Laboratory Simulation

Physical simulation in the laboratory is an integral part of studying processes that occur in the depths of the Earth’s crust. Since deformation processes are similar to each other at different scale levels, the laboratory simulation makes it possible to create the model of behavior of geological medium basing on the results of experiments carried out on small rock samples and heterogeneous materials. Pressing of a sample by means of a large-tonnage press allows reproducing the conditions (lithostatic compression in conditions of quasi-stationary load) in which rocks are situated in the depths of the Earth’s crust.

One of the methods of studying the processes of deformation of heterogeneous materials in the method of acoustic emission (AE) along with other measurements such as tenso-measurements, measurements of technological parameters, recording of signals and location of AE sources, measurements of electromagnetic radiation (EMR).  Measurement of tensometric parameters such as pressure load, longitudinal and lateral deformation is an integral part of such experiments since these parameters characterize the stressedly-deformed state of the tested sample.

The Laboratory has been studying the influence of external physical fields (electric, magnetic fields, crossed electromagnetic fields and vibrations) on the rate of growth of microcracks in rock samples by means of AE method since 1996. Presently, the database of laboratory simulation numbers about 50 experiments on different samples of geomaterials with different types of influence. The studies in this research area are in progress.

Presently, the LESMS works in two directions of studying the external energy impacts on geological medium:

- laboratoriy simulation using samples of geomaterials (centimeter sizes of samples – scale of microcrack formation),

- measurements of geoacoustic emission in wells (scale level of micro- and “nanoearthquakes” with the source size from several meters to several tens of meters (magnitudes M<0)).

n">California), granodiorite, halite,    quartzite, marble, gabbro, manufactured materials: ceramic, concrete (with inclusions of granite chips and pyrophyllite).

2007 – creation of the lever press on the base of UDI.

2008 – joint works with V.A.Gavrilov (Institute of Volcanology and Seismology of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences) which initiated the development of a new direction of researches – detection of geophysical medium response to external actions by measuring geoacoustic emission in wells using geoacoustic sensor (geophone).

2008-2009 – development of complex for measuring geoacoustic emission and conduction of the first field measurements.

Presently, we continue our studies in both directions.