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Saturation-Induced Changes in Static Strength and Dynamic Wave Velocity of Sedimentary Rocks
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DOI：10.1007/s00603-026-05877-2.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
Understanding the role of water saturation in controlling the engineering behavior of sedimentary rocks is essential for reliable geotechnical design. In this research, static and dynamic rock properties were experimentally evaluated under controlled dry and fully saturated conditions. A rigorous experimental program was undertaken, comprising ultrasonic P- and S-wave velocities, evaluation of dynamic elastic parameters, and a comprehensive set of mechanical tests, including uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), Brazilian tensile strength (BTS), point load strength (PLS), and block punch strength (BPS). Mineralogy, petrography, and textural characteristics were independently characterized to assess the mechanisms governing moisture sensitivity beyond lithological classification using thin-section analysis, XRD, and SEM. The findings demonstrate fundamentally contrasting responses of static and dynamic properties to saturation. While dynamic parameters consistently indicate enhanced wave transmission and apparent stiffness, static strength parameters uniformly exhibit degradation. This discrepancy demonstrates that saturation-induced increases in ultrasonic velocities do not reflect mechanical strengthening and should not be interpreted as direct proxies for rock strength. Dynamic responses are primarily governed by pore-fluid effects, whereas static failure is controlled by microstructural weaknesses, pore connectivity, and fabric-related heterogeneity. Correlation analyses indicate that ultrasonic velocities provide unreliable predictions of UCS, whereas PLS, BPS, and BTS offer more robust and practical estimations under both dry and saturated conditions. Comparison with published datasets further highlights the wide scatter of saturation-induced effects within similar lithologies, confirming that lithology alone is insufficient to explain rock behavior. The findings emphasize the necessity of integrating engineering geological characteristics and rock engineering properties to reliably assess rock performance in engineering applications.
Keywords:
Sedimentary rocks
Water saturation
Mechanical behavior
Dynamic properties
Mineralogy
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6.6
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