Structural Evolution Characteristics Research Articles

Experimental Study on Differential Thermal Response and Pore-Fracture Structure Evolution Characteristics of Coals under Microwave Irradiation: A Case Study of Five Different Rank Coals

Experimental Study on Differential Thermal Response and Pore-Fracture Structure Evolution Characteristics of Coals under Microwave Irradiation: A Case Study of Five Different Rank Coals

Characterization of pore structures after ASP flooding for post-EOR

With the global assistance of oil fields entering the stage of improving oil recovery, diversified composite flooding technology has become one of the key research targets. This article takes composite flooding to improve oil recovery as the research object, explores the differential mechanism of crude oil displacement efficiency under water flooding and composite flooding conditions, and elucidates the dynamic evolution characteristics of pore structure before and after composite flooding. Results show that: (a) The permeability and porosity of Daqing oilfield cores have a good correlation. The porosity of cores after water driving and ternary composite driving mainly ranged from 23.6 % to 27.4 % and 22.8 %–26.8 %. The water-driving permeability mainly ranged from 168 × 10−3 μm2 to 2162 × 10−3 μm2. Ternary composite driving permeability mainly ranges from 302 × 10−3 μm2 to 2307 × 10−3 μm2. (b) Compared with water driving, quartz and clay minerals are corroded by alkali during ternary composite driving. (c) Under the condition of similar permeability, the average pore size of the core after ternary composite driving is smaller than the average pore size after water driving.

Investigation of pore structure evolution and damage characteristics of high temperature rocks subjected to liquid nitrogen cooling shock

Liquid nitrogen (LN2) can be utilized in the development of enhanced geothermal systems, as well as for deep/ultra-deep hydrocarbon reservoir stimulation, fire suppression, and other high-temperature geological projects. It is a crucial issue in the utilization of LN2 to investigate the pore structure evolution, permeability, and damage characteristics of high-temperature rocks under the influence of LN2 cooling shock. These rocks were first slowly heated to 150∼600°C and held for 2 h, followed by LN2 or natural cooling. The evolution of pore volume in high-temperature rocks affected by liquid nitrogen cooling was quantified. T2 cutoff values were determined through centrifugal tests, while the contents of irreducible and mobile fluids were estimated. Based on the aforementioned analysis as well as changes in irreducible fluid saturation, pore throat, tortuosity, and permeability, this study examines the closure and development of pores along with permeability behavior. The findings suggest that, despite a more pronounced decrease in porosity at lower heating temperatures, LN2 cooling specimens exhibit superior pore connectivity and permeability compared to those cooled naturally. LN2 stimulation not only induces crack initiation and propagation but also results in further cooling induced densification based on heating densification. 225°C is considered to be the optimal temperature for cooling contraction induced densification in this study. At higher heating temperatures, the damage to rock cooled with LN2 is more severe than that of naturally cooled. This results in a greater increase in porosity, movable fluid content and proportion, and permeability of LN2 cooled specimens compared to naturally cooled specimens. The damage mechanism can be better understood by the constructed damage model that coordinates the pore increase/decrease and mutual pore transformation from the perspective of pore evolution.

Experimental research on the influence of acid on the chemical and pore structure evolution characteristics of Wenjiaba tectonic coal.

The chemical and pore structures of coal play a crucial role in determining the content of free gas in coal reservoirs. This study focuses on investigating the impact of acidification transformation on the micro-physical and chemical structure characteristics of coal samples collected from Wenjiaba No. 1 Mine in Guizhou. The research involves a semi-quantitative analysis of the chemical structure parameters and crystal structure of coal samples before and after acidification using Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiments. Additionally, the evolution characteristics of the pore structure are characterized through high-pressure mercury injection (HP-MIP), low-temperature nitrogen adsorption (LT-N2A), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The experimental findings reveal that the acid solution modifies the structural features of coal samples, weakening certain vibrational structures and altering the chemical composition. Specifically, the asymmetric vibration structure of aliphatic CH2, the asymmetric vibration of aliphatic CH3, and the symmetric vibration of CH2 are affected. This leads to a decrease in the contents of -OH and -NH functional groups while increasing aromatic structures. The crystal structure of coal samples primarily dissolves transversely after acidification, affecting intergranular spacing and average height. Acid treatment corrodes mineral particles within coal sample cracks, augmenting porosity, average pore diameter, and the ratio of macro-pores to transitional pores. Moreover, acidification increases fracture width and texture, enhancing the connectivity of the fracture structure in coal samples. These findings provide theoretical insights for optimizing coalbed methane (CBM) extraction and gas control strategies.

