Influence of area-to-volume ratios on dissolution characteristics and mechanical properties of acid-corroded sandstone

To study the effect of area-to-volume ratio on the dissolution and deterioration characteristics of sandstone in the static acid-rock reaction system, the HCl and H2SO4 solutions with pH=2 and 5 are selected as corrosion environments, and the different area-to-volume ratios are set by changing surface areas of sandstone. The effects of area-to-volume ratios on the physicochemical and mechanical properties of sandstone are studied. According to the acid-rock reaction theory, the effect of the area-to-volume ratio on the diffusion-dissolution mechanism during sandstone corrosion is analyzed. The results show that the sandstone mass loss rate and amount of substance of total cations are all related to the corrosion time as a power function. The area-to-volume is positively correlated with the dissolution rate constant and has little effect on the reaction order. The reaction order is less than one in different environments, indicating that the sandstone corrosion rate decreases gradually with soaking time. In the pH=2、5 HCl solution and pH=2 H2SO4 solution, the amount of substance of cation shows N(Ca2+) > N(Na+) > N(Mg2+) > N(K+), and in the pH=5 H2SO4 solution, it is N(Na+) > N(Ca2+) > N(Mg2+) ≈N(K+). The acid-rock reaction can be summarized as two mechanisms: diffusion control and chemical reaction control. The two control parameters are negatively correlated with the area-to-volume ratio and positively with the pH value of solutions. The parameter values in the H2SO4 solutions are slightly larger than the corresponding values in the HCl solutions. The interaction between sandstone and acid in different conditions is dominated by the chemical reaction. The area-to-volume ratio significantly influences diffusion more than the chemical reaction. The mechanical properties of sandstone are weakened after acid corrosion. The damage of sandstone under uniaxial compression can be divided into four stages: compaction, elastic deformation, plastic yielding and post-peak. The peak strength and elastic modulus decrease, the peak strain increases, the brittleness declines, and the ductility is enhanced. The larger the area-to-volume ratio, the more severe the sandstone deterioration is. Overall, the smaller the pH value of solutions, the more prominent the effects of the area-to-volume ratio on the dissolution characteristics and mechanical properties of sandstone are, which is more obvious in the HCl solutions than in the H2SO4 solutions. The finding can provide theoretical references for the safety assessment and disaster prevention of rock mass engineering under an acidic environment

Inversion Analysis Method for Tunnel and Underground Space Engineering: A Short Review

With the rise of the fourth industrial revolution, traditional methods of analyzing investment have been transformed into intelligent methods under big data and the Internet of Things. This has created a new approach to solving practical engineering problems. This paper examines the formation and evolution of the application of inversion theory in tunnel and underground engineering, summarizing research progress using traditional and intelligent inversion analysis methods to identify three types of target unknown quantities in tunnels and underground projects: initial ground stress, support structure load, and tunnel characteristic parameters. It also offers an outlook on how to optimize inversion analysis methods to solve more challenging and complex tunneling problems in the context of informatization, digitalization, and intelligence. In the current research process of tunnel and underground space engineering problems, the inversion theory system has been improved, but inversion analysis methods still face many challenges. These include the low reliability of initial ground stress inversion under complex geological conditions, the lack of indicators to objectively evaluate the accuracy of inversion analysis, and the high costs of intelligent inversion analysis means. Moving forward in the context of big data and the information era, the future development direction for inversion theory and inversion methods in tunnel and underground space engineering is to combine new monitoring technology, computer vision technology, and simulation analysis technology to establish multifaceted intelligent inversion analysis models

A Review of Deep Learning Applications in Tunneling and Underground Engineering in China

