granites [J]. Engineering Fracture Mechanics. 2015, 147261-275.

[50] Hu X-j, Xie N, Zhu Q-zet al. . Modeling damage evolution in heterogeneous granite using digital image-based grain-based model [J]. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2020, 53(11): 4925-4945.

[51] Yang Z, Tao M, Ranjith P Get al. . Multiscale damage and thermal-stress evolution characteristics of rocks with thermal storage potential under thermal shocks [J]. Journal of Energy Storage. 2024, 83: 110631.

[52] Yang S-q, Tian W-l, Ranjith P G. Failure mechanical behavior of Australian strathbogie granite at high temperatures: Insights from particle flow modeling [J]. Energies. 2017, 10(6): 756.

[53] Wong L N Y, Zhang Y-h, Cui Xet al. . Thermal effect on rock strength: Strengthening-weakening transition explored by grain-based model [J]. Acta Geotechnica. 2024, 1963321-3336.

[54] Zhao Z-h, Liu Z-n, Pu Het al. . Effect of thermal treatment on Brazilian tensile strength of granites with different grain size distributions [J]. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2018, 5141293-1303.

[55] Yang W-d, Wang B-q, Yao Jet al. . Experimental study on mechanical properties of carbonate rocks under real-time high temperature and heat treatment under triaxial compression [J]. Chinese Journal of Rock Mechanics and Engineering. 2024, 43(6): 1-12(in Chinese)

[56] ITASCA Consulting Group Inc.. Particle flow code [CP]. 2014

[57] Zhang X-p, Wong L N Y. Choosing a proper loading rate for bonded-particle model of intact rock [J]. International Journal of Fracture. 2014, 189(2): 163-179.

[58] Yin W-t, Feng Z-j, Zhao Y-sheng. Effect of grain size on the mechanical behaviour of granite under high temperature and triaxial stresses [J]. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2021, 54(2): 745-758.

[59] Zhang T, Yu L-y, Peng Y-xet al. . Effect of the mineral spatial distribution heterogeneity on the tensile strength of granite: Insights from PFC^3D-GBM numerical analysis [J]. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. 2023, 15(5): 1144-1160.

[60] Zhang T, Yu L-y, Ma L-jet al. . An numerical investigation of the three dimensional multi-level force chain network of the sample with a single fissure under uniaxial compression [J]. Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics. 2024, 130: 104345.

[61] Wang H F, Bonner B P, Carlson S Ret al. . Thermal stress cracking in granite [J]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 1989, 94(B2): 1745-1758.

[62] Zhang Z-z, Gao F, Liu Z-jun. Research on rockburst proneness and its microcosmic mechanism of granite considering temperature effect [J]. Chinese Journal of Rock Mechanics and Engineering. 2010, 2981591-1602(in Chinese)

[63] ZHANG Yi-feng, ZHANG Fan, YANG Ke, et al. Effects of real-time high temperature and loading rate on deformation and strength behavior of granite [J]. Geofluids, 2022: 9426378. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/9426378.

[64] Yin T-b, Shu R-h, Li X-bet al. . Comparison of mechanical properties in high temperature and thermal treatment granite [J]. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China. 2016, 26(7): 1926-1937.

[65] Liu S, Xu J-yu. Mechanical properties of Qinling biotite granite after high temperature treatment [J]. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. 2014, 71: 188-193.

[66] Shao S-s, Wasantha P L P, Ranjith P Get al. . Effect of cooling rate on the mechanical behavior of heated Strathbogie granite with different grain sizes [J]. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. 2014, 70: 381-387.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Central South University