Ra& Mechanies 2, i23--137 @ by Springer-Verlag 1970

(1970)

Time-Dependent Behaviour of Fractured Rock

By
Z. T . B i e n i a w s k i

With l0 Figures (Reeeived on March 9, 1970)

Summary -- Zusammenfassung -- Rsum Time-Dependent Behaviour of Fractured Rock. Knowledge of the time-dependent behaviour of fraetured rock is partieularly important in designing rock struetures for longterm stability. This paper is an attempt to determine the time-dependent behaviour of fraetured rock as it might prevail under in-situ eonditions. The following eascs are eonsidered: (i) Gradually increasing eompression at different but eonstant rates of deformation; (ii) GraduMly increasing eompression at ehanging rates of deformation; (iii) Censtant load applieation for various time durations. It is shewn that fraetured rock does have a long-term strength and while its resistanee and deformation are initially affeeted by time, stability is reached at a eertain stage. It is thus possible to determine long-term stabi]ity eurves for fraetured rock. This may yield design data for stable rock struetures subjeeted to low rates o.f loading. Das zeitabhngige Verhalten von gebroehenem Gestein. Fr den Entwurf von Felskonstruktionen, die ber lange Zeitr~ume stabil sein sollen, ist es besonders wichtig, das zeitabhngige Verhalten von gebrochenem Gestein zu kennen. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird versucht, das zeitabhngige Verhalten von gebro&enem Gestein zu ermitteln, wie es unter untertgigen Bedingungen in Erscheinung treten knnte. Folgende Flle werden behandelt: (i) Allmhlich steigende Druckbelastung bei verschiedenen, jedoch konstanten Verformungsgeschwindigkeiten ; (ii) Allmhlich steigende Druckbelastung bei vernderlichen Verformungsgeschwindigkeiten ; (iii) Konstante Lastaufbringung whrend verschieden langer Zeitrume. Es wird na&gewiesen, da gebrochenes Gestein eine Langzeitfestigkeit besitzt und da Stabilitt zu einem gewissen Zeitpunkt erreicht wird, obwohl Widerstand und Verformung anfnglich durch die Zeit beeinflut werden. Es ist daher mglich, Langzeitstabilittskurven fr gebroehenes Gestein zu bestimmen. Dies kann zur E.rarbeitung von Entwurfsdaten fiir stabile Felskonstrnktionen fhren, die geringen Belastungsgeschwindigkeiten ausgesetzt sind. Le comportement de la rache fraeture en fonetion du temps. La eonnaissanee du eomportement de la rache fraeturee en fonetion du temps ost partieulierement utile au ealeul

de la stabilit prolonge des struetures rocheuses. Aussi a-t-on cherch dterminer le eomportement probable, en fonction du temps, d'une rache fraeture en rgime naturel. On a envisag les ventualits suivantes: (i) une eompression eroissante avee diffrentes vitesses de dformation eonstantes; (ii) une eompression eroissante avec des vitesses de dformation variables; (iii) une eha.rge de grandeur eonstante de dure variable.
Rock Mechanics, Vol. 2/3 9

124

Z.T. B i e n i a w s k i :

On a d6montr6 que la roehe fraeture po ss~de en effet une stabilit de longue dure. Bien qu'au dbut sa rsistance et sa d6fol~ation soient affectes par le temps -- sa stabilit est atteinte une certaine poque. I1 est ainsi possible de dterminer des courbes de stabilit de longue dure des roches fractures. Ceci pourrait fournir des donnes pour le calcul de stabilit de structures rocheuses soumises des tanx de chargement modrs.

lntroduction
Knowledge of the b e h a v i o u r of f r a e t u r e d rock is of eonsider'able praetieal interest. F o r instanee, at gr'eat depths, f r a e t u r i n g of rock a r o u n d exeava~ions is u s u a l l y unavoidable. In other eases, f r a e m r e d rock m a y eren be desirable; f r a c m r e d rock is less p r o n e to sudd.en and violent failure than strong, solid rock and henee the fo.rmer is less likely to lead to rockbursts. Further, if in the ease of rooma n d - p i l l a r stoping with panels, yielding of i n d i v i d u a l p i l l a r s in a panel is introdueed b u t the s t a b i l i t y of the panel as a who.le is not endangered, greater extrae~;ion of ore will be aehieved. Thus, provided the b e h a v i o u r of f r a e t u r e d rock ean be u n d e r s t o o d and eontro.lled, its presenee eould reduee hazards and eren result in signifieant eeonomie advantages. One o.f the most useful approaehes to studies of f r a e t u r e d rock is the determination of the so ealled "eomplete load-defo.rmation eurves" (B i e n i a w s k i et al, 1969; J a e g e r and C o o k , 1969, p. 167). D i a g r a m m a t i e a l l y , this is i l l u s t r a t e d in Fig. 1: Up to the strength failure, m a r k e d A, the rock remains p r a e t i e a l l y intaet. The rock b e h a v i o u r b e y o n d p o i n t A is governed b y the stiffness of the loading

