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09:12
A Method for Studying the Temperature Dependence of Dynamic Fracture and Fragmentation
Published on: June 28, 2015
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Experimental constraints on dynamic fragmentation as a dissipative process during seismic slip.
Troy Barber1, W Ashley Griffith2
1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA.
Summary
Earthquake rupture causes rock fragmentation. New experiments show Arkansas Novaculite (AN) fragments more than Westerly Granite (WG), dissipating more energy into brittle fracture.
Area of Science:
- Rock Mechanics
- Seismology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Earthquake rupture generates fault damage fabrics through brittle deformation at high strain rates.
- A critical stress-strain rate threshold governs the transition from discrete fracturing to intense rock fragmentation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify fracture surface area during dynamic fragmentation of Arkansas Novaculite (AN) and Westerly Granite (WG) under uniaxial compression.
- To investigate the influence of pre-existing mineral anisotropy on microscale dissipative processes during rock failure.
Main Methods:
- Experimental dynamic fragmentation tests using uniaxial compressive loading.
- Quantification of newly produced fracture surface area per unit mass.
- Estimation of energy dissipated into brittle fracture.
Main Results:
- Arkansas Novaculite (AN) exhibited significantly greater fracture surface area (approx. 6.0 m²g⁻¹) compared to Westerly Granite (WG) (0.07 m²g⁻¹).
- Energy dissipation into brittle fracture was substantial for AN (10%–40%) and significant for WG (approx. 5%).
Conclusions:
- Mineral anisotropy influences the extent of fragmentation and energy dissipation during dynamic rock failure.
- Results provide insights into energy partitioning in earthquakes and scaling of laboratory experiments to natural fault zones.
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