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Geomechanics and Engineering
  Volume 16, Number 2, October10 2018 , pages 195-204
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2018.16.2.195
 


The rock fragmentation mechanism and plastic energy dissipation analysis of rock indentation
Xiaohua Zhu and Weiji Liu

 
Abstract
    Based on theories of rock mechanics, rock fragmentation, mechanics of elasto-plasticity, and energy dissipation etc., a method is presented for evaluating the rock fragmentation efficiency by using plastic energy dissipation ratio as an index. Using the presented method, the fragmentation efficiency of rocks with different strengths (corresponding to soft, intermediately hard and hard ones) under indentation is analyzed and compared. The theoretical and numerical simulation analyses are then combined with experimental results to systematically reveal the fragmentation mechanism of rocks under indentation of indenter. The results indicate that the fragmentation efficiency of rocks is higher when the plastic energy dissipation ratio is lower, and hence the drilling efficiency is higher. For the rocks with higher hardness and brittleness, the plastic energy dissipation ratio of the rocks at crush is lower. For rocks with lower hardness and brittleness (such as sandstone), most of the work done by the indenter to the rocks is transferred to the elastic and plastic energy of the rocks. However, most of such work is transferred to the elastic energy when the hardness and the brittleness of the rocks are higher. The plastic deformation is small and little energy is dissipated for brittle crush, and the elastic energy is mainly transferred to the kinetic energy of the rock fragment. The plastic energy ratio is proved to produce more accurate assessment on the fragmentation efficiency of rocks, and the presented method can provide a theoretical basis for the optimization of drill bit and selection of well drilling as well as for the selection of the rock fragmentation ways.
 
Key Words
    rock indentation; rock fragmentation mechanism; ductile-brittle failure; plastic energy dissipation ratio; rock fragmentation efficiency
 
Address
Xiaohua Zhu: School of Mechatronic Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China

Weiji Liu: 1.) School of Mechatronic Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
2.) Postdoctoral Research Station for Oil and Gas Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610500, China
 

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