Brittle-to-ductile transition in Beaucaire marl from triaxial tests under the CT-scanner

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental study of the deformation of Beaucaire marl subjected to drained triaxial tests under a wide range of confining pressure. Several methods of observation have been used: X-ray computed tomography, scanning electronic microscopy, quantitative image analysis of thin sections and mercury porosimetry. The analysis at the grain scale shows the existence of various deformation modes depending on the mean stress level. These modes are classified with reference to the brittle and ductile regimes. In specimens deformed under low confining pressure, macro-cracks are localised in a band more contracting than the rest of the specimen. In specimens deformed under moderate confining pressure, a series of micro-scale shear bands characterised by a grain re-orientation towards the direction of macro-shear is detected in the zones of localised deformation. The material in between the micro-scale shear bands is contracting more than the rest of the specimen in some cases; in other cases, a schistosity is detected also in the rest of the specimen outside the localisation zones. In the specimen deformed under high confining pressure, no localisation occurs, and a schistosity is observable throughout the specimen.