With the advent of the era of big data and information technology, deep learning (DL) has become a hot trend in the research field of artificial intelligence (AI). The use of deep learning methods for parameter inversion, disease identification, detection, surrounding rock classification, disaster prediction, and other tunnel engineering problems has also become a new trend in recent years, both domestically and internationally. This paper briefly introduces the development process of deep learning. By reviewing a number of published papers on the application of deep learning in tunnel engineering over the past 20 years, this paper discusses the intelligent application of deep learning algorithms in tunnel engineering, including collapse risk assessment, water inrush prediction, crack identification, structural stability evaluation, and seepage erosion in mountain tunnels, urban subway tunnels, and subsea tunnels. Finally, it explores the future challenges and development prospects of deep learning in tunnel engineering

CT analysis on mesoscopic structure of sandstone under acidic environment

962-971Present study consists the mesoscopic structure of sandstone under acidic environment through CT analysis. Simulation of indoor accelerated corrosion test and CT nondestructive identification technology were applied to CT scanning test for the micro-structure of sandstone at different corrosion stages. It is found that as the extension of soak time, the CT number of wet sandstone samples in different stages trended to increase at first then decrease, the CT number of dry samples gradually decreased with extension of the soak time. The CT number variance of dry and wet samples were decreased first and then increased as soak time. CT images of the internal structure of wet and dry sandstone samples in the corrosion process were obtained and processed. Mass loss of sandstone in different corrosion stages was calculated. The variation of samples' quality and density, which were achieved from the experiment on the one hand and from the calculation of CT number on the other, were compared, and good agreement was achieved. Penetration depth of the sulfuric acid solution at different soak periods was deduced

Analysis of Vibration Response Law of Multistory Building under Tunnel Blasting Loads

This paper takes the Dizong tunnel engineering as its background. Combined with the on-site monitoring data, the wavelet packet program based on MATLAB was compiled to study the vibration response of the four-story masonry building in a typical southwestern mountainous area of China under the blasting load. The results showed that the maximum particle velocity increased to the 3rd floor and attenuation occurred on the 4th floor. The particle velocity in the z-direction was the largest and should be paid attention. The dominant frequency of the building showed a trend from high frequency to low frequency, the duration became short, and the acceleration decreased to the 4th floor. With the increase of the building floor, the main frequency domain of the building decreased and then gradually tended to the low-frequency domain. The high-frequency particle velocity gradually decreased, gathered to the low frequency, and developed from the dispersed multiband to the concentrated low-frequency band. The total energy value of vibration increased to the 3rd floor and then decreased to the 4th floor. The energy of the building was between 0 and 171.6 Hz. The higher the floor was, the more concentrated the energy was in the low-frequency domain

The Physicomechanical Deterioration Characteristics and Mesoscopic Damage Analysis of Sandstone under Acidic Environment

The physicomechanical deterioration characteristics of sandstone subjected to H2SO4, HCl, and H2O solutions of different pH values are studied by the method of long-term accelerated immersion. The quantitative relationships between the damage variables based on CT (computer tomographic identification technology) numbers and the immersion time, the uniaxial compressive strength, the peak point strain, and the elastic modulus of rock samples are analyzed. The test results indicate that the pH value of immersion solutions, the dissolution rate of Ca2+ and Na+, and the quality change of rock samples show visible stage characteristics under acidic environment. With the soaking time extended, the pH value of solutions increases gradually, and the quality change of rock samples decreases gradually. The smaller the pH value of immersion solutions is, the higher the dissolution rate of Ca2+ and Na+ is. However, the cation dissolution rate under a weak acid environment with a high pH value has little difference with that under the distilled water (pH = 7). With the increase of the soaking time and the acidity, the compaction stage of rock samples becomes longer, the elastic stage becomes shorter, the deterioration degree of mechanical parameters becomes more extensive, and the destruction of sandstone samples shows ductility characteristics increasingly. The corrosion degree of corroded sandstone samples is quantitatively represented by microscopic damage variables based on CT numbers. The regression analysis results show that damage variables of acid-corroded sandstone samples have a power function relationship with soaking time and an exponential function relationship with peak strength, peak point strain, and elastic modulus

Study on Construction Mechanical Effect and Optimization of Large-Span Variable Cross-Section of Railway Tunnel

