Stress corrosion cracking of Lac du Bonnet granite in tension and compression

Rocks subjected to long-term loading have been known to suffer microcracking. The rate of cracking is sensitive to the type of the applied stress (tensile or compressive), and the magnitude of the stress relative to the instantaneous strength. In addition, crack growth is influenced by the environment (pressure and temperature) including the presence or absence of moisture.For tensile loading, the sensitivity of granite to time-dependent cracking is demonstrated through a fracture mechanics test known as double torsion. The crack velocity versus stress intensity function is established for two environments, room temperature and humidity and room temperature and 100 percent humidity.For compressive loading, time dependent cracking is evaluated from creep tests conducted in uniaxial compression in the same two environments. The rate of cracking is defined by finding the functional relationship between the rate of crack growth, expressed as the rate of crack volume strain, and uniaxial compressive stress.A variety of mathematical functions has been fitted to the obtained data. The traditionally-used power and exponential relationships give good correlation for both crack velocity and crack volume strain rate.The crack volume strain rate versus stress function can be integrated to obtain a lifetime estimate for Lac du Bonnet granite. After 1 000 years of loading in uniaxial compression at room temperature and 100 percent humidity, the strength of this granite could reduce from 225 MPa to 90–100 MPa.