Granular aggregates of quartz subjected to triaxial compression under constant effective pressures (Pe) undergo macroscopic failure at critical stress states that depend on the effective mean stress. Although the mode of failure and mechanical response vary systematically with mean stress at failure, prefailure loading at subcritical stress states may induce yielding, and subcritical load paths may influence behavior at failure. Here, I investigate how the failure of quartz aggregates at conditions favoring compaction depends on consolidation history and load path in the transitional and ductile deformation regimes in terms of strain localization and microfracture fabric. Three distinct non-standard triaxial compression load paths were employed; the paths involve different preconsolidation of the aggregates at subcritical isotropic stress followed by differential loading with increasing or decreasing confining pressure. Deformed aggregates were injected with epoxy and studied using optical microscopy techniques to determine microscopic damage evolution for the different load paths. Microfracture data show that preconsolidation at subcritical isotropic loads facilitates formation of campaction bands during subsequent triaxial compression in the transitional regime. The preferred orientation of intragranular cracks evolves from near random fabrics for isotropic loading to strongly preferred orientations parallel to the maximum principal compression direction for differential loading, with the strongest preferred orientation within the compaction bands. Aside from the preconsolidation, different load paths have only a minor effect on the mechanical response during macroscopic failure.

Les bandes de déformation sont des structures géologiques se mettant en place dans les matériels granulaires présentant une forte porosité (>15%). Ces structures peuvent être compactantes ou dilatantes et peuvent présenter une composante cisaillante. À l’échelle microscopique, il est possible d’observer une réorientation des grains, une compaction ou un cisaillement intense peut entrainer la fracturation de ces derniers (cataclase) pour former une fine zone déformée modifiant ainsi la porosité et la perméabilité de la roche. Ces bandes ont un impact sur la circulation des fluides en formant des barrières ou des drains dans le réservoir. La formation de ces structures est étroitement liée à la tectonique et aux paramètres sédimentologiques du matériel hôte. Comprendre et pouvoir prédire le mode de mise en place, les orientations et la distribution de ces bandes est l’objectif principal de cette thèse.Dans cette étude nous avons analysé un site de bandes de déformation observé dans le bassin de Tremp, au sein de la formation d’Aren, dans la zone Central Sud-Pyrénéenne. Nous avons pu définir la nature de ces structures grâce à des analyses macro- et micro-structurales couplées à une étude d’anisotropie magnétique permettant de déduire la direction de raccourcissement à l’origine de la mise en place de ces bandes. Deux principaux types de bandes cataclastiques sont alors mis en évidence: (1) des bandes de compaction pures, perpendiculaires au raccourcissement et (2) des bandes de compaction à composante cisaillante, obliques à cette même direction de raccourcissement.En comparaison avec le calendrier tectonique de la région et des données d’enfouissement relatif dans le temps de la formation étudiée. Nous avons fait l’hypothèse que ces deux familles de bandes sont apparues à faible enfouissement (< 1 km de profondeur), soit peu de temps après le dépôt et associées à la croissance du pli du Sant Corneli-Boixols. De telles structures ne sont pas communes pour un enfouissement superficiel et le faciès calcarénitique est mis en cause pour expliquer leurs apparitions.La mise en place de simulations analytiques basées sur des résultats d’expérimentations géomécaniques ont ensuite permis de contraindre le régime tectonique, l’orientation et les valeurs de ces contraintes nécessaires à la formation de ces deux types de bandes par rapport à l’enfouissement et la croissance du chevauchement. Les valeurs de contraintes attendues sont ici très faibles dans le cas d’une déformation très précoce.Enfin, nous avons testé ces observations et nos hypothèses à des modélisations numériques dans lesquelles nous avons analysé l’impact de la croissance d’un chevauchement et d’un pli de propagation de rampe. La distribution des contraintes et les potentielles bandes de déformation mises en place au sein d’un réservoir poreux situé en avant de ce pli ont été étudiées. Nous avons alors montré que nos hypothèses d’apparition superficielles de bandes de déformation étaient dépendantes de la position des enveloppes de ruptures (elles-mêmes dépendantes de la lithologie de la roche). Pour expliquer la mise en place des bandes étudiée dans ce mémoire, une résistance mécanique très faible de la roche est nécessaire pour permettre de former des bandes à moins d’un kilomètre de profondeur. / Deformation bands are geological structures that occur in porous and granular material presenting a high porosity (>15%). These structures can be identified as compactive or dilatant, a shear component is also often observed. At the microscopic scale, it is possible to observe a grain rearrangement and an intense compaction and or shearing can lead to grain crushing (known as cataclasis), to form a thin deform zone that will modify the porosity and permeability of the rock. Deformation bands have a non-negligible impact on fluid flow, creating a barrier or a drain in the potential reservoir. The formation of such structures is mainly linked to the tectonic activity but also to the facies and other sedimentological parameters of the host rock. The understanding and the prediction of the occurrence and distribution of the bands is the main objective of this thesis.In this study we analyzed a deformation band site found in the Tremp basin, in the Aren formation localized in the South Central Pyrenean Zone. We defined the nature of these structures with macro and microstructural analysis and by adding a study of the magnetic anisotropy to constrain the shortening direction responsible to the band formation. We evidence two major types of bands showing different orientations and behavior: (1) Pure compaction bands (PCB), perpendicular to the shortening and (2) Shear enhanced compaction bands (SECB), oblique to the same shortening.In comparison with tectonic schedule in the studied area and time vs. burial data of the formation, we deducted that both types of bands took place at a shallow burial (<1km depth), which means short times after deposition. This localized deformation, showing mainly cataclasis, is associated to the growth of the Sant Corneli-Boixols fold and thrust belt. Such structures are not common at a shallow depth and we propose that the calcarenite facies of the host rock is the key factor to explain the band occurrence.Thereafter, we made analytical simulations based on geomechanical experimentations results that allowed us to constrain the stress state and orientations needed to create these structure and to determine the timing of formation compared to the burial of the layers during the growth of the Boixols thrust. The stresses magnitudes are expected to be really low in the case of an early deformation.Finally, we tested and compared our observations and hypothesis to numerical modeling where we analyzed the impact of the growth of a fold and thrust belt on the stress state and orientations and the analysis of potential deformation bands occurrence. The stress distribution and the potential occurrence of deformation bands in a porous reservoir presenting different characteristics and located in front of this fold were studied.With the modelizations results, we exposed that our hypothesis of shallow deformation bands are dependent from the position of failure envelopes (that are dependent on the rock lithology). To explain the band formation we studied in this thesis, a weak mechanical strength of the host rock is needed to form deformation bands at less than a depth of one kilometer. The pure compaction bands are associated to a potentially early layer-parallel shortening (LPS).

No description available.

Submitted by Jesiel Ferreira Gomes (jesielgomes@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-04-19T18:12:18Z No. of bitstreams: 1 MATHEUS AMADOR NICCHIO – DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEPM) 2017.pdf: 3849783 bytes, checksum: 788d0c6e30dc2784af843fcbd619289a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-19T18:12:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MATHEUS AMADOR NICCHIO – DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEPM) 2017.pdf: 3849783 bytes, checksum: 788d0c6e30dc2784af843fcbd619289a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02 / Neste trabalho nós identificamos a origem de argilominerais e a evolução microestrutural de bandas de deformação filossilicáticas em rochas porosas ausentes de matriz, de composição arcoseana lítica, de baixo grau de litificação. Adicionalmente, estimamos a influência nas propriedades petrofísicas exercidas pelos diferentes estágios evolutivos da deformação e as comparamos com rocha não deformada e em bandas de deformação com clay smearing. Nós estudamos bandas de deformação presentes em zonas de dano de clusters bem desenvolvidos em afloramento fortemente deformado por falhas transtensivas de direções principais NE-SW e NW-SE. A identificação da composição do material de preenchimento de bandas de deformação foi realizada através da análise química pontual. Os processos deformacionais foram identificados através de análise microestrutural, utilizando como critério de identificação o tipo de banda e o teor de argilominerais presentes no núcleo da deformação. Os estágios evolutivos das estruturas foram identificados através da análise dos padrões microestruturais tais como foliação S-C e feições sigmoidais em zonas ricas em argila. As análises petrofísicas foram realizadas através de medições laboratoriais em plugues de rochas. As análises químicas realizadas no núcleo das bandas de deformação e nos minerais do arcabouço indicaram a adição de óxidos de ferro como único componente distinto dos encontrados no arcabouço original da rocha, indicando a autigênese de argilominerais,com percolação de fluidos aquosos em ambiente oxidante. As características microestruturais indicaram a presença de mais de um estágio evolutivo, iniciando-se pelo processo de catáclase. A continuação do cisalhamento e a autigênese de argilominerais no núcleo da banda ocasionaram em estiramento de zonas mais concentradas em argilominerais, chegando a um estágio final, onde ocorre a presença de foliação do tipo S-C marcada pela orientação de argilominerais autigênicos. As análises petrofísicas indicaram redução de até 2 