Mechanical response of geomaterials (e.g. brick, rock, shotcrete, and concrete) under cyclic, dynamic and fast strain-rate loads are substantially different from that of a quasi-static or homogenous loading. Such impact/cyclic stresses could, for instance, be exerted to geostructures during drilling and blasting (D&B) or spalling and rockburst events in deep excavations, which usually deform the near-field rocks at very high strain rates. While quasi-static compression tests have been widely performed on geostructures since the 1960s, coupled dynamic/cyclic and biaxial loading on geostructures have largely been ignored since it would require sophisticated laboratory equipment to model the complex stress conditions. Using the new Hybrid Biaxial/True Triaxial testing facility at UQ Civil, the main objective of this PhD project is to investigate the fracture growth in geomaterials under combined dynamic/cyclic/biaxial stresses by adopting digital image correlation (3D DIC) and high-speed photography techniques.
Founded in 1909, The University of Queensland is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the medium-sized town of St Lucia (population range of 10,000-49,999 inhabitants), Queensland. This institution has also branch campuses in the following location(s): Herston, Gatton. Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Department of Education and Training, Australia, The University of Queensland (UQ) is a very large (uniRank enrollment range: over-45,000 students) coeducational higher education institution. The University of Queensland (UQ) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor degrees (i.e. certificates, diplomas, associate or foundation degrees), bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for further details. This 109 years old higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on students' past academic record and grades. International students are welcome to apply for enrollment.