Mining Science and Technology (China) 21 (2011) 857–861

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Mining Science and Technology (China)

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/mstc

Effects of strain rates on mechanical properties of limestone under high temperature

Tang Furong a,b, Mao Xianbiao a, Zhang Lianying a,c,⇑, Yin Huiguang c, Li Yan c
a
State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics & Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221008, China
b
School of Sciences, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
c
Civil Engineering Department, Xuzhou Institute of Technology, Xuzhou 221008, China

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: The experimental tests for limestone specimens at 700 °C in uniaxial compression were carried out to inves-
Received 16 April 2011 tigate the mechanical effects of loading rates on limestone by using a MTS810 rock mechanics servo-
Received in revised form 7 May 2011 controlled testing system considering the loading rate as a variable. The mechanical properties of limestone
Accepted 21 May 2011
such as the stress–strain curve, variable characteristics of peak strength and the modulus of elasticity of
Available online 24 December 2011
limestone were studied under the strain rates ranging from 1.1  10 5 to 1.1  10 1 s 1. (1) Sharp
decreases were shown for the peak strength and elastic modulus of limestone from 1.1  10 5 to
Keywords:
1.1  10 4 s 1 at 700 °C as well as a downward trend was shown from 1.1  10 4 to 1.1  10 1 s 1 with
Strain rates
High temperature
the rise of the strain rate. (2) The peak strain increased from 1.1  10 5 to 1.1  10 4 s 1, however, there
Mechanical properties was no obvious changes shown for the peak strain of limestone from 1.1  10 4 to 1.1  10 1 s 1. These
Limestone results can provide valuable references for the rock blasting effect and design of mine.
Ó 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of China University of Mining & Technology.

1. Introduction
Experimental study on the mechanical properties of loading rates
on limestone under high temperature is one of the most important
issues in rock mechanical engineering. There are lots of topics in rock
mechanical engineering, such as developing geothermal resources,
exploring the underground space of the metropolitan region and ci-
vil works, which are related to temperature, static load and stress
wave. Through precise theorization and extensive experimentation,
it has been proven that the constitutive relationship of a rock varies
with its mechanical properties when the rock is bearing both
dynamic and static loadings. At present, many studies on the rock
failure under the normal temperature and static loading in rock
mechanical research field have been conducted. However, few
reports about the mechanical properties of loading rates on rock un-
der high temperature have been published in the literature so far,
even though it is the theoretical foundation for the study of rock
explosion mechanism, rock failure criterion as well as parameter
optimization of the rock engineering [1].
In recent years, experts and scholars are greatly focusing on the
study of the mechanical properties of loading rates on rocks. Some
related experiments were done and it was shown that the rock’s
peak strength, the rock’s strain and its elastic modulus increase with
the strain rate, and the post-peak unloading of the stiffness under
high strain rate is smaller than that under low strain rate for rocks
[2–4]. Olsson used two different experimental equipments to study
⇑ Corresponding author. Tel.: +86 15005201697.
E-mail address: zhanglianying@126.com (L. Zhang).
the uniaxial compression of the tuff with the stain rate of
10 6–103 s 1, and the experimental results showed that the
strength of the rock sample changed little along with the change
of the strain rate (strain rate <76 1s 1, the compressive strength in-
creased by 10% when the strain rate was increased from 10 6 to
101 s 1, and the strength of the rock sample increased sharply as
the strength rate was increased (strain rate >76 1s 1) [5].
Zhao et al. concluded from the granite dynamic uniaxial com-
pression experiment (Bukit Timah) that the granite compressive
strength increased by 20% as the strain stress was increased from
10 5 to 101 s 1 [6]. And at the same time, the strain rate had little
influence on the granite elastic modulus and the granite poison ratio.
Bieniawski and Peng studied the fine sandstone and tuff under
different strain rates, respectively [7,8]. Chong and Borest studied
the oil shale considering the strain rate from 10 4 to 101 s 1 by using
a servo-controlled rock mechanics testing machine [9]. Okubo et al.
studied the second class rock whose strain became smaller after the
process of peak stress under different strain rates, and a new empir-
ical formula that the peak strength increases along with the strain
rate was put forward [10].
Many studies about the rock mechanical property under differ-
ent temperature levels have been done and results have shown that
most of the rocks strength varied with the increasing temperature,
but this decline was associated with the type of rock [11–14]. How-
ever, the effect of the strain rate on mechanical properties of rock
under high temperature was rarely reported. In this paper, the
experimental tests for limestone specimens at 700 °C under uniax-
ial compression were carried out to study the mechanical effects of
loading rates on limestone by using a MTS810 rock mechanics

