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Experimental and numerical analysis of Brazilian discs with multiple parallel cracks

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Abstract

The pre-cracked Brazilian disc specimens of rock-like materials (Portland Pozzolana cement (PPC), fine sands, and water) are especially prepared in a rock mechanics laboratory to study the breaking process of brittle solids. The Brazilian discs may contain one, two, three, four, and five (parallel) center slant cracks (45° to the horizontal) under compressive line loading. The breaking load of the pre-cracked disc specimens is measured showing that as the number of cracks increases, the final breakage load of the specimen decreases. The experiments are carried out under compression (just like the Brazilian tests used for measuring the indirect tensile strength of intact rocks). It has been experimentally observed that the wing cracks are produced at the first stage of loading and start their propagation toward the direction of compressive line loading in the pre-cracked Brazilian discs. The same specimens are numerically simulated by a higher order displacement discontinuity method (HDDM). The effect of bridge area and orientation of cracks on the cracks coalescence and breakage path of the pre-cracked Brazilian discs specimens are simultaneously studied.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

    Hadi Haeri & Alireza Khaloo

  2. Faculty of Mining and Metallurgy, Institution of Engineering, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

    Mohammad Fatehi Marji

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  1. Hadi Haeri
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  2. Alireza Khaloo
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  3. Mohammad Fatehi Marji
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Correspondence to Hadi Haeri.

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Haeri, H., Khaloo, A. & Marji, M.F. Experimental and numerical analysis of Brazilian discs with multiple parallel cracks. Arab J Geosci 8, 5897–5908 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-014-1598-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-014-1598-1

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