Abstract:

A new meso-mechanical testing scheme based on SEM is developed to carry out the experiment of microfracturing process of rocks. The image of microfracturing process of the specimen can be observed and recorded digitally. The microfracturing process of Jinping marble specimen in Sichuan province under uniaxial compression is recorded by using the testing scheme. Quantitatively investigated the propagation and coalescent of cracks at meso-scale with digital technology, the basic geometric information of rock microcracks such as area, angle, length, width, perimeter, are obtained from binary images after segmentation. The failure mechanism of specimen under uniaxial compression with the quantitative information is studied from macro/micro scopic perspective. The result shows that during the damage of the specimen the distribution of microcracks in the whole specimen are still subjected to exponential distribution with some microcracks concentrated in certain regions. The conclusion indicates that the testing scheme is applicable.

Key words: micromechanics, complete process of rock failure, digital micromechanics testing scheme, SEM image processing program