Micro-fracturing in rock under direct and indirect tensile loading
Micro-fracturing in rock under direct and indirect tensile loading
Effective design in rock engineering applications requires understanding the fracture mechanisms of rock at both macro- and micro-scales. Nonetheless, there remains a gap in understanding why macro and micro-scale fracturing mechanisms diverge. Acoustic emission techniques were utilized to monitor the microcracking processes in granite specimens subjected to indirect (Brazilian) and direct tensile loadings. The varying contributions of shear and tensile microcracks to macro-fracture formation elucidate the discrepancy between direct and indirect tensile strengths. Our findings indicate that the confining stress in the Brazilian test, attributed to its biaxial stress field, along with grain size, are two critical factors influencing microcracking mechanisms in rock. The findings hold potential utility in applications like hydraulic fracturing for geothermal energy extraction, where understanding cracking locations and mechanisms is imperative for improving reservoir productivity.
P. J. Rivard; Ghasem Shams
18th African Regional Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ARCSMGE2024)
Soil characterization
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