Influence of relative humidity on fracture toughness of rock: Implications for subcritical crack growth

Information relating to the fracture toughness of geomaterials is critical to our understanding of tensile fracturing, and in particular in geological and rock engineering projects that are subjected to elevated moisture levels. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive set of fracture toughness tests on a suite of key rock types in air under different relative humidities and at constant temperature in order to investigate the influence of relative humidity on fracture toughness. Three sandstones and two igneous rocks were chosen for this purpose. We show that the value of fracture toughness decreases with increasing relative humidity. In addition, we find that the decrease in fracture toughness was more significant when the expansive clay such as smectite was included in rock. Since smectite is prone to expanding in the presence of water, the strength and thus crack growth resistance decrease when relative humidity is high. Therefore, we interpret the decreasing fracture toughness upon the degradation of expansive clays with increasing water content. It was also shown that the decrease of the fracture toughness with increasing humidity is less significant than the concomitant decrease in the measured value of the subcritical stress intensity factor. This was likely as a result of stress corrosion having little influence on the fracture toughness. We conclude that crack growth in rock is affected by humidity, and that clay content is an important contributing factor to changes in fracture toughness and subcritical stress intensity factor.     

Subcritical crack growth of edge and center cracks in façade rock panels subject to periodic surface temperature variations

This paper examines subcritical cracking in a rock panel or slab containing either a pre-existing edge or a center crack perpendicular to the panel surface. The panel is subject to periodic surface temperature variation on one side of the panel while the other is kept at a constant temperature. The thermally induced stress intensity factors are determined using superposition technique by employing the fundamental point load solution for an edge crack or a center crack in a slab of finite thickness. Rock panel is modeled as a long elastic strip with either a free or a fully constrained lateral end condition. The temperature variations versus time at various depths of the rock panel appear roughly as a sinusoidal function. The lateral thermal stress for the free end case is larger than the constrained end case; whereas stress intensity factors for both edge and center cracks in the constrained end slab are 1000 times larger than that of free end case. Subcritical crack propagation in rock panels on façade is then estimated as a function of time. This subcritical crack propagation continues until a critical crack size is attained and the rock panel will fail under wind load. This new theoretical framework provides a new paradigm to examine the mechanisms of time-dependent cracking in rock panels on façade of buildings.     

Effect of humidity and R-ratio on the near threshold fatigue crack growth of two granular bainitic microstructures

The present report has shown that in ferrite-martensite microstructures, the relative humidity of an air environment can affect both the near threshold fatigue crack growth behaviour and the intermediate Stage II fatigue characteristics. The magnitude of the threshold stress intensity, ΔK_th, was not affected by relative humidity and the significant effect of R-ratio on ΔK_th was suitably demonstrated.The relative humidity affected the nature of both the subcritical static failure mode and the final stage III static failure mode. A direct relationship between the degree of fatigue crack growth enhancement and the extent of transgranular cleavage was evidenced.     

冻融循环对含纯Ⅰ型裂隙围岩的动态起裂特性影响规律

以寒区隧道为工程背景研究在冻融循环作用下围岩内Ⅰ型裂纹的动态起裂特性演化规律,采用隧道模型试件作为研究对象,开展冻融循环试验与大尺度落锤冲击试验,得到岩石试件经历不同冻融循环次数后的相关力学参数,并在裂纹尖端粘贴裂纹扩展计(crack propagation gauge, CPG)测量预制裂纹的动态起裂时间。采用有限元软件建立相应的数值模型计算裂纹尖端的动态应力强度因子,采用试验-数值法计算动态起裂韧度,随后采用电镜对冻融循环后的试样进行扫描,研究冻融循环对岩石材料的细观损伤机制。研究结果表明:随着冻融循环次数的增加,岩石材料的纵波、横波波速与弹性模量逐渐减小,而泊松比逐渐增大;砂岩材料的动态起裂韧度随着冻融循环次数的增加逐渐减小,表征线性反比例的特性;材料内部的胶结物质会由于冻融循环的影响而流失,材料的孔隙和裂纹也随着冻融循环次数的增加而变多变大。     

Initiation and stable growth of penny-shaped crack in aging viscoelastic transversally isotropic material

Considered is the long-term cracking of an aging transversally isotropic material containing a Mode I penny-shaped crack under remotely applied tensile stress. The aging material properties are described by the Boltzmann–Volterra’s linear theory for integral operators with non-difference kernels. It applied to wood, concrete, some polymers and rocks. Only the symmetric case is considered where the crack lies in the plane of isotropy. The modified Leonov–Panasyuk–Dugdale’s crack model is used with a constant process zone assuming that the critical opening displacement is the fracture criterion. Volterra’s principle is applied to derive the equations of subcritical crack growth. Numerical calculations are made for subcritical crack growth for the specific example of transversally isotropic material simulating the behavior of reinforced concrete.     