Size-dependent amorphization of cementite lamellae in a tribolayer

The deformation and structural evolution characteristics of cementite in tribolayers significantly impact the friction and wear properties of pearlitic steels. However, the mechanism and size dependency of cementite amorphization remain unclear. Herein, the focused ion beam (FIB) lift-out technique was used to prepare transmission electron microscopy (TEM) samples of tribolayers formed during dry sliding of pearlitic steel. The microstructure of and elemental distributions in the tribolayers were characterized. Furthermore, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were employed to analyze the behavior of dislocation slip systems in ferrite that extended toward cementite and induced amorphization. The results indicated that cementite amorphization occurred prior to dissolution within the tribolayer. Dislocation slips at the phase interface resulted in C diffusion and cementite amorphization. The transformation of cementite was size dependent. Thin lamellae transformed into amorphous lamellae, while local deformation and shear bands formed in thick lamellae. These research findings could contribute to rational design of cementite and to control of its structural evolution behavior within a tribolayer, thereby enhancing the wear resistance of a material.

Product distribution and carbon structure evolution characteristics of semicoke from isothermal pyrolysis of Naomaohu coal

Isothermal pyrolysis of Naomaohu coal was carried out at a temperature ranging from 500 to 750 0C using a fixed-bed reactor. The product distributions of gas and tar were measured using gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, respectively. In addition, the effect of temperature on carbon structure evolution characteristics of semicokes were also investigated. The results showed that the gas yield increased dramatically from 61.50 to 168.43 mL g−1 when the temperature increased from 500 to 750 0C. CO2 and C2-C3 gases were mainly produced during the primary pyrolysis of lower energy chemical bonds at a lower temperature. The tar content ranges from 18.6 to 20.5 wt%, with the highest at 550 0C. At higher temperature, the branched hydrocarbon and phenols can react with each other to produce more polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. The infrared absorption peak area associated with the functional groups of O-H, C-H, CO and C-O initially increased with temperature from 500 to 550 0C before sharply decreasing as the temperature increased from 550 to 750 0C. At a higher pyrolysis temperature, the carbon content of the semicoke and the degree of graphite crystalline structure increased. Semicoke produced at higher pyrolysis temperatures exhibited better crystalline behavior and more pores and cracks.

Characterization of the microstructure evolution features of various aggregates based on confocal laser scanning microscope

To reveal the microscale structural evolution characteristics of aggregates, this study employs confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) to conduct the surface microstructures of six aggregates: limestone, basalt, granite, diabase, sandstone, and recycled aggregate (RA). Quantitative analysis was performed on the surface morphology, roughness parameters, and material ratio of the aggregates. The results indicate that the surface features of the aggregates vary with the type and treatment method, and these distinctions may be attributed to variations in diagenetic conditions. In the original state, the surface texture of limestone, basalt, and diabase is relatively minimal, with arithmetic mean height (Ra) distributed between 1.4 μm and 3.5 μm. Conversely, the surface texture of granite, sandstone, and RA is more complex, with Ra distributed between 7.5 μm and 9.5 μm. The roughness indices of basalt, limestone, and diabase show an increasing trend after lime treatment, indicating a more pronounced presence of microscopic peaks and pits. In contrast, all roughness indices of granite, sandstone, and RA exhibit a declining after lime treatment. After polishing, the Ra of the surfaces of the six different aggregates shows varying degrees of reduction. Specifically, Ra decreased by 43.89%, 33.11%, 26.52%, 30.14%, 29.80%, and 38.79% for limestone, basalt, granite, diabase, sandstone, and RA, respectively. Furthermore, the height distribution frequency and material ratio of aggregate surfaces vary with the type and treatment of aggregates. Through grey correlation analysis, the correlation degrees of root mean square slope (Rdq), kurtosis (Rku), and surface texture aspect ratio (Rtr) are 0.9524, 0.9522, and 0.9514, respectively, belonging to hybrid parameter, height parameter, and spatial parameter. This suggests a close relationship between these parameters and the polished stone value (PSV) of the aggregates. These findings offer valuable insights for improving aggregate selection and treatment processes, potentially leading to enhanced durability and performance of construction materials.

