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Effects of a weak interlayer zone on the indirect tensile strength and failure characteristics of rock

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Abstract

Weak interlayer zones (WIZs) are widespread in rock masses. Due to their relatively poor mechanical properties, they poses a potential threat to the stability of rock masses. Brazilian tests and numerical simulations were conducted to study the effects of WIZ strength (WIZS), WIZ thickness (WIZT), and loading direction of rock samples. The failure strength anisotropy index (FSAI) and sensitivity index were utilized to further analyse the effects of WIZT and WIZS. The results showed that (1) the failure strength decreased linearly with increasing bedding plane-loading angle (θ). (2) The loading direction had a significant effect on the failure pattern of specimens, which can be divided into “ + ”-shaped failure, double “Y”-shaped failure, and WIZ failure. (3) The accumulated acoustic emission (AE) count curves were divided into three types: steady rise, level constant, and slow rise. (4) The numerical simulation results showed that the failure strength increases with the increase in WIZS and decreases with the increase in WIZT. However, WIZS and WIZT showed a weak correlation with failure patterns.

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All data included in this study are available upon request by contact with the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51734009, 52074259, 52174092, 51904290), Engineering Research Center of Development and Management for Low to Ultra-Low Permeability Oil & Gas Reservoirs in West China, Ministry of Education, Xi'an Shiyou University (KFJJ-XB-2020-6) and the Postgraduate Research and Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (No. KYCX21_2286).

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  1. State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China

    Liang Zhang, Hongwen Jing, Hanxiang Liu, Qian Yin & Yaoyao Meng

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  1. Liang Zhang
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  2. Hongwen Jing
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  3. Hanxiang Liu
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Liang Zhang, Hongwen Jing and Hanxiang Liu wrote the main manuscript text. Qian Yin and Yaoyao Meng prepared figures. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Hongwen Jing.

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Zhang, L., Jing, H., Liu, H. et al. Effects of a weak interlayer zone on the indirect tensile strength and failure characteristics of rock. Environ Earth Sci 82, 59 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-022-10741-x

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