Triaxial
Rock Physics Ensemble
Our servo-controlled triaxial rock deformation
and rock physics ensemble can operate at confining pressures
to 400 MPa and temperatures to 400ºC. It incorporates
an independent 400 MPa pore fluid pressure intensifier/porosimeter/permeameter,
and load is applied through a 1500 kN servo-controlled actuator.
Rock samples (40mm in diameter by 100mm long) are enclosed
in engineered polymer jackets with 12 transducer mounting
points. This allows real-time monitoring of changes in elastic
wave velocities (both P and S), electrical conductivity and
electrical potential, and 3D location of acoustic emission
events generated during crack propagation.
The ensemble is designed to allow us to simulate
conditions throughout the seismogenic crust (upper 15 km or
so) on relatively large volume samples. The servo-control
additionally allows us to conduct experiments over a range
of constant strain rates or at controlled constant stress
(for brittle creep or static fatigue tests).
|
