Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nanomechanical Characterization of Brittle Rocks

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Nanomechanical Analysis of High Performance Materials

Part of the book series: Solid Mechanics and Its Applications ((SMIA,volume 203))

  • 1926 Accesses

Abstract

After an introduction describing the indentation techniques traditionally applied to the study of micromechanical properties of minerals and rocks, phenomena induced by the diamond tip’s penetration into crystalline rocks are analyzed. Crystalline rocks are characterized by low values of the critical breakage load, i.e. the threshold load corresponding to the transition from a ductile to a brittle behavior. As a consequence, it seems more convenient to examine the mechanical behavior of crystalline rocks by using instrumented nanoindentations. Above the critical load, ranging from rock to rock, fractures occur, affecting the indentation results and thus invalidating the values of the rock mechanical properties obtained by indentation data processing. In order to determine the correct values of the hardness and elastic modulus of brittle rocks, an innovative measurement modality for rocks, i.e. Continuous Stiffness Measurement mode, is proposed. By providing the continuous evolution of the hardness and of the elastic modulus as a function of the indentation depth, it has proven particularly suited to analyze the effects of induced fracturing on the load versus displacement curve.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bandini A, Berry P (2013) Influence of marble's texture on its mechanical behavior. Rock Mech Rock Eng 46(4):785–799

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandini A, Berry P, Bemporad E, Sebastiani M (2012) Effects of intra-crystalline microcracks on the mechanical behavior of a marble under indentation. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 54:47–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berry P, Bonifazi G, Fabbri S, Pinzari M (1989) Technological problems in cutting granite. In: MMIJ/IMM (ed) Proceedings of MMIJ/IMM joint symposium: today’s technology for the mining and metallurgical industries, Kyoto, 2–4 October 1989, pp 215–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Beste U, Lundvall A, Jacobson S (2004) Micro-scratch evaluation of rock types-a means to comprehend rock drill wear. Tribol Int 37(2):203–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blair SC, Cook NGW (1998) Analysis of compressive fracture in rock using statistical techniques: Part II. Effect of microscale heterogeneity on macroscopic deformation. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 35(7):849–861

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brace WF (1961) Dependence of fracture strength of rocks on grain size. In: Proceedings 4th symposium on rock mechanics, Pennsylvania State University, pp. 99–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Broz ME, Cook RF, Whitney DL (2006) Microhardness toughness, and modulus of Mohs scale minerals. Am Mineral 91:135–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carter GM, Henshall JL, Wakeman RJ (1993) Knoop hardness and fracture anisotropy of calcite. J Mater Sci Lett 12:407–410

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Das B (1974) Vicker’s hardness concept in the light of Vicker’s impression. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geom Abstr 11:85–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delgado NS, RodrĂ­guez-Rey A, Suárez del RĂ­o LM, DĂ­ez Sarriá I, Calleja L, Ruiz de Argandona VG (2005) The influence of rock microhardness on the sawability of Pink Porrino granite (Spain). Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 42:161–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes HM (1986) The relative cuttability of coal-measures stone. Min Sci Technol 3:95–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jian S-R (2007) Mechanical deformation induced in Si and GaN under Berkovich nanoindentation. Nanoscale Res Lett 3:6–13

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Kranz RL (1979) Crack growth and development during creep of Barre granite. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 18:23–35

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Kranz RL (1983) Microcracks in rocks: a review. Tectonophysics 100:449–480

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindqvist PA, Hai-Hui L (1983) Behaviour of the crushed zone in rock indentation. Rock Mech Rock Eng 16:199–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lan H, Martin CD, Hu B (2010) Effect of heterogeneity of brittle rock on micromechanical extensile behavior during compression loading. J Geophys Res 115:B01202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lundberg B (1974) Penetration of rock by conical indenters. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 11(6):209–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mahabadi OK, Randall NX, Zong Z, Grasselli G (2012) A novel approach for micro-scale characterization and modeling of geomaterials incorporating actual material heterogeneity. Geophys Res Lett 39:L01303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oliver WC, Pharr GM (1992) An improved technique for determining hardness and elastic modulus using load and displacement sensing indentation experiments. J Mater Res 7:1564–1583