PB

\
O

~c

4S

Fig. 1. Speeimen resistanee-deformation di&gram and testing machine load-deformation diagrams for soft (AB) and stiff (AD) machines X = load P or resistanee R; Y = deformation Widerstands-Verformungs-Diagramm von Prfkrper und Last-Verformungs-Diagramm von Prfmaschinen fr ,weiche" (AB) und ,steife" (AD) Maschinen X = Last P oder Widerstand R; Y = Verformung Graphique rsistanee-dformation d'un ehantillon et graphiques charge-dpla.eement pour des machines d'e.ssai molle (AB) et raide (AD) X = &arge P ou rsista.nee R; Y = dplaeement maehine, represented b y lines AB and AD, respeetively, for a soft and a stift maehine. Beyond strength failure, inerease in speeimen deformation, As, results in deereased resistanee, Re. In the ease of the soft (conventional) loading maehine (about 50 MN/m stiffness), the applied load PB would be higher than the speeimen resistanee Rc. The speeimen thus fails violently at point A -- a behaviour often observed in rock. In a stiff loading maehine (more than 500 MN/m stiffness), the a p p l i e d load PD would be lower than the specimen re.sistanee Re. This situation

Time-Dependent Behaviour of Practured Rock

125

is "stable" and with increasing specimen deformation, the resistance of the speeimen gradually decreases along line A C E in Fig. 1. Sinee the ro& material is in a fracmred state after strength failure, having passed its maximum load bearing capacit.y, a valuable mea.ns of obtaining an insight into the behaviour of fraetured rock is provided by studying the eomplete "load-deformation" or rather "resistanee-defornlation" eurves obtained in stift testing maehines. The eoncept of eomplete Ioad-deformation eurves originated in studies on concrete in compression conducted by R s e h (1960) in Germany. He also obtained the first complete load-deformation curves in tension, again for eoncrete ( R s e h , 1963). The desirability of obtaining information on the behaviour of rock after strength failure was first pointed out by C o o k (1965), followed up by Fairhurst and C o o k (1965). The first complete load-deformation cuIa~es for rock were obtained by B i e n i a w s k i (1966) and by C o o k and H o j e m (1966). Since then rauch attention has been devoted in rock mechanies to this subject and besides extensive laboratory tests ( B i e n i a w s k i , 1967; W a w e r s i k , 1968; B i e n i a w s k i , 1969) the first underground tests have now also been undertaken ( B i e n i a w s k i , 1970). It now only remains to establish the faetors whieh influence the behaviour of fracmred rock.

Factors of I n f l u e n c e on t h e B e h a v i o u r of Fractured Rock

The behaviour of fraetured rock is charaeterized by the resistance-deformation curve after strength failure, in the region where the curve has a negative slope. As diseussed above (see Fig. 1), the specimen will fail violently if the negative slope of the rock resistance-deformation cui~:e is steeper than the (negative) slope rcpresenting the stiffness of the loading machine. Knowledge of the faetors which determine the solpe of the resistance-deformation eurve after strength failure is therefore of part icular importance if violent failure of fractured rock is to be avoided. Results of reeent studies have shown ( B i e n i a w s k i , 1969) that increasing confining pressure tends to flatten the negative slope of the rock. Thus, a fraetured rock seeimen is more stable in triaxial compression than in uniaxial compression. In addition, it was found then that a change in specimen shape, for example, a higher width to height ratio, also results in a flattening of the negative slope. A reetangular (oblong) speeimen is more stable than a eubieal specimen having the same cross-section. It was also reeently shown ( B i e n i a w s k i , 1970) that rock materials having a higher uniaxial compressive strength er a higher modulus of elasticity, or both, have steeper negative slopes than materials with lower strength or modulus values. Consequently "hard" high-strength rock will be more prone to violent failure than ' soft", low-strength rock. The factor whi& has not as yet been investigated is the influenee of time on the behaviour of fractured rock. This faetor is of particular interest as it is associated with the !ong-term stability of fractured rock. It is the purpose of this paper to contribute to the knowledge of this aspeet. While no information on time-dependent behaviour of fractured rock eould be found on the literature, some data of interest to the present study have been reported for eoncrete by R s e h (1960). In Fig. 2, after R s c h , stress-strain relationships are given for concrete subjeeted to various constant strain rates. It will be noted from this figure that, with increasing rate of straining, the uniaxial compressive strength as well as the modulus of elasticity (in the unfraemred stare) increase. It is interesting to reeall that identical behaviour is also typical of rock ( S e r d e n g e c t i and B o o z e r , ]961).
9*

126

Z.T. B i e n i a w s k i :

The most important observatio.n to be made from Fig. 2 is that the negative slope of the st.ress-strain curves after strength failure gradually becomes flatter as the rate of s t r a i n i n g deereases. Should a similar trend be also observed for rock, this could be of considerable practical signifieance, as will be diseussed Iater.
25

20 ~ 15
X

IY E A R ~ O N T H see I M ~ IDAY ~ 1 H O U R 10M I N U T E S

~, ~ 6
(a,f~er z

10
5 i

1670xi
10000 x 10-

~-

;
Y

Fig. 2. Stress-strain relationships fo,r eoncrete for various eonstant strain rates R s c h , 1960)

