ABSTRACT
In order to understand the effects of different patterns of prefabricated fractures and grain size compositions on the fracture characteristics, acoustic emission characteristics and mechanical properties of the rock masses. We conducted compression shear experiments on square rock masses with different modes of prefabricated fractures and different grain size compositions. The experimental results showed that five fracture patterns were produced in specimens with different fracture patterns. The first fracture specimen, the fourth fracture specimen and the fifth fracture specimen were all brittle fractures. The other four specimens were not brittle fractures. The fracture patterns, fracture processes and mechanical characteristics of the different fracture pattern rock masses were revealed. The lowest peak shear stresses were found in specimens consisting of two grain size ranges and the highest peak shear stresses were found in specimens consisting of three grain size ranges. The highest shear displacements corresponding to the peak shear stresses were found in the specimens consisting of three particle size ranges. The effect of different grain size compositions on the peak shear stress and its corresponding shear displacement of the rock mass was revealed. Specimens consisting of one grain size range produced significant fracture and acoustic emission prior to the peak shear stress. The acoustic emission was jumped after the main fracture was formed. The specimen consisting of two grain size ranges produced fractures and strong acoustic emission characteristics after the peak shear stress. Thereafter, fracture reappeared and the acoustic emission signature increased again. As the specimen entered the residual strength phase, the acoustic emission was jumpy. Specimens consisting of three grain size ranges were brittle fractures with weak acoustic emission characteristics after the main fracture has formed. The cumulative energy of shear acoustic emission was the highest for a rock mass consisting of three grain size ranges. The rock mass consisting of three grain size ranges was also the strongest and most difficult to fracture because the grains were more fully embedded in each other.
ABSTRACT
Grain size composition, crack pattern, and crack length have a significant influence on the crack characteristics, mechanical characteristics, and acoustic emission characteristics of rock masses. In this paper, the crack characteristics, mechanical characteristics, and acoustic emission characteristics of rock masses with different grain size compositions, different crack patterns, and different crack lengths were investigated under uniaxial compression. The rock masses were made of rock-like materials. The crack initiation locations and crack propagation directions were different for a specimen comprised of one grain size range compared with specimens comprised of two or three grain size ranges. The specimens comprised of one and three grain size ranges crack progressively. The specimen comprised of two-grain size ranges brittle fracture. The highest peak axial load was found in the specimens comprised of one grain size range. The results showed that tensile wing crack, anti-tensile wing crack, transverse shear crack, compression induced tensile crack, and surface spalling were produced in specimens with different crack orientations. The rock mass with 2 cm long crack started to produce cracks from the tip of the crack extending to the top and bottom surface, soon forming through cracks. The rock was brittle fracture. The axial load reached the maximum and then fell rapidly. The acoustic emission energy reached a rapid maximum and then decreased rapidly. The rock mass with 3 cm long fissures started to produce cracks that only extended from the tip of the fissures to the top surface but not to the bottom surface. The rock mass was progressively fractured. The axial load was progressively decreasing. The acoustic emission energy also rose and fell rapidly several times as the rock mass was progressively fractured. Different rock crack lengths led to different crack processes and crack patterns, resulting in very different acoustic emission characteristics.
