Micromechanical modeling of the effective elastic properties of oolitic limestone

• A new micromechanical approach to analytical modeling of oolitic limestone is proposed.
• Limestone is modeled as a multiphase composite.
• Mesoporosity consists of oblate pores and concave pores in the shape of superspheres.
• The pores concavity factor is the key parameter affecting overall properties.
• Maxwell's homogenization scheme is used to calculate effective bulk and shear moduli.

A new micromechanical approach to analytical modeling of oolitic limestone is proposed. Limestone is modeled as a multiphase composite consisting of sparry calcite matrix, spherical oolitic inhomogeneities, oblate spheroidal pores of aspect ratio 0.2, and concave pores in the shape of superspheres (the concavity factor is the key parameter affecting overall properties). Maxwell's homogenization scheme is used to calculate effective bulk and shear moduli of this multiphase composite as functions of total porosities. The results are in good agreement with experimental data available in the literature.