Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Discrete element modeling on crack evolution behavior of sandstone containing two oval flaws under uniaxial compression

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To understand the fracture coalescence in specimens containing oval flaws, PFC2D was used to investigate the sandstone containing two oval flaws with different ligament angles under uniaxial compression. The micro-parameters were first confirmed by intact sandstone, and then, these were adopted to simulate the flawed specimen under uniaxial compression. Numerical results show that the peak strength, the peak strain, elastic modulus, and the ultimate failure modes were approximated well with these obtained by experiment. The failure modes obtained by numerical simulation can be divided into the following four typical categories based on the crack coalescence between the pre-existing flaws: no crack coalescence; indirect crack coalescence outside the bridge area; single crack coalescence inside the bridge area; tensile crack coalescence outside the bridge area. Based on parallel bond force fields and stress variation of measurement circles along the crack trajectory, the crack evolution processes were analyzed in detail and crack types were identified. The mode III can be divided into mode IIIa and mode IIIb. The mode IIIa is the single shear crack coalesced inside the bridge area; the mode IIIb is the single crack that initiated with tensile crack and coalesced with shear crack, and it only occurred as β = 90°. The mode IV can be divided into mode IVa and mode IVb. The mode IVa is that wing crack initiated at the middle of oval and coalesced at another oval tip, and it occurred as β = 120°. The mode IVb is that coalesced with anti-wing crack outside the bridge area, and it occurred as β = 150°. The stress distribution along the ligament has an obvious effect on ligament angle and flaw angle, and crack initiation only affects the stress concentration factor value.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bahaaddini M, Hebblewhite BK, Sharrock G (2013) Numerical investigation of the effect of joint geometrical parameters on the mechanical properties of a non-persistent jointed rock mass under uniaxial compression. Comput Geotech 49(20):206–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Behbahani SS, Moarefvand P, Ahangari K, Goshtasbi K (2013) Measuring displacement and contact forces among the particles in unloading of slope by PFC2D (particle flow code). Arch Min Sci 58(2):495–504

    Google Scholar 

  • Bobet A, Einstein HH (1998) Fracture coalescence in rock-type materials under uniaxial and biaxial compression. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 35(7):863–888

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cao RH, Cao P, Lin H, Pu CZ, Ou K (2016) Mechanical behavior of brittle rock-like specimens with pre-existing fissures under uniaxial loading: experimental studies and particle mechanics approach. Rock Mech Rock Eng 49(3):1–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen X, Liao ZH, Peng X (2012) Deformability characteristics of jointed rock masses under uniaxial compression. Int J Min Sci Technol 22(2):213–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Du MR, Jing HW, Su HJ, Zhu TT (2016) Effects of holes geometrical shape on characteristics of strength and failure of sandstone sample containing a single hole. Eng Mech 33(7):190–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu JW, Zhu WS, Cao GH, Xue WQ, Zhou K (2013) Experimental study and numerical simulation of propagation and coalescence process of a single three-dimensional flaw in rocks. J China Coal Soc 38(3):144–417

    Google Scholar 

  • Gratchev, I, Dong HK, Chong KY (2016) Strength of rock-like specimens with pre-existing cracks of different length and width. Rock Mech and Rock Eng 49.1:4491–4496

  • Griffith AA (1920) The phenomenon of rupture and flow in solids. Philos Trans R Soc Lond A221:163–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo SH, Sun ZQ (2001) Fracture law of an elliptical brittle crack under compressive loading. J Cent South Univ Technol (Nat Sci) 32(5):457–460

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang YH, Yang SQ, Ju Y, Zhou XP, Gao F (2016) Experimental study on mechanical behavior of rock-like materials containing pre-existing intermittent fissures under triaxial compression. Chin J Geotech Eng 7:1212–1218

    Google Scholar 

  • Itasca Consulting Group, Inc (2003) PFC2D, v. 3.10, Minneapolis

  • Lee H, Jeon S (2011) An experimental and numerical study of fracture coalescence in pre-cracked specimens under uniaxial compression. Int J Solids Struct 48(6):979–999

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li L, Liu X, Dao VTN, Cheng Y (2016) Thermal cracking analysis during pipe cooling of mass concrete using particle flow code. Adv Mater Sci Eng 2016(7):1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Li D, Zhu Q, Zhou Z, Li X, Ranjith PG (2017) Fracture analysis of marble specimens with a hole under uniaxial compression by digital image correlation. Eng Fract Mech

  • Lin P, Wong RHC, Tang CA (2015) Experimental study of coalescence mechanisms and failure under uniaxial compression of granite containing multiple holes. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 77(4-6):313–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mu K, Yu J, Cai YY, Chen X (2015) Acoustic emission of sandstone with hydro-mechanical coupling and PFC-based modelling of energy dissipation. Rock Soil Mech 36(5):1496–1504

