Mechanical Response and Energy Dissipation Analysis of Heat-Treated Granite Under Repeated Impact Loading

Abstract

The mechanical behaviors and energy dissipation characteristics of heat-treated granite were investigated under repeated impact loading. The granite samples were firstly heat-treated at the temperature of 20°C, 200°C, 400°C, and 600°C, respectively. The thermal damage characteristics of these samples were then observed and measured before impact tests. Dynamic impact compression tests finally were carried out using a modified split-Hopkinson pressure bar under three impact velocities of 12 m/s, 15 m/s, and 18 m/s. These test results show that the mineral composition and the main oxides of the granite do not change with these treatment temperatures. The number of microcracks and microvoids decreases in the sample after 200°C treatment. The mechanical properties of a sample after 600°C treatment were rapidly deteriorated under the same impact velocity. The average of peak stress is much smaller than those after 20°C, 200°C and 400°C treatments. The heat-treated samples have an energy threshold each. When the dissipated energy of a sample under a single impact is less than this threshold, the repeated impacts hardly lead to further damage accumulation even if its total breakage energy dissipation (BED) density is large. Under the same number of repeated impacts, the cumulative BED density of a sample after 600°C treatment is the largest and its damage evolves most quickly. The total BED density of the sample after 200°C treatment is the highest, which implies that this sample has better resistance to repeated impact, thus having less crack initiation and growth.