Dynamic fracture testing methods and fracture behaviour of rock materials

The purpose of this review is to present the state-of-the-art in dynamic fracture testing methods and fracture behaviour of rock materials. The review begins by briefly introducing the history of rock dynamic fracture and explaining the significance of studying these issues. The split Hopkinson pressure bar technique is widely used and the major development for rock materials is briefly summarized. An in-depth description and evaluation of various dynamic testing methods are presented in Section 2. In Section 3, dynamic fracture behaviour of rock materials is reviewed and discussed in detail. Dynamic fracture parameters are obtained by quantitative assessments of testing methods, and controlling factors and failure patterns are also discussed to validate these properties. Fracture toughness and fracture behaviour change with loading rate, in particular, the responses distinguishably change after loading rate exceeds a critical value. Dynamic testing methods should be carefully examined and satisfied the fundamental of theory, such as the distribution of dynamic stress, stress equilibrium and failure patterns.