The effect of meso-structure on temperature distribution in shale subject to freeze-thaw conditions

摘要

The mesostructure of rock subject to freeze-thaw cycles closely controls its complex thermal and mechanical characteristics. Combining digital image processing technology with the finite element program ANSYS, CT images of shale undergoing freeze-thaw cycles have been analyzed. Digital image processing has been used to construct a digital representation of the spatial distribution of different materials in shale, and an accurate model of the meso-structure model thereby obtained. Thus, numerical simulations of an actual meso-structure subject to freeze-thaw cycles have been performed. The simulation results show that the meso-structure of shale has a significant influence on the temperature field distribution during the freeze-thaw process. The proposed approach can provide a new way to research the mechanisms leading to frost heave and thaw settlement,and the consolidation of frozen ground. In addition, it can be adopted to produce a quantitative analysis of the thermal and mechanical characteristics of rock subject to freeze-thaw conditions.