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U.S. Department of Energy
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Dynamic crack propagation in rock plates

Conference · · Proc. Symp. Rock Mech.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5925655
Rock plates (nominally 20 x 20 x 1.3 cm) of pink Westerly granite, St. Paul Limestone, and Chambersburg Limestone were explosively loaded and observed by high speed photography. The explosive was located in a central hole and the explosive gases were contained with sealed steel caps. The specimens were photographed during the explosive event by 3 different techniques: rotating drum camera, Cranz-Schardin camera used in a reflection mode, and pulsed ruby laser with holographic interferometry. It was determined that the borehole radial cracks in the granite traveled at approx. 44% of the P wave velocity. The borehole radial cracks in limestone initially traveled at ca 28% of the P wave velocity and then quickly slowed to 12% of the P wave speed. Upon the reflection of the stress waves from the boundaries of the model, several cracks were initiated at flaw sites remote from the borehole. In the limestone, these cracks were traveling at speeds on the order of 14% of the P wave velocity. 11 references.
OSTI ID:
5925655
Report Number(s):
CONF-800507-
Conference Information:
Journal Name: Proc. Symp. Rock Mech.; (United States)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English