Laboratory investigation of the behaviour of Tournemire shale

This paper presents laboratory investigations of the mechanical behaviour of a typical anisotropic rock: Tournemire shale. Hydrostatic compressibility tests allowed characterization of the structural anisotropy of the material. Triaxial compression tests, including unloading cycles, were performed. Anisotropic elastic response, plastic deformation and failure behaviour have been investigated. The elastic behaviour of the shale is non-linear and the shale exhibits large anisotropic plastic deformation. The failure behaviour of the shale is anisotropic and strongly depends on confining pressure and loading orientation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.