The Journal of Engineering Geology 지질공학 ISSN:1226-5268(Print) 2287-7169(Online)

Knowledge of the failure behavior of friction materials considering their intermediate principal stress is related to an understanding of situations where these materials might be used: for example, the stability of deep-seated boreholes and fault slip analysis. This study designed equipment for physically implementing true triaxial compression and used it to assess specimens of plaster, a friction material. The material’s mechanical behaviors are discussed based on the results. The applicability of the 3D failure criteria are also reviewed. The tested specimens were molded cuboids of width, length, and height 52, 52, and 104 mm, respectively. A total of 24 true triaxial compression tests were performed under various combinations of σ₃ and σ₂ conditions. Conventional uniaxial and triaxial compression tests were employed to estimate the mechanical properties of the plaster for use as parameters for 3D failure criteria. Examining the stress-strain relations of the plaster materials showed that a large difference between the intermediate principal stress and the minimum principal stress indicated strong brittle behavior. The mechanical behavior of the plaster used here reflects the change of intermediate principal stress. Nonlinear multiple regression analysis on the test data in the principal space showed that the modified Wiebols-Cook failure criterion and the modified Lade failure criterion were the most suitable 3D failure criteria for the tested plaster.