• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.217-224
• /
• 2010

Three relatively homogeneous granitic rocks were studied to investigate the relationship between their microstructural properties and fracture toughness. Fracture toughness and ultrasonic velocity were varied with the orientation of mineral's long axis and microcrack, obtained from optical microscope. The lowest fracture toughness values are obtained, when the fracture propagates parallel to weakness planes which have the orientation of mineral's long axis and microcrack, in other words, when weakness planes develop perpendicular to the direction of tensile stress agrees with that of rift plane. The fracture toughness values, measured with the short rod method, varied from 1.63 to 2.62 MPa $m^{0.5}$, and their values are related with the average grain size and average microcrack length.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.51-62
• /
• 2001

Jurassic granites of three sites, Pocheon, Geochang and Habcheon, were analysed with respect to the characteristics of the rock cleavage. Microscopic analysis for the oriented thin sections of the specimens was conducted by using the scanline survey technique to measure microcrack direction, spacing and length. The results showed that the preferred orientations of microcrack developed in quartz and feldspar arc coincident with the orientation of quarry planes. The length of microcrack is related to grain size. The length of microcrack in coarse-grained granite is longer than that in relatively fine-grained granite. In all granites, microcracks related to the preferred orientations are well developed in order of rift, grain and hardway planes in number, length and density.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.204-212
• /
• 1990

The SMC composite, now being considered in certain structural applications, is anticipated to experience repeated loading during service. Thus, understanding of the fatigue behavior is essential in proper use of the composite material. In this paper, using the SMC composite composed of E-glass chopped strand and unsaturated polyester resin three point bending fatigue tests are carried out to investigate the fatigue crack propagating behavior under various cyclic stresses and fatigue damage of various microcrack forms. The following results are obtained from this study; 1) Most of the total fatigue life of the SMC composite is consumed at the initial extension or the growth of the macroscopic crack. 2) A Paris' type power-law relationship between the crack propagation rate and stress intensity factor range is obtained, and the value of material constant m is much higher (m=9~11)than that of other metals. 3) In case of high cyclic stress the fatigue damage show high microcrack density and short crack length, but in case of low cyclic stress does it vice versa. 4) Fatigue damage is characterized by microcrack density, crack length and distribution of crack orientation.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.23-37
• /
• 2011

The scaling properties on the length distribution of microcrack populations from Tertiary crystalline tuff are investigated. From the distribution charts showing length range with 15 directional angles and five groups(I~V), a systematic variation appears in the mean length with microcrack orientation. The distribution charts are distinguished by the bilaterally symmetrical pattern to nearly N-S direction. The whole domain of the length-cumulative frequency diagram for microcrack populations can be divided into three sections in terms of phases of the distribution of related curves. Especially, the linear middle section of each diagram of five groups represents a power-law distribution. The frequency ratio of linear middle sections of five groups ranges from 46.6% to 67.8%. Meanwhile, the slope of linear middle section of each group shows the order: group V($N60{\sim}90^{\circ}E$, -2.02) > group IV($N20{\sim}60^{\circ}E$, -1.55) > group I($N60{\sim}90^{\circ}W$, -1.48), group II($N10{\sim}60^{\circ}W$, -1.48) > group III($N10^{\circ}W{\sim}N20^{\circ}E$, -1.06). Five sub-populations(five groups) that closely follow the power-law length distribution show a wide range in exponents( -1.06 - -2.02). These differences in exponent among live groups emphasizes the importance of orientation effect. In addition, breaks in slope in the lower parts of the related curves represent the abrupt development of longer lengths, which is reflected in the decrease in the power-law exponent. Especially, such a distribution pattern can be seen from the diagram with $N10{\sim}20^{\circ}E,\;N10{\sim}20^{\circ}W$ and $N60{\sim}70^{\circ}W$ directional angles. These three directional angles correspond with main directions of faults developed around the study area. The distribution chart showing the individual characteristics of the length-cumulative frequency diagrams for 15 directional angles were made. By arraying above diagrams according to the categories of three groups(A, B and C), the differences in length-frequency distributions among these groups can be easily derived. The distribution chart illustrates the importance of analysing microcrack sets separately. From the related chart, the occurrence frequency of shorter microcracks shows the order: group A > group B > group C. These three types of distribution patterns could reveal important information on the processes occurred during microcrack growth.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.219-230
• /
• 2011

Jurassic granite from Hapcheon was analysed with respect to the characteristics of the rock cleavage. The phases of distribution of microcracks were well evidenced from the enlarged photomicrographs(${\times}6.7$) of the thin section. The planes of principal set of microcracks are parallel to the rift plane and those of secondary set are parallel to the grain plane. These rift and grain microcracks are mutually near-perpendicular on the hardway planes. Consequently the rock cleavage of Jurassic granite from the studied quarry can be related to the preferred orientation of microcracks. Microcrack parameters such as number, length and density show an order of rift > grain > hardway. These results indicate a relative magnitude of the rock cleavage. Meanwhile, brazilian tensile strengths were measured with respect to the six directions. The results revealed a strong correlation between mechanical property with microcrack parameters.