Evolution of P‐wave Anisotropy as an Indicator of Pre‐failure Deformation in Shale

Abstract

Understanding the multiscale mechanical behavior of clay-rich rocks is critical for assessing fault reactivation and the long-term integrity of underground waste repositories. This study investigates the evolution of microdeformation in Tournemire's shale samples under compressive stress by integrating high-resolution imaging (from an environmental scanning electron microscope) with ultrasonic P-wave velocity measurements. Our results demonstrate that deformation initiates through shear along pre-existing, inclined clay-rich bands around clasts. These heterogeneities, inherited from diagenesis, control strain localization that triggers the dilatancy onset. We show that these structural changes significantly alter the magnitude and direction of P-wave velocities, providing a direct link between microstructural damage and elastic anisotropy.

Coupled carbonate-shale thallium isotopes reveal the evolution of deep-marine anoxia during the end-Permian mass extinction
Susannah C. Herz, Menghan Li, Andrew A. Siciliano +12
Science Advances28 Oct 2026Peer-reviewedPublisher termsFull textGeology & geochemistrySci. Adv.CrossrefEurope PMCPMC
Satellite‐Derived Upper‐Level Vorticity as an Indicator of Short‐Term Typhoon Intensity Evolution
Pan Xia, Difei Deng, Xia Yang +7
AGU Advances15 Oct 2026Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textAtmospheric science & meteorologyCrossrefDOAJ
Linking the evolution of floe sizes to the sea-ice deformation history using SAR imagery
Nils Hutter, Cecilia M. Bitz
The Cryosphere6 Nov 2026Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Oceanography & cryosphereCopernicusCrossref
Sulfur isotope evidence for shale recycling in pyroxenites from the Beni Bousera orogenic massif (Morocco); insights on the HIMU mantle endmember
Jabrane Labidi, Jean-Pierre Lorand, Pierre Cartigny +1
Chemical Geology25 Sep 2026Peer-reviewedPublisher termsFull textGeology & geochemistryHAL
Development of a Combined Detection and Relocation Workflow (TM2DD) to Characterize Escalating Hydraulic Fracturing Induced Seismicity in the Karnes Trough Fault Zone of the Eagle Ford Shale Play, Texas
James Kirchenwitz, Michael Brudzinski, Mehrnaz Khalkhali +1
EarthArXiv21 Oct 2026PreprintPublisher termsFull textGeophysics & seismologyEarthArXiv

Cite

BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@article{lusseyran2026evolution,
  title = {{Evolution of P‐wave Anisotropy as an Indicator of Pre‐failure Deformation in Shale}},
  author = {Matthieu Lusseyran and Audrey Bonnelye and Alexandre Dimanov and Alexandre Tanguy and Pierre Dick and Jérôme Fortin},
  journal = {Geophysical Research Letters},
  year = {2026},
  month = aug,
  doi = {10.1029/2025gl120970},
  url = {https://hal.science/hal-05761080v1},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Evolution of P‐wave Anisotropy as an Indicator of Pre‐failure Deformation in Shale
AU  - Matthieu Lusseyran
AU  - Audrey Bonnelye
AU  - Alexandre Dimanov
AU  - Alexandre Tanguy
AU  - Pierre Dick
AU  - Jérôme Fortin
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/10
JO  - Geophysical Research Letters
DO  - 10.1029/2025gl120970
UR  - https://hal.science/hal-05761080v1
AB  - Understanding the multiscale mechanical behavior of clay-rich rocks is critical for assessing fault reactivation and the long-term integrity of underground waste repositories. This study investigates the evolution of microdeformation in Tournemire's shale samples under compressive stress by integrating high-resolution imaging (from an environmental scanning electron microscope) with ultrasonic P-wave velocity measurements. Our results demonstrate that deformation initiates through shear along pre-existing, inclined clay-rich bands around clasts. These heterogeneities, inherited from diagenesis, control strain localization that triggers the dilatancy onset. We show that these structural changes significantly alter the magnitude and direction of P-wave velocities, providing a direct link between microstructural damage and elastic anisotropy.
SN  - 0094-8276
SN  - 1944-8007
ER  -

Abstract

Related

Cite