The effect of zero point charge environment on rock fracture behavior

This experimental investigation was conducted to assess the effect of zero point of charge (ZPC) environment on fracture behavior of rocks. The material parameters selected for this purpose were fracture toughness and specific work of fracture. These properties were determined for three rock types in five environments. Semi-circular bend specimens of dolomitic limestone, Sioux quartzite and Westerly granite were tested in aqueous solutions of aluminum chloride, calcium chloride and polyethylene oxide, all at ZPC conditions. These rocks were also tested in atmospheric air and distilled deionized water. For every rock type, the results obtained for the tests done in each of the ZPC environment were statistically compared with the results in water. This comparison was also made for air and water. The average fracture toughness in each of the ZPC environments, for all three rock types, was found to be less than the corresponding average in water. The specific work of fracture results also indicated reduction in ZPC environments as compared to water. The statistical analysis of the results, however, showed that this reduction was significant in some but not all of the rock-environment combinations tested in this investigation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mining Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Mining Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1991

Author dc:creator

• Akram, Muhammad

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Karfakis, Mario G.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Haycocks, Christopher
• Topuz, Ertugrul

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-08142009-040230

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/44204