Understanding the behavior of geomaterials under explosive loading is essential for several applications in the mining and oil industry. To date, the design of these applications is based almost solely on empirical equations and tabulated data. Optimal designs require accurate and complete knowledge of rock behavior under various loading conditions. The vast majority of the properties available in the literature have been gathered by deforming the specimen slowly. These properties have been used to establish constitutive models which describe the behavior of rocks under static and quasi-static loading conditions. However, the dynamic properties and material constitutive models describing the behavior of geomaterials under high strain-rate loading conditions are essential for a better understanding and enhanced designs of dynamic applications. Some attempts have been made to measure dynamic properties of rocks. Also, some trials have been made to devise material models which describe the behavior of rocks and the evolution of damage in the rock under dynamic loading. Published models were successful in predicting tensile damage and spalling in rocks. However, there are no established models capable of predicting compressional damage in rocks due to dynamic loading. A recently-developed model, the RHT model, was formulated to describe the behavior of concrete over the static and dynamic ranges. The model was also formulated to predict compressional damage based on the strain rate at which the material is subjected to. The RHT model has been used successfully in several applications. The purpose of this research was to characterize one rock type as an example of a hard brittle rock. The physical properties of the rock as well as the static and dynamic mechanical properties were investigated. These properties were used to calibrate the RHT model and investigate its potentials to predict compressional damage in brittle materials. The calibrated model showed good precision reproducing the amplitude of the strain signals generated by explosive loading. It was also capable of predicting compressional damage with acceptable accuracy. Unfortunately, due to implementation restrictions, tensile and spall damage could not be captured by the model. The duration and shape of the strain pulse were also poorly modeled. / Thesis (Ph.D, Mining Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-12-22 17:54:05.887

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Wellbore seismic measurements were recorded in the Lake Bosumtwi impact structure, Ghana, in 2004. A full range of petrophysical measurements were also performed in the laboratory on core samples from the same boreholes. The Vertical Seismic Profile shows low velocities for both P and S waves in the hardrock basement of the crater. Although we were expected to locate fractures within the rock, no upgoing waves were detected. Density and porosity measurements on the core samples indicate higher than normal porosity in the impact damaged rocks. Mercury porosimetry and SEM analysis characterized the pores as impact induced microcracks. These microcracks are most likely the reason for the low velocities observed on the seismic profiles, the in situ sonic logs, and the seismic velocity measurements on the core samples. Furthermore our laboratory P and S velocities measurements indicate a strong heterogeneity within the impactites. / Geophysics

abstract: The study of fault zones is a critical component to understanding earthquake mechanics and seismic hazard evaluations. Models or simulations of potential earthquakes, based on fault zone properties, are a first step in mitigating the hazard. Theoretical models of earthquake ruptures along a bi-material interface result in asymmetrical damage and preferred rupture propagation direction. Results include greater damage intensity within stiffer material and preferred slip in the direction of the more compliant side of the fault. Data from a dense seismic array along the Clark strand of the SJFZ at Sage Brush Flat (SGB) near Anza, CA, allows for analysis and characterization of shallow (<1km depth) seismic structure and fault zone properties. Results indicate potential asymmetric rock damage at SGB, similar to findings elsewhere along the SJFZ suggesting an NW preferred rupture propagation. In this study, analysis of high resolution topography suggests asymmetric morphology of the SGB basin slopes are partially attributed to structural growth and fault zone damage. Spatial distributions of rock damage, from site mapping and fault perpendicular transects within SGB and Alkali Wash, are seemingly asymmetric with pulverization dominantly between fault strands or in the NE fault block. Remapping of the SJFZ through Alkali Wash indicates the fault is not isolated to a single strand along the main geologic boundary as previously mapped. Displacement measurements within SGB are analogous to those from the most recent large earthquake on the Clark fault. Geologic models from both a 3D shear wave velocity model (a product from the dense seismic array analysis) and lithologic and structural mapping from this study indicate surface observations and shallow seismic data compare well. A synthetic three-dimensional fault zone model illustrates the complexity of the structure at SGB for comparison with dense array seismic wave products. Results of this study generally agree with findings from seismic wave interpretations suggesting damage asymmetry is controlled by a NW preferred rupture propagation. / Dissertation/Thesis / Geologic Map of Sage Brush Flat / 3D fault zone model of the SJFZ at Sage Brush Flat / Masters Thesis Geological Sciences 2018

