Experimental study on acoustic emission characteristics of phyllite specimens under uniaxial compression

In order to obtain acoustic emission (AE) characteristics of phyllite specimens, AE tests of phyllite specimens under uniaxial compression were carried out. Results indicate that there are three distinct failure modes. The main mode is an extension mode. The others are a shear mode and a coupling of the shear and extension modes. A relative quiescence period of AE may appear before the peak stress for any failure mode. The ratio of the cumulative hits and the cumulative energy (named the r value and the Ib value respectively) are used for AE test results analysis. The plots of the Ib value show that the value variation is complex and usually decreases before the peak stress. Before the peak stress the r value decreases continuously and then keeps a relatively slow variation. After the peak stress the r value increases dramatically. The r value appears to be in a U-shape distribution. The Ib value usually decreases while the r value keeps a relatively low variation during the pre-peak stress stage, and the r value increases sharply after the peak stress. This can be used as a basis for determining the pre- or post-peak stress state. © 2015 Kavala Institute of Technology.