    Google Scholar 

  • Mughieda O, Omar MT (2008) Stress analysis for rock mass failure with offset joints. Geotech Geol Eng 26(5):543–552

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pan PZ, Ding WX, Feng XT, Yao HY, Zhou H (2008) Research on influence of pre-existing crack geometrical and material properties on crack propagation in rocks. Chin J Rock Mech Eng 27(9):1882–1889

    Google Scholar 

  • Park CH, Bobet A (2009) Crack coalescence in specimens with open and closed flaws: a comparison. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 46(5):819–829

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prudencio M, Jan MVS (2007) Strength and failure modes of rock mass models with non-persistent joints. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 44(6):890–902

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sagong M, Bobet A (2002) Coalescence of multiple flaws in a rock-model material in uniaxial compression. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 39(2):229–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang CA, Lin P, Wong R, Chau KT (2001) Analysis of crack coalescence in rock-like materials containing three flaws-part II: numerical approach. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 38(7):925–939(15)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang CA, Wong RHC, Chau KT, Lin P (2005) Modeling of compression-induced splitting failure in heterogeneous brittle porous solids. Eng Fract Mech 72(4):597–615

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vergara MR, Jan MVS. Lorig L (2016) Numerical model for the study of the strength and failure modes of rock containing non-persistent joints. Rock Mech and Rock Eng 49(4):1211–1226

  • Wang XG (2014) The study on experiment and numerical simulation on fracture progress of 3D flaws in brittle materials. Shandong University

  • Wong LNY, Einstein HH (2009) Systematic evaluation of cracking behavior in specimens containing single flaws under uniaxial compression. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 46(2):239–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong RHC, Chau KT, Tang CA, Lin P (2001) Analysis of crack coalescence in rock-like materials containing three flaws—part I: experimental approach. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 38(7):909–924

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao TL, Li XP, Guo YH (2012) Experimental study of failure characteristic of single jointed rock mass under triaxial compression tests. Rock Soil Mech 33(11):3251–3256

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang SQ (2016) Experimental study on deformation, peak strength and crack damage behavior of hollow sandstone under conventional triaxial compression. Eng Geol 213:11–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang SQ, Huang YH, Jing HW, Liu XR (2014) Discrete element modeling on fracture coalescence behavior of red sandstone containing two unparallel fissures under uniaxial compression. Eng Geol 178(6):28–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang SQ, Tian WL, Huang YH (2016) An experimental and numerical study on cracking behavior of brittle sandstone containing two non-coplanar fissures under uniaxial compression. Rock Mech Rock Eng 49(4):1497–1515

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang SQ, Huang YH, Tian WL, ZHU JB (2017) An experimental investigation on strength, deformation and crack evolution behavior of sandstone containing two oval flaws under uniaxial compression. Eng Geol 2017(217):35–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang XP, Wong LNY (2012) Cracking processes in rock-like material containing a single flaw under uniaxial compression: a numerical study based on parallel bonded-particle model approach. Rock Mech Rock Eng 45(5):711–737

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang XP, Wong LNY (2013) Crack initiation, propagation and coalescence in rock-like material containing two fissures: a numerical study based on bonded-particle model approach. Rock Mech Rock Eng 46(5):1001–1021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang XP, Wong LNY (2015) Effects of the ratio of flaw size to specimen size on cracking behavior. Bull Eng Geol Environ 74(1):181–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Z (2016) Thermal influence on mechanical properties of granite: a microcracking perspective. Rock Mech Rock Eng 49(3):747–762

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Z, Zhou D (2016) Mechanical properties and failure modes of rock samples with grout-infilled flaws: A particle mechanics modeling. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 34:702–715

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou XP, Cheng H, Feng YF (2014) An experimental study of crack coalescence behaviour in rock-like materials containing multiple flaws under uniaxial compression. Rock Mech Rock Eng 47(6):1961–1986

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhuang X, Chun J (2014) Zhu H. A comparative study on unfilled and filled crack propagation for rock-like brittle material. Theoret Appl Fract Mech 72(1):110–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would also like to express their sincere gratitude to the editor and anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments, which have greatly improved this paper.

Funding

This research was supported by Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2020ZDPYMS34).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, People’s Republic of China

    Wen-Ling Tian, Sheng-Qi Yang & Yan-Hua Huang

Authors
  1. Wen-Ling Tian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sheng-Qi Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yan-Hua Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sheng-Qi Yang.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Ali Karrech

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tian, WL., Yang, SQ. & Huang, YH. Discrete element modeling on crack evolution behavior of sandstone containing two oval flaws under uniaxial compression. Arab J Geosci 13, 418 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-05348-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-05348-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation