| 
|
 |
Fracture Mechanics Laboratory
Location: Room OB11, Basement, Kathleen Lonsdale
Building
Telephone Extension: 30149
Laboratory Manager: Professor
Peter Sammonds
|
|
|
The mechanical properties of volcanic rocks at high
temperatures and low pressures are key properties in the understanding
of a range of volcanological problems, in particular lava
flow dynamics. The measurement of these properties on extrusive
volcanic samples under the appropriate pressure and temperature
conditions has a direct application in the assessment of volcanic
hazards.
Research Equipment Includes:
High-temperature (700ºC) fracture
mechanics apparatus using water/brine or gas as a
pore fluid medium (up to 70 MPa) utilizing short rod specimen.
This apparatus is used to simulate conditions in a volcanic
ediface and lava flows.
|
|
|
High
Temperature / Pressure Deformation Rig
A development of the above fracture mechanics apparatus
has been to modify it's design to a triaxial deformation
cell to obtain mechanical strength data on rock samples
at temperatures up to 1000‡C and pressures up to 30
MPa. Significantly, the cell uses large cylindrical rock
specimens, 25 mm diameter by 75 mm long, never previously
employed in such a high-temperature apparatus. The large
specimen size is necessary to test volcanic rocks with their
large crystals and vesicles.
The design of this novel apparatus is presented. Its operating
temperature and pressure range encompasses the onditions
of an advancing flow from the vent to the front, as well
as the conditions of the volcanic rocks hosting magma at
equivalent depths of up to 2 km.
|
|
| |
|
Go back to plan of the RIPL Laboratories |
Designed & Maintained by
N. Hughes
|
 |
Fracture Mechanics
Haskel Multi-Anvil
Ice Physics
Instrumentation Development Workshop
Mineral Physics
Rock Preparation
Rock Fluids
Rock Mechanics
Rock Physics
Sediment Deformation
S.E.M Laboratory
|
