Characterization of anisotropic mode II fracture behaviors of a typical layered rock combining AE and DIC techniques

Shear-sliding mode fracture, i.e., mode II fracture, is a very common rupture mode of layered rocks. To achieve a better understanding of the anisotropy in the real mode II fracture, which propagates in a self-similar manner, a series of direct shear tests were conducted on single notched specimens made of shale with three bedding angles, i.e., beta = 0?, 45? and 90?. The ranking of the anisotropic mode II fracture toughness (K-IIc) with different bedding angles is K-IIc,K-45? > K-IIc,K-90? > K-IIc,K-0?, which is different from that of the anisotropic mode II fracture energy release rate (G(IIc)), i.e., G(IIc,90?) > G(IIc,45?) > G(IIc,0?), suggesting that, unlike isotropic rocks, the crack propagation resistance of a layered rock cannot be completely characterized by its fracture toughness. From the acoustic emission monitoring results, it is found that the fracture process initiates and accelerates from the notch front once the applied mode II stress intensity factor (SIF) reaches its first and second thresholds, KII, FPI (approximately 50%~70% of the fracture toughness) and KII, FPA (approximately 85%~95% of the fracture toughness), respectively; generally, both KII, FPI and KII, FPA show noticeable anisotropies. The results of the b value indicate that more small-scale events occur in the specimen with beta = 0?, and large-scale events account for a greater proportion in the specimen with beta = 45?. A dominant high strain zone along the prefabricated crack direction and a secondary high strain zone along the bedding planes were discovered. Combining the acoustic emission and digital image correlation results, three typical fracture mechanisms were observed: (1) shear fracture along bedding planes when shearing along bed dings; (2) shear fracture in matrix and along bedding planes for beta = 45?; and (3) shear fracture in matrix and tensile fracture of bedding planes when shearing perpendicular to the beddings.

Automated summary

The anisotropy of mode II fracture in layered rocks varies significantly with different bedding angles, and the crack propagation resistance cannot be fully characterized by fracture toughness. Acoustic emission monitoring reveals noticeable anisotropies in the threshold values of mode II stress intensity factor and the b value results indicate different fracture characteristics under different conditions.