Stress-Deformation Behavior of Chalk
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 7, Issue 6
Abstract
When strong rock masses, with discontinuity patterns parallel and perpendicular to the ground surface, are subjected to normal loads, linear or concave stress-deformation curves are produced. In contrast, chalk rock masses with the same discontinuity pattern, produce convex curves. This paper investigates the underlying mechanisms, which may be responsible for such differences. Experimental results are presented for profiled chalk specimens in which the contact area at the discontinuity boundary is approximately 15% of the specimen cross-sectional area. It was found that these low contact area specimens exhibited both concave and convex behavior. This behavior was attributed to discontinuity closure and yielding of the intact material, respectively. The overall trend in behavior was found to be a function of the contact area at the discontinuity boundary, the initial discontinuity aperture, and the yield stress.
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Acknowledgments
This work was carried out at the Civil Engineering Department, Surrey University, United Kingdom. The Engineering and Physical Science Research Council of Great Britain provided the research funding.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 7 • Issue 6 • November 2007
Pages: 403 - 409
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Dec 23, 2004
Accepted: Apr 10, 2007
Published online: Nov 1, 2007
Published in print: Nov 2007
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