Topological domain characteristics during the transition from ferroelectric to antiferroelectric in hexagonal manganites

Hexagonal manganites can exhibit the low-symmetry ferroelectric (FE) P63cm and partially undistorted anti-ferroelectric (PUA) P-3c1 states. The two states are accompanied by distinct sixfold vortex domain structures. The transition from the FE P63cm and PUA P-3c1 states (FE-PUA transition) is an effective means to control domain structures with distinct FE properties, which is of rich physical properties and potential applications. The FE-PUA transition can only be achieved by doping Ga on the Mn site of InMnO3, but the actual transition path and the associated domain structure evolution are still unclear. Namely, whether this transition goes through an intermediate P3c1 state remains an issue. In this work, we start from the Landau phenomenological theory to investigate the FE-PUA transition by directly tracking the domain structure evolution. The emerging 12-fold vortex domain structure at the intermediate stage of this transition indicates that this transition is not direct, and its actual path follows the P63cm → P3c1 → P-3c1 sequence, demonstrating the essential role of the intermediate P3c1 state. Besides, a pinning effect as a by-product is also discussed. This work comprehensively illustrates the characteristics of domain structure evolution during the FE-PUA transition, refining our understanding of the whole phase transition and topological physics associated with vortex domain structures in hexagonal manganites.

Investigating the effect of Zr content on electrochemical and tribological properties of newly developed near β-type Ti-alloys (Ti–25Nb-xZr) for biomedical applications

In order to create alloys with exceptional properties for orthopedic uses, this study focuses on the impact of zirconium (Zr) content on the structural, electrochemical, and tribological qualities of nanostructured Ti–25Nb-xZr [x = 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 atomic (at.) %] alloys. The structural evolution was investigated using XRD and SEM techniques. The mechanical characteristics of the produced alloys, including Vickers hardness and Young's modulus, were measured. In addition, the corrosion tests were performed using the OCP, EIS, and PD methods in Ringer's solution within the independent pH range at 37 °C. A ball-on-disc tribometer was used to investigate the tribological behavior of the alloys under various loads and wet conditions using the Ringer solution. It has been verified that Zr content (at. %) in the alloys had an impact on their morphologies, structural evolution, and mechanical characteristics. According to the morphological analysis, the particle and crystallite size decreases with increasing Zr content. Young's modulus and Vickers hardness show the same tendency. The EIS data demonstrated that a single passive film formed on the alloy surfaces, and the addition of Zr enhanced the corrosion resistance of the passive films. The polarization curves demonstrate that the alloys had low corrosion current densities and large passive areas without the passive films disintegrating. Likewise, the inclusion of Zr resulted in a reduction in the corrosion and passive current density values. All of these results suggested that the titanium alloys exhibit a more noble electrochemical activity caused by Zr. From the tribological perspective, it was found that the friction coefficient of the alloys reduced with increasing Zr content.

Force chains evolution and crack characteristics of multiple coal-rock sandwich composite structure by using particle flow code

The stability of residual coal pillars and surrounding rock structures in composite residual coal mining areas is crucial for the safe and efficient mining of residual coal resources. To explore the force chains evolution and crack propagation characteristics of multiple coal-rock sandwich composite structures, uniaxial compression tests with four types of multiple coal-rock sandwich composite structures were conducted using particle flow numerical simulations. The results showed that the characteristics of the force chain evolution and crack propagation characteristics of multiple coal-rock sandwich composite structures during the loading process were almost identical. The evolution of the internal contact force chains of the rock elements and the propagation of micro-cracks lagged relatively, induced mainly by the initial fracture of the coal elements. Moreover, the coal elements were instability hazard factors in multiple coal-rock sandwich composite structures. The energy released by the coal and rock elements affects each other, resulting in the destruction of the entire composite structure. This study provides a basis for the instability prevention and control of coal-rock bearing structures in composite residual coal mining areas.

