An experimental study on tensile characteristics of granite rocks exposed to different high-temperature treatments

Abstract

Investigation of temperature dependent tensile strength characteristics of rocks provides essential inputs to continue the development of deep geo-engineering applications, including enhanced geothermal systems, deep mining and deep geological disposal of nuclear waste. The aim of this study is, therefore, to identify the influence of temperature (from room temperature to 1000 °C) and different heating and cooling treatments (constant high temperature, slow and rapid cooling) on Australian granite’s tensile strength and to investigate the corresponding microstructural alterations due thermal treatment. Brazilian tensile strength tests were performed on two types of granites collected from Au..