Fracturing Processes in Specimens with Internal vs. Throughgoing Flaws: An Experimental Study Using 3D Printed Materials.
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| Title: | Fracturing Processes in Specimens with Internal vs. Throughgoing Flaws: An Experimental Study Using 3D Printed Materials. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Almubarak, Majed1 (AUTHOR) majedalmubarak@alum.mit.edu, Germaine, John T.2 (AUTHOR), Einstein, Herbert H.1 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Rock Mechanics & Rock Engineering. Jun2026, Vol. 59 Issue 6, p5857-5872. 16p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Crack propagation, *Materials compression testing, *Empirical research, *Three-dimensional printing, *Rock deformation |
| Abstract: | The fracturing behavior and associated mechanical characterization of rocks are important for many applications in the fields of civil, mining, geothermal, and petroleum engineering. Laboratory testing of rocks plays a major role in understanding the underlying processes that occur on the larger scale and for predicting rock behavior. Fracturing research requires well-defined and consistent boundary conditions. Consequently, the testing design and setup can greatly influence the results. In this study, a comprehensive experimental program using an artificial material was carried out to systematically evaluate the effects of different parameters in rock testing under uniaxial compression. The parameters include compression platen type, specimen centering, loading control method, boundary constraints, and flaw parameters. The results show that these testing conditions have a significant effect on the mechanical behavior of rocks. Using a fixed compression platen helped reduce bulging of the material. Centering of the specimen played a critical role to avoid buckling and unequal distribution of stress. Slower displacement rates can control the energy being released once failure occurs to prevent the specimen from exploding. Also, the frictional end effects were investigated by comparing friction-reduced and non-friction-reduced end conditions. Very importantly, the study also identified variations in crack initiation and propagation between specimens with internal flaws and specimens with throughgoing flaws. This investigation showed that wing cracks appeared in specimens with throughgoing flaws, while wing cracks with petal cracks were associated with the internal flaws. It also showed that the mechanical properties are influenced by the inclination of the flaws and established that specimens with internal flaws generally exhibit higher strength compared to specimens with throughgoing flaws. The systematic analysis presented in this work sheds light on important considerations that need to be taken into account when conducting fracture research and adds knowledge to the fundamental understanding of how fractures occur in nature. Highlights: Specimen centering is crucial to avoid buckling and unequal distribution of stress during uniaxial compression testing. Different loading control methods result in different strength properties. Frictional end effects alter the observed response of the specimen during compressive loading. Differences in crack initiation and propagation exist between internal flaw and throughgoing flaw specimens. Mechanical properties are influenced by the inclination of the flaws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Database: | Energy & Power Source |
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| Header | DbId: enr DbLabel: Energy & Power Source An: 195093710 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Fracturing Processes in Specimens with Internal vs. Throughgoing Flaws: An Experimental Study Using 3D Printed Materials. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Almubarak%2C+Majed%22">Almubarak, Majed</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> majedalmubarak@alum.mit.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Germaine%2C+John+T%2E%22">Germaine, John T.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Einstein%2C+Herbert+H%2E%22">Einstein, Herbert H.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Rock+Mechanics+%26+Rock+Engineering%22">Rock Mechanics & Rock Engineering</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 59 Issue 6, p5857-5872. 16p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Crack+propagation%22">Crack propagation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Materials+compression+testing%22">Materials compression testing</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Empirical+research%22">Empirical research</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Three-dimensional+printing%22">Three-dimensional printing</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rock+deformation%22">Rock deformation</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: The fracturing behavior and associated mechanical characterization of rocks are important for many applications in the fields of civil, mining, geothermal, and petroleum engineering. Laboratory testing of rocks plays a major role in understanding the underlying processes that occur on the larger scale and for predicting rock behavior. Fracturing research requires well-defined and consistent boundary conditions. Consequently, the testing design and setup can greatly influence the results. In this study, a comprehensive experimental program using an artificial material was carried out to systematically evaluate the effects of different parameters in rock testing under uniaxial compression. The parameters include compression platen type, specimen centering, loading control method, boundary constraints, and flaw parameters. The results show that these testing conditions have a significant effect on the mechanical behavior of rocks. Using a fixed compression platen helped reduce bulging of the material. Centering of the specimen played a critical role to avoid buckling and unequal distribution of stress. Slower displacement rates can control the energy being released once failure occurs to prevent the specimen from exploding. Also, the frictional end effects were investigated by comparing friction-reduced and non-friction-reduced end conditions. Very importantly, the study also identified variations in crack initiation and propagation between specimens with internal flaws and specimens with throughgoing flaws. This investigation showed that wing cracks appeared in specimens with throughgoing flaws, while wing cracks with petal cracks were associated with the internal flaws. It also showed that the mechanical properties are influenced by the inclination of the flaws and established that specimens with internal flaws generally exhibit higher strength compared to specimens with throughgoing flaws. The systematic analysis presented in this work sheds light on important considerations that need to be taken into account when conducting fracture research and adds knowledge to the fundamental understanding of how fractures occur in nature. Highlights: Specimen centering is crucial to avoid buckling and unequal distribution of stress during uniaxial compression testing. Different loading control methods result in different strength properties. Frictional end effects alter the observed response of the specimen during compressive loading. Differences in crack initiation and propagation exist between internal flaw and throughgoing flaw specimens. Mechanical properties are influenced by the inclination of the flaws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1007/s00603-024-04168-y Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 16 StartPage: 5857 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Crack propagation Type: general – SubjectFull: Materials compression testing Type: general – SubjectFull: Empirical research Type: general – SubjectFull: Three-dimensional printing Type: general – SubjectFull: Rock deformation Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Fracturing Processes in Specimens with Internal vs. Throughgoing Flaws: An Experimental Study Using 3D Printed Materials. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Almubarak, Majed – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Germaine, John T. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Einstein, Herbert H. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 06 Text: Jun2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 07232632 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 59 – Type: issue Value: 6 Titles: – TitleFull: Rock Mechanics & Rock Engineering Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
