50 mm diameter and 150 mm length specimens are prepared for simple compression tests. These specimens are extracted from the blocks of the different rocks and polished afterwards to ensure that both supports are completely parallel. Then, strain gauges are placed in order to measure the deformations in the two main perpendicular directions. For more Read more about Preparing simple compression tests[…]
First prize in the contest “My Thesis in 3min” organized by the Doctorate School of the University of Cantabria (EDUC) due to the inauguration of its new building. The contest searched for short videos (in Spanish) explaining in 3 minutes and in a simple way the theme of the thesis, which is framed within the National Plan Project Read more about First prize in the contest “My Thesis in 3min”[…]
Publication of the article “Notch effect on the fracture of several rocks: Application of the Theory of Critical Distances” in Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics Journal. This article contains the first results of the project.
Participation in the European PLAXIS Users’ Meeting (EPUM2017) held in Schrobenhausen (Germany) on May 18-19 , BAUER Group being the host of the event. This event was attended by about 60 experts in the use of PLAXIS, a numerical analysis tool focused on geotechnics. The preliminary results based on the Strian Energy Density (SED) criterion were presented there. Read more about Participation in the EPUM2017[…]
Participation in the Workshop for PhD in Civil Engineering (EIDEIC 2017) that took place on the 17th and 18th of May in Santander, where the work “Rock Fracture in Geothermal Energy Sources. Application of the Theory of Critical Distances” was presented, framed within this National Plan proyect.
Participation in the International Symposium on Notch Fracture (ISNF2017) held in Santander on March 29-31, with the presence more than 150 experts in the field. The first results published in the article “Notch effect on the fracture of several rocks: Application of the Theory of Critical Distances” were presented there.
Six specimens of each of the four materials are tested by means of the Brazilian test, which allows obtaining the tensile strength of these materials in an indirect way. These tests are standardized by UNE-22950-2: 1990.
A good characterization of tensile strength of the materials is necessary for the correct application of the Theory of Critical Distances (TCD). For this reason, the necessary pieces are prepared in order to perform Brazilian tests, which will allow us to obtain the parameter of interest indirectly.
4-point bending tests performance begins. The initial experimental programme comprises 180 samples in total, for notched radii varying from 0.15 mm up to 15 mm. Prior to these tests, an inspection of each piece is carried out, verifying its dimensions and looking for possible defects that may lead to erroneous results.
The specimens were dried at a temperature of 70 (+/- 5) ° C until reaching constant mass in accordance with UNE-EN 13161: 2008. After drying, the specimens have been stored until thermal equilibrium at room temperature is reached, taking into account that the tests must be carried out within 24 hours after removal from the Read more about Pre-test conditioning[…]