One- and three-dimensional impact-induced tensional failure in rock

Abstract

Planar impact (10 to 25 m/sec) experiments were employed to induce dynamic tensile failure in Bedford limestone for stress durations of 0.5 and 1.3 microsec. Ultrasonic P- and S-wave velocities of recovered targets demonstrate deficits caused by microcracks at tensile stresses greater than 35 and 60 MPa in 1.3 and 0.5 microsec experiments. Three-dimensional impact experiments on 20 cm-sized blocks of Bedford limestone and San Marcos gabbro demonstrate compressional wave velocity deficits up to 30 percent in the vicinity of the crater. The damage microcrack decreases as r exp -1.56 from the crater, indicating a dependence on the magnitude and duration of the tensile hoop stresses associated with the impact-induced shock wave.