X = uniaxial eompressive stress (MN/m2); Y = axial strain (10-~); Z = loading dara.tion needed to attain 6" 10 .3 strain with the strain rates indieat.ed Spannungs-Dehnungs-Diagramm fr Beton unter verschiedenen konstanten Dehnungsges.ehwindigkeiten (nach R s e h, 1960) X = einaehsige Druekspannung (MN/rn2); Y = axiale Dehnung (10-a); Z = erfo.rderliehe Belastungsdauer zur Erreiehung einer Dehnung vo.n 6 10 3 bei den angegebenen Dehnungsgeschwindigkeiten; year = Jahr; mont.h = Monat; day = Tag; hour = Stunde Courbes eontrainte dfo.rmation d'un bton pour diffrentes vitesses eonstantes (d'aprs R s e h, 1960) de dformation

X = eontrainte de compressio,n monoaxiale (MN/m2); Y = dformation axiale (10-~); Z = dure de &arge ncessaire [out atteindre une dformation de 6 ' 10 -a aux vitesses indiques; yea.r = an; month = mois; day = jour; hcur = heure A n investigation was therefore initiated the purpose of whieh was to derermine the load-deformation behaviour of fraetured rock at various strain rates and at eonstant load for var'ious durations. Thre,e eases were eonsidered, believed to be applieable to in-situ behaviour of rock struetures: (i) gradually inereasing eompression at different b u t eonstant strain rates. (ii) g r a d u a l l y inereasing eompression at ehanging strain rates. (iii) eonstant load. applieation for various time durations.

Experimental Procedures
The equipment omd teehniques used in this study have been deseribed in detail eisewhere ( B i e n i a w s k i et al, 1969). Briefly, the equipment eonsisted of a speeially designed eompressive loading ma~hine with variable longitudinal stiftness o.f up to l i 0 O MN/m. The axial load on the speeimen as weil as its axial deformation were automatieally plotted on a high sensitivity X - Y reeorder. No measurement,s o.f lateral deformation were mode. All tests were eonducted in uniaxial eompression. The rock material used was a fine-grained sandstone. The speeimens, after being aecurately prepared, were plaeed for over one month u n d e r eonditions of eonstant temperatur'e (20C) and eonstant h u m i d i t y (50 /0). Some 30 speeimens

Time-Dependent Behaviour of Fractured Rock

127

were test ed, the specimens being cylindrical in shape and having a diameter of 21.6 mm and a height of 10.8 mm, thus yielding a d i a n e t e r to heigh~ ratio of 2. This geometry was ehosen sinee mine pillars in South Afriea have generally width to height ratio of 2 and are square in plan.

firadually lncreasing Compression at Constant Strain Rates

The condition of gradually increasing compression at a constant strain rate is orten encountered in m i n i n g such as, for example, in mine pillars d u r i n g the systematic extraction of ore in the panel in which they are sit.uated. In order to dctermine the influence of strain rate on the eomplete loaddeformation curve of ro& subjected to gradually inereasing eompressive deformation, a series of tests - similar to those eondueted by R s e h (1960) for eoncrete -- was undertaken. The experimental procedure was as follows. P r e l i m i n a r y tests ware first eondueted to determine the average maximum speeimen deformation at rupture. This deformation was found to be 0.15 mm. Then speeimens were subjeeted to graduatly increasing eompressive deformation at c o n s t a n t strain rates such that 0.15 mm deformation would be attained after 7 minutes, 2 hours a l d 9 hours respeetively. This eorresponded to strain rates of 33 10-6/see, 1.94" 10-6/see and 0.43 - I 0 -6 per sec respeetively or to rates of deformation of 2 2 10-3 mm/min, 1.25 l 0 -'~ mm per m i n and 0.28 mm/min, respectively. In this manner, data for rock eomparable to those obtained for eonerete b y R s e h (see Fig. 2) -- were obtained. The results are given in Fig. 3, in which eaeh eurve, for a specifie strain rate, represents an average of a n u m b e r of tests.
50

3C

~/0- {~,

X 2G

005

0'10

0"15

Fig. 3. hffluence of rate of strain on the complete load-deformation curves of sandstone in uniaxiM eompression X = load (kN); Y ~ deformation (min) Einflu der Dehnungsgeschwindigkeit auf die vollstndigen Last-Verformungskennlinien von Sandstein bei einaehsigem Druck X = La.st (kN); Y = Verformung (mm) Effet de la vitesse de dformation sur les eourbes effort-dformation eomp]tes pour un grs en eompression monoaxiale X = &arge (kN); Y = dplaeement (min)

128

Z.T. B i e n i a w s k i :

It will be seen from Fig. 3 that a higher strain rate results in a higher modulus of elastieity (steeper positive slope before strength failure) and in a higher strength failure stress of the speeimens. The mo,st important obsmwation is, however, that the lower the strain rate (longer duration of loading), the flatter is the slope o.f the load-defo,rmation eurve after strength failure. This is a very signifieant finding as it indieates that the likelihood of violent failure of fraetured rock, if the strain