Spatial evolution characteristics of asphalt surface structure and its influence on surface interaction properties

Air-asphalt surface structure (asphalt surface structure) is widely found in asphalt mixture and is the main structure that directly interacts with air, precipitation and sunlight. To explore the physicochemical properties of asphalt surface structure, the spatial evolution characteristics and interaction properties were studied by combining theory, test and simulation. Firstly, the gestation, generation and development of asphalt surface structure were explained theoretically, and the categories of asphalt surface structure were proposed. Secondly, the spatial evolution characteristics of asphalt surface structure were analyzed by the combination of macro and micro tests. Finally, the relationship between asphalt surface structure and air (N2, O2) and precipitation (H2O) was discussed by using molecular dynamics. It was found that, theoretically, asphalt surface structure can be divided into "initial surface structure", "stable surface structure" and "aged surface structure", and the "stable surface structure" is the ideal surface state. The low temperature environment is conducive to the adsorption of air (N2, O2) by the asphalt surface structure, the "initial surface structure" has a relatively high adsorption interaction capacity. Additionally, the interaction between precipitation and asphalt surface structure is gradually enhanced with the increase of temperature, and the interaction between "aged surface structure" and precipitation is relatively stronger. The study further expands the exploration of asphalt surface structure and provides a theoretical explanation for asphalt aging behavior.

The mineral phase evolution characteristics and hydration activity enhancement mechanism of steel slag under NaOH alkaline excitation

During the slow cooling process of steel slag, crystals of the inert ore phase (C2F) and active ore phase (C2S, C3S) grow dependently, and the irregular interlacement and coating between ore phases strongly affect the hydration activity of the active ore phase in steel slag. Therefore, in this article, a typical alkaline activator, NaOH, was selected, the solvent type and concentration were optimized, and the etching behavior and mechanism of action of the NaOH alkaline activator on the surface of steel slag particles were clarified by analyzing the mineral phase composition, microstructure, particle size distribution, and pore structure evolution characteristics under alkaline excitation. In addition, the water hydration products, microstructure, exothermic hydration and thermogravimetric data before and after the excitation of steel slag were characterized, revealing the mechanism of enhancing the hydration activity of steel slag under alkaline NaOH stimulation. The results showed that both NaOH aqueous solution and ethanol solution could effectively increase the mass fraction of active mineral phases in steel slag; among them, the 0.08 mol/L NaOH ethanol solution had the best chemical activation effect on the steel slag. Compared with that of the raw steel slag, the total mass fraction of the active mineral phases (C2S and C3S) increased from 37.3 wt% to 45.6 wt%, and the mass fraction of the inert mineral phase C2F decreased from 38.3 wt% to 19.1 wt%. The consumption of active mineral phases in steel slag is reduced by the water in the activator. The alkaline activator erodes the dense inert mineral phase C2F on the surface of the steel slag particles, resulting in etching pits that expose the active silicate mineral phase and provide additional hydration sites. The cumulative heat release from the steel slag after alkaline excitation was 116.27 J/g at 72 h, which was 66.88 J/g higher than that of the raw steel slag. These conditions significantly improved the early hydration performance of the steel slag and promoted the formation of amorphous cementitious products (CH, C-S-H and AFt) in the steel slag system, which subsequently filled the capillary pores of the steel slag and formed a denser microstructure.

