Stress Induced Microcrack Geometry at Failure in Unconfined and Confined Axial Compressive Tests.

摘要

Cylindrical specimens of Indiana limestone have been tested in uniaxial, confined and partially confined compression. A low melting point metal alloy was used as a pore fluid. At the stress of interest this alloy was solidified in place to preserve the stress induced microcracks. Optical and electron micrographs of cross sections from the specimens were used to study the density, orientation, thickness and mechanism of these microcracks as a function of confinement.