Experimental techniques for the investigation of coupled phenomena in geomaterials

Abstract. The paper describes different experimental setups and techniques used to investigate coupled stress, fluid (water and air) and temperature effects on geomaterials. Two temperature controlled cells are described: a) a constant volume cell in which thermal pulses can be performed under controlled hydraulic conditions to induce pore pressure build-up during quasi-undrained heating and later dissipation; and b) an axi-symmetric triaxial cell with controlled suction and temperature to perform drained heating and cooling paths under partially saturated states. The paper also presents an experimental setup to perform controlled flow-rate gas injection experiments on argillaceous rocks using a high-pressure triaxial cell. This cell is used to study gas migration phenomena and the conditions under which gas breakthrough processes occur. Selected test results are presented, which show the capabilities of the different experimental setups described to capture main behavioural features.