Insights on rock fracture from digital imaging and numerical modeling

Rock fracture and the induced displacement field are investigated through physical and numerical experiments. A Berea sandstone specimen with a central notch was tested in three-point bending. Digital image correlation (DIC) was used to obtain the displacement patterns as the fracture initiated and propagated. The DIC results clearly show the development of a damage zone and displacement discontinuity along the center line of the beam at peak...