%0 Journal Article %A Roland Pusch and Richard Weston %D 2012 %J International Journal of Geotechnical and Geological Engineering %B World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology %I Open Science Index 68, 2012 %T Impact of Scale on Rock Strength %U https://publications.waset.org/pdf/1445 %V 68 %X The scale dependence of the strength of virtually homogeneous rock is usually considered to be insignificant but the spectrum of discontinuities plays a very important role for the strength of differently sized rock elements and also controls the rock creep strain. Large-scale load tests comprised recording of the creep strain rate that was found to be strongly retarded and negligible for stresses lower than about 1/3 of the failure load. For higher stresses creep took place according to a log time law representing secondary creep that ultimately changed to tertiary creep and failure. %P 1577 - 1582