Experimental study on cracking behaviour of moulded gypsum containing two non-parallel overlapping flaws under uniaxial compression

Failure of rock mass that is subjected to compres-sive loads occurs from initiation, propagation, and linkage of new cracks from preexisting fissures. Our research inves-tigates the cracking behaviour and coalescence process in a brittle material with two non-parallel overlapping flaws using a high-speed camera. The coalescence tensile crack and tensile wing cracks were the first cracks to occur from the pre-existing flaws. The initiation stresses of the primary cracks at the two tips of each flaw were simultaneous and decreased with reduced flaw inclination angle. The following types of coalescence cracks were identified between the flaws: pri-mary tensile coalescence crack, tensile crack linkage, shear crack linkage, mixed tensile-shear crack, and indirect crack coalescence. Coalescence through tensile linkage occurred mostly at pre-peak stress. In contrast, coalescence through shear or mixed tensile-shear cracks occurred at higher stress. Overall, this study indicates that the geometry of preexisting flaws affect crack initiation and coalescence behaviour.     

Numerical study on coalescence of two pre-existing coplanar flaws in rock

Crack propagation and coalescence processes are the fundamental mechanisms leading to progressive failure processes in rock masses, in which parallel non-persistent rock joints are commonly involved. The coalescence behavior of the latter, which are represented as pre-existing coplanar flaws (cracks), is numerically investigated in the present study. By using AUTODYN as the numerical tool, the present study systematically simulates the coalescence of two pre-existing coplanar flaws in rock under compression. The cumulative damage failure criterion is adopted in the numerical models to simulate the cumulative damage process in the crack initiation and propagation. The crack types (shear or tensile) are identified by analyzing the mechanics information associated with the crack initiation and propagation processes. The simulation results, which are generally in a good accordance with physical experimental results, indicate that the ligament length and the flaw inclination angle have a great influence on the coalescence pattern. The coalescence pattern is relatively simple for the flaw arrangements with a short ligament length, which becomes more complicated for those with a long ligament length. The coalescence trajectory is composed of shear cracks only when the flaw inclination angle is small (such as β ? 30°). When the pre-existing flaws are steep (such as β ? 75°), the coalescence trajectory is composed of tensile cracks as well as shear cracks. When the inclination angle is close to the failure angle of the corresponding intact rock material, and the ligament length is not long (such as L ? 2a), the direct shear coalescence is the more favorable coalescence pattern. In the special case that the two pre-existing flaws are vertical, the model will have a direct tensile coalescence pattern when the ligament length is short (L ? a), while the coalescence between the two inner flaw tips is not easy to achieve if the ligament length is long (L ? 2a).     

Influence of flaw inclination angle and loading condition on crack initiation and propagation

With reference to the experimental observation of crack initiation and propagation from pre-existing flaws in rock specimens under compression, the influences of pre-existing flaw inclination angle on the cracking processes were analyzed by means of finite element method (FEM) and non-linear dynamics method. FEM analysis on the stress field distribution induced by the presence of a pre-existing flaw provided better understanding for the influence of flaw inclination angle on the initiation position and initiation angle of the potential cracks. Numerical analysis based on the non-linear dynamics method was performed to simulate the cracking processes. The resultant crack types, crack initiation sequences and the overall crack pattern were different under different loading conditions. Under a relatively low loading rate or a small magnitude of maximum loading pressure, tensile cracks would tend to initiate prior to shear cracks. In contrast, under a relatively high loading rate and a large magnitude of maximum loading pressure, shear cracks would tend to initiate prior to tensile cracks instead.     

