FAILURE PROCESS OF GRANITE

The initiation, development, and coalescence of cracks when a rock specimen is loaded have been studied by various researchers. The current consensus is that such a complex process is however not yet fully understood. In this study, the problem has been revisited by carrying out extensive testing on granite specimens. Each specimen was loaded under uniaxial loading conditions to various load levels in both prepeak and postpeak ranges. After unloading, the crack patterns were printed onto the surface of a piece of resin. The images of the patterns were then captured using a digital camera through optical microscope or scanning electron microscope. Statistical analyses on these images were then carried out using an image analysis software. The study focuses on cracking behavior of the various mineral components of the granite and their respective roles in the failure process. In addition, a numerical model was developed to simulate the test results and a parametric study was carried out to investigate the effects of various factors (heterogeneity index, C/T ratio, grain arrangement, and grain size, etc.) on the failure behavior of the granite. The study provides insight on the development of cracks, especially in the postpeak range. A better understanding on the roles of the major minerals in the failure process of granite has been achieved.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/15323641
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Li, Li
  • Lee, PKK
  • Tsui, Y
  • Tham, L G
  • TANG, C A
• Publication Date: 2003-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 84-98
• Serial:
  • International Journal of Geomechanics
  • Volume: 3
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 1532-3641
  • EISSN: 1943-5622
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/journal/ijgnai

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acoustic detectors; Bedrock; Cracking; Failure analysis; Foundation engineering; Geophysics; Geotechnical engineering; Granite; Rock fracture; Rock mechanics
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; I43: Rock Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00961750
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 27 2003 12:00AM