Upper and lower bounds for constitutive relation of crack-weakened rock masses under dynamic compressive loads

A micro-mechanics-based model is proposed to investigate the rate-dependent constitutive relation for crack-weakened rock masses subjected to dynamic compressive loads. The present micro-mechanical model reveals that the nucleation, growth and coalescence of sliding cracks dominate the failure and macroscopic properties of crack-weakened rock masses subjected to dynamic compressive loads. The interactions among multiple parallel sliding cracks in crack-weakened rock masses subjected to dynamic compressive loads are examined asymptotically in an explicit and quantitative manner in order to reveal fully their so-called shielding and magnification effects on the stress–strain relation. Based on the micro-mechanical framework and the asymptotic analysis, analytical upper and lower bounds are proposed for the rate-relation for rock masses containing multiple rows of echelon cracks subjected to dynamic compressive loads. The factors that affect the rate-dependent properties of crack-weakened rock masses have been analyzed. The strain energy density factor approach, which is related to crack growth velocity and dynamic fracture toughness of rock material, is employed in the analysis. The rate-dependent constitutive relation of crack-weakened rock masses is derived from micro-mechanical framework and the asymptotic analysis. The closed-form explicit expression for the rate-dependent constitutive relation of rock masses containing echelon cracks subjected to dynamic compressive loads is obtained. Finally, the present model is used to analyze the complete stress–strain relation and strength for jointed rock masses at shiplock slope of the Three Gorges Dam.     

Zonal disintegration of deep crack-weakened rock masses: A non-Euclidean model

Rock masses are characterized by the existence of distributed joints and fractures. One of behaviors of the deep rock masses is high in situ stresses. The internal space of rock-like materials subjected to high in situ stresses after deformation is treated as a non-Euclidean one. The incompatible deformation of the deep rock masses is induced by high in situ stresses within the framework of non-Euclidean geometric space. A non-Euclidean model in which effects of cracks on zonal disintegration phenomenon of the deep crack-weakened rock masses is taken into account is established. Based on the non-Euclidean model, the elastic stress-field distribution of the deep surrounding rock masses induced by compatible deformation of non-fractured zones and incompatible deformation of fractured zones is determined. The stress intensity factors at the tips of cracks is given out. The strain energy density factor is applied to investigate the occurrence of disintegration zones. It is observed from the numerical results that the magnitude and site of fractured zones depend on the value of in situ stress, mesomechanical parameters and non-Euclidean parameters.     

Localization of deformation and stress–strain relation for mesoscopic heterogeneous brittle rock materials under unloading

Stress redistribution induced by excavation of underground engineering and slope engineering results in the unloading zone in parts of surrounding rock masses. The mechanical behaviors of crack-weakened rock masses under unloading are different from those of crack-weakened rock masses under loading. A micromechanics-based model has been proposed for brittle rock material undergoing irreversible changes of their microscopic structures due to microcrack growth when axial stress is held constant while lateral confinement is reduced. The basic idea of the present model is to classify the constitution relation of rock material into four stages including some of the stages of linear elasticity, pre-peak nonlinear hardening, rapid stress drop, and strain softening, and to investigate their corresponding micromechanical damage mechanisms individually. Special attention is paid to the transition from structure rearrangements on microscale to the macroscopic inelastic strain, to the transition from distribution damage to localization of damage and the transition from homogeneous deformation to localization of deformation. The closed-form explicit expression for the complete stress–strain relation of rock materials containing cracks under unloading is obtained. The results show that the complete stress–strain relation and the strength of rock materials under unloading depend on the crack spacing, the fracture toughness of rock materials, orientation of the cracks, the crack half-length and the crack density parameter.     

Zonal fracturing mechanism in deep crack-weakened rock masses

The mechanical behaviors of deep crack-weakened rock masses are different from those of shallow crack-weakened rock masses. The surrounding rock in shallow crack-weakened rock mass engineering is classified into loose zone, plastic zone and elastic zone, while the surrounding rock in deep crack-weakened rock mass engineering is classified into fractured zone and non-fractured zone, which occur alternatively. It is assumed that the deep rock masses contain one joint set, in which the probability density function describing the distribution of sizes is assumed to follow the Rayleigh distribution, and the probability density function describing the distribution of spacing is assumed to follow the Weibull distribution. On the basis of strength criterion of deep rock mass, the near-field stress redistribution around circular opening induced by excavation is determined. The strong interaction among cracks is investigated by using the dislocation model. The nucleation, growth, interaction and coalescence of cracks were analyzed based on the strain energy density factor theory. When cracks coalesce, failure of deep crack-weakened rock masses occurs, fractured zone is formed. Then, size and quantity of fractured zone and non-fractured zone are given out. The size and quantity of fractured zone increase with decreasing strength of rock mass. The size and quantity of fractured zone increase with increasing in situ stress. Zonal fracturing phenomenon occurs once value of in situ stress is larger than the unaxial compressive strength of rock masses. The size and quantity of fractured zone decrease with increasing λ when p₂ > p₁. The size and quantity of fractured zone increase with increasing λ when p₂ < p₁.     

