Thermal cycling effects on the seismic wave propagation coefficients of granite

Abstract

The seismic wave propagation properties of granite after thermal cycles were experimentally investigated. The granite specimens were subjected to a series of thermal cycles with different thermal cycling temperatures and numbers. Ultrasonic and pendulum impact tests were performed on the granite after thermal cycles. Subsequently, a theoretical study was introduced to explore the wave propagation coefficients of granite after thermal cycles. The effects of the thermal cycling number on the wave attenuation rate, wave velocity, attenuation coefficient, and wavenumber were discussed. The results indicate that the wave velocity and dynamic elastic modulus decrease as the number of thermal cycles increases and that the damage factor increases as the number of thermal cycles increases. However, the variations in wave velocity, dynamic elastic modulus, and damage factor are concentrated mainly in the first thermal cycle. The results further indicate that the wave propagation coefficients, attenuation coefficient, and wavenumber increase as the number of thermal cycles increases. However, they are not significantly influenced by the amplitude and wavelength of impact loading.