Numerical study of failure behaviour of pre-cracked rock specimens under conventional triaxial compression

Macroscopic pre-existing flaws play an important role in evaluating the strength and the failure modes of a heterogeneous rock mass. Crack initiation, propagation and coalescence from macroscopic pre-existing flaws are considered in a 3-D numerical model (RFPA3D) to investigate their effects on the underlying failure modes of rock. A feature of the code RFPA3D is that it can numerically simulate the evolution of cracks in three-dimensional space, as well as the heterogeneity of the rock mass. Three types of flaw geometries were evaluated numerically against experimental results: Type A for intact specimen, and Types B and C for flawed cylindrical specimens with different macroscopic pre-existing flaws, respectively. The effect of confining pressure on the fracture evolution was also considered. Numerical results showed that both the ligament angle and the flaw angle of two pre-existing cracks can affect the uniaxial compressive strength of the specimen and the mechanism of fracture evolution. In addition, both the uniaxial compressive strength and the accumulated acoustic emission increase with increasing heterogeneity.     

Damage evolution and crack propagation in rocks with dual elliptic flaws in compression

To give an insight into the understanding of damage evolution and crack propagation in rocks,a series of uniaxial and biaxial compression numerical tests are carried out.The investigations show that damage evolution occurs firstly in the weak rock,the area around the flaw and the area between the flaw and the neighboring rock layer.Cracks mostly generate as tensile cracks under uniaxial compression and shear cracks under biaxial compression.Crack patterns are classified and divided.The relationship between the accumulated lateral displacement and the short radius(b)is fitted,and the equation of crack path is also established.     

雁形裂纹扩展的模型试验及断裂力学机制研究

通过相似材料模拟试验的方法研究了双轴压缩载荷作用下闭合雁形裂纹的起裂、扩展和岩桥的贯穿机理，得到了双轴压缩载荷作用下，不同方位雁形裂纹的开裂角、起裂载荷、岩桥贯通载荷及临界失稳载荷等重要的断裂力学参数，提出岩桥的破坏模式有剪切破坏、拉剪复合破坏和翼裂纹扩展三种     

Loading rate and confining pressure effect on dilatancy,acoustic emission,and failure characteristics of fissured rock with two pre-existing flaws

Investigating the dilatancy, acoustic emission and failure characteristics of fissured rock are significant to ensure their geotechnical stability. In this paper, the uniaxial and triaxial compression experiments with AE monitoring under different loading rates were carried out on fissured rock specimens with the same geometrical distribution of two pre-existing flaws. The dilatancy and AE activity of these specimens were discussed, and the effects of the confining pressure and loading rate on the mechanical parameters and failure characteristics were analyzed. The results show that the exponential strength criterion is more suitable than the Mohr–Coulomb strength criterion to characterize the strength characteristics of fissured rock. The crack evolution and failure characteristics of fissured rock specimens are more complicated than those of intact rock specimens. The failure characteristics of the fissured rock follow the tensile shear coalescence model, crack branching occurs with increasing the loading rate, and the multi-section coalescence model is verified with increasing the confining pressure. The phenomena of stress drop and yield platform usually occur after the dilatancy onset, the specimen does not fail instantaneously, and the propagation and coalescence of cracks cause a sharp increase in the AE signals, circumferential strain, and volumetric strain.     

An experimental study on fracture mechanical behavior of rock-like materials containing two unparallel fissures under uniaxial compression

Strength and deformability characteristics of rock with pre-existing fissures are governed by cracking behavior. To further research the effects of pre-existing fissures on the mechanical properties and crack coalescence process, a series of uniaxial compression tests were carried out for rock-like material with two unparallel fissures.In the present study, cement, quartz sand, and water were used to fabricate a kind of brittle rock-like material cylindrical model specimen. The mechanical properties of rock-like material specimen used in this research were all in good agreement with the brittle rock materials. Two unparallel fissures(a horizontal fissure and an inclined fissure) were created by inserting steel during molding the model specimen.Then all the pre-fissured rock-like specimens were tested under uniaxial compression by a rock mechanics servocontrolled testing system. The peak strength and Young's modulus of pre-fissured specimen all first decreased and then increased when the fissure angle increased from 0?to 75?.In order to investigate the crack initiation, propagation and coalescence process, photographic monitoring was adopted to capture images during the entire deformation process.Moreover, acoustic emission(AE) monitoring technique was also used to obtain the AE evolution characteristic of prefissured specimen. The relationship between axial stress, AE events, and the crack coalescence process was set up: when a new crack was initiated or a crack coalescence occurred, thecorresponding axial stress dropped in the axial stress–time curve and a big AE event could be observed simultaneously.Finally, the mechanism of crack propagation under microscopic observation was discussed. These experimental results are expected to increase the understanding of the strength failure behavior and the cracking mechanism of rock containing unparallel fissures.     

