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3D Crack Growth in Biaxial Compression: Influence of Shape and Inclination of Initial Cracks

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Abstract

An experimental study of 3-D crack growth from initial cracks of different shapes and inclinations in biaxial compression with different biaxial load ratios (\( \sigma_{x} /\sigma_{y} \)) is presented. Unlike 3-D crack growth in uniaxial compression, which is characterised by the presence of intrinsic limits on 3-D growth of wing cracks associated with wing wrapping, in biaxial compression the wing crack can grow extensively and is parallel to the free surfaces of the specimen as long as the \( \sigma_{x} /\sigma_{y} \) ratio exceeds a threshold. Surprisingly, the threshold is extremely low: around 0.05 for all cases considered; below this threshold, the wing crack growth is restricted. It is found that the shape and inclination of the initial crack have minor effect on this transition process.

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Abbreviations

σ x :

The applied stress along x-axis

σ y :

The applied stress along y-axis

σ z :

The applied stress along z-axis

\( \sigma_{x} /\sigma_{y} \) :

The biaxial load ratio

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support from the Australian Centre for Geomechanics and the following sponsors: Aeris Resources Limited, Tritton Gold Mine, Australia; Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, LaRonde Mine, Canada; AngloGold Ashanti Australia Ltd, Australia; Ernest Henry Mining, Australia; Glencore Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations, Canada; Gold Fields Australia Pty Ltd, Granny Smith Mine, Australia; Gold Fields Australia Pty Ltd, St Ives and Agnew Mines, Australia; Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara AB (LKAB), Sweden; Newcrest Mining Limited, Cadia Valley Operations, Australia; Northern Star Resources Limited, Australia; Iamgold Corporation, Westwood Mine, Canada; BHP Olympic Dam, Australia; BHP Nickel West, Australia; Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA), Australia. The authors are grateful to Mr. Frank EE How Tan for his assistance with specimen preparation. The authors would also like to thank the editor and the reviewers for their valuable comments, which helped to improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Hongyu Wang & Arcady Dyskin

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Elena Pasternak

  3. Australian Centre for Geomechanics, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Phil Dight

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  1. Hongyu Wang
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  2. Arcady Dyskin
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  4. Phil Dight
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Correspondence to Hongyu Wang.

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Wang, H., Dyskin, A., Pasternak, E. et al. 3D Crack Growth in Biaxial Compression: Influence of Shape and Inclination of Initial Cracks. Rock Mech Rock Eng 53, 3161–3183 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-020-02089-0

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