Loading Rate Dependence of Tensile Strength Anisotropy of Barre Granite

Granitic rocks usually exhibit strongly anisotropy due to pre-existing microcracks induced by long-term geological loadings. The understanding of the rock anisotropy in mechanical properties is critical to a variety of rock engineering applications. In this paper, Brazilian tests are conducted statically with a material testing machine and dynamically with a split Hopkinson pressure bar system to measure both static and dynamic tensile strength of Barre granite. To understand the anisotropy in tensile strength, samples are cored and labelled using the three principle directions of Barre granite to form six sample groups. For dynamic tests, a pulse shaping technique is used to achieve dynamic equilibrium in the samples during the dynamic test. The finite element method is then implemented to formulate equations that relate the failure load to the material tensile strength by employing an orthotropic elastic material model. For samples in the same orientation group, the tensile strength shows clear loading rate dependence. The tensile strengths also exhibit clear anisotropy under static loading while the anisotropy diminishes as the loading rate increases, which may be due to the interaction of pre-existing microcracks.