journal article·2025-10-29Open access

Study on Microcracks Propagation of Shale Under Tensile and Shear Loading at Different Confining Pressures

Jianyong Zhang, Longfei Li, Xiaopeng Chen, Zhendong Cui, Chao Jin, Chao Shen, Zhandong Su, Sihan Li, Jinping Liang

Applied Sciences· Volume 15· Issue 21

Abstract

To understand the macroscopic fracture behavior of shale under different confining pressures, it is necessary to study the process of microcrack propagation from a microscopic perspective. In this study, a cohesive zone model for heterogeneous shale based on mineral distribution was constructed. Numerical simulation experiments were conducted under different confining pressures to investigate the effects of confining pressure on the extension of microcracks under tensile and shear loading from three perspectives: microcrack morphology, acoustic emission characteristics, and mechanical responses of different minerals. This study reveals the influence of different confining pressures on the extension of microcracks under tensile and shear loading conditions in shale and their microscopic mechanisms, which holds theoretical and practical significance for the exploitation of deeply buried shale gas.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Rock Mechanics and Modeling · Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis · Coal Properties and Utilization

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

School of Disaster Prevention and Reduction Engineering, Institute of Disaster Prevention, Sanhe 065201, China

Hebei Key Laboratory of Earthquake Disaster Prevention and Risk Assessment, Sanhe 065201, China

College of Energy and Mining Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China

Fujian Xiamen Institute of Geological Engineering, Xiamen 361008, China

Key Laboratory of Deep Petroleum Intelligent Exploration and Development, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China

College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

School of Earth Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, China

Funding

Hebei Natural Science Foundation · Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities · Langfang City Science and Technology Support Plan Project

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