Abstract
This paper describes the fatigue failure of rock samples under the pulsating tensile stress. The specimens used were prepared with the procedure developed by one of authors, using the alignment jig and grinding lathe.
On the assumption that the fatigue failure takes place in stochastic process, the wide fluctuation of fatigue life is discussed. The statistical analysis of the test results shows that the probability of survival is given as a linear combination of two exponential functions, each of which represents a Poisson process of 1st order.
This result agrees with that of the compression fatigue test reported previously. Finally, the effects of the mean stress and stress amplitude on the rate constants of fatigue failure are discussed and compared with those in the compression fatigue test.