爆炸载荷下板条边界斜裂纹的动态扩展行为

为了研究爆炸应力波作用下板条边界斜裂纹的动态扩展行为,首先分析了爆炸应力波在含边界斜裂纹板条中的传播,其次采用动态焦散线实验方法,进行了爆炸载荷下板条边界斜裂纹扩展规律的实验研究.研究结果表明,爆炸应力波作用下,板条试件边界斜裂纹的扩展过程中,裂纹扩展速度、扩展加速度和裂尖动态应力强度因子随时间波动变化,扩展速度最大值...     

侧向受拉脆性岩石压缩本构及蠕变失效研究

轴向压缩作用下,脆性岩石侧向应力严重影响岩石力学特性。侧向压应力影响下的轴向压缩岩石力学行为已经得到广泛研究,然而侧向拉应力对轴向压缩岩石力学行为影响研究很少。本文基于脆性岩石翼型裂纹扩展模型中,初始裂纹面法向应力与剪切应力的正负方向为判断依据,研究了侧向拉应力对轴向压缩力学行为的影响。发现恒定的侧向拉应力作用下,轴向压缩应力渐进变化过程中,脆性岩石内部细观初始裂纹面的法向应力只能为压缩应力,不存在拉应力情况。分析了从侧向压应力到拉应力转化过程中,脆性岩石轴向压应力与细观裂纹扩展长度关系、轴向压应力与轴向应变关系、岩石峰值强度、裂纹启裂应力及初始弹性模量的变化规律。并分析了侧向拉应力对岩石蠕变裂纹长度、裂纹速率、轴向应变及应变率演化曲线,以及对蠕变失效时间及稳态蠕变应变率的影响。讨论了侧向拉压应力突变转化以及侧向拉应力分级增大对轴向压缩岩石蠕变演化行为影响。该研究为深部地下工程围岩稳定性评价提供了一定理论依据。     

Combined compressive-shear fracture of rocks

Investigations are made on the combined compressive-shear fracture of rocks. Three types of specimens are considered. They involve no precracking, fatigue crack, and mechanically cut crack. The critical shear stress and critical stress intensity factor of diorite-porphyrite are obtained.Fracture pattern in rocks under compressive-shear loading is determined experimentally based upon which fracture criterion is assumed. Significant information on the stability of rock mass and mechanism of tectonic fracture can be gained.     

岩石蠕变断裂特性的试验研究

以一类红砂岩为例对蠕变条件下岩石裂纹的起裂和扩展的机理、准则进行了试验研究和理论分析．试验结果表明，岩石裂纹常常在初始应力强度因子KI小于断裂韧度KIC的情况下，经过一段时间的持续蠕变变形产生裂纹起裂和扩展．当然，初始应力强度因子KI小于断裂韧度KIC是有限度的，KI不得小于另一固定值KIC2，KIC2表征了岩石在蠕变条件下抵抗裂纹起裂和扩展的能力，而且其值小于KIC，可称之为蠕变断裂韧度．在岩石工程的设计和计算中，KIC2是一个重要参数．     

Finite element analysis for steady-state hydride-induced fracture in metals by composite model