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oliver WC, Pharr GM (2004) Measurement of hardness and elastic modulus by instrumented indentation: advances in understanding and refinements to methodology. J Mater Res 19:3–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pariseau WG, Fairhurst C (1967) The force-penetration characteristic for wedge penetration into rock. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 4(2):165–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paul B, Sikarskie DL (1965) A preliminary theory of static penetration by a rigid wedge into a brittle material. Trans Soc Mining Eng 232:372–383

    Google Scholar 

  • Presser V, Gerlach K, Vohrer A, Nickel K, Dreher W (2010) Determination of the elastic modulus of highly porous samples by nanoindentation: a case study on sea urchin spines. J Mater Sci 45:2408–2418

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saber-Samandari S, Gross KA (2009) Micromechanical properties of single crystal hydroxyapatite by nanoindentation. Acta Biomater 5:2206–2212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simmons G, Richter D (1976) Microcracks in rocks. In: Sterns RGJ (ed) The physics and chemistry of minerals and rocks. Wiley-Interscience, New York, pp 105–137

    Google Scholar 

  • Skrzypczak M, Guerret-Piecourt C, Bec S, Loubet JL, Guerret O (2009) Use of a nanoindentation fatigue test to characterize the ductile–brittle transition. J Eur Ceram Soc 29:1021–1028

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sneddon IN (1965) The relation between load and penetration in the axisymmetric Boussinesq problem for a punch of arbitrary profile. Int J Eng Sci 3:47–57

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Tapponnier P, Brace WF (1976) Development of stress-induced microcracks in Westerly Granite. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 13(4):103–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tulliani JM, Bartuli C, Bemporad E, Naglieri V, Sebastiani M (2009) Preparation and mechanical characterization of dense and porous zirconia produced by gel casting with gelatin as a gelling agent. Ceram Int 6:2481–2491

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitney DL, Broz M, Cook RF (2007) Hardness, toughness, and modulus of some common metamorphic minerals. Am Mineral 92:281–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong TF (1982) Micromechanics of faulting in Westerly granite. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 19:49–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong TY, Bradt RC (1992) Microhardness anisotropy of single crystals of calcite, dolomite and magnesite on their cleavage planes. Mater Chem Phys 30:261–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie J, Tamaki J (2007) Parameterization of micro-hardness distribution in granite related to abrasive machining performance. J Mater Process Technol 186:253–258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yılmaz N (2011) Abrasivity assessment of granitic building stones in relation to diamond tool wear rate using mineralogy-based rock hardness indexes. Rock Mech Rock Eng 40:725–733

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu W, Hughes JJ, Bicanic N, Pearce CJ (2007) Nanoindentation mapping of mechanical properties of cement paste and natural rocks. Mater Charact 58:1189–1198

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering (DICAM), University of Bologna, via Terracini, 28, 40131, Bologna, Italy

    Annalisa Bandini & Paolo Berry

  2. Engineering Department, Roma Tre University, via della Vasca Navale 79, 00146, Rome, Italy

    Edoardo Bemporad & Marco Sebastiani

Authors
  1. Annalisa Bandini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Paolo Berry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Edoardo Bemporad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Marco Sebastiani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Annalisa Bandini .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Engineering, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, USA

    Atul Tiwari

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bandini, A., Berry, P., Bemporad, E., Sebastiani, M. (2014). Nanomechanical Characterization of Brittle Rocks. In: Tiwari, A. (eds) Nanomechanical Analysis of High Performance Materials. Solid Mechanics and Its Applications, vol 203. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6919-9_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6919-9_11

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-007-6918-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-6919-9

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation