2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Characterizing Basalt Failure Behavior Using Brazilian Disc and Ring Test Methods

Document Type

Student Presentation

Presentation Date

4-24-2026

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Nick Hudyma

Abstract

In geotechnical engineering, understanding how rocks behave under different loading conditions is essential for predicting and preventing rock failure in infrastructure. By expanding my research on basalt, I aim to support safer design practices in regions where this material is common and improve the reliability of basalt as a construction material. To contribute to this effort, I am evaluating how basalt behaves when subjected to Brazilian disc tests and ring‑shaped tension tests.

I will test eight basalt specimens in each of the three configurations. The first configuration, the Brazilian disc test, applies compression to a circular disc to induce indirect tension. For the remaining configurations, I will prepare basalt ring discs by coring a central hole, enabling two types of ring tests: an indirect tension ring test using compressive loading, and a direct tension ring test that pulls the ring apart to measure true tensile strength. During all tests, I used Acoustic Emission (AE) sensors, devices that detect high‑frequency energy released by microcracks, to monitor how internal cracking developed prior to visible failure.

The mechanical data I collect from these specimens will be used to evaluate rock tensile strength, characterize failure modes, and assess progressive damage. I anticipate that the ring tests will provide a more accurate measurement of tensile strength than the Brazilian indirect tensile test, consistent with findings from previous studies. This experiment will allow me to validate those trends using basalt specimens with controlled geometry. To further assess material variability, I will process pre‑test specimen images in ImageJ, an open‑source imaging software, to quantify porosity and relate it to the observed fracture behavior. Based on these anticipated results, I expect this work to clarify how different loading configurations influence both the measured strength of basalt and the development of its failure modes.

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