Class I and Class II Rocks: Implication of Self-sustaining Fracturing in Brittle Compression

Tests to determine the complete stress–strain curve of rocks indicate whether the rocks can be classified a Class I or Class II. Class II rocks exhibits the potential for self-sustained failure in the post-peak region. The purpose of the research described in this paper was to investigate whether or not this self-sustained failure characteristic is related to the fragmentation of the rock. The aim of the research was, therefore, to determine possible relationships between fragmentation and various properties of several rocks types, including the influence of the Class II characteristic. Fragmentation of rock depends on its self-sustaining failure behaviour and the energy available in the post-peak region to shatter the rock. The correlation of static and dynamic rock properties with size of fragments resulting from compression tests demonstrate clear relationships of Class II rocks, but the same cannot be said for Class I rocks. Analyses of test results show that fragmentation increases with an increase in rock strength, and is explosive for Class II rocks. Probability density distributions were constructed to show the overall comparison of fragment sizes produced during failure of Class II and Class rocks. The calculated probability of passing at X₅₀ and X₁₀ sieve sizes show that Class II rocks as a group are more finely fragmented. It can therefore be concluded that, when breaking rocks under the same steady loading conditions, Class II rocks will show greater fragmentation than Class I rocks.