ordens de grandeza na permeabilidade em amostras com bandas de deformação filossilicaticas autigênicas em comparação à rocha não deformada, não havendo mudanças significativas em diferentes estágios evolutivos após a formação de argilominerais. Já bandas de deformação com clay smearing apresentaram redução de cerca de 3 ordens de grandeza, apresentando um potencial selante superior ao das bandas filossilicáticas por autigênese. / In this work we describe the genetic processes and the microstructural evolution of phyllosilicate deformation bands developed in poorly lithified, high porosity lithic arkosean rocks with no clay matrix. Additionally, we estimate the influence on the petrophysical properties exerted by the different evolutionary stages of the deformation and compare them with non-deformed rock and deformation bands with clay smearing. We studied deformation bands present in damage zones of well developed clusters in strongly deformed outcrop, affected by transtensive faults of the main NE-SW and NW-SE directions. The deformation bands filling material were identified by punctual chemical analysis. The deformation processes were identified through microstructural analysis, using as identification criterion the type of deformation band and the clay minerals content in deformation band nucleous. The evolutionary stages of the structures were identified through analysis of microstructural patterns such as S-C foliation and sigmoidal features in clay-rich areas. The petrophysical analyzes were performed through laboratory measurements on rock plugs. Chemical analyzes were carried out in the core of the deformation bands and the minerals of the framework indicated the addition of iron oxides as the only component distinct from those found in the original rock structure, indicating clay authigenesis, with percolation of aqueous fluids in an oxidizing environment. The microstructural characteristics indicated the presence of more than one evolutionary stage, beginning with cataclasis. The continuation of shear and the clay minerals authigenesis in the deformation band nucleus resulted in stretching of areas with high clay concentration, reaching a final stage, where S-C type foliation marked by the orientation of autigenic clays occurs. The petrophysical analysis indicated reduction of up to 2 orders of magnitude in the permeability in samples with autigenic phyllosilicate deformation bands in comparison to the non-deformed rock, showing no significant changes in different evolutionary stages after the formation of clay minerals. Deformation bands with clay smearing presented a reduction of about 3 orders of magnitude, presenting a sealant potential superior to that of the phyllosilicate deformation bands by authigenesis.

[pt] A predição da permeabilidade é uma etapa crítica no fluxo de caracterização e modelagem geológica de reservatórios e essencial para o desenvolvimento de projetos de produção. Estruturas subsísmicas denominadas bandas de deformação (BD) podem diminuir a permeabilidade em até seis ordens de grandeza em relação à rocha matriz de reservatórios areníticos e podem, dessa forma, atuar como barreiras totais ou parciais ao fluxo de fluidos. O presente trabalho pretende contribuir na determinação do comportamento hidráulico de reservatórios propondo um modelo geomecânico analítico para a predição de BD em reservatórios de arenitos. Em termos práticos, o objetivo é prever se em uma determinada porção de um depósito siliciclástico de hidrocarboneto foram atingidas condições para a formação de BD, ou quão próximo se está de uma possível geração dessa feição a fim de se sugerir uma análise da redução de permeabilidade. A proposta se estende na implementação computacional do método e sua aplicação em um estudo de caso de um reservatório arenítico pouco consolidado da margem continental brasileira rico em BD. Os resultados confirmaram a viabilidade do método mostrando que a porção do reservatório analisada atingiu as condições mecânicas para a gênese de BD a partir da idade geológica intitulada de Oligoceno (~ 23 a 35 Ma) para os cenários estabelecidos. / [en] The permeability prediction is a critical step in the flow of geological modeling and reservoir characterization and is essential for the development of production projects. Sub-seismic structures called deformation bands (BD) can reduce permeability up to six orders of magnitude in relation to the host reservoir sandstone and can thus act as total or partial barriers to the fluid flow. The present work intends to contribute in the determination of the hydraulic behavior of reservoirs proposing an analytical geomechanical model for BD s prediction in sandstone reservoirs. In practical terms, the objective is to predict whether the conditions in a given portion of a siliciclastic hydrocarbon deposit have been reached for the localization of BD or how close it is to a possible generation of this feature in order to suggest an analysis of the permeability reduction. The proposal extends to the computational implementation of the method and its application in a case study of a poorly consolidated sandstone reservoir on the brazilian continental margin, rich in BD. The results confirmed the viability of the method by showing that the portion of the analyzed reservoir reached the mechanical conditions for the genesis of BD from the geological age entitled Oligocene (~ 23 to 35 Ma) for the established scenarios.