ZONAL DISINTEGRATION MECHANISM OF DEEP CRACK-WEAKENED ROCK MASSES UNDER DYNAMIC UNLOADING

Size and quantity of fractured zone and non-fractured zone are controlled by cracks contained in deep rock masses. Zonal disintegration mechanism is strongly dependent on the interaction among cracks. The strong interaction among cracks is investigated using stress superposition principle and the Chebyshev polynomials expansion of the pseudo-traction. It is found from numerical results that crack nucleation, growth and coalescence lead to failure of deep crack- weakened rock masses. The stress redistribution around the surrounding rock mass induced by unloading excavation is studied. The effect of the excavation time on nucleation, growth, interaction and coalescence of cracks was analyzed. Moreover, the influence of the excavation time on the size and quantity of fractured zone and non-fractured zone was given. When the excavation time is short, zonal disintegration phenomenon may occur in deep rock masses. It is shown from numerical results that the size and quantity of fractured zone increase with decreasing excavation time, and the size and quantity of fractured zone increase with the increasing value of in-situ geostress.     

Triaxial stress state of cylindrical openings for rocks modeled by elastoplasticity and strength criterion

An analytical solution for calculating the triaxial stress state around a cylindrical opening in an elastoplastic cohesive medium is developed. Magnitude of the slip zones around a cylindrical opening in crack-weakened rock masses is considered by modifying the existing strength criterion for rocks of different types. The disturbance coefficient, the geological strength index and the other strength parameters are also investigated.     

Study on the coalescence mechanism of splitting failure of crack-weakened rock subjected to compressive loads

It is of important significance to study the coalescence mechanism of splitting failure of crack-weakened rock masses under compressive loads. In this paper, a simplified mechanism of crack propagation, in which the crack grows along the direction of maximum principal compressive stress, is proposed. Thus, only mode I is taken into account in the formulation and solution. On the basis of the near crack line analysis method, the elastic–plastic stress field near the crack line is analyzed, and the law that the length of the plastic zone along the crack line is varied with an external loads have been established by the matching condition of the elastic- plastic fields on the boundary, the coalescence stress and the strength properties of rock masses have been determined. The solution is a function of the geometry of the crack array. The results show that the crack coalescence depends on the crack interface friction coefficient, the sliding crack spacing, orientation of the cracks, and the crack half-length. The conclusions are of important significance for rock mass engineering.     

Zonal disintegration of surrounding rock mass around the diversion tunnels in Jinping II Hydropower Station, Southwestern China

By means of numerical simulation, the special phenomenon of zonal disintegration of surrounding rock mass around the diversion tunnels of Jinping II Hydropower Station is analyzed in this paper. In order to model the growth and coalescence of cracks within rock mass in Jinping II Hydropower Station, the weak-element is adopted. When cracks coalesce, failure of deep crack-weakened rock masses occurs and fractured zone is formed. The present result is different from the one obtained by the traditional elasto-plastic theory. The numerical results show that the slip-line zonal fracture is created within rock mass around the diversion tunnels in Jinping II Hydropower Station. Meanwhile, the magnitude and distributions of fractured zones are determined by numerical simulation. It is shown that the present results are in good agreement with the one observed by model tests. Through sensitivity analysis, the effects of stress condition, cohesion and the angle of internal friction on the phenomenon of zonal disintegration is determined.     

Bifurcation of collinear crack system under dynamic compression

The evolution pattern of collinear crack array plays a very important role in the final failure pattern of rock and predicting earthquake. Crack interactions lead to the nonhomogeneous pseudo-traction, then result in bifurcation of crack growth pattern. Bifurcation condition of crack growth pattern can be expressed by the crack growth length/spacing ratio. For collinear cracks loaded by dynamic compressive loads, uniform crack growth pattern yields to non-uniform crack growth pattern when the crack growth length/spacing ratio is larger than a critical value. In this paper, crack interactions are studied using stress superposition principle and the Chebyshev polynomials expansion of the pseudo-traction. The analytical solution of the critical value for two collinear cracks and infinite collinear cracks is given out. The critical value is sensitive to pre-existing crack length, the friction coefficient, the orientation of pre-existing crack, crack growth velocity.     

