Numerical Simulation of the Failure Process of Rocks

L.G. Tham; Y.K. Cheung; C.A. Tang

doi:10.6180/jase.2001.4.4.03

Numerical Simulation of the Failure Process of Rocks

L. G. Tham This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.¹ , Y. K. Cheung¹ and C. A. Tang This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.²

¹Department of Civil Engineering The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
²Centre of Rockbursts and Induced Seismicity Research Northeastern University Shenyang, China

Received: July 30, 2001
Accepted: August 21, 2001
Publication Date: December 1, 2001

Download Citation: ||https://doi.org/10.6180/jase.2001.4.4.03

ABSTRACT

The initiation, development and coalescence of fractures have been studied by various researchers. The current consensus is that such complex process is however not yet fully understood. In the present study, a numerical model, based on finite element approach, has been developed to simulate the fracture process when the specimen is under compression. The heterogeneous nature of the rocks is also taken into account by assuming spatial variations in the properties of the rocks be defined by the Weibull function. The numerical simulation shows that failure is mainly a process of tensile fractures developed in highly stressed shear bands. The study has provided insight on the development of fractures, especially in the post-peak range.

Keywords: Fracture, Acoustic Emission, Finite Element, Weibull

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