Abstract
Subcritical crack growth plays an important role in evaluating the long-term stability of structures in rocks. The characteristics of subcritical crack growth can be described by a relationship between the stress intensity factor and the crack velocity. This paper presents the results of studies conducted to validate the constant stress-rate test for determining subcritical crack growth parameters in rocks, compared with the conventional testing method, the double torsion test. Various types of specimens including the Brazilian disk, three-point bending, grooved disk, single edge notched bend, and compact tension specimens have been tested on Coconino sandstone under the constant stress-rate scheme and the subcritical crack growth parameters have been determined. The results of the constant stress-rate test are in good agreement with the results of double torsion test. More importantly, the stress-rate tests can determine the parameter A with a much smaller standard deviation than the DT test. Thus the constant stress-rate test seems to be a valid test method for rocks. The results show that the parameter n is almost constant regardless of the test method and specimen geometry, but the parameter A varies with the test method and specimen geometry.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 166-178 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences |
Volume | 59 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 1 2013 |
Keywords
- Brazilian test
- Coconino sandstone
- Compact tension test
- Constant stress-rate test
- Double torsion test
- Fracture toughness
- Grooved disk test
- Single edge notched bend test
- Stress intensity factor
- Subcritical crack growth
- Three point bending test
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology