STRENGTH OF 2-PHASE ROCKS - A MODEL-BASED ON FIBER-LOADING THEORY

In order to predict the strength of two-phase rocks in terms of the co mponent volume fraction, the aspect ratio of the strong phase and the strength contrast between the strong and weak phases, a simple model i s developed according to a fiber-loading theory modified for short-fib er composites. The analytical solution derived from elastic theory is found to hold, in good approximation, for rocks consisting of power-la w viscous minerals. There is a good agreement between the predicted re sults and the experiments for two-phase aggregates: anhydrite-halite, calcite-halite, Fe-Ag and clinopyroxene-plagioclase. The model is comp ared with several previous different models.