Rate dependent critical strain energy density factor of Huanglong limestone

Critical strain energy density of rock can be defined as a fundamental parameter in rock fracture mechanics, an intrinsic material property related to resistance to crack initiation and propagation. By means of the three-point bending experiments, the critical strain energy density factor of Huanglong limestone was measured over a wide range of loading rates from 8.97 × 10⁻⁴ MPam^1/2 s⁻¹ to 1.545 MPam^1/2 s⁻¹. According to the approximate relationship between static and dynamic critical strain energy density factor of Huanglong limestone, relationship between the growth velocity of crack and magnitude of load is obtained. The main conclusions are summarized as follows: (1) when the loading rate is higher than 0.0279 MPam^1/2 s⁻¹, the critical strain energy density factor of rock increased markedly with increasing loading rate. However, when loading rate is lower than 0.0279 MPam^1/2 s⁻¹, the critical strain energy density factor slightly increased with an increase in loading rate. It is found from experimental results that the critical strain energy density factor is linear proportional to the exponential expression of loading rate, (2) for Huanglong limestone, when the growth velocity of crack is lower than 100 m/s, value of the maximum load was nearly a constant. However, when the growth velocity of crack is higher than 1000 m/s, value of the maximum load dramatically increases with increasing the crack growth velocity, and (3) the critical SED of Huanglong limestone is higher as the loading rate is higher.