Abstract:

Starting from the governing equations of axisymmetric consolidation, together with the technique of Laplace-Hankel transform with respect to time t, coordinate r, and Laplace transform to coordinate z, respectively, a set of linear equations in the transform domain is obtained. After solving these linear equations, the transfer matrix for a single layer rock with anisotropic permeability and compressible constituents is acquired. Based on the continuity and the boundary conditions, the transfer matrix method is utilized to derive the solution of the multilayer rock with anisotropic permeability and compressible constituents in the transform domain. By the inversion of the Laplace-Hankel transform, the solution of consolidation problems for the multilayer rock with anisotropic permeability and compressible constituents in the physical domain is obtained. Numerical calculation and analysis are carried out by the computer program; and the effects of the compressibility of pore fluid and anisotropic permeability on the process of consolidation is discussed. The results show that growing compressible constituents will cause larger immediate settlement of the rock; and the influence of anisotropic permeability on consolidation process is obvious, but minute on initial and immediate settlement.

Key words: multilayer rock, compressible constituents, anisotropic permeability, Laplace-Hankel transform, transfer matrix