Dye Penetrant Studies Of Fractures Produced In Laboratory Cratering

Laboratory crater tests were performed in two-dimensional plates and three-dimensional .blocks of Holston Limestone. Fractures in the blocks were exposed by sawing through the crater region, and a technique employing dye penetrants is described for examining the resulting fracture systems in both blocks and plates. Crater fracture patterns changed from extension of radial fractures to spa11 fractures parallel to the free face as charge depths were increased. The amount of fractured rock was found to be greater than the amount determined from standard crater volume measurements. Graphs and photographs illustrate these findings.