The structural evolution characteristics in the Beikang Basin

The structural evolution characteristics in the Beikang Basin

Evolution characteristics and influencing factors of information network in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

In the context of the digital information era, the impact of "The Internet Plus," "Big Data," and other technologies on urban social development has been far beyond any preceding era, under the influence of information technology, urban agglomeration space exhibits a new layout. Based on the search engine data of eleven cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from 2012 to 2021, this research constructs the inter-city information network strength linkage matrix to examine the evolution characteristics of city network structure and its driving causes. The results reveal that (1) the overall information linkage strength exhibits a pattern of steadily growing the radiating effect from the leading cities of Guangdong, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong to the surrounding cities, and a closer and more balanced information linkage network is gradually built. (2) Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area information linkage absolute control advantage, four cities Foshan, Dongguan, Zhuhai, Macao regional hub position steadily highlighted. The entire information connection network of the urban agglomerations tends to be flat and polycentric at the same time. (3) The regional core-edge hierarchy is well established, with the four cities of Guangzhou, Dongguan, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong creating a northwest-southeast orientation. The core metropolis regions of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao in the Greater Bay Area increasingly exert a radiation spreading effect to the northeast and southwest. (4) The urban economy, transportation distance, and information infrastructure have substantial effects on the information connection intensity network of urban clusters.

Evolution characteristics of overburden structure and stress in strong mining of the deep coal seam: a case study

As coal resources are gradually being extracted at depth, the overlying strata movement behavior and stress environment become complex and violent, leading to the frequent triggering of strong dynamic hazards. To promote the productivity and effectiveness of mining activities, this paper investigated the evolution characteristics of overburden structure and stress in deep mining by using theoretical analysis, on-site monitoring, and numerical simulation. Based on key strata theory, key layers were determined, and how their movement states have a controlling effect on surface subsidence was analyzed. The evolution process of the overburden spatial structure in deep mining was revealed, which was consistent with the “O-X” type structure. The surrounding rock stress at the working face has gone through three stages, violent change, slow increase, and fluctuant increase, and strong strata behaviors appear because of the fracture and collapse of key layers. The goaf will have a significant effect on the structure, stress, and deformation of the overlying rock, which results in a larger deformation of the surrounding rock within the vicinity. The narrow coal pillar fails to maintain the stability of the overburden structure when the stress exceeds the bearing capacity. The deformation law of the surrounding rock at the roadway was studied, concluding that the existence of the goaf leads to a further increase in deformation.

A novel thixotropic structural dynamics model of water-based drilling fluids

Water-based drilling fluids find extensive application in drilling operations for the removal of drilling waste and the enhancement of drilling efficiency, owing to their remarkable thixotropic properties. Thixotropy in drilling fluids is intricately connected with the evolution of their internal structure. Most existing structural dynamics models that address thixotropy are tailored for waxy crude oils and oil-based suspensions, making it challenging to accurately characterize the rapid changes in the internal structure of water-based drilling fluids. In this study, we propose a novel structural dynamics model based on the constitutive models with both isotropic and kinematic hardening (IKH). This model elucidates the thixotropic properties and structural evolution characteristics of water-based drilling fluids by incorporating the rheological coefficient and the structural damage rate index. Through verification using constant shear rate and hysteresis loop experiments, the proposed model in this paper precisely describes the rheological behavior of water-based drilling fluids (including the phenomenon of stress overshoot), besides, faithfully depicts the distinctive thixotropic structural evolution of it.

Evolution characteristics of pore structure of coal under freeze-thaw cycles combined with scanning electron microscope instrument and nitrogen adsorption experiment

ABSTRACT In this paper, anthracite in Shanxi region is taken as a research object, and the pore structure of coal under different freeze-thaw times is characterized and analyzed by scanning electron microscope and nitrogen adsorption experiment. The SEM experimental results show that the micron-scale cracks on the surface of anthracite gradually connect after freeze-thaw, and the secondary crack channels are formed around the pores and air holes, so that the pores also begin to connect. Further, the quantitative information of the picture was extracted, and it was found that the surface porosity and fractal dimension of the coal sample changed significantly after three freeze-thaw cycles, which increased by 163.3% and 15.9% respectively, and increased with the increase of freeze-thaw cycles. The results of low-temperature nitrogen adsorption experiments show that the coal samples after freeze-thaw are mainly crack, and the pore structure changes from simple to complex. In addition, the maximum nitrogen adsorption capacity, specific surface area and pore volume increased by 125.7%, 69.3% and 72.6%, respectively. With the increase of freeze-thaw times, the growth rates of maximum nitrogen adsorption capacity, specific surface area and pore volume are significantly different. The results of joint characterization show that the number of pores and cracks increases to different degrees after freezing and thawing. Comparing the increase in the degree of fracturing (163.3%) with the increase in the total pore volume (30.68%), we find that the degree of change of the crack after thawing is higher than that of the pore. In this paper, the damage effect of coal samples after freezing and thawing with liquid nitrogen is investigated from an experimental point of view, which accelerates the great leap of cyclic cryogenic fracturing technology from basic theory to technical practice.

