Numerical Investigation of Brittleness Effect on Strength and Microcracking Behavior of Crystalline Rock
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 22, Issue 10
Abstract
Brittleness has a significant influence on rock failure under compression; however, the mechanism is rarely comprehensively discussed. This study numerically investigates the brittleness effect on microcracking behavior of crystalline rock using a grain-based model implemented into a two-dimensional particle flow code, with a focus on the discussion of how rock brittleness affects the failure mechanism. The simulated failure mode changes from tension to shear with decreasing rock brittleness, which is consistent with previous laboratory test results. As the brittleness gradually decreases in the model, the grain boundary (GB) tensile crack to shear crack ratio increases, and the corresponding fractures change from vertical or subvertical to an angle about 45° along the vertical direction. The propagation and coalescence of generated microcracks result in a transition of failure pattern from splitting to shear under uniaxial compression with a decreasing brittleness level in the rock. A transition from GB tensile crack to shear crack is also observed under direct tension when the brittleness index gradually decreases. The tension to shear transition mechanism is closely related to the relative strength of the mineral grain and mineral bonding. The relative strength of mineral and mineral bonding could be used as a parameter to characterize rock brittleness from a microscale viewpoint.
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Acknowledgments
The research work presented in this paper is in part supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51609178), the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (Grant No. 2018CFB593), Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province (Grant No. 2008085QE221), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant Nos. 2015M582273 and 2018T110800), the Open-end Research Fund of the State Key Laboratory for GeoMechanics and Deep Underground Engineering (Grant No. SKLGDUEK1709), and Key Project of Higher Education Department of Anhui Province (Grant No. KJ2020A0235). The authors are grateful for these financial supports.
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© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 15, 2021
Accepted: Apr 27, 2022
Published online: Jul 28, 2022
Published in print: Oct 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Dec 28, 2022
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Analysis (by type)
- Brittleness
- Continuum mechanics
- Cracking
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering mechanics
- Failure analysis
- Failure modes
- Forensic engineering
- Fracture mechanics
- Geology
- Geomechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Grain (material)
- Material mechanics
- Material properties
- Materials engineering
- Minerals
- Numerical analysis
- Rocks
- Soil mechanics
- Soil properties
- Solid mechanics
- Structural engineering
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