New Sensor Technology for Determining Rock Pre-destructive States

Abstract

Based on the experimentally discovered regularity – emission of micro-sized particles during monoaxial deformation of non-homogeneous structures, such as rocks and concretes, a sensor technology to identify their pre-destruction processes is proposed. At nearing the stressed state until the disintegration of the massifs, exponential increase of particles generation appears. The innovation is applicable to risky rock formations where vertical measurement boreholes are made, by which kernels are obtained. Using the specimens formed by the kernels, through monoaxial load by press in laboratory conditions and corresponding particle emissions, the reference pressure values for different stages of the pre-destructive state development are determined. The reference data from the pressure are compared with the results for the deformation loads in the rock structure, corresponding to the generated particles in a borehole model. The values of the stress determine the occurrence of critical states in the structure. This information is an integrated indicator for the timely identification of pre-destructive processes in rocks. The described system increases the accuracy of determining the appearance of failure conditions. One of the strategic applications of the new technology is in seismically active regions.