1674-5264/$ - see front matter Ó 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of China University of Mining & Technology.
doi:10.1016/j.mstc.2011.05.032
858 F. Tang et al. / Mining Science and Technology (China) 21 (2011) 857–861
servo-controlled testing system and an MTS652.02 high tempera-
ture furnace. During the experiment, the way of the load infliction
was set to a controlled-displacement with the strain rate ranging
from 1.1  10 5 to 1.1  10 1 s 1, and the analysis of the stress–
strain curve was used to reveal the mechanical properties of lime-
stone at 700 °C under different strain rates.
2. Experimental
2.1. Specimens and preparation
Our specimens used were taken from a mine in Xuzhou, China.
Generally, different dimensions and configurations exerted obvi-
ous effects on the measurement of rock mechanical parameters.
Considering the limited space of the high temperature furnace
used in our investigation, cylindrical rock specimens were chosen,
about 45 mm in length and 20 mm in diameter, to meet the
requirement of Test Rules of Physical and Mechanical Properties
of Rocks DY-94 for Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources of
People’s Republic of China [15]. The specimens were divided into
five groups, of which the loading rates were set to 0.0005, 0.005,
0.05, 0.5 and 5 mm/s with 3–5 specimens to each group at 700 °C.
2.2. Equipments and process
The experiments were conducted using an MTS810 hydraulic
servo system and an MTS653.02 high temperature furnace, as shown
in Fig. 1. The entire experimental process was completed according
to the requirements established beforehand by the Teststar II sys-
tem, which has an optimum control of the test process. Using the
menu of the main form, the system has functions for the distribution
of sensors, definitions of the control model, setting boundaries, an
automatic zero set of sensitive elements, selection output signals
and setting some parameters as required. This system software in-
cludes GUI, a data interface, a software function generator, program
designs, and system tools.
First of all, we set up the samples to ensure their ends fully
touched the press load components, then, hitched the sensor on
the carrying supporter, care was made to sure the clamping device
of the axial displacement sensor had a complete touch with the
sample. On this basis, we set the relevant experimental parameters
in the following ways:
(1) The way of the experimentation was set as uniaxial com-
pression through the computer terminal.
Fig. 1. MTS810 servo-controlled rock mechanics testing machine and MTS652.02
high temperature furnace.
Fig. 2. Stress–strain curve with different strain rates of rock.
(2) The range control mode of the axial displacement sensor
was set as an automatic mode, so as the experimental
parameters could be input at every step. So the tests were
done automatically.
(3) Chose the controlling ways as deformation modes.
(4) Set the limit displacement value, the limit load value and the
load rate.
First, the specimens of each group were placed into a
MTS653.02 high temperature furnace, where the specimens were
heated to 700 °C at a rate of 2 °C/s. The temperature was kept con-
stant for 2.0 h so that the specimens could be heated to the as-
signed value from the outside to the inside. The specimens were
loaded by an electro-hydraulic loading servo system. The mechan-
ical characteristics such as axial load, axial displacement, and axial
stress and strain were obtained in the process of rock deformation
and destruction by using the Teststar II control program.
3. Whole process stress–strain curves under different strain
rates at high temperature
The stress–strain curves of limestone under the different strain
rates at high temperatures are shown in Fig. 2. According to the ax-
ial load and displacement obtained from the uniaxial compression
tests, peak strength and peak strain of the samples were obtained
accordingly. The elastic modulus was calculated by using the
approximate straight line section before the peak strength in the
whole process stress–strain curve. The variations of peak strength,
peak strain and elastic modulus of limestone specimens under the
different strain rates at 700 °C are listed in Table 1.
The stress–strain curve under different strain rates at 700 °C are
shown in Fig. 2. It can be seen that, the stress–strain curve goes
through two stages when the strain rate of the rock was increased
from 1.1  10 5 to 1.1  10 3 s 1. That is: (1) The first sage is the
process of approximate linear elastic deformation. Because the
widths of the fissure and the fracture are different for different
rocks, so the closed extend are different, therefore, the lengths of
the linearity are dissimilar. (2) The second stage is a transitory
phase from plastic deformation to failure. The curve shows a shape
of concave, the ductility of the limestone had obviously been
strengthened, and the value of the strain continued to increase
slowly when the stress reached the peak value, while the final
break point was a brittle failure.
When the strain rate was increased from 1.1  10 3 to
1.1  10 1 s 1, the stress–strain curve separated into three parts
which are compaction deformation, elastic deformation, and a
transitory phase from plastic deformation to failure. At the initial
loading stage, the shape of the curve is concave; the deformation
develops fast along with the increasing stress. The primary reason
 F. Tang et al. / Mining Science and Technology (China) 21 (2011) 857–861 859

Table 1
Mechanical parameters of limestone under different strain rates at 700 °C.

