This experimental investigation was conducted to assess the effect of zero
point of charge (ZPC) environment on fracture behavior of rocks. The material
parameters selected for this purpose were fracture toughness and specific work of
fracture. These properties were determined for three rock types in five
environments. Semi-circular bend specimens of dolomitic limestone, Sioux
quartzite and Westerly granite were tested in aqueous solutions of aluminum
chloride, calcium chloride and polyethylene oxide, all at ZPC conditions. These
rocks were also tested in atmospheric air and distilled deionized water. For every
rock type, the results obtained for the tests done in each of the ZPC environment
were statistically compared with the results in water. This comparison was also
made for air and water.
The average fracture toughness in each of the ZPC environments, for all
three rock types, was found to be less than the corresponding average in water.
The specific work of fracture results also indicated reduction in ZPC environments
as compared to water. The statistical analysis of the results, however, showed that
this reduction was significant in some but not all of the rock-environment
combinations tested in this investigation.
next to an author's name indicates that all files or directories associated with their ETD are accessible from the Virginia Tech campus network only.
![[VT]](http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/images/ETD-db/restricted.gif)
