Civil Engineering ETDs

Publication Date

Fall 11-14-2019

Abstract

This research develops a novel experiment using flattened Brazilian disks under confining pressure with concurrent permeability measurements and acoustic emission monitoring. The purpose of this work is to correlate damage and permeability in brittle geo-materials. Two series of tests are performed on concrete and one series on tuff, under a range of confining stresses between 2.76 and 13.79 MPa. Tests were continued beyond peak stress conditions, capturing data in the post-peak region. The acoustic emission data (cumulative energy and counts) are used to identify damage thresholds and track the progression of microscopic damage. This quantified damage is then correlated to pre-peak changes in permeability, generating unique data sets to aid in the development of hydromechanical models. These models are of particular interest in the fields of carbon sequestration and hydrofracking, as well as having national security interests concerning the underground storage of nuclear waste and the leakage of radioactive gases.

Keywords

Confined Brazilian Disk, Damage and Permeability, Acoustic Emissions, Concrete, Tuff, FDEM

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

Degree Name

Civil Engineering

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Civil Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

John Stormont

Second Committee Member

Mahmoud Reda Taha

Third Committee Member

Esteban Rougier

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