Acoustic Emission Activity Research Articles

Effects of pressure relief holes on coal burst: Insights from true-triaxial unloading tests

Drilling pressure relief is one of the methods to reduce the risk of coal bursts in deep mines. However, the effect of the drill hole orientations has not been studied well enough to understand their impact on the burst failure mechanism. In this study, we investigated two designs of drill hole orientations. The first design includes drill holes located on the upper free face of the rectangular samples and labelled as upper hole (UH) and centre hole (CH) – the long axes of the drill holes are aligned with minor principal stress, σ3, direction. The second design includes drill holes at the top (TH) and the side (SH) of the rectangular samples in which the long axes of the drill holes are aligned with the maximum, σ1, and intermediate principal stress, σ2, directions, respectively. The coal samples with the proposed drill hole orientations were subjected to the true-triaxial unloading coal burst tests. The results show that the drill holes reduce the risk of coal bursts. However, we found that the intensity of coal burst was significantly reduced with the SH-type, followed by the CH-types. We also observed that the coal burst intensity is reduced better for the CH, UH, TH, and SH-type drilling patterns. However, it was found that the orientations of drill holes have little influence on the failure mode (splitting). The acoustic emission (AE) activities for coal with drill holes noticeably decreased, especially for the UH and CH layouts. The drill holes reduced the upper limit of the AE entropy (chaos of microcracks generation). However, regarding reducing the coal burst risk, the TH and SH are less effective than UH and CH.

Optimized analytical approach for the detection of process-induced defects using acoustic emission during directed energy deposition process

Directed energy deposition (DED), an advanced additive manufacturing (AM) technique, facilitates the production of complex metallic and metal matrix composite structures. The DED process has continuously improved and offers numerous advantages for depositing high-quality coatings with excellent wear and corrosion resistance onto metallic surfaces. The dynamic nature of the process, however, introduces a significant risk of process-induced defects in manufactured parts. This study presents an optimized analytical approach using acoustic emission (AE) based defect detection technique to identify and quantify process-induced cracks during the DED process. The developed signal processing technique enabled the identification of actual AE events associated with cracking, distinguishing them from other disturbances. Experimental validation was conducted using manufactured parts that were longitudinally sectioned to determine the relationship of the crack location with the recorded acoustic signal. The demonstrated correlation of acoustic signatures with cracking illustrates the robustness of the AE technique to identify the process-induced cracking for quality assurance during the DED process.

Vibration monitoring and acoustic emission sensing during progressive load tests of corroded reinforced concrete beams

Corrosion of reinforcement in concrete civil structures poses a significant challenge to their integrity and durability. To ensure the safety and longevity of such structures, effective monitoring strategies that can accurately detect, localise and assess the progression of damage are crucial. For most existing concrete structures, this is often challenging, as damage is already present when the monitoring campaign starts. In addition, reinforced concrete structures can be subject to a combination (or a succession) of corrosion and load-induced damage. By combining multiple measurement techniques, a more accurate and reliable condition assessment of concrete civil structures can be aimed for. This paper presents a comprehensive experimental study of the combination of vibration-based monitoring (VBM) and acoustic emission (AE) sensing techniques during progressive load tests of corroded reinforced concrete beams. Five beams were subjected to a cyclic four-point bending test, three of which were previously corroded while two beams remained undamaged prior to the mechanical loading. The influence of pre-existing corrosion damage and corresponding longitudinal concrete cracking on the modal characteristics (natural frequencies and strain mode shapes) and AE outcomes is investigated during the four-point bending test. The monitoring results obtained by both techniques are shown to be influenced by the pre-existing longitudinal concrete cracking caused by the reinforcement corrosion. Lower AE activity and a lower reduction in natural frequencies is observed for corroded RC beams during load bending tests when compared to uncorroded specimens. In addition, bending cracks occurring within the corroded zones appear to have a very limited effect on the identified strain mode shapes. These observations could possibly result in an underestimation of the damage and corresponding overestimation of the load-carrying capacity, as the corrosion damage conceals the occurrence of bending cracking on the AE and VBM outcomes.

