SEDL / STP / STP745-EB / STP28304S

Relationship Between Differential Stress Intensity Factor and Crack Growth Rate in Cyclic Tension in Westerly Granite

Kim, K
Associate professor and visiting assistant professor, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Mich.

Mubeen, A
Associate professor and visiting assistant professor, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Mich.

Pages: 12    Published: Jan 1981

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Abstract

The laws of fatigue crack propagation in rock may be used to predict life of underground structures for energy storage. The experiments on Westerly granite suggest that this material follows the law da/dN = C(ΔK)^m for fatigue crack growth rate and values of C and m are determined. It is observed that m is constant for various ratios of σ^min/σ^max whereas C is a parametric constant depending upon the stress ratio. The fatigue cracking in Westerly granite is predominantly along the grain boundaries and the crack is often stopped for a long period at such boundaries that are unfavorably disposed.