Experimental Investigation and Numerical Modeling of Elastic Modulus Variation with Stress during Hydration and Expansion Process of Static Cracking Agent

Based on the “axial-output method”, the time histories of radial and axial expansive pressures during the hydration process of static cracking agent (SCA) in a cylinder with various diameters were obtained by experiments. With the load input taken as the product of the normalized axial expansive pressure and the amplitude coefficient, a finite element model was established to simulate the experimental chemical expansion process of SCA. The relationships between elastic modulus, radial and axial expansive pressures were then obtained. The results indicate that the elastic modulus increases with increasing radial and axial expansive pressures, and then tends to be constant. The effect of Poisson’s ratio was discussed with the elastic modulus unchanged. It is shown that the Poisson’s ratio is inversely proportional to the amplitude coefficient, and has no effect on the ratio between the axial and radial expansive pressures. Finally, a mechanical model for the variation of elastic modulus with stress during the hydration process of static cracking agent was established in terms of the major principal stress. The model was verified by the experimental results, which can be extended for numerical simulation of SCA expansion under other compressive loading conditions, and then provide practical mechanical parameters for engineering application of SCA.