No. Strain rate e_ rp (MPa) ep E (GPa)

Test value Mean value Test value Mean value Test value Mean value
5 1
1 1.1  10 s 91.3 72.0 0.00805 0.00783 12.43 10.20
2 54.2 0.00647 9.03
3 87.6 0.01020 10.02
4 61.7 0.00667 9.60
5 65.3 0.00777 9.71
4 1
6 1.1  10 s 96.1 93.5 0.00851 0.01020 12.84 12.00
7 90.9 0.01180 11.17
8 92.3 0.01020 12.01
3 1
9 1.1  10 s 63.2 56.4 0.00994 0.01010 7.24 6.60
10 44.6 0.01020 5.45
11 54.5 0.00983 6.91
12 57.9 0.01010 6.62
13 61.8 0.01030 6.77
2 1
14 1.1  10 s 38.5 44.7 0.00993 0.00992 4.84 5.80
15 42.3 0.01070 5.33
16 54.6 0.00967 6.48
17 33.8 0.00861 5.82
18 54.1 0.01070 6.56
1 1
19 1.1  10 s 46.9 48.4 0.01070 0.00949 5.49 6.07
20 36.8 0.00848 5.51
21 57.5 0.00910 7.38
22 35.5 0.00819 5.14
23 65.4 0.01100 6.83

is that the joint plane or the micro fracture had been compacted,
and yet the fracture or the weak joint plane had been closed, so
the relationship of the stress–strain acted approximately as an
elastic property. Once the stress in the rocks exceed the maximum
bearing capacity along with the increasing axial stress, then the
rock sample will be fractured, and a downward trend will be
shown for the stress–strain curve. The sample is characterized by
keeping a considerable stress in the rock at the initial failure stage.

4. Effect of strain rates on the mechanical properties for

limestone under high temperature

4.1. Variation of peak strength rc Fig. 4. Relationship between the strain rates and the peak strain.

Variation curves of peak strength (uniaxial compressive

strength) with different strain rates are shown in Fig. 3 according
to the peak strength obtained from uniaxial compression test at
different strain rates. In general, (1) the peak strength of limestone
increased from 72 to 93 MPa, an increment of about 32%, with the
strain rates increasing from 1.1  10 5 s 1 to 1.1  10 4 s 1 at
700 °C. The variations are consistent with the former study in ref-
erence [4]. In literature, the study on peak strength of limestone
under different loading rates was conducted at room temperature,
it shows that the peak strength of limestone increased with the
loading rates from 0.0005 to 0.005 mm/s at room temperature,
an increment of about 33% [4]. (2) The peak strength of limestone
shows a significant downward trend with increase of the strain
rates from 1.1  10 4 to 1.1  10 1 s 1 at 700 °C.
4.2. Variation of peak strain ec
Peak strain of rock specimens is the corresponding strain at
peak strength. Peak strain is a physical quantity which can be con-
trolled and measured directly during design and construction of a
tunnel, dam foundation and slope engineering. Variation of the
peak strain for limestone with the different strain rates at 700 °C
is shown in Fig. 4 and Table 1.
It can be drawn that: (1) The peak strain of limestone increased
from 0.007829 to 0.010167, an increment of about 30%, with the
strain rates increasing from 1.1  10 5 to 1.1  10 4 s 1 at
700 °C. (2) Peak strain of limestone had no obvious variation with
rising strain rates from 1.1  10 4 to 1.1  10 1 s 1.