Io

X I

.o~iI~_ _ -Il-~--Il;
80 eo /+20 10-10
10-a 10-6 i0~~' iO-~ IO s

~,ooo
80 so /*0

'3

I a

Xz

'-~'"-~'-'"-~ '"''~:IITX-UF ~tt-~-q "

io 10-g lO-e I0-7

~
I0-s

~tl

. ,o
10-] f~

fi'i
1O-~

3:1-

~~I;;4~ - b~l~ -] ':i~-~J ]Il] ] Il ~ i

10"~o ItT 9 10-a i0-~ 10-r,

lff 5

~~~ si

Fig. 4. Inflnenee of strain rate oll strength f~ilure, strain at strength failure and modulus of clasticity for sandstone in uniaxial eompression X 1 = strength failure (MN/m2); X2 = strain at strength failure (10-3); X3 = modulus of elastieity (GN/m2); Y = strain per seeond Einflu der Dehnungsgesehwindigkeit auf Bruehfestigkeit, Bruehdehnung und Elastizittsmodul von Sandstein bei einaehsigem Dru& X~ -- Bruehfestigkeit (NM/m2); X2 = Bruehdehnung (10 a); X~ = Elastizittsmodul (GN/m'~); Y = Dehnung pro Sekunde Effet de la. vitesse de dformation sur la rsistanee la rupture, la dformation la rupture et le module d'lasfieit pour un grs en eompression monoaxiale X 1 = rsistanee la rupture (MN/m2); X2 = dfo.rmation la rupture (10-3); X~ = module d'lastieit (GN/m2); Y = dformation par seeonde increases -- as found in yielding mine pillars left standing for a long period of time -- will be less the slower the rate of strain. Fraetured ro& subjeeted to slow strain rates is, therefore, more stable than that subjeeted to higher ones. This can also now explain why rock subjeet to a sudden and violent energy release, such as in a rockburst, fails u n e o n t r o l l a b l y -- its stability is diminished due to its steep load-deformation eharaet,eristies after strength failure, at high rates of strain. The results given in Fig. 3 are applieable to rates of strain down to 0.43 10 - per seeond (0.15 mm d e f o n n a t i o n after 9 hours). This is, of course, not eomparable to in situ eonditions where rauch smaller rates of st.rain are eommon sinee the pillars may be subjeeted to prolonged loading with inereasing strain over m a n y years.

Time-Dependent Behaviour of Fractured Rock

129

It would, therefore, be d esirable to determine such d a t a for rock for very slow strain rates (in this ease 0.15 mm deformation in one year), as was achieved for concrete b y R s e h (see Fig. 2). This would u n f o r t u n a t e l y be a v e r y time eonsuming process and would also p r e s e n t considerable experimental diffieultes. In fact, the a u t h o r ' s a p p a r a t u s is not equipped to dem with such small stran rates. Due to the importance of the matter, however, extrapolation of the results was attempted. It was thought that if definite trends eould be established eoncerning the influenee of strain rate on strength failure, modulus of elasfieity, strain at failure and the negative slope of the load-deformation eurve after strength failure, then the relevant d a t a for slower strain rates eould be predieted. E x t r a p o l a t i o n of the data on the first three variables, as obtained from Fig. 3, i . e . strength failures stress, strength failure s t r a i n and modulus of elastieity, is shown in Fig. 4 (experimental d a t a -- solid lines, extr~polated d a t a -- b r o k e n lines). This figure shows a definite trend in these quantities, thus enabling their determination for very small rates of stra/n. To reeognise a trend that would p e r m i t extrapolation of the negative slope after strength fa,ilure to v e r y small strain rates, the results on sandstone are eompared, in Fig. 5, with those obtained for eonerete b y R s e h (1960), who tested down
tO s

10'~..

13'~"~

1010- u

10-9

~o ~

Iff '1

t0.6

1~ s

1~ ~

Fig. 5. Effeet of strain rate on stress-strain slope after strength failure for sandstone and eonerete in uniaxial eompression X = slope of stress-strain eurve after strength failure (MN/m2); Y = strain per seeond Einflu der Deb~nungsgeschwindigkeit auf die Neigung der Spannungs-Dehnungs-Kurve nach erfolgtem Bruch fr Sandstein und Beton bei einachsigem Druck X = Neigung der Spannungs-Dehnungs-Kurve nach berschreiten der Bruchfestigkeit (MN/m2); Y = Verformung pro Sekunde Effet de la vitesse de dformation sur la pente de la eourbe effort-dformation aprs la rupture pour un grs et un bton en eompression monoaxiale X = pente de la eourbe effort-dformation aprs la rupture (MN/me); Y = dformation par seeonde to a st.rain rate of 0.19 - 1O-9/sec, i . e . loading duration of one year, as shown in Fig. 2. It will be seen from Fig. 5 that it is reasonable to assume that the d a t a for sandstone (experimental -- solid line, exrapolated -- b r o k e n line) would give

130

Z.T. B i e n i a w s k i :

a similar trend as that for eonerete, p a r t i c u l a r l y in view of the phenomenological simil~rity between eonerete and rock. Based upon the data presented in Figs. 4 and , an attempt was made to eonstruet the curves depieting the influence of strain rate on the eomplete stressstrain for rock. The results are given in Fig. 6. The data are presented in terms
125

0.127 X lO}sec 10 /sec e(lrs lyelr Imonth

Iday

-9 ~5~10 /sec
33 300 xlO /sec
thour

I0 min

10

15

20

