Influences of electrolyte concentration on subcritical crack growth in sandstone in water

Information on subcritical crack growth in rock is essential to ensure the long-term stability of structures in a rock mass. Subcritical crack growth in rock is known to be affected by its surrounding environment. In most cases, rock found underground is saturated by water. The underground water can be fresh water or salt water with variable electrolyte concentrations. However, the influence of electrolyte concentration on subcritical crack growth in rock has not been fully elucidated. In this study, subcritical crack growth in Berea sandstone and Shirahama sandstone was measured when saturated with distilled water and with sodium chloride solutions of differing concentrations. Crack velocity in Berea sandstone changed very little with different electrolyte concentrations. By contrast, in the Shirahama sandstone, crack velocity became lower with increased electrolyte concentrations up to 1.0 mol/l. With increasing electrolyte concentration, the width of the electric double layer on the surface of mineral grains decreased, which caused a decrease in the repulsive force acting on the crack surface, leading to a decrease in crack velocity up to concentrations of 1.0 mol/l. However, when the electrolyte concentration was higher than 1.0 mol/l, crack velocity increased due to the nucleation of microscopic defects on the boundary between clays and stiff mineral grains. Thus, electrolyte concentration affects subcritical crack growth by decreasing the width of the electric double layer and the condensation of clay minerals.