Experimental assessment of rock-cutting characteristics by strength- and -fracture-driven mechanisms

Abstract

This study presents the results of laboratory testing on a range of soft and hard rocks by uniaxial compressive strength and polycrystalline diamond compact cutting tests of intact rocks. It was found that by coupling rock stress-strain and cutting response, the shear strain energy and stress intensity factor can satisfactorily quantify the minimum energy required to cut rocks. As a result, shear, fracture and friction energy dissipation are considered to take place in the rock during steady cutting. Steady cutting is characterised by a linear-scaling response of the cutting force with the depth of cut. Therefore, efficient cutting was assessed from rock shear strength and fracture toughness.