Intermittent Criticality Multi‐Scale Processes Leading to Large Slip Events on Rough Laboratory Faults

AbstractWe discuss data of three laboratory stick‐slip experiments on Westerly Granite samples performed at elevated confining pressure and constant displacement rate on rough fracture surfaces. The experiments produced complex slip patterns including fast and slow ruptures with large and small fault slips, as well as failure events on the fault surface producing acoustic emission bursts without externally‐detectable stress drop. Preparatory processes leading to large slips were tracked with an ensemble of ten seismo‐mechanical and statistical parameters characterizing local and global damage and stress evolution, localization and clustering processes, as well as event interactions. We decompose complex spatio‐temporal trends in the lab‐quake characteristics and identify persistent effects of evolving fault roughness and damage at different length scales, and local stress evolution approaching large events. The observed trends highlight labquake localization processes on different spatial and temporal scales. The preparatory process of large slip events includes smaller events marked by confined bursts of acoustic emission activity that collectively prepare the fault surface for a system‐wide failure by conditioning the large‐scale stress field. Our results are consistent overall with an evolving process of intermittent criticality leading to large failure events, and may contribute to improved forecasting of large natural earthquakes.

Study on fracture characteristics and fracture mechanism of fully recycled aggregate concrete using AE and DIC techniques

Fracture behaviors of manufactured sand-recycled coarse aggregate concrete (MSRCAC), recycled fine aggregate concrete (RFAC), and fully recycled aggregate concrete (FRAC) were investigated by performing three-point bending tests on single-edge notched beams using acoustic emission (AE) and digital image correlation (DIC) techniques. The effects of recycled fine aggregate (RFA), recycled coarse aggregate (RCA), and their interaction on fracture parameters, AE characteristics and fracture process zone (FPZ) of concrete were comparatively analyzed. The results indicated that it was mainly transgranular failure and intergranular failure for RFAC, while transgranular failure for MSRCAC and FRAC. The RFA and RCA reduced the initial fracture toughness, unstable fracture toughness and fracture energy of concrete, and their interaction resulted in poor fracture properties of FRAC. In addition, the RFA and RCA significantly increased the AE activities, the proportion of tensile cracks, and the high-frequency amplitude and peak frequency of concrete. The toughening effect of FPZ was weakened by the RFA and RCA, resulting in an obvious increase in FPZ length and damage propagation of FRAC. Meanwhile, the width of FPZ was reduced, the maximum FPZ width of concrete with different combinations of recycled aggregates was approximately 1.8–3.1 times the maximum aggregate size, which could be explained as the RFA and RCA reduced the aggregate interlocking effect of concrete, while the RCA had a greater effect on the damage mechanism and FPZ of concrete than the RFA.

Digital Fracture Surface Morphology and Statistical Characteristics of Granite Brazilian Tests after Non-Steady-State Thermal Disturbance

With the widespread advent of digital technologies, traditional perspectives in rock mechanics research are poised for further expansion. This paper presents a Brazilian test conducted on granite after non-steady-state thermal disturbance at 25 °C, 200 °C, 400 °C, and 600 °C, with detailed documentation of the damage process and failure response using an acoustic emission (AE) apparatus and a digital image correlation (DIC) system. Subsequently, utilizing point cloud data captured by a three-dimensional (3D) laser scanning system, a digital reconstruction of the failed specimen’s fracture surface was accomplished. The 3D fractal characteristics and roughness response of the digitized fracture surface were studied using the box-counting method and least squares approach. Furthermore, texture information of the digitized fracture surface was calculated using the Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM), and statistical characteristics describing the elevation distribution were analyzed. The results elucidate the influence of thermal disturbance temperature on the mechanical parameters of the specimen, acoustic emission behavior, surface strain field evolution, and digital fracture morphology characteristics. The findings indicate a non-linear degradation effect of temperature on the specimen’s tensile strength, with a reduction reaching 80.95% at 600 °C, where acoustic emission activity also peaked. The rising thermal disturbance temperature inhibited the crack initiation load at the specimen’s center but expanded the high-strain concentration areas and the growth rate of horizontal displacement. Additionally, varying degrees of linear or non-linear relationships were discovered between thermal disturbance temperature and the 3D fractal dimension of the fracture surface, average roughness (Ra), peak roughness (Rz), and root mean square roughness (Rq), confirming the potential of Rsm in predicting the 3D fractal dimension of Brazilian test fracture surfaces. The study of the GLCM of the digitized 3D fracture surface demonstrated a high dependency of its four second-order statistical measures on thermal disturbance temperature. Finally, the statistical parameters of the fracture surface’s elevation values showed a significant non-linear relationship with thermal disturbance temperature, with a critical temperature point likely existing between 400 and 600 °C that could precipitate a sudden change in the fracture surface’s elevation characteristics.

