Study on the fracture behavior and critical slowing down characteristics of saturated sandstone based on acoustic emission and resistivity

Abstract Water significantly affects the fracture behavior and acoustic emission (AE) characteristics of sandstone, which is crucial for assessing the stability of underground engineering. This study investigates the fracture behavior of four types of saturated sandstone (green, white, brown, and re...

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Main Authors: Yantao Zheng, Changwu Liu, Kunpeng Lu, Hexing Zhang, Bingxi Jian, Wuzhou Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96072-w
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author Yantao Zheng
Changwu Liu
Kunpeng Lu
Hexing Zhang
Bingxi Jian
Wuzhou Zhang
author_facet Yantao Zheng
Changwu Liu
Kunpeng Lu
Hexing Zhang
Bingxi Jian
Wuzhou Zhang
author_sort Yantao Zheng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Water significantly affects the fracture behavior and acoustic emission (AE) characteristics of sandstone, which is crucial for assessing the stability of underground engineering. This study investigates the fracture behavior of four types of saturated sandstone (green, white, brown, and red) using AE and resistivity monitoring techniques during uniaxial compression tests. AE energy, resistivity, and RA–AF parameters were analyzed to comprehensively assess the fracture behavior. Additionally, precursor information of sandstone failure was examined using the critical slowing down theory. The results revealed a decrease in uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus in saturated sandstone, with water softening effects ranked as brown, red, white, and green sandstone. Resistivity variation was highly sensitive to fracture development and demonstrated strong complementarity with AE signals. Crack classification based on the RA–AF parameter aligned with macroscopic failure patterns. Water presence accelerated the initiation of tensile cracks, with growth rates of 13.66%, 13.69%, 14.86%, and 17.53%, correlating with porosity and pore water pressure. The sharp increase in the autocorrelation coefficient and variance of AE parameters (amplitude, RA value, rise time, AE energy) before critical failure indicated a critical slowing down phenomenon, serving as a potential precursor to sandstone failure. Moreover, the sensitivity and reliability of critical slowing down theory in early warning applications were affected by water and porosity, which should be considered in practice.
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issn 2045-2322
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spelling doaj-art-c12400ed12b44c459efd64e13a28f89a2025-08-20T03:10:06ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115112310.1038/s41598-025-96072-wStudy on the fracture behavior and critical slowing down characteristics of saturated sandstone based on acoustic emission and resistivityYantao Zheng0Changwu Liu1Kunpeng Lu2Hexing Zhang3Bingxi Jian4Wuzhou Zhang5College of Water Resource and Hydropower, Sichuan UniversityCollege of Water Resource and Hydropower, Sichuan UniversityKey Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment (Guizhou University), College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ministry of EducationSchool of Civil Engineering, Chongqing UniversityGuizhou Chengqian Mining Development Co., Ltd.School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing UniversityAbstract Water significantly affects the fracture behavior and acoustic emission (AE) characteristics of sandstone, which is crucial for assessing the stability of underground engineering. This study investigates the fracture behavior of four types of saturated sandstone (green, white, brown, and red) using AE and resistivity monitoring techniques during uniaxial compression tests. AE energy, resistivity, and RA–AF parameters were analyzed to comprehensively assess the fracture behavior. Additionally, precursor information of sandstone failure was examined using the critical slowing down theory. The results revealed a decrease in uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus in saturated sandstone, with water softening effects ranked as brown, red, white, and green sandstone. Resistivity variation was highly sensitive to fracture development and demonstrated strong complementarity with AE signals. Crack classification based on the RA–AF parameter aligned with macroscopic failure patterns. Water presence accelerated the initiation of tensile cracks, with growth rates of 13.66%, 13.69%, 14.86%, and 17.53%, correlating with porosity and pore water pressure. The sharp increase in the autocorrelation coefficient and variance of AE parameters (amplitude, RA value, rise time, AE energy) before critical failure indicated a critical slowing down phenomenon, serving as a potential precursor to sandstone failure. Moreover, the sensitivity and reliability of critical slowing down theory in early warning applications were affected by water and porosity, which should be considered in practice.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96072-wSaturated sandstoneAcoustic emissionResistivityFracture behaviorCritical slowing down theory
spellingShingle Yantao Zheng
Changwu Liu
Kunpeng Lu
Hexing Zhang
Bingxi Jian
Wuzhou Zhang
Study on the fracture behavior and critical slowing down characteristics of saturated sandstone based on acoustic emission and resistivity
Scientific Reports
Saturated sandstone
Acoustic emission
Resistivity
Fracture behavior
Critical slowing down theory
title Study on the fracture behavior and critical slowing down characteristics of saturated sandstone based on acoustic emission and resistivity
title_full Study on the fracture behavior and critical slowing down characteristics of saturated sandstone based on acoustic emission and resistivity
title_fullStr Study on the fracture behavior and critical slowing down characteristics of saturated sandstone based on acoustic emission and resistivity
title_full_unstemmed Study on the fracture behavior and critical slowing down characteristics of saturated sandstone based on acoustic emission and resistivity
title_short Study on the fracture behavior and critical slowing down characteristics of saturated sandstone based on acoustic emission and resistivity
title_sort study on the fracture behavior and critical slowing down characteristics of saturated sandstone based on acoustic emission and resistivity
topic Saturated sandstone
Acoustic emission
Resistivity
Fracture behavior
Critical slowing down theory
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96072-w
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