Amplitude-initiated open hysteresis loop of P-wave attenuation in sandstone: experimental study

In the area of solid state physics and materials science, new knowledge has been attained in recent years about micro-nano-plasticity using high-precision measurements at low stresses and strain. Rock microplasticity is currently poorly understood, but in the future it may prove useful in resolving problems of a fundamental and applied nature. This study examines the effect of cyclically varying pulse amplitude and wave velocity on the attenuation parameters of longitudinal wave (P-wave) in sandstone. Laboratory measurements were performed on rock specimens using the reflected wave method in the frequency range of 0.5–1.4 MHz at five values of strain amplitude ~ (0.5-2.0)10 –6 . Trial simulations were performed, in order to establish the effect of amplitude-dependent wave velocity on the parameters of wave attenuation in the sandstone. Wave attenuation behavior under combined action of the amplitude-dependent factor and wave velocity deviation is complex. The change in strain amplitude shifts the attenuation peak 1/ Q p ( f ) in the attenuation-frequency coordinates. The maximum change in peak attenuation value due to the amplitude factor and wave velocity deviation reaches 3–4 %. An open wave attenuation hysteresis loop was identified as a consequence of the closed amplitude cycle A1(+) --- A1(+) --- A1(–), where A1(+) = A1(–). Open attenuation hysteresis occurs both in the cases of constant and variable wave velocities. The length of the open part of the attenuation hysteresis loop relative to the peak value of the attenuation is as follows: for constant wave speed, 62.63 %, in the mode of increasing wave speed, 91.58 %; and, in the mode of decreasing wave speed, 47.01 %. The effect of open hysteresis of wave attenuation in sandstone can be explained by the action of microplastic deformation detected in the experiments.