Triaxial compression testing of multicomponent geomaterials from quartz-poor (syenitic) systems

Abstract

This paper focuses on mafic microgranular enclaves enclosed in quartz-poor igneous rocks and their effect on strength properties of the rock massif. The study examines host rock–enclave multicomponent geomaterials from enclave-bearing syenitic rocks from the Třebíč Massif exposed in the Královec quarry near Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou in the Czech Republic. A series of laboratory tests were performed to describe strength properties of individual constituents of the multicomponent geomaterials. We mainly focused on triaxial compression tests, however, rebound hardness, uniaxial compressive strength and indirect tensile strength were determined as well. The obtained results indicate that enclaves and even the contact zones between the enclaves and host rocks do not have any negative influence on the rock strength. In contrast, enclaves represent “stress concentrators” within such multicomponent systems. Strength properties of various multicomponent geomaterials are practically an unexplored topic in the field of rocks mechanics and future studies are needed to establish a robust database describing the behaviour of such geocomposites.