Delayed hydride cracking, which is observed in hydride-forming metals, due to the precipitation of hydrides near the crack tip, is investigated under conditions of constant temperature and crack velocity, plane strain and small-scale hydride-precipitation. The coupling of the operating physical processes of hydrogen-diffusion, hydride precipitation and material deformation is taken into account. The material is assumed to be an elastic composite made of hydrides and solid solution, with properties depending locally on the volume fraction of the hydrides. In the present analysis, the composite elastic properties have been derived by a generalized self consistent model for particulate composites. With respect to hydride-precipitation, two cases have been considered: (i) precipitation in a homogeneous medium with elastic properties, equal to the effective properties of the composite and (ii) precipitation in an inhomogeneous medium, where the expanding hydride has different elastic properties than those of the surrounding solid solution. The differences between the near-tip field distributions, produced by the two precipitation models, are relatively small. The effect of the hydrogen concentration far from the crack tip, on the near-tip field is also studied. It is shown that for small crack growth velocities, near the threshold stress intensity factor, the remote hydrogen concentration weakly affects the normalized stress distribution in the hydride-precipitation zone, which is controlled by the thermodynamically required hydrostatic stress, under hydrogen chemical equilibrium. However, for values of the applied stress intensity factor and the crack tip velocity, away from the threshold stress intensity factor and crack arrest, the effect of remote hydrogen concentration on the normalized near-tip stress field is strong. Reduction of the remote hydrogen concentration generally leads to reduction of the hydride-precipitation zone and increase of the near-tip stresses. Also reduction of the remote hydrogen concentration leads to distributions closer to those under hydrogen chemical equilibrium.     

Stress-intensity distributions for corner cracks emanating from open holes in plates of finite width

A series of frozen stress photoelastic tests is carried out in the present investigation. Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics is used to analyze the problem of a part-through corner crack at an open hole in a plate of finite width loaded in tension. The photoelastic modeling capability of three-dimensional subcritical crack growth problems is assessed. This is achieved by comparing monotonically grown flaw shapes in epoxy models with crack profiles relative to fatigue crack propagation tests in a different material. Photoelastic stress-intensity factor distributions are checked against numerical results obtained for quarter elliptical geometries. The dependence of stress intensity factors on flaw shape is also discussed.     

Simulation of glass cutting with an impinging hot air jet

Thermal cutting of glass sheet due to an impinging hot air jet is simulated and analyzed. Induced thermal stresses due to the moving heat source can be used to stably initiate and attract a crack toward the jet axis. Relative motion between the jet and glass sheet then can be used to cut the glass sheet. This paper presents a theoretical study of this process for straight cuts. Process simulation is accomplished by analyzing the coupled temperature and stress fields together with the fracture mechanics criteria for the crack growth.A finite element remeshing technique is employed for the analysis and singular elements are used around the crack tip for a more precise computing of the stress intensity factor. It is shown that a certain minimum air jet temperature for a given nozzle velocity and a certain maximum air jet velocity for a given temperature are required for continuous cutting. The results of the simulation show a good agreement with the published results in the literature. However a variating nature is detected for the distance between the crack tip and the air jet nozzle from a starting value to the steady-state one.     

Propagating semi-infinite crack in fluid-saturated porous medium of finite height

Derived in this work are the Mode I stress intensity factor results for a constant velocity semi-infinite crack moving in a fluid-saturated porous medium with finite height. Two limiting cases are discussed; they correspond to a low and high speed crack propagation. To be expected is that the crack front stress intensification would increase as the medium height is reduced in relation to the segment length in which mechanical pressure is applied. Moreover, the stress intensity factor for the high speed crack is larger than the low speed crack, the magnification of which depends on the material. Dissatisfaction of the crack surface and tip boundary condition is found in the present solution which calls possibly for the additional consideration of a local boundary layer as discussed by other authors.     

Pre-kinking of a moving crack in a magnetoelectroelastic material under in-plane loading

A constant moving crack in a magnetoelectroelastic material under in-plane mechanical, electric and magnetic loading is studied for impermeable crack surface boundary conditions. Fourier transform is employed to reduce the mixed boundary value problem of the crack to dual integral equations, which are solved exactly. Steady-state asymptotic fields near the crack tip are obtained in closed form and the corresponding field intensity factors are expressed explicitly. The crack speed influences the singular field distribution around the crack tip and the effects of electric and magnetic loading on the crack tip fields are discussed. The crack kinking phenomena is investigated using the maximum hoop stress intensity factor criterion. The magnitude of the maximum hoop stress intensity factor tends to increase as the crack speed increases.     