Fig. 3. Relationship between the strain rates and the peak strength. Fig. 5. Relationship between the strain rates and elastic modulus.
860 F. Tang et al. / Mining Science and Technology (China) 21 (2011) 857–861
Fig. 6. Failure of the limestone in the uniaxial compresses test.
4.3. Variation of elastic modulus
A variation law of elastic modulus of limestone with strain rates
is shown in Fig. 5. It is shown from Fig. 5 that: (1) The elastic mod-
ulus of limestone increased from 10.156 to 12.007 GPa, an incre-
ment of about 18%, with the strain rates increasing from
1.1  10 5 to 1.1  10 4 s 1 at 700 °C. (2) The elastic modulus of
limestone decreased from 12.007 to 6.598 GPa with rising loading
rates from 1.1  10 4 to 1.1  10 3 s 1, a diminution of about 45%.
(3) The elastic modulus of limestone had no obvious variation with
rising loading rates from 1.1  10 3 to 1.1  10 1 s 1.
4.4. Influence of strain rates on the failure mode of limestone
It can be seen from the whole process of stress–strain curves of
limestone (Fig. 2) that: destruction of limestone specimens is due
to the fracture failure from 1.1  10 5 to 1.1  10 4 s 1. When
v > 1.1  10 4 s 1, an obvious plastic-deformation is shown for
limestone. Pictures of limestone fracture with different loading rates
from 1.1  10 5 to 1.1  10 1 s 1 at 700 °C are shown in Fig. 6. It can
be shown from Fig. 6 that: (1) When the loading rates was between
1.1  10 5 and 1.1  10 4 s 1, the angle between the fracture sur-
face of limestone specimens and the axial direction was about 30°,
and the fracture surface showed as shear failure. (2) Limestone spec-
imens showed a cone type fracture between 1.1  10 4 and
1.1  10 1 s 1. It can be seen from Fig. 6 that the higher the degree
of damage, the more structured test sample into cone shape after
the test. This is due to the higher temperature involved in the exper-
iment, sample storing larger amounts of energy, more fully devel-
oped cracks and the cracks quickly converged to cone shape form
along with the original direction under the dynamic pressure.
5. Conclusions
The experimental tests for limestone specimens at 700 °C in
uniaxial compression were carried out to study the mechanical ef-
fects of strain rates on limestone by using a MTS810 rock mechan-
ics servo-controlled testing system and a MTS652.02 high
temperature furnace. We can draw conclusions as follows:
(1) The stress–strain curve was composed of three stages, namely;
approximate elastic deformation, plastic deformation and
failure, when the strain rate increased from 1.1  10 5 to
1.1  10 4 s 1; meanwhile, the limestone’s stress–strain curve
had three stages, namely; the compact deformation, elastic
deformation and plastic deformation, when the strain rate
increased from 1.1  10 3 to 1.1  10 1 s 1.
(2) The peak strength increased sharply with increase of the
strain rate from 1.1  10 5 to 1.1  10 4 s 1 under 700 °C,
and a growth average of peak strength of about 30%; mean-
while, the peak strength decreased when the strain rate
increased from 1.1  10 4 to 1.1  10 1 s 1.
(3) The limestone’s peak strain increased with increase of the
strain rate from 1.1  10 5 to 1.1  10 4 s 1 under high tem-
perature condition; however, no marked changes were
observed during the increase of the strain rate from 1.1 
10 4 to 1.1  10 1 s 1.
(4) The elastic modulus of limestone increased with increase of
the strain rate from 1.1  10 5 to 1.1  10 4 s 1. The modu-
lus decrease 45% as the strain rate increased from 1.1  10 4
to 1.1  10 2 s 1; and no obvious changes were shown dur-
ing the increase of the strain rate from 1.1  10 2 to
1.1  10 1 s 1.
(5) When the strain rate increased from 1.1  10 5 to
1.1  10 4 s 1, the sample cracked due to shear destruction.
The samples then crushed as a form of tapered destruction
when the strain rate was over 1.1  10 4 s 1. And the frag-
mentized degree became large along with the increasing
strain rate.
The experiment mentioned in this paper is the beginning of our
research, the mechanical properties of limestone materials will
change a lot with strain rate changing under different tempera-
tures. Further studies on the reaction of limestone at different tem-
peratures, the elastic modulus and other mechanical parameters
should be carried to fully understand variations of rock mechanical
properties under different conditions.
Acknowledgments
This work is supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for
the Central Universities (No. 2011QNB05), the National Basic Re-
search Program of China (No. 2007CB209400), the National Natural
Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51074166 and 51104128), the
Research Project for Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Develop-
ment of China (No. 2011-K3-5), the Innovation Project of Graduate
Students in Jiangsu Province (No. CX09B_108Z), and the Qinglan
Project of Jiangsu Province.
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