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Application of computerized tomographic scanning to the study of water-induced weakening of mudstone

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Abstract

Water generally plays a harmful role in the stability of mudstone and has induced many geological disasters in mudrock strata. To visually examine water-induced deterioration of mudstone, X-ray computerized tomographic scanning was used to detect the real-time interaction between mudstone and water. This facilitated real-time visual observations of the evolving characteristics of water-induced cracks within the samples. According to these experimental findings, assisted with scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, the water-weakening mechanisms of mudstone can be divided into the following steps: (1) micro-sized discontinuities provide an initial path for water to invade the rock; (2) the incursive water induces volumetric swelling of clay minerals and dissolution of carbonate; and (3) these effects drive the propagation and connection of cracks. This understanding of the processes of degradation provides a visual evidence for the assessment of mudrock performance with respect to the stability of landslides, debris flows, and susceptibility of subsidence in mudstone strata.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2013CB036405) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41172284 and 51379202).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China

    Quan Jiang, Jie Cui & Xiating Feng

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-852, Japan

    Yujing Jiang

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  1. Quan Jiang
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  2. Jie Cui
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Correspondence to Quan Jiang.

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Jiang, Q., Cui, J., Feng, X. et al. Application of computerized tomographic scanning to the study of water-induced weakening of mudstone. Bull Eng Geol Environ 73, 1293–1301 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-014-0597-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-014-0597-5

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