Y Fig. 6. St ress-strain rel~tionships for sa~dstone for various constant strain rates X = uniaxial eompressive stress (MN/me); Y = axial strain (10-s); Z = duration of loading needed to attain 20" 10 -3 strain with the strain rates indieated Spannungs-Dehnungs-Diagramme fiir Sandstein bei verschiedenen konstanten Dehnungsgeschwindigkeiten X = einaehsige Druckspannung (MN/m 2); Y = axiMe Dehnung (10-s); Z = erforderliche Belastungsdauer zur Erreiehung einer Dehnung von 2 0 ' 10 s bei den angegebenen Dehnungen; year = Jahr; month = Monat; day = Tag; hour = Stunde Courbes eontr~inte-dformation d'un grs pour diverses vitesses de dformation eonsta~ntes X = eontrainte de eompression monoaxiale (MN/m2); Y = dformation axiale (10-~); Z = dure de ehargement ncessaire pour atteindre nne dformation de 2 0 - 1 0 -3 aux vitesses de dformation indiques of stress versus strain to facilitate comparison with Fig. 2 for conerete. In Tab. 1, both stress-strain and load-deformation data are summarized for eonvenience. It will be seen from Fig. 6 that a five-year loading duration at the constant strain rate of 0 . 1 2 7 ' 10-9/sec, yields a much flatter slope of the eurve after strength failure thax4 that for l 0 minutes loading duration at the constant strain rate of 33 300 10-9/sec. I n faet, from Tab. 1, there is a change from 509.5 MN/m for 3 3 3 0 0 " 10-9/sec to 42.1 MN/m for 0 . 1 2 7 - 1 0 - 9 / s e c -- this is over 12-fold improvement. It is also interesting to note from the last eolumn of Tab. 1 that there is a gradual increase in the radio of the positive to negative slope with inereasing rate of strain. It is believed that these data will be of praetieal signifieaaaee for determining the long-telzn stability of structures involving fraetured rock,

Time-Dependent Behaviour of Fractured Rock

131

Table 1. l n f I u e n e e of s t r a i n r a t e on s t r e n g t h a n d d e f o r m a t i o n e h a r a e t e r i s t i e s ofsandstone (extrapolated from tests with strain rates down to 0.43 10-6/see) Stress-strain behavionr Load-deformation behaviom

Strain rate 10 ' / s e e

rD

~~ Z

~
O g

~s
kN 42.1 38.9 37.1 35.4 34.7 33.6 mm 0.058 0.066 0.079 0.093 0.104 0.111 MN/m MN/m 981.8 900.9 769.3 641.1 536.5 455.1 509.5 494.7 283.4 141.7 70.9 42.1 15.1 11.7 8.4 4.2 2.1 1.3

IN/m ~ 10-3 !GN/m 2 GN/m 10 minutes 1 hour 1 day 1 month 1 year 5 years 33 300.00 5 560.00 232.00 7.72 0.64 0.13 115.1 106.4 101.5 96.7 94.8 92.1 5.4 ]29.1 6.l 26.7 7.3 22.8 8.6 19.0 9.6 15.9 10.2 13.5

1.92
2.28 2.71 4.52 7.57 10.83

Gradually Increasing Compression at Changing Strain Rates

In mining, the stoping operations may, in the case of pillars, eause r e d i s t r i b u tion of the load over the p i l l a r s such that these m a y be subjeeted to inereasing or decreasing rates of strain. It is, therefore, of practical interest to examine the behaviour of rock u n d e r g r a d u a l l y inereasing compressive deformation at v a r y ing strain rates. To explore the reaction of f r a c t u r e d t o & to a sudden ehange in s t r a i n rate, two series of tests were c a r r i e d out: (i) Specimens were loaded at the constant s t r a i n rate of 33 10-6/see b e y o n d strength failure, up to an a r b i t r a r i l y chosen deformation of 0.08 mm. Then the strain rate was ehanged to 0 . 4 3 ' 10-6/see and kept eonstant thereafter. Load and deformation were reeorded throughout the test. (it) Speeimens were loaded at the eonstant strain rate of 0.43 1 0 - 6/see beyond strength failure, up to an a r b i t r a r i l y cho,sen deformation of 0.12 mm. Then the strain rate was changed to 33" 10-6/see and kept constant thereafter. Load and deformation were reeorded throughout the test. The eomplete load-deformation eurves depieting the results of this s t u d y are given in Fig. 7, from which the follo wing observations are made: Comparing the ease of ehanging the strain rate from 3 3 ' 10-6/see to 0.43" 10-6/see (full eurve A) with the ease of keeping the s t r a i n rate eonstant at 33" 10-6/see throughout the test (dotted eurve A), shows that a sudden decrease in the strain rate results in an initial steepening of the negative slope of the load deformation eurve, followed b y a flattening of this slope. The reason for the initial steepening is that for a deerease in the rate of strain, the resistmaee of the speeimen also deereases (see Fig. 6). Subsequent flattening in the slope is due to the faet that as the deereased strain rate takes effeet, the eonfiguration of the eurve is typical for this rate of strain. As Fig. 7 shows, the eurvatures of the full and dotted eurves for 0.43" 10-6/see s t r a i n rate are the same. Comparing the ease of changing the strain rate from 0 . 4 3 - 1 0 - 6 / s e e to 3 3 ' 10-6/see (full eurve B) with the case of keeping the s t r a i n rate cons~aa~t at

132

Z.T. B i e n i a w s k i

