Some Fundamental Issues in Dynamic Compression and Tension Tests of Rocks Using Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar

Accurate characterizations of rock strengths under higher loading rates are crucial in many rock engineering applications. The split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) system has been used to quantify the dynamic compressive strength of rocks using the short cylindrical specimen and the dynamic tensile strength of rocks using the Brazilian disc (BD) specimen. However, SHPB is a standard tool that is suitable for metal testing; there are some fundamental issues that need to be carefully visited in applying SHPB to rock dynamic tests. This paper addresses several such critical issues, including the choice of slenderness ratio of the compressive specimen, the effect of friction between the sample and bars on the measured results of compressive strength, the necessity of dynamic force balance on the dynamic BD test, and the validity of using the standard BD equation in the data reduction. We show that with proper experimental designs that address these issues, the dynamic compressive strength and dynamic tensile strength of rocks measured using SHPB are valid and reliable.