Data for Response of a large, low porosity rock sample to hydromechanical loading

Abstract

A unique laboratory framework is developed for measuring hydromechanical parameters in a 6025 mL confined specimen of Westerly blue granite. Tracking the water uptake in the sample shows that infiltration over a length scale of 230 mm is effectively modeled by assuming a sharp front separating saturated and dry regions. Through matching the movement of this front with the experimental data, an estimate of the sample permeability is obtained. In addition, following full saturation, Skempton coefficient B, drained bulk modulus K, unjacketed bulk modulus Ks′, and unjacketed pore modulus Ks'' are determined. Thus, we demonstrate that a single experimental framework for measuring the infiltration and saturation of a large, tight rock specimen provides a significant array of reliable parameters for use in modeling and characterizing critical hydrogeological processes.