Numerical modelling of the contact condition of a Brazilian disk test and its influence on the tensile strength of rock

The stress distribution and failure process in the Brazilian test disk are numerically studied using the continuum-based discrete element method. The stress distribution in the immediate contact vicinity between disk and jaws with two types of contact conditions are compared, and the position of failure initiation is determined based on the generalised Griffith criteria. Moreover, the whole process of the Brazilian test is modelled for disks with various material properties under two contact conditions and the modelled Brazilian tensile strengths of the disks are obtained. Numerical simulations show that the distribution of stress components in the vicinity of the contact have remarkable differences between the two contact conditions, and the difference increase with the increasing of loading level and disk's elastic modulus. However, the stress distributions exhibit almost no difference on the disk's centre area. The disk's elastic modulus and the ratio of compressive strength to tensile strength are the main factors that influence the distribution of stresses in the vicinity of the contact, thereby affecting the failure initiation and tensile strength, especially under no-cushion contact conditions. The thin plastic cushion can alleviate the stress concentration in the vicinity of the contact between the disk and jaws, and cracks initiating from the vicinity of the contact can be avoided for almost all of the rock-like materials. However, the enlarging contact ranges will result in a larger deviation between the test results and the real tensile strength. An improved Brazilian test method considering two contact conditions of with and without cushions for rock and rock-like material is proposed.