Effect of Water on the Deformation and Failure of Rock in Uniaxial Tension

Abstract

To design and construct underground structures, it is essential to understand the mechanical properties of rock in not only compression but also tension. It is well known that water is one of the important factors affecting the deformation and failure of rock. In this study, laboratory tests and numerical simulations were conducted to understand the effect of water on rock properties in uniaxial tension. In the experiments, a testing machine previously used for uniaxial tension tests in dry conditions was modified for tests in wet conditions. Using this machine, complete stress–strain curves from the pre- to postpeak regions of water-saturated specimens in uniaxial tension were obtained. The results for granite, tuff, and two types of andesite showed that the stress–strain curves in wet conditions have a lower initial slope and lower strength than those in dry conditions, and they are strongly nonlinear in the prepeak region. Comparing the changes in the results for uniaxial tension versus compression due to water, it was found that the reduction rate of uniaxial tensile strength was greater than that of uniaxial compressive strength, while the ratio between the reduction rates was almost constant for various rocks. In numerical simulations, the stress–strain curves in the prepeak region under dry and wet conditions could be reproduced by crack extension models under uniaxial tensile stress. Numerical analyses indicated that the nonlinearity of the stress–strain curves is probably due to the longer crack extension in wet compared with dry conditions.