Experimental study of the influence of the degree of saturation on physical and mechanical properties in Tournemire shale (France)

In addition to direct mechanical perturbations, an excavation influences rock conditions (mechanical, hydraulic and chemical properties). The internal fluids could be drastically modified and, in particular, the presence of water in the rock with regard to hydration and desiccation. The aim of the present study is to investigate the influence between the degree of saturation and the physical/mechanical properties for Tournemire shale rock. Anisotropy effects are also studied to identify hydromechanical behaviour. The different degrees of saturation are imposed by controlled suctions with continuous measurement of physical parameters such as weight and deformations. The volume variations (swelling or shrinkage behaviour) would result principally from the opening or closing of the inter-layers space. Uniaxial and triaxial compressive tests are carried out in order to attempt to establish a relationship between different mechanical parameters (elastic and failure data) and the sample saturation. The mechanical behaviour is sensitive to the saturation state of the shale with an important part of the stratification and its relative orientation to the mechanical stress. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.