THE EFFECTS OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL PENNY-SHAPED CRACKS ON ZONAL DISINTEGRATION OF THE SURROUNDING ROCK MASSES AROUND A DEEP CIRCULAR TUNNEL

In this study, it was assumed that three-dimensional penny-shaped cracks existed in deep rock masses. A new non-Euclidean model was established, in which the effects of pennyshaped cracks and axial in-situ stress on zonal disintegration of deep rock masses were taken into account. Based on the non-Euclidean model, the stress intensity factors at tips of the pennyshaped cracks were determined. The strain energy density factor was applied to investigate the occurrence of fractured zones. It was observed from the numerical results that the magnitude and location of fractured zones were sensitive to micro- and macro-mechanical parameters, as well as the value of in-situ stress. The numerical results were in good agreement with the experimental data.     

考虑裂隙间相互作用情况下围压卸荷过程应力应变关系

岩体的稳定性和变形特性主要决定于裂隙，同时裂隙间的相互作用对岩体的稳定和变形产生显著的影响。裂隙岩体在加载和卸荷条件下的力学特性有显著的区别。为此本文首次利用位错模型法结合叠加原理研究在围压卸荷条件下裂隙间的相互作用对岩体的变形的影响问题。文中推导了考虑裂隙间的相互作用情况下裂隙岩体围压卸荷过程的应力应变关系及应力强度因子表达式，且进行了数值计算。     

Modeling of fault slip in earthquakes

The total energy release and the length of interfacial crack growth associated with an earthquake are analyzed based on a horizontal one-dimensional semi-infinite elastic model of fault of uniform rectangular cross section between two rigid rocks. Initial interfacial cracks of finite length are assumed to exist on the top and bottom surfaces of the fault. A compressive force is applied at the end of the fault and uniform frictional forces are exerted on the crack surfaces. When the compressive force reaches a critical value, fault slip against the surrounding rock occurs and the frictional force changes from a static value to a dynamic value within a short time interval. The change in frictional force generates longitudinal wave propagation in the fault. As a result, a large amount of energy release takes place. The total amount of energy release and the length of crack growth can be analyzed based on the balance of energy.     

Triaxial compressive behavior of rock with mesoscopic heterogenous behavior: Strain energy density factor approach

The strain energy density factor approach is used in conjunction with a micromechanics model to investigate the condition and direction of shear failure for brittle rock subjected to triaxial compression. Moderate confinement in addition to localized deformation and damage are considered. Quantified are the effects of the various geometric and load parameters that involve the interaction of microcrack, friction and the confining pressure such that the path of the wing crack is taken into account. The influence of all microcracks with different orientations are introduced into the constitutive relation. The closed-form solution for the complete stress–strain relation of rock containing microcracks is obtained. It is shown that the complete stress–strain relationship includes linear, nonlinear hardening, rapid stress drop and strain softening effects. The theoretical results show that deviation of the direction of wing cracks from the line of the pre-existing crack decreases with increasing confinement pressure and friction coefficient. Theoretical predictions and experimental results show good agreement.     

不同倾角预制裂纹缺陷与运动裂纹的相互作用

为了研究运动裂纹与不同倾角预制裂纹缺陷之间的作用机制,采用数字激光动态焦散线方法对含不同倾角预制裂纹缺陷的三点弯曲梁进行冲击实验。研究结果表明,在冲击载荷作用下,预制裂纹缺陷尖端均产生了次生裂纹;当运动主裂纹与预制裂纹缺陷贯通时,次生裂纹不会立即起裂,而是经过0~10 μs的能量积蓄后,次生裂纹才起裂;运动主裂纹应力强度因子峰值与次裂纹起裂时的应力强度因子值均随预制裂纹倾角的增大而增大。     

An inclined surface crack subject to biaxial loading

The elastic–plastic stress fields and mode mixity parameters for semi-elliptical surface cracks on biaxial loaded plates have been investigated using detailed three-dimensional finite element calculations. Different degrees of mode mixity are given by combinations of the far-field stress level, biaxial stress ratio and inclined crack angle. These analyses were performed for different surface flaw geometries to study the combined load biaxiality and mode mixity effects on the crack-front stress fields and the size and shape of the plastic zones. It is clear from considering the local stress distributions along the crack front that the elastic crack tip singularities have been derived for several particular cases of mixed mode biaxial loading. By theoretical analysis, the new formulae have been introduced for both the elastic and plastic mode-mixity parameters, accounting for ratios between the I/II, II/III and III/I modes. Particular attention was paid to the strong variations of the mode-mixity parameters along the semi-elliptical surface crack front. The mixed-mode behavior of the crack growth direction angle along the semi-elliptical crack front for different combinations of biaxial loading and inclination crack angles was also determined. It was done using methods based on the maximum tangential stress and the strain energy density criteria.     