岩石劈裂破坏过程的计算模拟

岩体的破坏主要是岩体中裂纹的扩展与贯通的结果.受压岩体的裂纹尖端,可能处于压剪状态,也可能处于拉剪状态.从断裂力学的角度,研究了地下工程围岩中的裂纹在各种受力条件下(包括拉剪、压剪两种情况)的起裂、扩展及贯通以至最终形成劈裂裂缝的特征及各个阶段的判据.针对压剪断裂,裂纹之间存在有粘结力与摩擦强度的特征,提出了岩石压剪断裂性判据.最后以受压岩体中的斜裂纹扩展过程分析为例,模拟了岩体中裂纹逐渐发展成劈裂破坏的过程,并说明了各个阶段的计算方法.     

A 3-D ellipsoidal flaw model for brittle fracture in compression

Engineering materials are rarely free of flaws. Mode I cracking from pre-existing flaws is the major cause of the brittle fracture in compression of materials such as concrete and rock. A 3-D ellipsoidal flaw model is used to show the significant influence of flaw geometry on crack initiation in uniform uniaxial, biaxial and triaxial compression. The model shows that the governing criterion for crack initiation may change from energy to stress with increasing crack size, and that for voids of similar size a spherical void is the most critical shape for crack initiation. The model thus provides a basis for a better understanding of both the phenomenon and the mechanism of brittle fracture in compression.     

冲击载荷下两裂纹间的连通规律

脆性材料内部含有大量裂纹,当某一裂纹扩展时,其他裂纹会对扩展裂纹产生影响。为了研究冲击载荷下,脆性材料内两裂纹的相互影响、连通规律及裂纹尖端应力强度因子的变化规律,利用有机玻璃板制作了含非平行双裂纹的实验试件,利用落板冲击设备进行了中低速冲击实验,结合有限元分析软件ABAQUS计算出裂纹尖端应力强度因子,利用有限差分软件AUTODYN进行了动态数值模拟研究,并将其模拟结果与实验结果进行对比分析。实验及模拟结果表明:裂纹破坏形态与AUTODYN数值模拟破坏形态基本一致;试件的断裂形态随着两裂纹间距不同而不同;裂纹间的相互影响程度随着裂纹间间距增大而减小;裂纹尖端应力强度因子K_I随着裂纹间距的增大而减小,而K_II随着裂纹间距增大而增大。     

Particle flow study on strength and meso-mechanism of Brazilian splitting test for jointed rock mass

A discrete element method （DEM） called particle flow code （PFC2D） was used to construct a model for Brazilian disc splitting test in the present study. Based on the experimental results of intact Brazilian disc of rock-like material, a set of micro-parameters in PFC2D that reflected the macro-mechanical behavior of rock-like materials were obtained. And then PFC2D was used to simulate Brazilian splitting test for jointed rock mass specimens and specimen containing a central straight notch. The effect of joint angle and notch angle on the tensile strength and failure mode of jointed rock specimens was detailed analyzed. In order to reveal the meso-mechanical mechanism of crack coalescence, displacement trend lines were applied to analyze the displacement evolution during the crack initiation and propagation. The investigated conclusions can be described as follows. （1） The tensile strength of jointed rock mass disc specimen is dependent to the joint angle. As the joint angle increases, the tensile strength of jointed rock specimen takes on a nonlinear variance. （2） The tensile strength of jointed rock mass disc specimen containing a central straight notch distributes as a function of both joint angle and notch angle. （3） Three major failure modes, i.e., pure tensile failure, shear failure and mixed tension and shear failure mode are observed in jointed rock mass disc specimens under Brazilian test. （4） The notch angle roles on crack initiation and and joint angle play important propagation characteristics of jointed rock mass disc specimen containing a central straight notch under Brazilian test.     