0 . 4 3 - 1 0 - 6 / s e c throughout the test (dotted curve B), an initial inerease in the specimen resistanee is apparent, followed immediately b y a steep negative slope. This slope is a p p a r e n t l y the same as that of the 33" 10-6/see strain rate eurve. The curvatures of the full and dotted eurves for 33 l 0 6/see strain rate are the same. It m a y be commented from the above observations that a ehange in the rate of strain produees a two-fold effeet on f r a e t u r e d r e & : (a) an initial deerease er inerease in the resistanee, eorresponding to a deerease er increase, respeetively, in the strain rate; (b) subsequent flattening er steepening of the negative slope, eorresponding to a deerease er increase, respeetively, in the strain rate. The first effeet is due to the relationship between the resistanee and the strain rate (see Fig. 6 -- resistanee decreases with deereasing strain rate) while the seeond effect refleets the relationship given in Fig. 3, i . e . the eurvature of the curve is eharaeteristie for a given s t r a i n rate. In this ease, eonsidering Fig. 7,
50
CURVE A

~;CURVE B I
3{

x
2C

,---%~
\ 'x~33x10-~/
0.05 0.10

lC

0.15

0-20

Fig. 7. Effect of ehanging stra,in rate on the behaviour of fraetured rock X = load (kN); Y = defonnation (mm) Einflu der ver.ndeHi&en Dehnungsgesehwindigkeit auf das Verhalten von gebroehenem Gestein X = Last (kN); Y = Verformung (mm) Effet d'un changement de vitesse de dformation sur le eomportement de la roehe fraemre X = charge (kN); Y = dplaeement (mm) if the dotted eurve A of 33 10-6/sec strain rate is shifted to the right and superimposed and the solid curve B of 33 10-6/sec, then be,th eurves will eoineide since the curvatures of these eurves are the same. In practice be th effeets (a) and (b) above, y i e l d a g r a d u a l t r a n s i t i o n from the resistance change to the curvature change, due to the fact that the s t r a i n rate cannot be changed absolutely suddenly. Should the rate of strain be changed really s u d d e n l y from higher to lower, the resistance should immediately drop to a vMue corresponding to the lower strain rate and then the eurve should immediately follow the eurvature typical of the lower rate of strain.

Time-Dependent Behaviour of Fractured Rock

133

Another observation whieh ean be made from Fig. 7 is that as a result of a ehanged strain rate from 33 10-6/sec to 0.43" 10-6/see, at speeimen deformation of 0.15 mm the resistance of the specimen is inereased from A~ to A 2 while, eonversely, an incre~se in the strain rate from 0.43 10-6/sec to 33 10-6/sec yields, for the same speeimen deformation of 0.15 mm, a deerease in the resistanee from B s to B 1. This phenomenon is, of course, due to the effect (b) above. This eurvature effeet thus yields the desirable effeet of a decreased rate of strain, that is, when the eurvature influenee takes effeet in such a ease, not only the stability of fraetured rock is inereased (flatter negative slope) but also the resistance is higher. On the o.ther haad, inereasing the strain rate results in an eventual decrease in stability (steeper negative slope) as well as in a deereased resistanee. The above findings indieate the undesirable effeet that an increased rate of stra.in has on the behaviour of fraetured rock. In praetieal design of rock structures involving fraetured rock, care should be taken to ensure that, if a ehange in strain rate is to take place, it should be decreased rather than increased.

Constant Loading for Various Durations

The eondition of constant loading (long-term loading at co nstant stress level) is orten found in praetiee, partieularly in mining when, after eompletion of ore extraetion, rock struetures such as mine pillars are left for an indefinitely long time to support the overburden. If the pillars are of a yielding type, i.e. in a fraetured state, their behaviour under eonstant load, over a long period of time, is of partieular interest. In order to determine this behaviour, tests were eondueted to establish the long-term stability of fraetured rock. The experimentaI proeedure was as follows. Rock speeimens were loaded in the stift maehine beyond their strength failure. At an arbitrary load level after strength failure, the applied load was kept eonstant over some period of time. Since, however, the ro& was in a fraemred state at that stage, it could be expeeted that due to fraeture propagation, the resistaaee of the speeimen would decrease and its deformation increase, even if the applied load was maintained constant. The speeimen resistanee was measured by a load eell plaeed in series with the specimen while the applied load was indieated by the stift maehine pressure gauge. Automatie plotting of the speeimen resistance and its deformation was affected b y an X-Y recorder. The apparatus used is fully deseribed elsewhere ( B i e n i a w s k i et al, 1969). In Fig. 8 typieal results of this study are shown. At point A in this figure, further external Ioading was stopped and the applied load was maintained eonstant. The speeimen eontinued to deform, however, as indicated by line AB. This decrease in speeimen resistance took place during 30 minutes, the rate of strain deerease gradually dropping as shown in the