砂岩脆性变形破坏过程中声发射信息试验研究

针对砂岩试样进行了单轴刚性加载试验,并测试整个过程的声发射信息。根据试验情况,可将砂岩在整个变形阶段的声发射信号特征划分为压密、弹性、稳定破裂、非稳定破裂和峰后情况五个阶段。通过对稳定破裂和非稳定破裂分界点对应的临界点处的应力和应变值与峰值应力及其对应的应变比值分析发现,大部分应变比在74%与78%之间;应力比则相对具有较大的离散性,均值在73%左右。上述研究,通过对砂岩脆性破坏过程中声发射信息与应力比和应变比之间的关系分析,增进了对岩石破裂过程中生发现象的认识,为相应岩石脆性破坏导致的地质灾害分析提供了新的研究思路。     

Rock burst of deep circular tunnels surrounded by weakened rock mass with cracks

Rock masses containing pre-existing cracks are considered as non-homogeneous geomaterials. During excavation of tunnels, pre-existing cracks may nucleate, grow and propagate through rock matrix, then secondary cracks may appear. The stress concentration at the tips of secondary cracks is comparatively large, which may lead to the unstable growth and coalescence of secondary cracks, and consequently the occurrence of fractured zones. For brittle rocks, the dissipative energy of slip and growth of pre-existing cracks and secondary crack growth is small, but the elastic strain energy storing in rock masses may be larger than the dissipative energy of slip and growth of pre-existing macrocracks and secondary crack growth. The sudden release of the residual elastic strain energy may lead to rock burst in crack-weakened rock masses. Based on this understanding, the criteria of rock burst in crack-weakened rock masses are established. The influences of the in situ stresses, micromechanical parameters and physico-mechanical parameters on the distribution of rock burst zones and area of rock burst zones are investigated in detail.     

Dynamic crack growth under stress wave loading

The crack growth process has been analysed on the basis of a fracture criterion of a dynamic stress intensity factor when a crack in an infinite plate was subjected to a pulse type of stress wave. The crack velocity and the amount of crack extension were related to the constant amplitude and the duration of the stress pulse. The calculated amount of crack extension was well in agreement with the experimental one for the polymer material Acrylite (which is similar to polymethylmethacrylate) found by the authors, thus indicating the validity of the present approach.     

裂纹扩展速度对焦散线的影响和动态应力光学常数的测定

本文从焦散线形成原理的数学描述出发,用扩展裂纹尖端附近的应力分量表达式,在前人工作的基础上,作了详细的数值计算。特别分析了裂纹扩展速度对焦散斑和初始曲线的形状、大小的影响,为测量扩展裂纹尖端的动态应力强度因子K_1~d提供了依据,并通过拟合得到了以裂纹扩展速度为参量的修正因子表达式。本文还提出了一种测定透明材料动态应力光学常数的方法,并用这一方法测定了有机玻璃的动态应力光学常数。     

ANTI-PLANE FRACTURE ANALYSIS OF FUNCTIONALLY GRADIENT MATERIAL INFINITE STRIP WITH FINITE WIDTH

The special case of a crack under mode III conditions was treated, lying parallel to the edges of an infinite strip with finite width and with the shear modulus varying exponentially perpendicular to the edges. By using Fourier transforms the problem was formulated in terms of a singular integral equation. It was numerically solved by representing the unknown dislocation density by a truncated series of Chebyshev polynomials leading to a linear system of equations. The stress intensity factor (SIF) results were discussed with respect to the influences of different geometric parameters and the strength of the non-homogeneity. It was indicated that the SIF increases with the increase of the crack length and decreases with the increase of the rigidity of the material in the vicinity of crack. The SIF of narrow strip is very sensitive to the change of the non-homogeneity parameter and its variation is complicated. With the increase of the non-homogeneity parameter, the stress intensity factor may increase, decrease or keep constant, which is mainly determined by the strip width and the relative crack location. If the crack is located at the midline of the strip or if the strip is wide, the stress intensity factor is not sensitive to the material non-homogeneity parameter.     

受载高聚物裂尖的损伤和银纹化

采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)，对高聚物裂尖银纹损伤的引发和演化过程进行了原位观测．将固态高聚物本体材料视为线黏弹体，裂尖银纹区视为非线性损伤区，通过构造银纹区的损伤演化方程，给出了银纹区应力模型和银纹生长规律，数值结果与已有实验吻合良好。