In order to thoroughly investigate the mechanical properties and fracture evolution mechanisms of sandstone containing weak interlayers during the failure process, triaxial acoustic emission tests were conducted on intact sandstone and sandstone with weak interlayers at different inclination angles (0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°). By comprehensively analyzing the acoustic emission ring-down counts, precursor characteristics of the b-value, AF-RA crack classification, and three-dimensional positioning distribution, the influence of the interlayer inclination angle on the failure characteristics of sandstone was studied.The results show that the presence of weak interlayers significantly alters the mechanical response characteristics of sandstone. The peak strength and elastic modulus of sandstone exhibit a U-shaped distribution pattern with respect to the interlayer inclination angle. Among them, the sandstone with a 60°-inclined interlayer has the lowest peak strength, which is 62.3% lower than that of intact sandstone, while the peak strength of sandstone with a 90°-inclined interlayer is close to that of intact sandstone. The variation pattern of acoustic emission ring-down counts reveals the differences in the failure modes of sandstone with interlayers. Sandstone with low- and high- inclination interlayers exhibits brittle failure characteristics due to through-going fractures, while sandstone with medium-inclination interlayers shows ductile characteristics as a result of shear-slip failure along the interlayer. Shear cracks dominate the crack propagation in sandstone, accounting for 63.3%~86.7% of the total. Cracks in sandstone with medium-inclination interlayers are densely distributed along the interlayer. In sandstone with a 90°-inclined interlayer, stress-arch-induced tensile failure occurs, and cracks are distributed both along the interlayer and near macroscopic fractures. A sudden drop in the acoustic emission b-value is observed before failure. For sandstone with a 30°-inclined interlayer, the warning time occurs 500 seconds before failure. The theoretical model based on the Mohr-Coulomb criterion indicates that sandstone with a 60°-inclined interlayer is most prone to instability due to the shear-slip effect. By using the semi-inverse method to perform analytical calculations on weak interlayers, the failure modes of sandstone under different working conditions can be predicted. It is concluded that the research findings can provide key parameters and analytical methods for the stability assessment and disaster warning of geotechnical engineering.
HUANG Jian-bin, SONG Yong-jun, LIU Cheng-yong, WANG Han-qiu, WANG Shuang-long, CHAO Wei-jie.
Acoustic Emission Characteristics and Fracture Evolution Mechanism of Sandstone with Weak Intercalation[J].
Science Technology and Engineering, 2026, 26(8): 3439-3451 DOI:10.12404/j.issn.1671-1815.2502527
试验所用原岩采自中国西部某岩质边坡,按国际岩石力学学会(International Society for Rock Mechanics and Rcok Engineering, ISRM)试验规程建议方法,首先使用SC-300型自动取芯机在同一岩块上取样;而后采用SCQ-04型自动切石机进行初步切割,切割前仔细设置切割路径和参数确保切割面粗糙度相同;再通过SCM200型双端面磨平机对岩样进行精确打磨;最终将岩块加工成50 mm×100 mm(直径×长度)的标准型圆柱试样。经外观筛选后,对砂岩试样进行干燥质量、饱和质量和纵波波速的测量,并计算方差后选用离散型较小的一批岩样进行含软弱夹层试样的制作。采用YRD-1型金刚石线岩石数控切割机,以4 mm的间距依次按0°、30°、45°、60°和90°的角度对岩样进行切割;切割完成后,将岩样按切割前的位置固定到模具中,随后采用M10砂浆进行填充;一天后拆除模具,将砂岩试样置于恒温恒湿箱中养护28 d,以形成含软弱夹层的试样,如图1所示。
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