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PFC2D-based investigation on the mechanical behavior of anisotropic shale under Brazilian splitting containing two parallel cracks

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Abstract

A validated particle flow code (PFC2D)-based model was developed to investigate the indirect tensile mechanical behavior of shale containing two central parallel cracks under Brazilian splitting test conditions. The results show that preexisting cracks have a significant and insignificant influence on the tensile strength of shale under LPL and LVL conditions, respectively. When L ⩾ 10 mm, changing the L and H values has little effect on the tensile strength of shale. However, the inclusion of preexisting cracks have a positive effect on reducing the anisotropy of the shale specimens, and in the case of an L/D ratio of 0.3, the shale anisotropy is the lowest. Four failure modes were formed at different β and θ values under LPL conditions. In the case of β⩾60°, the failure mode is mainly affected by β, and when β⩽45°, the failure mode is more complicated than in the case of β⩾ 60°. Only three major failure modes were observed under LVL conditions; in the case of 45°⩽β⩽75° and θ⩽30°, the most complex failure mode occurred.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the financial support from the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province (Nos. 2021YFH0048 and 2021YFH0118) and a project funded by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 2020M683253).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Deep Underground Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China

    Bo He & Jun Liu

  2. College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China

    Bo He, Peng Zhao & Jingfeng Wang

  3. Institute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610207, China

    Bo He, Jun Liu & Peng Zhao

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  1. Bo He
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  2. Jun Liu
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  3. Peng Zhao
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  4. Jingfeng Wang
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Correspondence to Peng Zhao.

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He, B., Liu, J., Zhao, P. et al. PFC2D-based investigation on the mechanical behavior of anisotropic shale under Brazilian splitting containing two parallel cracks. Front. Earth Sci. 15, 803–816 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-021-0895-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-021-0895-8

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