A breakage–damage framework for porous granular rocks in surface-reactive environments

High-porosity granular rocks are moisture-sensitive solids, in that their strength and deformability modulated by the relative humidity of environment. Here, a novel continuum breakage–damage framework is developed to characterize simulate inelasticity cemented materials subjected changes humidity. A microstructural model proposed describe evolution solid–fluid interfaces emerging from grain breakage cement disintegration. The thermodynamic links energy dissipation macroscopic rate-dependence sandstones. performance assessed against experimental data for sandstones loading under both dry wet conditions. It shown can accurately predict yielding stress–strain response capturing moisture-weakening effects. simulations indicate increase moisture lowers yield stress reduces brittleness post-yielding variably saturated materials. rate damage growth control distortion surface. When dominated damage, bonds disintegrated surface shrinks, thus resulting into augmented brittleness. By contrast, agreement with evidence, lightly solids found be skeletal grains. As result, predicted accompanied hardening behavior.