During the excavation process of a large-span variable cross-section of a tunnel, the deformation and stress characteristics of the surrounding rock supporting the structure are complex, and construction control is difficult. Based on an actual tunnel project, the mechanical effect and deformation characteristics of the surrounding rock and support structure of a large-span variable cross-section tunnel during its excavation and support process were studied via numerical simulation. The construction method, using the bench method to excavate and set up the transition section in the variable cross-section, was proposed. Based on the numerical simulation results, two optimized excavation schemes were proposed and analyzed to address the construction method conversion problems in constructing large-span variable cross-section tunnels. The rationality of the optimized construction scheme was verified through a comparison with field monitoring data. The research results show that the three-bench temporary inverted arch method supported by the temporary vertical portal frame has good applicability in constructing the large-span variable cross-section tunnel. This scheme can effectively control the stress concentration and excessive deformation of the surrounding rock in the large-span variable cross-section tunnel. The numerical simulation results agree with the field monitoring data, which verifies the rationality of analyzing the construction mechanical effects of variable cross-section tunnels and selecting construction schemes through numerical simulation. The research results can provide reference for the construction of similar tunnel projects

Experimental Study on Physicomechanical Properties of Sandstone under Acidic Environment

The influence of acid solution and immersion time on the physicomechanical properties of sandstone is investigated. Uniaxial compression tests on sandstone samples are conducted to determine the variations of relative mass, deformation, and strength characteristics of sandstone subjected to different pH sulfuric acid corrosion values. The changes of pH and Mg2+ and Ca2+ concentration of immersion solutions are monitored during soaking. The corrosion mechanism of sandstone attacked by the acid solution is discussed with the results of SEM tests. Based on the nondestructive CT scanning test, the damage variables of acid-corroded sandstone are deduced, and the damage degree of sandstone is quantitatively analyzed. The results indicate that the deformation characteristics of sandstone samples under acid attack are characterized by the softening of rock, and the softening degree gradually increases with the increase of the acidity and the soaking time. The peak strength of sandstone samples declines as soaking time extends. The chemical effects lead to a large amount of dissolution of the rock mineral assemblage, resulting in the large-scale development of the pores inside the rock, which changes the macroscopic mechanical properties. The damage variables of acid corrosion sandstone based on CT numbers are deduced, and the quantitative relationship between damage variables and immersion time is established, which provides a basis for constructing a damage constitutive model of sandstone in the acidic environment

Three-Dimensional Reconstruction and Numerical Simulation Analysis of Acid-Corroded Sandstone Based on CT

Due to its unique technological characteristics, coal mining and production often encounter an acid corrosion environment caused by acid gases. Acid erosion and a series of chemical reactions caused by it often led to the deterioration of coal, rock, support structure, etc. and induced serious safety accidents. To further explore the macro-mesoscopic damage evolution law and failure mechanisms of rock masses under corrosion conditions through numerical simulation, a zonal refined numerical model that can reflect the acid corrosion characteristics of sandstone is established based on CT and digital image processing (DIP). The uniaxial compression test of corroded sandstone is simulated by ABAQUS software. Comparing the numerical simulation results with the physical experiment results, we found that the three-dimensional finite element model based on CT scanning technology can genuinely reflect sandstone’s corrosion characteristic. The numerical simulation results of the stress-strain curve and macroscopic failure mode of the acid-corroded sandstone are in good agreement with the experimental results, which provides a useful method for further studying the damage evolution mechanism of the acid-corroded rock mass. Furthermore, the deformation and damage evolution law of the corroded sandstone under uniaxial compression is qualitatively analyzed based on the numerical simulation. The results show that the rock sample’s axial displacement decreases gradually from top to bottom under the axial load, and the vertical variation is relatively uniform. In contrast, the rock sample’s removal gradually increases with the increase of axial pressure, and the growth presents a certain degree of nonuniformity in the vertical. The acid-etched rock sample’s damage starts from both the end and the middle; it first appears in the corroded area. Moreover, with the displacement load increase, it gradually develops and is merged in the middle of the rock sample and forms macroscopic damage