Dynamic Split Tensile Strength of Basalt, Granite, Marble and Sandstone: Strain Rate Dependency and Fragmentation

Abstract The aim of this study is to understand the strength behaviour and fragment size rocks during indirect, quasi-static dynamic tensile tests. Four with different lithological characteristics, namely: basalt, granite, sandstone, marble were selected for study. Brazilian disc experiments performed over a range strain rates from ~ 10 –5 /s 2.7 × 1 using hydraulic loading frame split Hopkinson bar. Over rates, our measurements increase are in good agreement universal theoretical scaling relationship (Kimberley et al., Acta Mater 61:3509–3521, 2013). Dynamic fragmentation tension mode failure has received little attention, present study, we determine distribution based on experimentally fragmented specimens. fragments fall into two distinct groups nature failure: coarser primary fragments, finer secondary fragments. degree assessed terms characteristic rate compared existing models. average strong dependency entire testing range, while less sensitive at lower rates. Marble sandstone found generate more pulverised debris when basalt granite. Furthermore, mean sizes well described by power-law function rate.