Research on the Influence Mechanism of Moisture Content on Macroscopic Mechanical Response and Microscopic Evolution Characteristic of Limestone

The uniaxial compression experiments and acoustic emission (AE) monitoring are conducted to investigate the macroscopic mechanical behavior and microscopic fracture characteristics of limestone samples with varying moisture contents. The findings revealed that as the moisture content increases from 0 to 6.6%, there is a decrease in peak stress and an increase in peak strain. A clear trend towards greater complexity in fracture characteristics is observed with increasing moisture content. In addition, AE activities demonstrate a heightened frequency, accompanied by an elevation in the corresponding multifractal parameter Δα as the moisture content rises. These variations are attributed to the increase in moisture content, which promotes the proliferation of small-scale microcracks and inhibits their evolution into large-scale microcracks. Consequently, the damage and failure process of the limestone samples transitions from being predominantly controlled by a few large-scale microcracks to being collectively influenced by a multitude of small-scale microcracks as the moisture content increases. In conjunction with the Criterion of Microcrack Density, the correctness of the analysis above is substantiated through mathematical derivation. Further, a quantitative model that links the microcrack system to moisture content is established based on the multifractal parameter Δα. Following this, a characterization model that depicts the macroscopic mechanical properties of limestone affected by moisture content is developed. This model effectively encapsulates the quantitative relationship between moisture content and the macroscopic characteristics of limestone and is validated through fitting experimental data. This research contributes to understanding the macroscopic mechanical response and microscopic fracture characteristics of limestone samples with different moisture contents, providing valuable insights and guidance for ensuring safety during engineering construction processes.

Acoustic emissions from spin crossover complexes.

Acoustic emission from the compounds [Fe(HB(tz)3)2] and [Fe(Htrz)(trz)2]BF4 was detected during the thermally induced spin transition and is correlated with simultaneously recorded calorimetric signals. We ascribe this phenomenon to elastic waves produced by microstructural and volume changes accompanying the spin transition. Despite the perfect reversibility of the spin state switching (seen by the calorimeter), the acoustic emission activity decreases for successive thermal cycles, revealing thus irreversible microstructural evolution of the samples. The acoustic emission signal amplitude and energy probability distribution functions followed power-law behavior and the characteristic exponents were found to be similar for the two samples both on heating and cooling, indicating the universal character, which is further substantiated by the well scaled average temporal shapes of the avalanches.

Influence of high temperature during tensile test for stainless steel using acoustic emission

AbstractThis paper explores the application of acoustic emission (AE) monitoring in mechanical and materials studies, specifically focusing on the detection of plastic deformation, fracture, and crack growth. However, the influence of high temperature on AE signals and its effects on mechanical properties are not fully understood due to the limitations of sensors in high‐temperature environments. To address this gap, the study investigates the impact of high temperatures on the mechanical properties of stainless steel SS304 using AE techniques during tensile testing. Two temperature conditions were tested: 600 and 700°C. AE sensors connected to specimens captured AE activity using a designated waveguide, and a Continuous Creep Monitoring Instrument (CCMi) recorded the responses. Sensitivity testing using the pencil‐lead break (PLB) technique ensured the sensor's capability. The proposed frequency‐based analysis method, fast Fourier transform amplitude (FFTA) analysis, was employed to effectively analyze the AE signals. The results revealed significant AE features and frequency distributions associated with elastic deformation, plastic deformation, and fracture regions. These findings establish a foundation for utilizing AE techniques in crack detection and monitoring under high‐temperature loading, contributing to equipment reliability and structural integrity.

