Creep and time-dependent damage in argillaceous rocks

This paper presents the results of laboratory tests on the time-dependent behaviour of three rocks characterized by a high proportion of clay particles. The viscosity of these sedimentary rocks was studied under different loading conditions in uniaxial compression: static or cyclic creep tests and quasistatic tests (low-loading strain rate) were performed across various orientations of fabric planes.The quasistatic tests showed similarities in the mechanical response of these three argillaceous rocks: a late phase of dilation and a linear development of volumetric deformation before the beginning of unstable crack propagation. The development of secondary and tertiary creep phases during the creep tests highlighted the existence of a deviatoric stress threshold, below which only primary creep is observed. Long-term creep tests also showed that the volumetric variation is not constant during the development of viscoplastic deformations.A microstructural analysis of thin sections extracted from specimens after the tests, gave evidence of cataclastic and granular creep. Damage to the argillaceous matrix occurs and no cracks were observed in the quartz and carbonate grains. This evidence was also demonstrated for tests with loading at a high strain rate.Finally, this study highlights the significant viscoplasticity of argillaceous rocks. The mechanical properties deteriorate rapidly when crack propagation becomes unstable and the viscoplastic strains seem to be due to clay particle slips, known as granular creep.