Stress Path Testing of an Anisotropic Sandstone

The Berea sandstone used in this study is transversely isotropic with respect to elastic response, with P-wave velocities of 2,160 m/s normal to bedding and 2,290 m/s parallel to bedding, a variation of only 6%. Triaxial compression and extension tests involving failure by loading and unloading were performed along the two directions of symmetry. With axial stress applied parallel to bedding, the internal friction angle was approximately 55° for compression and extension, indicating no intermediate stress effect for the linear Mohr -Coulomb criterion. However, for axial stress normal to bedding, the friction angle in compression was 50°, whereas in extension it was 44°. This anomalous behavior was attributed to strength anisotropy of the sandstone.