SHEAR FRACTURE ENERGY OF STRIPA GRANITE - RESULTS OF CONTROLLED TRIAXIAL TESTING

We have performed controlled triaxial experiments on Stripa granite in a 'nearly stiff' environment. This means that, before the commencement of loading, an initial confining pressure was 'locked' in the pressurizing chamber of the triaxial vessel. During the axial loading of the sample, the confining pressure was unavoidably increased, opposing largely the 'free' expansion of the sample due to overall microcracking. Further increase in confining pressure beyond the peak load resulted from the dilation of the formed shear fracture, during shear displacement. Under triaxial testing condition a reasonable assumption is that the shear fracture in the specimen is a consequence of pure shear (mode II) state of stress prevailing in the sample, in the vicinity of a 'bandlike' zone, from which the shear fracture propagated. Under this assumption and by the relevant fracture mechanics approach incorporating the 'slip weakening' model, shear fracture energy of Stripa granite was estimated. The results were compared with those estimated through controlled triaxial experiments at constant confining pressure, recently reported by other workers. Also, the influence of the testing method described here on the process of laboratory failure of rock in shear is discussed. © 1990.