Experimental assessment of the role of natural structures on the mechanical behaviour and deformation processes in quartz-rich carbonates
Abstract
Carbonate reservoirs commonly contain deformation structures whose reactivation depends on their orientation relative to the prevailing stress field. This study experimentally investigates how the presence and orientation of natural deformation features -primarily deformation bands-affect the mechanical behaviour and deformation processes of quartz-rich (~10 %) carbonate rocks. Triaxial axisymmetric compression tests were conducted at 0-30 MPa confining pressures on cylindrical samples (10 mm diameter), including cores of pristine material or with deformation structures at varying angles to the maximum principal stress. Mechanical tests were performed both on-beam at Diamond Light Source and off-beam, with Digital Volume Correlation applied to characterise strain evolution and micromechanical processes up to failure. The pristine material exhibits a high friction coefficient (μ = 1.07), and under confining pressures of 10-25 MPa, failure consistently localises along planes oriented ~22 • to the maximum principal stress. Natural deformation bands exert a strong control on macroscopic strength: favourably oriented bands reactivate readily and significantly reduce peak strength, whereas unfavourably oriented bands inhibit reactivation and promote the formation of new Coulomb-oriented fractures. Strain field analyses reveal that both bands remain inactive at low deviatoric stresses. Earlier localisation takes place in favourably banded samples, while pristine and unfavourably banded samples localise only at later loading stages. During macroscopic failure, X-ray images show pristine and unfavourably banded samples to develop macroscopic fractures with higher apertures, whereas favourably banded samples display slip-dominated reactivation. Grain crushing and pore collapse are obvious in both natural deformation bands. These results demonstrate that natural pre-existing deformation structures and their orientation critically influence strain localisation and strength in the tested quartz-rich carbonate samples, with implications for reservoir stability, fault damage zones, and engineered subsurface systems.
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BibTeX
@article{taxopoulou2026experimental,
title = {{Experimental assessment of the role of natural structures on the mechanical behaviour and deformation processes in quartz-rich carbonates}},
author = {Maria Eleni Taxopoulou and Elli Maria Charalampidou and Alexis Cartwright-Taylor and Nicolas E Beaudoin and Charles Aubourg and Ian B Butler and Robert Atwood},
journal = {International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1016/j.ijrmms.2026.106703},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05755849v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Experimental assessment of the role of natural structures on the mechanical behaviour and deformation processes in quartz-rich carbonates
AU - Maria Eleni Taxopoulou
AU - Elli Maria Charalampidou
AU - Alexis Cartwright-Taylor
AU - Nicolas E Beaudoin
AU - Charles Aubourg
AU - Ian B Butler
AU - Robert Atwood
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/20
JO - International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences
DO - 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2026.106703
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05755849v1
AB - Carbonate reservoirs commonly contain deformation structures whose reactivation depends on their orientation relative to the prevailing stress field. This study experimentally investigates how the presence and orientation of natural deformation features -primarily deformation bands-affect the mechanical behaviour and deformation processes of quartz-rich (~10 %) carbonate rocks. Triaxial axisymmetric compression tests were conducted at 0-30 MPa confining pressures on cylindrical samples (10 mm diameter), including cores of pristine material or with deformation structures at varying angles to the maximum principal stress. Mechanical tests were performed both on-beam at Diamond Light Source and off-beam, with Digital Volume Correlation applied to characterise strain evolution and micromechanical processes up to failure. The pristine material exhibits a high friction coefficient (μ = 1.07), and under confining pressures of 10-25 MPa, failure consistently localises along planes oriented ~22 • to the maximum principal stress. Natural deformation bands exert a strong control on macroscopic strength: favourably oriented bands reactivate readily and significantly reduce peak strength, whereas unfavourably oriented bands inhibit reactivation and promote the formation of new Coulomb-oriented fractures. Strain field analyses reveal that both bands remain inactive at low deviatoric stresses. Earlier localisation takes place in favourably banded samples, while pristine and unfavourably banded samples localise only at later loading stages. During macroscopic failure, X-ray images show pristine and unfavourably banded samples to develop macroscopic fractures with higher apertures, whereas favourably banded samples display slip-dominated reactivation. Grain crushing and pore collapse are obvious in both natural deformation bands. These results demonstrate that natural pre-existing deformation structures and their orientation critically influence strain localisation and strength in the tested quartz-rich carbonate samples, with implications for reservoir stability, fault damage zones, and engineered subsurface systems.
SN - 1365-1609
SN - 1873-4545
ER -