Abstract

A simple procedure for the determination of the effective Young's modulus of rock is presented. The method uses the elastic compliance calibration of fracture toughness test specimen geometry. Specimen compliance is measured with various sized three-point bend and compact tension specimens of granite. The experimental results show that the deformation behavior of the granite is significantly nonlinear and the specimen compliance is dependent on the loading level. A sharply notched specimen is successfully used to determine the effective Young's modulus rather than a fatigue precracked one because of the strong effect of fatigue loading on the specimen compliance. The effective Young's modulus evaluated by the compliance method coincides well with the Young's modulus determined from uniaxial tension tests and shows no specimen size or geometry effects. The effect of water environment on the effective Young's modulus is also investigated by this method.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Keywords:
rocks, rock fracture, cracking, effective Young's modulus, compliance method, rock fracture mechanics, three-point bend, compact tension, microcracking

References

1.
Schmidt
,
R. A.
 and
Lutz
,
T. J.
, “
KIC and JIC of Westerly Granite-Effects of Thickness and in-Plane Dimensions
,” in
Fracture Mechanics Applied to Brittle Materials, Proceedings of the Eleventh National Symposium on Fracture Mechanics: Part II, STP 678
,
American Society for Testing and Materials
,
Philadelphia
,
1979
, pp.
166
-
182
.
2.
Weisinger
,
R.
,
Costin
,
L. S.
, and
Lutz
,
T. J.
, “
KIC and JIC-Resistance-Curve Measurements on Nevada Tuff
,”
Experimental Mechanics
, Vol.
20
, No.
2
,
02
1980
, pp.
68
-
72
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
3.
Nagaoka
,
H.
, “
Elastic Constants of Rocks and the Velocity of Seismic Waves
,”
Publications of the Earthquake Investigation Committee
,
Tokyo
, Vol.
4
,
1900
, pp.
47
-
67
.
4.
Cannaday
,
F. X.
, “
Modulus of Elasticity of a Rock Determined by Four Method
,”
U.S. Bureau of Mines Reports of Investigations
,
Washington, DC
,
1964
, p. 6533.
5.
Fairhurst
,
C.
, “
Laboratory Measurement of Some Physical Properties of Rock
,” in
Proceedings of the Fourth Symposium on Rock Mechanics
,
Hartman
 
H. L.
, Ed.,
Pennsylvania State University
,
University Park, PA
,
1961
, pp.
105
-
118
.
6.
Tada
,
H.
,
The Stress Analysis of Cracks Handbook
,
Del Research Corp.
,
Hellertown, PA
,
1973
.
7.
Saxena
,
A.
 and
Hudak
,
S. J.
, Jr., “
Review and Extension of Compliance Information for Common Crack Growth Specimens
,”
International Journal of Fracture
, Vol.
14
, No.
5
,
10
1978
, pp.
453
-
468
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
8.
Wawersik
,
W. R.
 and
Brace
,
W. F.
, “
Post-Failure Behaviour of a Granite and Diabase
,”
Rock Mechanics
 0035-7448 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01239627, Vol.
3
, No.
2
,
06
1971
, pp.
61
-
85
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
9.
Peng
,
S. S.
, “
A Note on the Fracture Propagation and Time-Dependent Behaviour of Rocks in Uniaxial Tension
,”
International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences and Geomechanics Abstracts
, Vol.
12
, No.
4
,
04
1975
, pp.
125
-
127
.
10.
Creager
,
M.
 and
Paris
,
P. S.
, “
Elastic Field Equation for Blunt Cracks with Reference to Stress Corrosion Cracking
,”
International Journal of Fracture Mechanics
 0376-9429, Vol.
3
, No.
4
,
12
1967
, pp.
247
-
252
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
11.
Suzuki
,
K.
, “
Measurements on the Physical Properties of Sandstones
,”
Journal of the Mining and Metallurgical Institute of Japan
, Vol.
70
, No.
790
,
04
1954
, pp.
133
-
137
(in Japanese).
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
12.
Jaeger
,
J. C.
 and
Cook
,
N. G. W.
,
Fundamentals of Rock Mechanics
,
Methuen
,
London
,
1969
.
13.
Budiansky
,
B.
 and
O'Connell
,
R. J.
, “
Elastic Moduli of a Cracked Solid
,”
International Journal of Solids and Structures
 0020-7683 https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-7683(76)90044-5, Vol.
12
, No.
2
,
02
1976
, pp.
81
-
97
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
14.
Horii
,
H.
 and
Nemat-Nasser
,
S.
, “
Overall Moduli of Solids with Microcracks: Load-Induced Anisotropy
,”
Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids
 0022-5096 https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-5096(83)90048-0, Vol.
31
, No.
2
,
1983
, pp.
155
-
171
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
This content is only available via PDF.
All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or copied, in whole or in part, in any printed, mechanical, electronic, film, or other distribution and storage media, without the written consent of ASTM International.
You do not currently have access to this content.