Inconsistency of changes in uniaxial compressive strength and P-wave velocity of sandstone after temperature treatments

Abstract

It is generally accepted that the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and P-wave velocity of rocks tend to decrease simultaneously with increasing temperature. However, based on a great number of statistical data and systematic analysis of the microstructure variation of rocks with temperature rising and corresponding propagation mechanism of elastic wave, the results show that (1) There are three different trends for the changes of UCS and P-wave velocity of sandstone when heated from room temperature (20 °C or 25 °C) to 800 °C: (i) Both the UCS and P-wave velocity decrease simultaneously; (ii) The UCS increases initially and then decreases, while the P-wave velocity decreases continuously; and (iii) The UCS increases initially and then fluctuates, while the P-wave velocity continuously decreases. (2) The UCS changes at room temperature–400 °C, 400 °C–600 °C, and 600 °C–800 °C are mainly attributed to the discrepancy of microstructure characteristics and quartz content, the transformation plasticity of clay minerals, and the balance between the thermal cementation and thermal damage, respectively. (3) The inconsistency in the trends of UCS and P-wave velocity changes is caused by the change of quartz content, phase transition of water and certain minerals.