Experimental study on rheological properties of serrate discontinuity under stepwise loading

Abstract Serrate discontinuity creep and stress relaxation tests are conducted to analyze the differences and relationships between creep, relaxation, and long-term strength using the same normal stress and shear stress levels. Both the creep and relaxation curves may be classified into two differen...

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Main Authors: Guang-hui Tian, Bao-qing Mei, Qing-zhao Zhang, Yu-xi Hao, Yan-zhi Zhu, Yong-zhi Jiu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04492-5
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author Guang-hui Tian
Bao-qing Mei
Qing-zhao Zhang
Yu-xi Hao
Yan-zhi Zhu
Yong-zhi Jiu
author_facet Guang-hui Tian
Bao-qing Mei
Qing-zhao Zhang
Yu-xi Hao
Yan-zhi Zhu
Yong-zhi Jiu
author_sort Guang-hui Tian
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Serrate discontinuity creep and stress relaxation tests are conducted to analyze the differences and relationships between creep, relaxation, and long-term strength using the same normal stress and shear stress levels. Both the creep and relaxation curves may be classified into two different phases: decelerating and steady. However, the trend of the creep curve is opposite to that of the stress relaxation curve. Additionally, we observed that the maximum creep displacement and maximum relaxation stress increase as the slope angle increases. The energy changing properties of rocks during creep and relaxation processes are unequal, as indicated by experiment results, indicating that creep and relaxation are not equal. An empirical model has been developed for the maximal relaxation stress and the shear stress level, which provides a better fit to the experimental data. Based on the same mechanism, the long-term strength determined by the creep test and the relaxation test shows little difference and is both close to the yield strength of the stress-displacement curves during the creep and relaxation processes, respectively. This study can provide a deeper understanding of the time-dependent characteristics of discontinuities by integrating creep, relaxation, and long-term strength.
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id doaj-art-8d6ce1ad24ca43bbae3f824badab795f
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issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-8d6ce1ad24ca43bbae3f824badab795f2025-08-20T03:03:28ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-04492-5Experimental study on rheological properties of serrate discontinuity under stepwise loadingGuang-hui Tian0Bao-qing Mei1Qing-zhao Zhang2Yu-xi Hao3Yan-zhi Zhu4Yong-zhi Jiu5The School of Intelligent Construction and Civil Engineering, Zhongyuan University of TechnologyThe School of Intelligent Construction and Civil Engineering, Zhongyuan University of TechnologyDepartment of Geotechnical Engineering, Tongji UniversityThe School of Intelligent Construction and Civil Engineering, Zhongyuan University of TechnologyThe School of Intelligent Construction and Civil Engineering, Zhongyuan University of TechnologyThe School of Intelligent Construction and Civil Engineering, Zhongyuan University of TechnologyAbstract Serrate discontinuity creep and stress relaxation tests are conducted to analyze the differences and relationships between creep, relaxation, and long-term strength using the same normal stress and shear stress levels. Both the creep and relaxation curves may be classified into two different phases: decelerating and steady. However, the trend of the creep curve is opposite to that of the stress relaxation curve. Additionally, we observed that the maximum creep displacement and maximum relaxation stress increase as the slope angle increases. The energy changing properties of rocks during creep and relaxation processes are unequal, as indicated by experiment results, indicating that creep and relaxation are not equal. An empirical model has been developed for the maximal relaxation stress and the shear stress level, which provides a better fit to the experimental data. Based on the same mechanism, the long-term strength determined by the creep test and the relaxation test shows little difference and is both close to the yield strength of the stress-displacement curves during the creep and relaxation processes, respectively. This study can provide a deeper understanding of the time-dependent characteristics of discontinuities by integrating creep, relaxation, and long-term strength.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04492-5Serrate discontinuityCreepStress relaxationLong-term strength
spellingShingle Guang-hui Tian
Bao-qing Mei
Qing-zhao Zhang
Yu-xi Hao
Yan-zhi Zhu
Yong-zhi Jiu
Experimental study on rheological properties of serrate discontinuity under stepwise loading
Scientific Reports
Serrate discontinuity
Creep
Stress relaxation
Long-term strength
title Experimental study on rheological properties of serrate discontinuity under stepwise loading
title_full Experimental study on rheological properties of serrate discontinuity under stepwise loading
title_fullStr Experimental study on rheological properties of serrate discontinuity under stepwise loading
title_full_unstemmed Experimental study on rheological properties of serrate discontinuity under stepwise loading
title_short Experimental study on rheological properties of serrate discontinuity under stepwise loading
title_sort experimental study on rheological properties of serrate discontinuity under stepwise loading
topic Serrate discontinuity
Creep
Stress relaxation
Long-term strength
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04492-5
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