Evaluation of Low-Temperature Thermal Strain and Acoustic Emission Characteristics of Granite for Underground Liquid Hydrogen Storage Applications

Jong-Won Lee; Junhyung Choi; Yong-Bok Jung; Chan Park; Myungsun Kim; Min-Jum Kim

doi:10.7474/TUS.2026.36.4.424

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2026 Vol.36, Issue 4 Preview Page Next Page

Original Article

Evaluation of Low-Temperature Thermal Strain and Acoustic Emission Characteristics of Granite for Underground Liquid Hydrogen Storage Applications 액체수소 지하저장 적용을 고려한 화강암의 저온 열변형 및 음향방출 특성 평가

31 August 2026. pp. 424-438

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Abstract

This study investigated the low-temperature thermal strain and acoustic emission (AE) characteristics of Hwangdeung granite for underground liquid hydrogen storage applications. Granite specimens were cooled stepwise from room temperature to -63°C while their thermal strain and AE activity were monitored. To correct the temperature-dependent effects of the strain gauges and measurement system, the measured strains of copper, borosilicate glass, and titanium alloy were compared with reference data from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Thermophysical Research Center (TPRC). The calibration curve derived from the copper specimen was then applied to the granite measurements. Before correction, the apparent strain of the granite specimens reached a maximum near -30°C and then decreased. After correction, the thermal strain decreased almost linearly with temperature, reaching approximately -200 με at -63°C. AE activity increased below approximately -20°C and was concentrated between -30 and -50°C, with the highest proportion of AE hits near -40 °C. These results show that AE activity associated with microcracking can be concentrated within a specific temperature range despite continuous macroscopic thermal contraction. The findings provide fundamental experimental data for evaluating the thermal strain and AE characteristics of rock under low-temperature conditions relevant to underground liquid hydrogen storage.

Keywords

Granite

Low-temperature conditions

Thermal strain

Acoustic emission

Under ground liquid hydrogen storage

본 연구에서는 액체수소 지하저장 적용을 고려하여 저온 조건에서 황등화강암의 열변형 및 음향방출(Acoustic Emission, AE) 특성을 평가하였다. 화강암 시편을 상온에서 -63°C까지 단계적으로 냉각하면서 열변형률과 AE 활동을 측정하였다. 변형률게이지와 계측 시스템의 온도 의존적 영향을 보정하기 위해 구리, 붕규산 유리의 NIST 기준자료 및 티타늄 합금의 TPRC 기준자료와 비교하였으며, 구리에서 도출한 보정곡선을 화강암 시편의 측정값에 적용하였다. 보정 전 화강암 시편의 측정 열변형률은 약 -30°C에서 최대값을 나타낸 후 감소하였다. 반면 보정 후 열변형률은 온도가 낮아짐에 따라 거의 선형적으로 감소하여 -63°C에서 약 -200 με의 열수축을 나타냈다. 화강암 시편의 AE 활동은 약 -20°C 이하에서 증가하기 시작하여 -50~-30°C 구간에 집중되었으며, -40°C 부근에서 AE 신호 발생 비율이 가장 높았다. 이러한 결과는 화강암의 거시적 열수축이 온도에 따라 연속적으로 발생하더라도 미세균열과 관련된 AE 활동은 특정 온도 구간에 집중될 수 있음을 보여준다. 본 연구의 결과는 액체수소 지하저장 적용을 고려한 저온 환경에서 암반의 열변형 및 AE 특성을 평가하기 위한 실험적 기초자료로 활용될 수 있다.

키워드

화강암

저온 조건

열변형

음향방출

액체수소 지하저장

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Information

Publisher :Korean Society for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering
Publisher(Ko) :한국암반공학회
Journal Title :Tunnel and Underground Space
Journal Title(Ko) :터널과 지하공간
Volume : 36
No :4
Pages :424-438
Received Date : 2026-08-10
Revised Date : 2026-08-25
Accepted Date : 2026-08-26
DOI :https://doi.org/10.7474/TUS.2026.36.4.424

Tunnel and Underground SpaceISSN:1225-1275(Print) 2287-1748(Online)한국암반공학회

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