A new mesoscopic calculation model of chloride ion erosion in recycled coarse aggregate concrete (RAC): Characteristic fractal dimension of pore structure and service life prediction

This research investigates the influence of water-cement ratio and recycled aggregate content on the chlorine erosion resistance of RAC by conducting a combination of experimental and theoretical analysis. In addition, a mathematical equation is developed to represent the chloride ion transport mechanism in RAC, taking into account fluid mechanics, energy conservation, and pore structure evolution characteristics. Furthermore, mathematical analysis and modeling are used to forecast the life of the chloride ion erosion process. The results show that both the recycled coarse aggregate replacement rate and the water-cement ratio adversely affect the chloride erosion resistance of RAC. The chloride diffusion coefficient model based on pore structure characteristic parameters exhibits high prediction accuracy. This model helps increase the use of recycled aggregates and fosters the growth of the circular economy in the construction industry sector by offering a theoretical foundation for evaluating and maintaining the durability of RAC.

Research on coal matrix pore structure evolution and adsorption behavior characteristics under different thermal stimulation

The technique of thermal stimulation for coalbed methane extraction is considered an important approach for increasing coalbed methane production capacity in the future. This study focuses on the impact of the thermal evolution of pore structure in coal on gas adsorption characteristics. The low-pressure CO2 and N2 physical adsorption data were analyzed using classical thermodynamic methods and density functional theory. The results showed a decrease in pore volume and an increase in average pore size. The fractal dimensions obtained from the Frenkel-Halsey-Hill and Sierpinski fractal models indicate that the micro-scale spatial structure of coal becomes simpler, and the surface becomes smoother. The high-pressure volumetric method was employed to determine the gas adsorption parameters of the coal, and a comparison was made between the calculated gas adsorption parameters based on the micro-pore structure parameters of the coal samples. It was found that the variation pattern of micro-pores in the coal samples correlated highly with the methane adsorption capacity. The decrease in adsorption capacity increases the proportion of free-phase methane, which helps enhance the early-stage methane extraction rate. Improving gas migration pathways avoids the limitation imposed by diffusion in the later stages of coalbed methane extraction.

China's lithium supply chains: Network evolution and resilience assessment

As the world's largest consumer of lithium resources, China faces a substantial demand-supply gap and challenges in securing its lithium supply chain. This study aims to examine the evolution of China's lithium supply chain networks from 2017 to 2021 and employs an attack model to reveal network resilience. A lithium supply chain network is constructed across the entire industry, offering a novel perspective for examining the resilience of lithium resource trade networks. Simulated disturbances are executed via attack models, analysing not only trade nodes but also specific trade relationships while differentiating between import and export subnetworks, thus providing an in-depth examination of structural evolution and resilience characteristics. Our findings highlight the rapid decrease in total lithium throughflows and stable network efficiency from 2017 to 2021. A decline is also observed regarding the network's resilience. Among the different forms of simulated disruptions, node attacks exert the most substantial impact on resilience. The effects of node and edge attacks are notably less severe in China's export subnetwork than in its import subnetwork. In the import subnetwork, the influence of Asian and European nodes diminishes, while South America and Oceania show an increasing influence trend. For exports, the Asian node remains influential, followed by Europe, with Eastern Europe surpassing Western Europe. Upon closer examination of specific products' trade impacts under edge attacks, the results indicate that most trade relationships have minimal impacts on network resilience. There is a persistent increase in the influence of key upstream products in the import sector. Similarly, the influence of key downstream products in the export sector is also on the rise, underscoring China's global leadership in both mid- and downstream products and illustrating its expanding production capacity. The structural changes of complex networks and simultaneous targeted attacks provide new insights for enhancing resilience given the different disruptions of nodes and edges, and outline important policy implications for China's lithium supply security.