岩石偏心圆孔单裂纹平台圆盘的动态裂纹扩展与止裂

针对平台圆环构型的优点, 提出偏心圆孔单裂纹平台圆盘(cracked eccentrically holed flattened disc, CEHFD), 该试样具有更长的断裂路径。利用霍普金森压杆加载系统, 径向冲击CEHFD试样, 完成Ⅰ型动态断裂实验。砂岩试样表面粘贴应变片和裂纹扩展计, 用于监测裂纹动态起裂、扩展和止裂的全过程。实验表明, 在整个断裂过程中, 裂纹非匀速扩展, 裂纹扩展速度在裂纹起裂后加速上升, 在裂纹止裂前有明显的减速, 与地震时断层的动态破裂全过程完全吻合。采用实验-数值-解析法得到动态应力强度因子, 其时间历程呈现先增大后减小的趋势。根据断裂过程不同时刻, 得到相应的动态起裂韧度、扩展韧度及止裂韧度。在动态断裂全过程中, 动态扩展韧度为速度的函数, 变化趋势与速度一致, 随着时间先增大后减小; 动态起裂韧度大于动态止裂韧度, 止裂韧度随着裂纹最大扩展速度的增大而降低, 并且有较大的离散性。     

巴西圆盘泥岩试件裂纹扩展及应变演化实验研究

为了研究准静态加载条件下岩石试件巴西劈裂裂纹扩展规律,采用MTS试验机进行准静态加载,同时用高速摄像机记录裂纹扩展过程。采用白光数字散斑处理软件对摄像机记录的照片进行处理,得到试件裂纹扩展过程中应变场的演化情况。通过实验和分析可以看出,由于端部效应及加载方式的原因,因此裂纹起裂点在底部加载部位;泥岩试件表面裂纹的平均扩展速度为252m/s;岩石的非均质性即内部微缺陷、微裂纹使得泥岩试样的开裂并不是沿着中心直径方向,而是偏离一定的角度,初始偏离角度约为17°。裂纹扩展过程可以划分为三个阶段:泥岩试件宏观变形阶段(宏观无裂纹)、宏观裂纹稳定扩展阶段、宏观裂纹动态张裂阶段。同时,在裂纹扩展过程中,表面第一主应变场、水平位移场等变化明显,在开裂部位第一主应变最大。通过对圆盘泥岩试件裂纹扩展实验研究,可为研究岩石破裂及其演化规律提供依据。     

On wave and fracture propagation in Rock Media

Experimental-stress-analysis techniques were used to study wave and fracture propagation in rock media. Marble and granite plates were loaded explosively. Wave propagation was observed through isochromatic-fringe patterns on bonded photoelastic coatings and moiré-fringe patterns. These patterns were recorded with a Beckman and Whitley camera operating at rates from 250,000 to 1,000,000 frames per second. Dilatational, shear and Rayleigh wave velocities were determined. The leading part of the pulse is compressive and shows appreciable attenuation. The trailing part goes into tension, causing widespread tensile fracture. The velocity of propagation of this fracture zone in marble was nearly equal to the theoretical terminal velocity. In the case of induced cracks in marble and granite, the velocities of crack propagation were appreciably lower than the theoretical terminal values. Experimental results obtained were discussed and interpreted for their relevance to the rapid-excavation process in rock.     