L'élaboration de nouveaux alliages maintient un fort intérêt pour le phénomène d’instabilité plastique, ou l'effet Portevin-Le Chatelier (PLC), provoqué par l'interaction des dislocations avec des atomes de soluté. Par ailleurs, l'effet PLC attire l'intérêt comme un exemple remarquable d'auto-organisation dans les systèmes dynamiques. Il est associé à des motifs complexes de séries de chutes de contrainte liées à la nucléation et au mouvement des bandes de déformation dans le matériau déformé, et nécessite une compréhension de l'auto-organisation des dislocations. La déformation plastique des alliages Al-Mg est sujette à l'instabilité dans une large gamme de conditions expérimentales. Pour cette raison, les alliages Al-Mg binaires ont longtemps servi d'objets modèles pour l'étude de l'effet PLC. En même temps, l'utilisation pratique des alliages binaires Al-Mg est limitée en raison d’une faible résistance mécanique. Une amélioration significative de leurs propriétés peut être atteinte en ajoutant des solutés supplémentaires, conduisant en particulier à la formation de précipités. En outre, une forte réduction de la taille de grains du polycristal pourrait être une technique clé pour produire des matériaux à haute résistance et ténacité. Cependant, il existe très peu d'information, souvent contradictoire, sur l'instabilité PLC dans les alliages Al-Mg à grains fins et contenant des précipités. Le but de l'étude de cette thèse a été d'étudier les caractéristiques spécifiques de l'effet PLC dans les alliages à base AlMg, avec et sans nanoparticules, à gros grains et à grains fins, ces derniers obtenus par une méthode de déformation plastique sévère. Grâce à l’application de méthodes d’extensométrie locale, notamment de la technique de corrélation d’images, ces études ont révélé une persistance non habituelle de la propagation des bandes de déformation dans les alliages comprenant des précipités et/ou des grains fins. Ce mode dynamique est observé dans un large intervalle de vitesses de déformation, tandis qu’il n’apparait qu’à haute vitesse dans des alliages modèles AlMg. Par ailleurs, l’analyse des distributions statistiques des amplitudes des chutes de contrainte a révélé une tendance vers une statistique en loi puissance, caractéristique du mode de propagation. Ce phénomène est attribué à une modification du couplage spatial entre les dislocations, due à la concentration de contraintes internes. La combinaison de ces études avec l’analyse de l’émission acoustique a mis en évidence une influence de la microstructure sur la compétition entre un facteur aléatoire et la synchronisation des dislocations. Enfin, l’étude par corrélation d’images a permis d’observer une interrelation entre l’instabilité PLC et la formation de la striction. / The elaboration of new alloys sustains a strong interest to the phenomenon of unstable plastic flow, or the Portevin–Le Chatelier (PLC) effect, caused by interaction of dislocations with solute atoms. Moreover, this effect attracts interest as a rich example of self-organization in dynamical systems. It is associated with complex patterns of stress serrations related to nucleation and motion of deformation bands in the deforming material, and requires understanding of self-organization of dislocations. Plastic deformation of Al-Mg alloys is prone to instability in a wide range of experimental conditions. For this reason, binary Al-Mg alloys served for a long time as model objects for investigation of the PLC effect. At the same time, the practical use of binary Al-Mg alloys is limited because of their low strength. A significant improvement of their properties can be achieved by additional alloying, in particular, leading to precipitation. Further, extensive grain refinement could be a key technique used to produce tough and high- strength materials. However, there exists very limited and often contradictory information on the PLC instability in fine-grained Al-Mg alloys containing precipitates. The objective of the present thesis was to investigate specific features of the PLC effect in AlMg-based alloys with and without nanoscale particles, both in coarse-grained and fine-grained states, the latter obtained by severe plastic deformation. Using local extensometry methods, particularly the image correlation technique, these studies revealed an unusual persistence of the propagation of deformation bands in alloys with precipitates and/or fine grains. This dynamic mode is observed in a wide range of strain rates, whereas it only appears at high strain rate in model Al-Mg alloys. Moreover, the analysis of statistical distributions of stress drop amplitudes revealed a tendency to power law statistics characteristic of the propagation mode. This phenomenon was attributed to a modification of the spatial coupling between dislocations due to the concentration of internal stresses. The combination of these studies with the acoustic emission analysis uncovered an influence of the microstructure on the competition between a random factor and the dislocation synchronization. Finally, the study by the image correlation made it possible to observe an interrelation between the PLC instability and the neck formation.