Effects of tensile stresses on wave propagation across stylolitic rock joints

External stresses, i.e., compressive, shear and tensile stresses, strongly affect seismic wave propagation across rock joints. The present study experimentally investigates the effects of tensile stresses on wave behaviors across single natural rock joints by simultaneously conducting ultrasonic measurements and direct tensile tests. Laboratory results show that increasing tensile stress causes decreases in transmission coefficient and spectral...