A dynamic punch-through shear method for determining dynamic Mode II fracture toughness of rocks

The failure of rock bridges between two adjacent discontinuities in rock masses often develops as Mode II fracture (sliding mode). Although a few methods have been proposed to quantify Mode II fracture toughness of rocks under the static loading condition, no method is available to measure dynamic Mode II fracture toughness of rocks. This paper presents a punch-through shear (PTS) method to measure such material parameter of rocks. In this...