Dans le cadre d’un programme de recherche mené par le GISOS (Groupement d’Intérêt Scientifique de Recherche sur l’Impact et la Sécurité des Ouvrages Souterrains), le site pilote de Cerville-Buissoncourt (Lorraine, France) a fait l’objet d’une importante instrumentation géophysique et géotechnique pour assurer la surveillance d’une cavité saline à 200 m de profondeur, depuis son état stationnaire jusqu’à l’effondrement des terrains du recouvrement. Les objectifs principaux de cette thèse consistaient à : 1) valider la technique de surveillance basée sur l’écoute microsismique dans un contexte salin, et 2) modéliser numériquement le comportement mécanique complexe du recouvrement, particulièrement l’initiation des microfissures et leur propagation. L’analyse de la sismicité induite enregistrée a permis de caractériser l’état initial de la cavité en terme d’activité microsismique. Deux types d’événements ont été identifiés : les événements isolés correspondant aux ruptures localisées, et les événements en rafale, d’une dizaine de secondes de durée. D’après les résultats de localisation d’hypocentres, la totalité de la sismicité enregistrée est générée au niveau de la cavité dans le gisement de sel, ou bien dans les faciès marneux qui composent le toit immédiat de la cavité actuelle. Les déclenchements en rafale seraient liés à des phénomènes de délitement puis de décrochement de blocs de marne, suivis des chutes de blocs dans la cavité remplie de saumure. Le travail de modélisation numérique a été focalisé sur la possibilité de rendre compte de l’endommagement dans les couches fragiles du recouvrement. Nous avons mis en oeuvre un modèle géomécanique hybride à l’échelle du site pilote qui intègre les différentes formations géologiques présentes dans le recouvrement, ainsi que l’initiation, la propagation et la coalescence des microfissures dans le banc raide, à l’aide des logiciels FLAC et PFC2D. La calibration du modèle discret PFC2D pour reproduire le comportement en traction du banc raide a été vérifiée numériquement à l’échelle du site pilote. Cette vérification a été basée sur la comparaison, en termes de la réponse élastique et d’apparition des ruptures dans le banc raide, entre l’approche hybride FLACPFC 2D et la modélisation purement continue avec FLAC. Le modèle hybride ainsi défini pourra être utilisé dans le cadre d’une retro-analyse une fois que les mesures in-situ, notamment les enregistrements microsismiques et les données de déformation, seront disponibles à Cerville-Buissoncourt / Within the framework of a research program carried out by the GISOS (Scientific Grouping of Research Interest on the Impact and Safety of Underground Works), the pilot site of Cerville-Buissoncourt (Lorraine, France) was the subject of a large geophysical and geotechnical instrumentation to ensure the monitoring of a salt cavity at 200 m depth, from its stationary state to the final overburden collapse. The main objectives of this work consisted on : 1) the validation of the microseismic monitoring technique in a salt mine environment, and 2) the numerical modelling of the mechanical behavior of the overburden, particularly the initiation and the propagation of microcracks. The analysis of the recorded induced seismicity allowed to characterize the initial state of the cavity in terms of microseismic activity. Two types of events were identified : isolated events corresponding to localized ruptures, and swarms of events, of tens of seconds of duration. According to hypocenter location results, the totality of the recorded seismicity is generated either in the cavity surroundings within the salt layer, or in the marly facies of the current cavity roof. Swarms would be related to delamination of clayley marls in the immediate roof, followed by rock debris falling in the brine filled cavity. The numerical modelling was focused on the possibility of accounting for the damage in the fragile layers of the overburden. We implemented a hybrid geomechanical model of the pilot site which integrates the various geological formations present in the overburden, as well as the initiation, the propagation and the coalescence of microcracks in the stiff layer, using FLAC and PFC2D softwares. The calibration of the discrete PFC2D model to reproduce the tensile behaviour of the stiff layer was numerically checked on the site scale. The validation was based on the comparison, in terms of the elastic response and the damage onset in the stiff layer, between the hybrid approach FLAC-PFC2D and the purely continuous modelling using FLAC. The hybrid model thus defined would be used for back-analysis studies once in-situ measurements, in particular microseismic recordings and deformation data, will be available at Cerville-Buissoncourt