Mechanical behaviour of dolomites from central Israel: final report

In this research the mechanical behavior of dolomites is studied using a stiff' hydraulic load frame operated by a closed loop servo control. The influence of grain size distribution in the rock are studied using both petrographic and scanning electron microscopy. Three textural modes are typical: xenomorphic mosaic, idiotopic mosaic and hypidiotopic mosaic. All modes can coexist in one sample. A broad spectrum of grain sizes can be identified in a single sample varying between three orders of magnitude ( 10 to 1000 micrometers). The grain size distribution appears to be Gamma' or exponential. Similar distributions are found in both observation methods (SEM and petrographic microscopy). The petrographic microscope results capture the entire distribution the SEM results are concentrated at the mode of the distribution . Crack initiation stress is found to be inversely related to both grain size and porosity.