The rock fracture experiment with a drive control: A spatial aspect

The statistical analysis of the space–time distributions of acoustical signals emitted from the compressed samples of Westerly granite is presented. The samples were uniaxially loaded in two regimes, one of which included a feedback loop controlled by the current acoustical emission (AE) activity. The distribution of distances between newly-appeared hypocenters follows the power law with the exponent that does not depend on the mode of loading. In both regimes, a transient period of the decorrelated accumulation of damaged sites was revealed between the initial and focal stages of the fracture process. The Hurst analysis indicates a more pronounced trend to planar organization of final damage structure in the case of AE-controlled loading.