Softening Damage Analysis of Gypsum Rock With Water Immersion Time Based on Laboratory Experiment

In view of the effect of water on the physical and mechanical parameters of natural gypsum rock, in this study, gypsum rock in the goaf of a gypsum mine was selected as the research object, and gypsum rock samples were prepared with different immersion times. In addition, uniaxially tests were performed separately on the gypsum rock samples. Compression and scanning electron microscopy experiments were carried out to analyze the effects of immersion time on the uniaxial compressive strength, elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and microstructure of gypsum. The results show that the uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus of gypsum are inversely proportional to the water content. However, the Poisson’s ratio is direly proportional to the water content, and the failure mode is destroyed by the brittle fracture of a single crack and is transformed into the shear ductile failure of the Y-shaped crack. Microscopically, with increasing immersion time, the bonds in the crystal of the microporous cracks and microcrack tips are weakened by hydrolysis, and the macroscopic structure is complicated by the internal structure of gypsum, and the end of the crack is expanded by the compressive action of water. Based on the damage mechanics, the evolution equation of gypsum soaking softening damage based on time factor was derived. The relationship between the brittleness coefficient and softening damage variable is revealed, providing a theoretical basis for the determination of the softening degree of gypsum in the goaf.