Analysis of the Fracture Characteristics and Crack Propagation Mechanism of Fractured Sandstone under Dynamic Loading

Abstract

In order to study the impact of fracture thickness on the dynamic mechanical properties of rock specimens, impact compression tests on prefabricated sandstone specimens with different fracture thicknesses and intact specimens were carried out by using a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) test device, and the dynamic mechanical parameters of the fractured sandstone specimens were obtained. The results showed that the dynamic stress–strain curves of the prefabricated fractured sandstone specimens are similar to those of the intact sandstone specimens, which can be divided into three stages: elasticity, plasticity, and failure. With the increase in the thickness of prefabricated cracks, the dynamic compressive strength of the sandstone specimens decreases in a quadratic function, the dynamic strain decreases in a power exponential function, and the dynamic elastic modulus decreases linearly. Attempts were made to quantitatively analyze the crushing degree of sandstone specimens. The average particle size of the crushed specimens was negatively correlated with the thickness of prefabricated cracks, and the fractal dimension was linearly negatively correlated with the dynamic compressive strength. The 1.5–2.5 mm prefabricated fractured sandstone specimens produced airfoil cracks and secondary cracks; the 3–3.5 mm prefabricated fractured specimens produced airfoil cracks, coplanar secondary cracks, and secondary oblique cracks; and the complete specimens were subjected to axial failure to produce axial cracks.