A finite-element study of the influence of grain contacts on the elastic properties of unconsolidated sandstones

© 2017 The grain-grain interaction in a sandstone rock can result in an overall elastic response of the system, which is primarily determined by the grain contact stiffness and the grain contact volume fraction. In this paper, we propose a numerical algorithm to vary the contact volume fraction base...

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Main Authors: Madadi, Mahyar, Saadatfar, M.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Pergamon 2017
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/72915
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author Madadi, Mahyar
Saadatfar, M.
author_facet Madadi, Mahyar
Saadatfar, M.
author_sort Madadi, Mahyar
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description © 2017 The grain-grain interaction in a sandstone rock can result in an overall elastic response of the system, which is primarily determined by the grain contact stiffness and the grain contact volume fraction. In this paper, we propose a numerical algorithm to vary the contact volume fraction based on 3D Digital Rock images from x-ray microtomography (µ-CT). We then calculate the effective elastic moduli of the model systems for various contact parameters using the Finite Element Method. Using an extensive fitting procedure, we find a set of empirical equations that model the effective bulk and shear moduli of the system. We show that our proposed set of empirical equations can accurately predict the mechanical properties of unconsolidated sandstones rocks.
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publishDate 2017
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-729152018-12-13T09:33:08Z A finite-element study of the influence of grain contacts on the elastic properties of unconsolidated sandstones Madadi, Mahyar Saadatfar, M. © 2017 The grain-grain interaction in a sandstone rock can result in an overall elastic response of the system, which is primarily determined by the grain contact stiffness and the grain contact volume fraction. In this paper, we propose a numerical algorithm to vary the contact volume fraction based on 3D Digital Rock images from x-ray microtomography (µ-CT). We then calculate the effective elastic moduli of the model systems for various contact parameters using the Finite Element Method. Using an extensive fitting procedure, we find a set of empirical equations that model the effective bulk and shear moduli of the system. We show that our proposed set of empirical equations can accurately predict the mechanical properties of unconsolidated sandstones rocks. 2017 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/72915 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2017.02.008 Pergamon restricted
spellingShingle Madadi, Mahyar
Saadatfar, M.
A finite-element study of the influence of grain contacts on the elastic properties of unconsolidated sandstones
title A finite-element study of the influence of grain contacts on the elastic properties of unconsolidated sandstones
title_full A finite-element study of the influence of grain contacts on the elastic properties of unconsolidated sandstones
title_fullStr A finite-element study of the influence of grain contacts on the elastic properties of unconsolidated sandstones
title_full_unstemmed A finite-element study of the influence of grain contacts on the elastic properties of unconsolidated sandstones
title_short A finite-element study of the influence of grain contacts on the elastic properties of unconsolidated sandstones
title_sort finite-element study of the influence of grain contacts on the elastic properties of unconsolidated sandstones
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/72915