Thermomechanical Behavior and Mesoscale Simulation of Conglomerate under Impact Loading for Geothermal Engineering

Area of Science:

• Geotechnical Engineering
• Rock Mechanics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Understanding conglomerate behavior under extreme conditions is vital for infrastructure and energy projects.
• High temperatures and dynamic loads significantly alter rock mechanical properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the mechanical response of conglomerate under coupled high-temperature and dynamic loading.
• To analyze the influence of temperature on stress distribution and crack evolution.

Main Methods:

• Impact compression tests using a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) system.
• Simulations using a mesoscopic finite element model.
• Fractal dimension analysis.

Main Results:

• Dynamic compressive strength decreases with increasing temperature, dropping ~39.5% from 25 °C to 300 °C.
• Higher temperatures lead to more brittle failure, increased energy reflection, and reduced dissipation.
• Fragmentation degree increases with temperature, producing finer particles at 300 °C.

Conclusions:

• Temperature critically influences conglomerate's dynamic mechanical response and failure modes.
• Findings offer insights for stability assessment of high-temperature formations and rock-breaking optimization in geothermal applications.