Crack initiation and failure of block-in-matrix rocks under Brazilian test using digital image correlation

Bimrocks feature stiff blocks randomly distributed in a soft matrix. Despite their wide distribution in nature, their significant effects on the failure of rock structures such as slopes, mines and tunnels have not been fully understood. Bimrocks behave differently as compared with other rock types since they contain mix of blocks of different strength, size and volume distribution and a matrix of different physical and mechanical...