Crack propagation behavior and failure prediction of rocks with non-parallel conjugate flaws: Insights from the perspective of acoustic emission and DIC

Abstract

Rock-like containing non-parallel conjugate flaws specimens (NPCFS) were prepared and uniaxial compression crack propagation tests were conducted employing acoustic emission (AE) and digital image correlation (DIC) techniques. The results show that: the angle of conjugate unilateral cracks increases, the average load-bearing capacity of the rock rises. Dominant frequencies from different conjugate defect angles exhibit distinct bimodal characteristics (low-frequency: 80–140 kHz, intermediate-frequency: 260–320 kHz). The concept of AE dominant frequency ratio β is proposed and introduced to quantify the strength of macro-scale failure of the specimens. The AE multiparameter is proposed to predict the failure load, and the mean value of failure load is predicted to be in the range of 86–93 % (failure load), the prediction interval of Ib value is in the range of 95–99 %, the prediction interval of critical slowing down variance value is in the range of 90–95 %, while the prediction interval of autocorrelation coefficient is in the range of 83–90 %. A favorable correlation was observed between AE events in NPCFS and surface deformations observed through DIC technology. Both ends of the conjugate flaw cannot propagate simultaneously; once one extends, the other ceases further expansion, forming a primary failure line that propagates towards the direction of the primary compressive stress.