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Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Stress Distribution During Cold Compression of Rocks and Mineral Aggregates Using Synchrotron-based X-Ray Diffraction
Published on: May 20, 2018
Permeability hysterisis of limestone during isotropic compression
1Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics, McGill University, 817 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2K6. patrick.selvadurai@mcgill.ca
Permeability hysteresis in Indiana Limestone changes irreversibly with increasing confining pressure. Mathematical models describe this path-dependent permeability evolution during compression and unloading cycles.
Area of Science:
- Geology
- Rock Mechanics
- Material Science
Background:
- Understanding rock permeability is crucial for subsurface applications like groundwater flow and carbon sequestration.
- Indiana Limestone exhibits complex behavior under stress, necessitating detailed study of its hydraulic properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the evolution of permeability hysteresis in Indiana Limestone under isotropic confining pressures.
- To investigate the impact of monotonic and cyclic loading on permeability changes.
Main Methods:
- One-dimensional constant flow rate tests were performed on Indiana Limestone samples.
- Isotropic confining pressures up to 60 MPa were applied monotonically and during loading-partial unloading cycles.
Main Results:
- Irreversible permeability changes were observed during both monotonic compression and cyclic loading.
- The study identified path-dependent permeability evolution, influenced by the loading history.
Conclusions:
- Permeability hysteresis in Indiana Limestone is a significant and irreversible phenomenon under isotropic compression.
- Developed mathematical relationships can describe the observed path-dependent permeability changes, aiding predictive modeling.
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