Abstract

KIM, E.; STINE, M.A.  and  MARTINS DE OLIVEIRA, D.B.. Effects of water content and loading rate on the mechanical properties of Berea Sandstone. J. S. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall. [online]. 2019, vol.119, n.12, pp.1077-1082. ISSN 2411-9717.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/446/2019.

Understanding the mechanical behaviour and properties of rocks is critical for industrial operations such as blasting, fracturing, drilling, crushing, and excavating. However, the effect of water and loading rates on the mechanical properties of rocks still remains to be understood. The effects of water content on the mechanical properties of rock under different loading rates were studied. The static and dynamic mechanical behaviour of dry and saturated Berea Sandstone were examined with a quasi-static loading machine and a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). Berea Sandstone is mainly composed of quartz (87%) with about 11% porosity. Overall, static compressive strength, Young's modulus, and tensile strength were significantly greater for dry samples than for saturated ones. In the dynamic tests, tensile strength was higher in the dry samples than in the water-saturated samples, whereas water did not have a significant effect on the dynamic compressive strength. Furthermore, compared to static loading conditions, the mechanical strength and Young's modulus under dynamic loading tests were significantly higher. Our results suggest that the effect of water on mechanical properties varies with the loading rate and testing method. This provides insight into how water content and loading rate affect rock mechanical properties and behaviour.

Keywords : water content; loading rate; dynamic mechanical strength; Young's modulus; Brazilian tensile strength (BTS); uniaxial compressive strength (UCS); split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB).

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