Investigating the Mechanical Deterioration Effect of Hard Sandstone Induced by Layer Structure under Uniaxial Compression

The deterioration of the surrounding rock at the tunnel bottom is a damage mechanics issue that occurs under disturbance load. To investigate the anisotropic characteristics of mechanical behavior and the AE response mechanism of layered sandstone, uniaxial compression tests and acoustic emission (AE) monitoring were conducted. The results show that the layer structure causes remarkable anisotropic characteristics in the wave velocities. The strain characteristics and mechanical parameters of layered sandstone exhibit obvious deterioration effects. The local strain and overall strain show a synergistic feature, with the local strain path being more complex and the deformation response being extremely sensitive. The peak stress and elastic modulus both exhibit V-type distribution rules, slowly decreasing first, then rapidly decreasing, and finally increasing rapidly, with the boundary points of the layer angle being 45° and 67.50°. The peak stress and elastic modulus show a nonlinear exponential correlation with the layer angle, and the sandstone belongs to the intermediate anisotropy level. The rupture pattern shows significant anisotropic characteristics, with the failure modes including tension failure, including tension failure I and tension failure Ⅱ, shear failure, and tension–shear composite failure. The fractal dimension shows a negative correlation with the layer deterioration effect. The AE activity exhibits a phased response characteristic to the aging deformation of layer structure. The more obvious the layer deterioration effect is, the longer the AE delay is. The AE intensity of tensile failure sandstone is generally greater than that of oblique shear failure.

Numerical simulation of strength and failure analysis of heterogeneous sandstone under different loading rates

Natural rock masses often contain heterogeneous structures with varying sizes, non-uniform distributions, and strengths, which influence the mechanical response characteristics and crack propagation modes under loading. Furthermore, heterogeneous structures can affect the stability of the rock mass, in serious cases, leading to geotechnical and mining engineering disasters. In the present work, a parallel-bond model (PBM)-based numerical simulation using Particle Flow Code (PFC) was carried out to study the strength and failure characteristics of sandstone specimens with heterogeneous structures under different loading rates. The results show that the peak strength increases with the increasing loading rate. In addition, all of the initial cracks occurred at the edges of the heterogeneous structures of specimens under different loading rates. The greater the loading rate, the greater the stress concentration degree at the edge of the heterogeneous structures, the greater the dissipated energy as the sandstone specimens with heterogeneous structures suffer damage, the more intense the acoustic emission activity, and the greater the damage degree of the specimens. The number of cracks generated in sandstone specimens with heterogeneous structures increases gradually with the increasing loading rate during the initial loading stage, and gradually decreases after the specimens are damaged. Cracks propagate and develop from the upper right region to the lower right region of the specimens, forming crack groups that rapidly penetrate the specimens, leading to failure. Under different loading rates, the final failure behavior of the sandstone specimens with heterogeneous structures changes from an inverted V-type to θ-type, then gradually evolves to O-type failure.

Injection-induced fault slip and associated seismicity in the lab: Insights from source mechanisms, local stress states and fault geometry

