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Experimental Relationship Between Compressional Wave Attenuation and Surface Strains in Brittle Rock

Journal Article · · Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JB017086· OSTI ID:1617830
 [1];  [2];  [2]
  1. Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States); Colorado School of Mines
  2. Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)

Linear ultrasonic testing (LUT) has been extensively used as a tool for the evaluation of damage processes in various materials ranging from synthetic metals to natural geomaterials, such as rocks. A key limitation of LUT-based damage studies to date is the lack of explicit evidence used in associating material damage with the changes in measured LUT attributes (e.g., ultrasonic wave amplitude and velocity). In this study, the evolution of the full-field strains in brittle rock specimens (Lyons sandstone) subjected to failure are analyzed in real time and linked with the changes in the ultrasonic wave amplitude in localized areas illuminated by ultrasonic beams, termed as the ultrasonic image areas. The noncontact optical full-field displacement measurement method of 2-D digital image correlation is implemented in combination with the LUT procedure to continuously track changes in the ultrasonic wave amplitude with the evolution of strains across the surface of the uniaxially loaded intact rock specimens. The ultrasonic amplitude showed near-linear correlation with the intensity of inelastic tensile strain recorded in the rock specimens. The results from the study corroborate that the ultrasonic changes are in fact influenced by the regions of tensile cracking, which is the primary inelastic deformation mechanism in brittle rocks.

Research Organization:
Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0019117
OSTI ID:
1617830
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1579970
Journal Information:
Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 124; ISSN 2169-9313
Publisher:
American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Cited By (1)

Evaluation of an Ultrasonic Method for Damage Characterization of Brittle Rocks journal January 2020

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