insert of Fig. 8, until at point B no further ehange in speeimen resistance and deformation was observed. Observation was continued for one hour, during which time no ehange oceurred. The applied load was then inereased and the specimen resistanee and deformation followed the eurve BCD, resmning its normal eharaeteristic at point C. The faet that line A B does not eoindice with line A C is due to the specimen resistance deereasing due to the decreasing rate of strain, as indicated in the insert in Fig. 8. A signifieant finding of this study was that specimen resistance and deformation remained eonstant at point B. Thus, the fraetured rock attained stabitity and beeame free from any fraeture propagation and time effeets. The question now arises as to whether point B is one of a locus of points forming a long-term stability curve for fraet.ured rock. If such a eurve does exist, the further queson is, whether or not it depends upon the rate of strain.

134

Z.T. B i e n i a w s k i :

I n order to answer these questions, further tests were conducted the results of whieh are given in Fig. 9 and 10. I n Fig. 9 it is shown that a eurve does exist representing a locus of points at whieh fractured ro& does not ehange its resistance and deformation with time. The portion of the curve after strength failure was found from a series of tests, as per Fig. 8, all "points B as per Fig. 8" being joined. For elarity of presentation
SO

~I

&o~o

,~

~.o ~o

0 05

0'10

0' 15

0'20

Y Fig. 8. Dcformational hehaviour of fractured rock under constant ]oad in uniaxia,]

compression X = load or resistance (kN); Y = deformation (mm); Z = changes in rate of strain between points A and B; S = rate of strain (10-6/sec); T = time (minutes) Verformungsverhalten von gebrochenem Gestein unter konstanter Last bei einachsigem Druck X = Last (L) oder Widerstand (R) (kN); Y = Verformung (mm); L = R = Last = Widerstand; Z = nderung der Dehnungsgeschwindigkeit zwischen den Punkten A und B; S = Dehnungsgeschwindigkeit (10-8/sek); T = Zeit (Minuten) Comportcment de la roche fracture sous une charge constante en compression monoaxiMe X = charge ou rsistance; Y = dplacement (mm); Z = changement de la vitesse de dformation entre A et B; S = vitesse de dformation (10-8/sec); T = temps (minutes)

only four of these "points B" are shown in Fig. 9. The long term strength of intact rock, indicated in Fig. 9, was obtained by subjecting the specimens to long term loading using the techniques and apparatus described elsewhere ( B i e n i a w s k i , 1967, p. 435). The long-term stability curve (lower curve in Fig. 9) for fractured rock was obtained for specimens subjected to s t a n d a r d laboratory rate of loading (0.7 MN/m 2 per sec = 100 l b f / i n u per sec) corresponding to a rate of deformation of 0.02 mm per m i n or a strain rate of 31 10-6/sec. It is interesting to note from Fig. 9 that the negative slope of the long-terin stability curve is somewhat steeper than that of the original curve: 625 MN/m as compared with 510 MN/m. This difference, 22.5 /0, could perhaps be attributed to an experimental error. It is thus possible that the long-term stability curve has the same negative slope as the corresponding eurve for a given rate of defor-

Time-Dependent Behaviour of Fractured Rock

135

mation. On the other hand, there eould be a slight differenee due to the effeet of g r a d u a l l y deereasing strain rate (from p o i n t A to B in the insert in Fig. 8). It m a y further be noted that the b r o k e n lines in Fig. 9 are p a r a l l e l and their slope of 1110 MN/m is elose to the stiffness of the testing maehine used, namely, l I 0 0 MN/m. Consequently, under a eonstant applied load, f r a e t u r e d rock eontinues
5O

F
SL~

~0

30 X 20

10

0'04

008

0'}2

0'I

Fig. 9. Long-term stability of fractured rock subjeeted to a rate of deformation of 0.02 mm per minute X : load (kN); Y = deformation (mm); SL = long term strength of solid to& Langzeitstabilitt von gebroehenem Gestein bei einer Verformungsgeschwindigkeit von 0,02 mm pro. Minute X ~ Last (kN); Y = Verformung (mm); SL = Langzeitfestigkeit von festem Gestein Stabilit long terme de la roehe fraeture soumise une vitesse de dplacement de 0,02 mm par minute X = &arge (kN); Y : dplacement (mm); S 1 = rsistance de longue dure de la roehe intaete to defonn and decreases in resistance along the charaeteristic of the testing machine. This finding gives a convenient means of cheeking the stiffness of the loading maehine. The results given in Fig. 9 thus provide long-term d a t a on which the design of rock s t r u e m r e s ean be based. The value of these results lies in their a p p l i e a b i l i t y to the p r e d i e t i o n of the b e h a v i o u r of rock struetures after a very long period of time. The data, in Fig. 9 a p p l y only to the rate of deformation of 0.02 mm/min. Does it also a p p l y to other rates of deformation, that is, is it applieable to the t o & type as such? Fig. 10 indieates that it does not a p p l y to other rates of deformation and that eaeh rate of deformation has its own eharaeteristie long-term s t a b i l i t y eurve. This is elear from Fig. 10 where the long-term stabilit,y points (broken lines) for s t r a i n rates of 33" 10-6/see and 0.43" 10-6/see ean be seen not to eoineide. It m a y thus be stted that u n d e r eonstant applied load fraetured rock event u a l l y reaehes s t a b i l i t y b u t is affeeted b y the previous s t r a i n i n g history. The long-

