EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS ON ROCK FRACTURING

Despite the potential technological value of chemically activated cracking of rocks in aqueous environments, the fundamental mechanisms of this phenomenon have yet to be established An understanding of this phenomenon will permit the application of the concept to the optimization of rock-fracturing where fluids are involved. Using fracture mechanics techniques, three rock types in five environments were tested for fracture toughness, specific work of fracture and strain energy index to supplement the essential information required to develop an understanding of the mechanism involved in chemically activated fracturing. Based on the results obtained, a possible intrinsic mechanism for rock properties modification in chemical solutions is formulated