Experimental investigation on strength and failure behavior of pre-cracked marble under conventional triaxial compression

Fractures in natural rocks have an important effect on the strength and failure behavior of rock mass, which are often evaluated in rock engineering practice. The theoretical evaluation of mechanical behavior of fractured rock mass has no satisfactory answer due to the role of confining pressure and crack geometry. Therefore, in this paper, conventional triaxial compression experiments were carried out to study the strength and failure behavior of marble samples with two pre-existing closed cracks in non-overlapping geometry. Based on the experimental results of a number of triaxial compression tests, the effect of crack coalescence on the axial supporting capacity and deformation property were investigated with different confining pressures. The results show that intact samples and flawed samples (marble with pre-existing cracks) have different deformation properties after peak stress, which change from brittleness to plasticity and ductility with the increase of confining pressure. The peak strength and failure mode are found depending not only on the geometry of flaw, but also on the confining pressure. The strength of flawed samples shows distinct non-linear behavior, which is in a better agreement with non-linear Hoek–Brown criterion than linear Mohr–Coulomb criterion. For a kind of rock that has been evaluated as a Hoek–Brown material, a new evaluation criterion is put forward by adopting optimal approximation polynomial theory, which can be used to confirm more precisely the strength parameters (cohesion and internal friction angle) of flawed samples. For intact samples, the marble leads to typical shear failure mode with a single fracture surface under different confining pressures, while for flawed samples, under uniaxial compression and a lower confining pressure (σ₃ = 10 MPa), tests for coarse and medium marble (the coarse and medium refer to the grain size) exhibit three basic failure modes, i.e., tensile mode, shear mode, and mixed mode (tensile and shear). Shear mode is associated with lower strength behavior. However, under higher confining pressures (σ₃ = 30 MPa), for coarse marble, the axial supporting capacity is not related to the geometry of flaw. The friction among crystal grains determines the strength behavior of coarse marble. For medium marble, the failure mode and deformation behavior are dependent on the crack coalescence in the sample. The present research provides increased understanding of the fundamental nature of rock failure under conventional triaxial compression.     

The effects of the rock bridge ligament angle and the confinement on crack coalescence in rock bridges: An experimental study and discrete element method

The present article investigates the influences of the rock bridge ligament angle, β, and the confinement on crack coalescence patterns by conducting laboratory and numerical tests on rock-like specimens. Laboratory tests show that no coalescence in the rock bridge occurred for low β. With an increase of β, tensile-shear coalescence and tensile coalescences subsequently occurred. In addition, the increase in the confinement first promoted shear coalescence and then restrained crack coalescence for low β, whereas the tensile coalescence was restrained by the increase in confinement for high β. The numerical results corroborate the laboratory tests in the coalescence patterns. In addition, the numerical study shows that tensile and shear cracks subsequently initiated near crack tips because of the concentrated tensile and shear stresses, respectively. Regarding the influence of β on crack coalescence, tensile or shear stress failed to concentrate in rock bridges for low β. Therefore, the cracks failed to coalesce, whereas with the increase in β, tensile and shear stress concentrations occurred in the bridge and led to either tensile shear or tensile coalescence. Regarding the influence of confinement on crack coalescence, the increase in confinement restrained the tensile stress concentrations and further hindered tensile crack coalescence in rock bridges for high values of β.     

基于数字图像处理的含缺陷花岗岩破裂力学分析1）

在细观尺度上,采用数字图像处理技术研究花岗岩中由石英、长石和云母等材料的形状、大小及分布对花岗岩材料造成的非均匀性,结合RFPA-DIP 程序建立了能准确反映材料真实细观结构的含缺陷花岗岩数值模型,并进行了常规单轴压缩模拟试验,研究不同矿物颗粒结构与缺陷对其细观破裂力学行为的影响,再现了外载荷作用下不同数值模型的真实破裂过程与最终破坏模式. 试验结果表明:缺陷对试样强度的影响比改变矿物颗粒的形态构造对其强度的影响更加显著,缺陷的存在削弱了颗粒形态对花岗岩强度影响的能力;缺陷及矿物颗粒的形态构造对试样裂纹的萌生、扩展以及最终破坏模式有直接影响,缺陷与矿物颗粒的空间结构关系是导致岩石形成各种复杂破坏模式的主要因素. 起裂应力水平受试样内部细观介质构造和缺陷的影响,而缺陷的存在对起裂应力的影响更加显著.