Fracturing and Failure Behavior of Carrara Marble in Quasistatic and Dynamic Brazilian Disc Tests

The tensile strength and fracturing behavior of Carrara marble subjected to the dynamic Brazilian disc test using the split Hopkinson pressure bar technique are determined and compared with those obtained by the conventional quasistatic Brazilian disc test. Detailed observation of the cracking processes is aided by high-speed video footage captured at a frame rate of 100,000 frames per second. The dynamic increase factor is computed, revealing a strong strain rate dependence of the Carrara marble when subjected to strain rates above 1 s(-1). Similar to the quasistatic loading tests, conspicuous white zones/patches commonly appear prior to the initiation of visible cracks in the dynamic loading tests. Identification of the white patch initiation and evolution is aided by image comparison software. Comparing the cracking and failure processes under quasistatic and dynamic loading, some distinct differences in the white patch geometry and initiation load are observed. In addition, the extent of the compressive failure zones around the contact points between the loading platens and specimens is found to increase with the strain rate.