Probing source mechanisms of natural and induced earthquakes is a powerful tool to unveil associated rupture kinematics. The source processes of failure and slip instability driven by stress loading are affected by fault geometry, but the source ruptures of injection-induced seismicity in relation to fault structures and local stress states remain poorly understood. We have conducted a series of fault reactivation and slip experiments on sandstone samples containing faults with different surface roughness (smooth saw-cut fault and fractured rough fault). We impose progressive fluid injection to induce fault slip, and simultaneously monitor the associated acoustic emission (AE) activity. Using high-resolution AE recordings, we perform full moment tensor inversion of all located AE sources, and investigate the changes of AE source characteristics associated with induced fault slip and their relation to fault roughness. For the complex and rough fault, we observe significant non-double-couple components of AE sources and a high degree of focal mechanism heterogeneity. The temporal changes of AE mechanisms associated with injection-induced fault slip on the smooth fault reveal increasing proportions of double-couple components and decreasing variability of AE focal mechanisms when approaching the onset of slip events. The observed inconsistency between the nodal planes of AE sources and the macroscopic fault plane orientation is attributed to the development of secondary fracture networks surrounding the principal slip surface. We analyze changes in the magnitude-frequency characteristics and source mechanisms of AEs with fault-normal distance, showing that for the smooth (mature) fault, Gutenberg–Richter b-value of on-fault seismicity is lower and focal mechanisms are less heterogeneous, compared to off-fault seismicity. Our results emphasize the important role of roughness-related changes in local fault geometry and associated stress heterogeneity for source mechanisms and rupture kinematics of injection-induced seismicity.

A probabilistic approach for acoustic emission based monitoring techniques: With application to structural health monitoring

It has been demonstrated that acoustic-emission (AE), inspection of structures can offer advantages over other types of monitoring techniques in the detection of damage; namely, an increased sensitivity to damage, as well as an ability to localise its source. There are, however, numerous challenges associated with the analysis of AE data. One issue is the high sampling frequencies required to capture AE activity. In just a few seconds, a recording can generate very high volumes of data, of which a significant portion may be of little interest for analysis. Identifying the individual AE events in a recorded time-series is therefore a necessary procedure for reducing the size of the dataset and projecting out the influence of background noise from the signal. In this paper, a state-of-the-art technique is presented that can automatically identify cluster the AE events from a probabilistic perspective. A nonparametric Bayesian approach, based on the Dirichlet process (DP), is employed to overcome some of the challenges associated with this task. Additionally, the developed model is applied for damage detection using AE data collected from an experimental setup. Two main sets of AE data are considered in this work: (1) from a journal bearing in operation, and (2) from an Airbus A320 main landing gear subjected to fatigue testing.

Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Modeling of Brine Migration in a Heated Borehole Test in Bedded Salt

AbstractThis research paper focuses on the thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) modeling of brine migration in a heated borehole test conducted as part of the ongoing Brine Availability Test in Salt (BATS) at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico. It is a component of the international collaboration project DECOVALEX-2023 (DEvelopment of COupled models and their VALidation against EXperiments), which aims to understand the THM processes governing brine flow in heated rock salt repositories through collaborative analysis by multiple research teams. Using the TOUGH–FLAC simulator, THM simulations were performed and compared with data from the BATS phase 1a. This experiment involved two identical horizontal-borehole arrays, one heated and one serving as a control, both equipped with sensor arrays. Analysis of measurements revealed water flow rate surges during heater power transitions, with the highest jump observed during cooling. Acoustic emission activity exhibited distinct patterns in response to heater power changes, suggesting that damage to rock salt is particularly pronounced during the cooling phase. The THM simulations successfully captured these phenomena, highlighting the significance of thermal effects, brine migration, and mechanical behavior in predicting brine availability in heated and damaged rock salt. Our modeling also revealed the critical interplay between heating and cooling-induced damage and its influence on flow properties, particularly affecting brine inflow estimation. Notably, we found that cooling-induced brine inflow spikes result from increased permeability due to tensile dilatancy. These findings have important implications for the development of robust containment strategies and enhance our understanding of the complex processes involved in repository performance.

Leak State Detection and Size Identification for Fluid Pipelines with a Novel Acoustic Emission Intensity Index and Random Forest.

