Micro-XCT images, grain size distributions and mechanical data used in: "Uniaxial compaction of sand using 4D X-ray tomography: The effect of mineralogy on grain-scale compaction mechanisms."

Van Stappen, Jeroen. F.; Hangx, Suzanne J.T.;

2020 || YoDa Data Repository, Utrecht University, Netherlands

The mechanical behaviour of sand aggregates is often studied as a proxy for poorly consolidated sands and highly porous sandstones. Only recently research aimed at understanding sand deformation has started to use techniques that allow for direct observation of the in-situ grain-scale processes. Using state-of-the-art, time-lapse micro X-ray computed tomography (micro-XCT) imaging, the influence of mineralogy on the compaction of sand aggregates has been investigated by performing uniaxial compaction experiments on four different mineral assemblies (quartz, K-feldspar, quartz + K-feldspar and quartz + K-feldspar + clay) at room temperature and dry conditions. For the experiments, a bespoke uniaxial compaction device (sample diameter 2 mm) was constructed and coupled with micro-XCT imaging. This enabled in-situ observation of the strain-accommodating processes during deformation. To verify that the microstructural evolution observed in the small-scale experiments is representative for larger aggregate behaviour, conventional, centimetre-sized, control experiments were performed. The observed inelastic deformation was mainly accommodated by processes such as intragranular cracking and intergranular sliding. At low axial stresses (10 MPa), grain fracturing mainly occurred in K-feldspar grains, if present, along cleavage planes. Only at higher axial stresses, fracturing of quartz grains, if present, was also observed. Presence of clays, in pores and grain contacts, delayed the onset of quartz grain breakage and enhanced porosity reduction as clay in grain contacts facilitated grain sliding and rearrangement.
The data provided in this dataset include all micro-XCT images, the grain size distributions determined using a Malvern Instruments Mastersizer S long bed particle sizer, the grain size distributions determined based on the micro-XCT images, and the mechanical data obtained in uniaxial compaction tests on pure quartz, pure feldspar, a mixture of quartz and feldspar, and a mixture of quartz, feldspar and clay material.
The mechanical data illustrates the stresses and strains during small-scale experiments which were imaged using X-ray tomography. All scans on which the manuscript is based are provided as a series of .tif-images which together form the 3D micro-XCT data.

Originally assigned keywords

Corresponding MSL vocabulary keywords

MSL enriched keywords

Originally assigned sub domains
  • rock and melt physics
MSL enriched sub domains
  • rock and melt physics
  • analogue modelling of geologic processes
  • microscopy and tomography
Source http://dx.doi.org/10.24416/UU01-DHYKQ1
Source publisher YoDa Data Repository, Utrecht University, Netherlands
DOI 10.24416/UU01-DHYKQ1
Authors
Contributors
  • Experimental rock deformation/HPT-Lab (Utrecht University, The Netherlands)
  • HostingInstitution
References
  • Cuesta Cano, A., Van Stappen, J. F., Wolterbeek, T. K. T., & Hangx, S. J. T. (2021). Uniaxial compaction of sand using 4D X-ray tomography: The effect of mineralogy on grain-scale compaction mechanisms. Materials Today Communications, 26, 101881. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2020.101881
  • 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2020.101881
  • IsSupplementTo
Contact
  • Experimental rock deformation/HPT-Lab (Utrecht University, The Netherlands)
Citation Van Stappen, J. F., & Hangx, S. J. T. (2020). Micro-XCT images, grain size distributions and mechanical data used in: "Uniaxial compaction of sand using 4D X-ray tomography: The effect of mineralogy on grain-scale compaction mechanisms.". Utrecht University. https://doi.org/10.24416/UU01-DHYKQ1
Geo location(s)
  • Qz sand from Beaujean quarry near Heerlen, The Netherlands; K-feldspar acquired from Amberger Kaolinwerke as Feldspar FS 900 S; Clay obtained from the Clay Minerals Society as SAz-1, from the Bidahochi Formation in Arizona, USA.