Quantifying damage evolution within olivine basalt based on crack propagation behavior under microwave irradiation

Application of microwave heating technique is highly promising in assisting rocks breakage and recycling coarse aggregate in waste concrete. This work focus on crack propagation behavior and hence damage of hard rocks subjected to microwave irradiation. Heating effects of basalt and its main mineral components are investigated experimentally using a multimode industrial microwave system. Crack characterization of basalt after irradiating are...