In this paper, an approach to perform leak state detection and size identification for industrial fluid pipelines with an acoustic emission (AE) activity intensity index curve (AIIC), using b-value and a random forest (RF), is proposed. Initially, the b-value was calculated from pre-processed AE data, which was then utilized to construct AIICs. The AIIC presents a robust description of AE intensity, especially for detecting the leaking state, even with the complication of the multi-source problem of AE events (AEEs), in which there are other sources, rather than just leaking, contributing to the AE activity. In addition, it shows the capability to not just discriminate between normal and leaking states, but also to distinguish different leak sizes. To calculate the probability of a state change from normal condition to leakage, a changepoint detection method, using a Bayesian ensemble, was utilized. After the leak is detected, size identification is performed by feeding the AIIC to the RF. The experimental results were compared with two cutting-edge methods under different scenarios with various pressure levels and leak sizes, and the proposed method outperformed both the earlier algorithms in terms of accuracy.

Effect of water on the damage and energy dissipation feature of coal under uniaxial cyclic loading–unloading condition

AbstractTo gain insight into the reduction mechanism of water on the dynamic destabilization failure character of coal under mining disturbance conditions, the effect of water on the damage and energy dissipation feature of coal was investigated via cyclic uniaxial compressive loading–unloading test, acoustic emission (AE) monitoring technology, and theoretical analysis. It manifests that the softening effect of water on the mechanical properties of coal is still remarkable, lower uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus, while greater axial strain and higher Poisson's ratio are observed under the cyclic loading–unloading condition. Water‐saturated specimens dissipate more energy during the cyclic loading–unloading process, which reduces the proportion of input energy accumulated in the coal mass, thus lowering the burst proneness of coal. A greater amount of damage generates in air‐dried specimens than that in water‐saturated specimens at the first cyclic loading–unloading cycle, while lower damage increments are observed in the following cycles. This may be the reason for the minimal energy dissipation of air‐dried specimens in the following cycles. The elastic modulus behaves logarithmically versus the increasing cyclic loading–unloading cycle counts. The energy dissipated due to the damage evolution and plastic deformation of coal specimens positively correlates with the energy released by AE activities, the AE energy in air‐dried specimens has a greater concentration around the peak axial stress and a stronger correlation with the dissipated energy. The cumulative AE energy and energy dissipation density are linearly correlated during the cyclic loading–unloading process, which indicates a possibility in estimating the damage evolution and the dynamic failure risk of coal via cumulative AE energy, under the cyclic loading–unloading condition.

Mechanical properties and acoustic emission evolution of water-bearing sandstone under triaxial conditions

Accidents occur frequently in underground chambers owing to the high-stress environment, poor stability of rocks, and unreasonable mining and construction layout. Significant damage to the deep surrounding rock mass by confined water can result in water inrush and flooding accidents. This study numerically investigated the mechanical properties and acoustic emission (AE) signal evolution mechanism of water-bearing sandstone in deep high-stress mining environments. The results showed that, the lower the confining pressure, the lower is the compressive strength of the specimen, resulting in evident failure. The confining pressure inhibited the radial strain and enhanced the strength of the specimen. Furthermore, under the same confining pressure and different water pressure, the higher the water pressure value, the more evident was the failure phenomenon, and the lower was the peak stress. The water pressure decreased the strength of the specimen and its ability to resist damage. Moreover, for the same water pressure, the smaller the confining pressure, the larger was the maximum AE number and the total cumulative amount of acoustic emissions. When the specimen reached the peak stress and produced macroscopic failure, the AE number reached the maximum value. Finally, the AE activity decreased as the water pressure increased, and the higher the water pressure, the smaller was the cumulative AE number. Owing to the existence of water pressure, the internal structure of the model specimen was affected by the softening effect, which decreased the model strength, thereby suppressing the AE activity of the specimen. Our findings can provide a basis for numerical simulation research on mechanical properties and AE evolution mechanism of water-bearing sandstone under three-way stress state.