136

Z.T. B i e n i a w s k i :

term b e h a v i o u r of f r a c t u r e d r o & m a y be established from a systematic determination of p o s t - f a i l u r e s t r e s s - s t r a i n curves of rock, at various s t r a i n rates.
50

40

30

\',, \
2C

X ' , ~ ~'0-~ .... ",1

I-V

0'06

0'10

0'1 "t

0'18

Fig. 10. Inf]uence of strain rate o]1 long-term stability of fractured rock X = load (kN); Y = deformation (mm); Z = long-term stability Einflu der Dehnungsgesehwindigkeit auf die Langzeitstabilitt von gebro,ehenem Gestein X = Last (kN); Y = Verformung (mm); Z = Langzeitstabilit~ Effet de la vitesse de dformation sur la stabilit de longue dure de la rache fraeture X ~ &arge (kN); Y = dplacement (mm); Z = stabilit de longue dure

Conclusions
(1) U n d e r g r a d u a l l y increasing compres:sive deformation at constant strain rates, decreases in strain rate result in a flattening of the slope of Ioad-deformation curve of f r a c t u r e d rock after strength failure, th~t is, in an increased s t a b i l i t y after strength failure. (2) Conversely, increasing stra.in rate results in decreased s t a b i l i t y of fract u r e d rock manifested b y a steepening of the negative slope of the load-deformation curve after strength failure. (3) A l t h o u g h resistance and deformation of f r a c t u r e d rock are time-dependent, after the application of a constant load for a relatively s h o r t p e r i o d of time, stabil i t y is achieved and no f u r t h e r reduction in the resist~nce o r increase in deformation, is apparent. F r o m this phenomenon it is possible to construct a resultant curve of long-term s t a b i l i t y of f r a c t u r e d rock. (4) The long-term s t a b i l i t y curve for f r a c t u r e d rock is dependent on the previous loading h i s t o r y of the rock, i . e . the rate of deformation previously applied.

Acknowledgements
The ~uthor is grateful to Messrs. U. W. V o g l e r and S. J. C o e t z e r for their assistance in the experimental tests and to Dr. H. G. D e n k h a u s for his constructive criticism of the manuscript.

Time-Dependent Behaviour of Fraetured I[ock References

i37

Bieniawski, Z. T.: Meehanism of rock fracture in compression. Rep. Counc. scient. ind. Res. S. Afr., MEG 459, 1966. Bieniawski, Z. T.: Mechanism of brittle fracture of rock. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sei. 4, 407--430, 1967. Bieniawski, Z. T., II. G. D e n k h a u s, and U. W. V o g l e r : Failure of fraetured rock. Int. J. Rock Meeh. Min. Sei. 6, 323--341, 1969. Bieniawski, Z. T.: Deformational behaviour of fraetured rock under multiaxial eompression. Proe. Int. Conf. Strueture, Solid Meehanies and Engineering Design, John Wiley & Son, London, 55/1--55/10, 1969. B i e n i a w s k i, Z. T.: Load-deformation behaviour of eoal after f~ilure. Proe. 2nd Congress Int. Soe. Rock Meeh., Belgrade, 1, 467--473, 1970. C o o k , N. G. W.: Failure of rock. Int. J. Rock Meeh. Min. Sei. 2, 289--403, 1965. C o o k , N. G. W., and J. P. M. H o j e m : A rigid 50-ton compression and tension testing maehine. S. Afr. Me&. Engr. 16, 89--92, 1966. F a i r h u r s t, C., and N. G. W. C o o k : The phenomenon of ro& splitting parallel to a surfaee under eompressive stress. Chamber of Mines of South Afriea Researeh Report No. 65/65, 1965. Also in: Proe. 1st CongressInt. Soe. Ro,ck Me&., Lisbon, 1, 687--691, I966. J a e g e r , J. C., and N. G. W. C o o k : Fundamentals of rock meehanies, Methuen & Co., London 1969. R s e h , H.: Researehes towards a general flexural theory for struetural eonerete. Ameriean Conerete Institute Proeeedings 57, 1--28, 1960. R s eh, H.: Verformungseigensehaften von Beton unter zentrischen Zugspannungen. Voruntersuehungen, Mnchen, Bericht Nr. 44, 1963. S e r d e n g e e tl, S., and G. D. B o o z e r : The effeets of strain rate and temperature on the behaviour of rock subjeeted to triaxial eompression. Proe. Fourth Symposium on Rock Meehanies, Soeiety of Mining Engineers, New York, 83--97, 1961. W a w e r s i k, W.: Detailed studies of rock fraeture in eompression. Thesis, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 1968.

Key Words: effeet, strain rate, inereasing Ioad, eonstant load, fraetured rock, sandstone, conerete, uniaxial eompression, stift testing maehine, time dependeney, long-term stability, eomplete resistanee-deformation eurve, eomplete stress-strain eurve, experimentM data.

Address of the author: Dr. Z. T. B i e n i a w s k i , Head, Rock Meehanies Division, Couneil for Seientifie and Industrial Resea.rch, P. O. Box 395, Pretoria, South Afriea.