Micro- and macrobehavior of granitic rock: observations and viscoelastic homogenization analysis Original Research Article

Microscopic structures must be determined for analyzing the behavior of microinhomogeneous materials such as crystalline rocks. We observe a three-dimensional texture of granitic rock by X-ray tomographic microscopy (XTM) images using an ultra-bright synchrotron radiation (SR)-CT system. The time-dependent fracturing behavior of granite for relaxation tests is, then, observed by microscope under water-saturated triaxial stress conditions. Next, in order to know properties of each constituent mineral and their interfaces, we introduce the Molecular Dynamics (MD) computer simulation method. Based on these facts we establish a micro/macromodel of granite by a homogenization analysis method to simulate the viscoelastic behavior.