Triaxial compression test accompanied by ultrasonic and permeability measurements

A specimen of the low permeability and low porosity Dethlingen Sandstone (k: 0.04 mD, φ: 4.5%) was exposed to a low confining pressure of 10 MPa and a peak axial stress of 250 MPa. The test run is displayed in the graph below. While the stress-strain curve (in green) still takes an apparently linear course, the shear wave velocity (red crosses) is the first to exceed a maximum and subsequently slows down. This reflects the beginning of micro crack formation, and the resulting inner destruction of the sample cylinder. As soon as the micro cracks start to connect, P waves (pink triangles) also decelerate and permeability (to gas ; blue curve) increases instantaneously. From the relationship of the velocity changes between the P and S wave it can be inferred that fracturing follows the main compressive stress σ₁ and that the micro cracks are oriented perpendicular to the least principle stress σ₃ (for details see (Braun & Jahns 1998).