Mechanical damage characteristics and acoustic emission characteristics of a bolt-slurry interface under cyclic pull-out loading

To consider the effects of various mining stresses in an actual project, a comprehensive laboratory pull-out study of the bolting system under different cyclic loads was carried out, a high stiffness MTS815.04 rock mechanics test system and an independently designed indirect pullout test device and an acoustic emission system was used for synchronous monitoring. Damage failure mechanism of bolt-slurry interface under cyclic loading revealed from macroscopic strength and deformation characteristics and microscopic damage in depth. The results are as follows.: (1) Compared with static pull-out loading, the bolting system under cyclic loading will enter the damage failure state earlier. (2) The greater the cyclic loading and unloading rate are, the greater the impact on the bolt-slurry interface, and the easier it is for sudden macroscopic damage to occur. (3) The greater the cyclic load stress amplitude is, the stronger the acoustic emission activity of the bolt-slurry interface, the greater the damage to the bolt-slurry interface, and the easier it is to fail and de-bond. (4) Finally, the acoustic emission energy, energy rate and count can be used to evaluate the damage characteristics of the anchor interface during cyclic drawing, and the analysis results are in good agreement with the macroscopic damage results. The research results can provide a reference for the support design and performance monitoring of full-length anchor bolts under different cyclic loads.

Roadway fracture mechanism investigation subjected to static and blast loading under different lateral pressure coefficients

Blasting disturbance generated by the drilling and blasting is a significant factor in inducing damage to the rock mass surrounding a nearby roadway. Understanding the roadway fracture mechanism triggered by blasting disturbance is crucial for improving support efficiency. This study conducted the Brazilian disk splitting and direct shear tests on cement mortar to determine the classification for distinguishing between tensile and shear cracks based on acoustic emission (AE) parameters, i.e., rising time/amplitude and the average frequency (RA-AF). In the study context, various roadway failure experiments were conducted under the combined effects of static stress loading and repeated blasting disturbances. The temporal-spatial evolution characteristics of AE activities and identifying crack types were investigated to reveal roadway failure mechanisms in response to blasting disturbances under different lateral pressure coefficients. The results show that as the increases of blast disturbance numbers and stress level, the damage within the surrounding rock around the roadway increases and peaks at the moment of roadway destruction. Roadway failure involves a transition from tensile to shear fractures. When the stress level within the rock is low, blasting disturbance leads to compressive deformation and mainly causes tensile fractures, while it promotes dislocation formation and primarily results in shear cracks at a high-stress level. Different proportions of tensile and shear cracks were counted quantitatively around the roadway, and tensile cracks are more likely to cluster on the sides of facing blasting as the lateral pressure coefficient rises.

Effects of thawing-induced softening on fracture behaviors of frozen rock

Due to the presence of ice and unfrozen water in pores of frozen rock, the rock fracture behaviors are susceptible to temperature. In this study, the potential thawing-induced softening effects on the fracture behaviors of frozen rock is evaluated by testing the tension fracture toughness (KIC) of frozen rock at different temperatures (i.e. −20 °C, −15 °C, −12 °C, −10 °C, −8 °C, −6 °C, −4 °C, −2 °C, and 0 °C). Acoustic emission (AE) and digital image correlation (DIC) methods are utilized to analyze the microcrack propagation during fracturing. The melting of pore ice is measured using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method. The results indicate that: (1) The KIC of frozen rock decreases moderately between −20 °C and −4 °C, and rapidly between −4 °C and 0 °C. (2) At −20 °C to −4 °C, the fracturing process, deduced from the DIC results at the notch tip, exhibits three stages: elastic deformation, microcrack propagation and microcrack coalescence. However, at −4 °C–0 °C, only the latter two stages are observed. (3) At −4 °C–0 °C, the AE activities during fracturing are less than that at −20 °C to −4 °C, while more small events are reported. (4) The NMR results demonstrate a reverse variation trend in pore ice content with increasing temperature, that is, a moderate decrease is followed by a sharp decrease and −4 °C is exactly the critical temperature. Next, we interpret the thawing-induced softening effect by linking the evolution in microscopic structure of frozen rock with its macroscopic fracture behaviors as follow: from −20 °C to −4 °C, the thickening of the unfrozen water film diminishes the cementation strength between ice and rock skeleton, leading to the decrease in fracture parameters. From −4 °C to 0 °C, the cementation effect of ice almost vanishes, and the filling effect of pore ice is reduced significantly, which facilitates microcrack propagation and thus the easier fracture of frozen rocks.