Characterization of rock cracking patterns in diametral compression tests by acoustic emission and petrographic analysis

Pre-existing microscopic flaws in brittle rocks act as local stress concentrators and cause the nucleation and propagation of microcracks, resulting in a decrease of stiffness. The propagation of microcracks causes a sudden release of energy in the form of elastic waves, known as acoustic emission (AE), detected by sensors, enabling the non-destructive monitoring of cracking. Marble and monzogranite specimens were subjected to...