Increasing Density of 3D-Printed Sandstone through Compaction

Kevin J. Hodder, Angel J. Sanchez-Barra, Sergey Ishutov, Gonzalo Zambrano-Narvaez and Rick J. Chalaturnyk
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Kevin J. Hodder: Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Angel J. Sanchez-Barra: Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Sergey Ishutov: Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Gonzalo Zambrano-Narvaez: Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Rick J. Chalaturnyk: Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-15

Abstract: The geomechanical and transport properties of rocks are of great importance to geoscience and engineering, as these properties provide responses to external stresses and flow regimes in the subsurface. Typically, experiments conducted on cores from reservoir formations have a degree of uncertainty, due to the heterogeneous characteristics of rock samples. To combat this uncertainty, binder-jet additive manufacturing (3D printing) is an emerging technology to characterize natural porous media in a repeatable fashion. In this study, the 3D printing sandstone analogue involved sand powder and organic binder to mimic silica grains and cement in natural sandstone. The use of compaction rollers and the adjustment of printing parameters allowed one to test how the porosity and strength of 3D-printed samples can replicate the transport and geomechanical properties of natural sandstone. The densities of samples were increased by ~15% and compressive strength by ~65% with the use of the larger roller. This is a promising alternative to experimental testing to calibrate numerical models in geoscience and engineering. The significance of this approach is to allow for customizable porosity, permeability, and strength in rock samples, while preserving scarce natural rock samples.

Keywords: 3D printing; sand; porosity; compaction; density; rock (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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