Mixed-mode I + II tensile fracture analysis of thermally treated granite using straight-through notch Brazilian disc specimens

The destruction and fracture failure of heat-treated rock structures have been major issues in the underground engineering, such as disposal of highly radioactive nuclear waste, deep mining and exploitation of geothermal resources. Although several literatures have focused on studying the mode I fracture toughness and mode I fracture characteristics of heat-treated rocks, studies of the thermal effect on the mixed-mode fracture toughness and...