Advances in rock dynamics and applications

Abstract

Rock dynamics, as a branch of rock mechanics, deals with the responses of rock (materials and masses) under dynamic stress fields, where an increased rate of loading (or impulsive loading) induces a change in the mechanical behaviour of the rock materials and rock masses. Figure 1.1 is an example showing the different failure behaviours for a rock material under static and dynamic loads. Differing from static mechanics, dynamic stresses are in the forms of stress waves propagating in the loaded medium with time, and therefore the response of rock is influenced by, and interacts with, the stresses in motion. Rock dynamics deals not only with the end effects of the forces, but also the processes of the forces acting on the rocks. In these processes, both forces and objects are in motion. Rock dynamics specifically examines the processes of dynamic motions of both the forces and the rocks, at different scales varying from micro particles to rock blocks.