Figure 7
From: Stress field disruption allows gas-driven microdeformation in bentonite to be quantified
Modification of a conceptual diagram after16, demonstrating that the polarity metric provides quantitative evidence of the change in gas pathway behaviour during gas injection of bentonite. The following phases are identified: (a) gas has entered the clay and pathways beginning to open whilst gas pressure continues to rise, (b) gas is able to escape, pathways become unstable and may close and reopen as gas pressure peaks, (c) gas pressure declines sufficiently for gas pathways to continue to close.
