Development of Stress-Induced Microcracks in Westerly Granite.

摘要

Ion-thinned samples under the scanning electron microscope reveal new details of the development of dilatant microcracks in stressed Westerly granite at 500 bars confining pressure, room temperature. Most cracks caused by laboratory-induced stress are long, straight and narrow, with sharp ends, in contrast to natural cavities, which are blunt, bridged and discontinuous. (Author)