The mechanical property of montmorillonite clay at high pressure and implications on fault behavior
Abstract
Preconsolidated montmorillonite clay was deformed up to 30% strain at confining pressures up to 4 kb (400 Mpa) under undrained conditions. The deformation was characterized by plastic yield, strain hardening, a broad peak strength at large strain, and a gradual decline in strength thereafter. In some cases the sample was ruptured, with stress drop of the order of 0.1 kb. At confining pressures greater than 2 kb, the peak strength was about 0.35 kb and did not depend markedly upon confining pressure. These results may have important implications on the stability and the strength of faults.
- Publication:
-
Geophysical Research Letters
- Pub Date:
- June 1979
- DOI:
- 10.1029/GL006i006p00476
- Bibcode:
- 1979GeoRL...6..476W
- Keywords:
-
- Physical Properties of Rocks: Elasticity;
- fracture;
- and flow