Mechanical Characterization of Granite Rock Materials : On the Influence from Pre-Existing Defects

• The length, orientation, and population of pre-existing cracks play an important role in the mechanical response of quasi-brittle materials, such as granite. Specifically, Bohus granite rock is at issue in the present investigation. The aims of this study are (1) to demonstrate the existence and characteristics of pre-existing defects (cracks) in granite rock specimens, and (2) to determine the influence from these defects at characterization of such materials. In doing so, X-ray tomography was the method used to visualize the cracking of three-point bending specimens in the context of pre-existing defects. It was also the intention to relate the experimentally determined effect of these cracks at three-point bending testing with corresponding results from numerical methods and specifically finite-element calculations. In the latter case, the location of these cracks was of primary interest and it was shown that this feature can be of considerable importance at material characterization.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Teknisk mekanik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Applied Mechanics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

mechanical characterization

X-ray computed tomography

pre-existing defects

granite

three-point bending

finite-element simulations

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)