Abstract：Subcritical crack growth is one of the main causes of time-induced failure in rock engineering. It can be explained by the stress corrosion mechanism and Charles theory is a stress corrosion theory suitable for rocks. Double torsion tests are often used for the subcritical crack growth in rocks and the parameters in Charles theory can be obtained. The crack propagation models under the tensile stress and compression-shear stress in the traditional fracture mechanics are combined with Charles theory, which would lead to the time-dependent crack propagation models. The subcritical crack growth parameters of ore-rock in ZTS Non-ferrous Metals Group were obtained by double torsion tests and applied to the time-dependent crack propagation model under the effect of tensile stress to predict ore-rock block caving. It is found that the ore block caving can be predicted accurately. Additionally, the excavation construction of rock projects can be guided by the model. The application of the time-dependent crack propagation model under compression-shear stress and the time-dependent crack propagation model of multiple cracks interaction under complex conditions remain to be further studied.
2010, Vol. 28 
