Physical and Mechanical Characterisation of Metadolerite

The present work aims to understand the stress–strain response of an igneous rock, metadolerite, typically found in dyke form, under high loading rate. The high strain rate characterisation of metadolerite rock is done for different specimen sizes through detailed tests using a 76 mm diameter split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) device in an effort to understand the standard specimen dimension for metadolerite in SHPB test. The stress–strain response of the rock specimens is studied by varying the length of the striker bars and the gas gun pressure values, systematically. The petrological and static characterisation of the metadolerite rock is also carried out. Finally, a methodology is proposed to characterize metadolerite rock specimens under high loading rate. A correlation equation of peak strength of the metadolerite specimen with velocity of the striker bar, i.e., \(DIF = \left( {0.040 \times V_{st} } \right) + 2.05\) is proposed in the present study which could be used for dynamic analysis of structures in metadolerite rock.