Pressure-induced variations in pore geometry were studied on dry-and fluid-saturated samples by means of electrical impedance spectroscopy and permeability measurements. Hydrostatic pressures (up to 120 MPa) and uniaxial pressures (up to failure) were applied. Hydrostatic pressures reduce the aspect ratio of cracks and thus cause a decrease of permeability and electrical bulk conductivity. The opposite was observed in uniaxial pressure experiments where new cracks were formed and consequently permeability and electrical conductivity were increased. More specific informations of these generated observations were derived from the interpretation of the frequency dispersion of the complex electrical conductivity. This least-squares-refinement considers electrochemical interactions between the fluid pore electrolyte and the inner surface of the sample, thus providing informations on the pore geometry and pressure-induced variations. Consequently changes in aspect ratio, size and geometry of the pore system can be detected by means of impedance spectroscopy.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.