Fatigue damage evolution in silicon films for micromechanical applications

In this paper we examine the conditions for surface topography evolution and crack growth/fracture during the cyclic actuation of polysilicon microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) structures. The surface topography evolution that occurs during cyclic fatigue is shown to be stressassisted and may be predicted by linear perturbation analyses. The conditions for crack growth (due to pre-existing or nucleated cracks) are also examined within the framework of linear elastic fracture mechanics. Within this framework, we consider pre-existing cracks in the topical SiO₂ layer that forms on the Si substrate in the absence of passivation. The thickening of the SiO₂ that is normally observed during cyclic actuation of Si MEMS structures is shown to increase the possibility of stable crack growth by stress corrosion cracking prior to the onset of unstable crack growth in the SiO₂ and Si layers. Finally, the implications of the results are discussed for the prediction of fatigue damage in silicon MEMS structures.     

Effect of secondary orientation on notch-tip plasticity in superalloy single crystals

Numerical and experimental evolutions of slip fields in notched Ni-Base Single Crystal superalloy tensile specimens are presented as a function of secondary crystallographic orientation. The numerical predictions based on three-dimensional anisotropic elasticity and crystal plasticity are compared with experimental observations. The results illustrate the strong dependence of the slip patterns and the plastic zone size and shape on the secondary orientation of notches, which can have important consequences on crack initiation. Specific orientations or non-symmetric notch geometries lead to non-symmetric patterns on both sides of the sample. The computations show that strongly different plastic zones are expected in the core of the sample and at free surfaces. The ability of the anisotropic elastic model to anticipate the plastic domains, based on identifying dominant slip systems, is confirmed by the crystal plasticity computations, at low load levels. An important observation is that kink shear banding is a real deformation mode operating at crack tips and notches in high strength nickel-based single crystal superalloys for specific orientations.     

深部岩体损伤对分区破裂化效应的影响

深部岩体是一种具有初始损伤的非连续介质,其内部存在着大量节理和裂隙。深部岩体分区破裂化效应与节理、裂隙的扩展、连接和汇合密切相关。由于节理、裂隙的扩展、连接和汇合可能会导致深部岩体的内部空间由欧氏几何空间向非欧几何空间转化。本文利用损伤变量表示含节理和裂隙岩体的损伤,根据非欧几何模型,获得了静水压力和非静水压力情况下深部圆形洞室损伤围岩的应力场,确定了损伤变量对圆形洞室围岩的应力场和分区破裂化效应的影响。采用Hoek-Brown准则,获得了静水压力和非静水压力情况下损伤围岩的破裂区与非破裂区的分布规律。本文的研究结果为理解深部岩体分区破裂模式提供了有价值的参考。     

Mode i and mixed mode fields with incomplete crack tip plasticity

Plane strain slip line fields, in which plasticity does not fully surround the crack tip have been developed for mode I and mixed mode I\II cracks under contained yielding. Analytical solutions have been assembled using slip line theory for the plastic sectors and semi-infinite wedge solutions for the elastic sectors. These solutions are compared with finite element solutions based on modified boundary layer formulations. The analytical solutions agree well with numerical solutions, and form a family of fields with incomplete plasticity around the crack tip.     

Interaction of cracks with bonds between their faces in an isotropic medium reinforced by a regular system of stringers

A problem of an elastic isotropic medium with a system of foreign (transverse with respect to crack alignment) rectilinear inclusions is considered. The medium is assumed to be attenuated by a periodic system of rectilinear cracks with zones where the crack faces interact with each other. These zones are assumed to be adjacent to the crack tips, and their sizes can be commensurable with the crack size. Interaction between the crack faces in the tip zone is modeled by introducing bonds (adhesion forces) between the cracks with a specified strain diagram. The boundary-value problem of the equilibrium of a periodic system of cracks with bonds between their faces under the action of external tensile loads and forces in the bonds is reduced to a nonlinear singular integrodifferential equation with a kernel of the Cauchy kernel type. The condition of critical equilibrium of the cracks with the tip zones is formulated with allowance for the criterion of critical tension of the bonds. A case of a stress state of the medium containing zones where the crack faces interact with each other is considered.