Experimental study on mechanical behavior of brittle marble samples containing different flaws under uniaxial compression

Uniaxial compression experiments were carried out for the marble samples (located in the eastern ground of China) with different pre-existing flaws in non-overlapping geometry by the rock mechanics servo-controlled testing system. Based on the experimental results of complete axial stress–axial strain curves, the effect of flaw geometry on the strength and deformation behavior of marble samples is made a detailed analysis. Compared with the intact marble sample, the marble samples with different pre-existing flaws show the localization deformation failure. The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), elastic modulus and peak axial strain of marble samples with pre-existing flaws are all lower than that of intact marble sample, and the reduction extent is closely related to the geometry of pre-existing flaws. The crack coalescence were observed and characterized from internal tips of different pre-existing flaws in brittle marble sample. Eight different crack types were identified based on their geometry and crack propagation mechanism (tensile, shear and compressive) for two pre-existing flaws, which can be used to analyze the failure mode and cracking process of marble sample containing different flaws in uniaxial compression. In the end, the influence of the crack coalescence on the strength and deformation failure behavior of brittle marble sample is analyzed under uniaxial compression. The present research provides increased understanding of the fundamental nature of rock failure under uniaxial compression.