Numerical Simulation on Cracks Propagation and Coalescence Process in Rock

The failure of rock mass under loading is resulting from preexisting flaws, such as cracks, pores and other defects. However, the propagation and coalescence mechanism among multi-group cracks is still a puzzle, especially to the engineering rocks in site. In this study, the failure of rock samples with two groups of preexisting parallel cracks under the axial load were numerically investigated by the Rock Failure Process Analysis code (RFPA) from a mechanics point of view. The simulated results reproduce the rock failure process: at the first loading stage, the particle is stressed and energy is stored as elastic strain energy with a few randomly isolated fractures. As the load increases, the isolated fractures are localized to form a macroscopic crack. At the peak load, the isolated fractures unstably propagate in a direction parallel to the loading direction following tortuous paths and with numerous crack branches. Finally, the major crack passes through the rock sample and several coarse progeny cracks are formed. Moreover, in the vicinity of the contacting zone the local crushing is always induced to cause fines. On the base of the simulated results, it is found that the dominant breakage mechanisms are catastrophic splitting and progressive crushing. It is pointed out that the particle breakage behavior strongly depends on the heterogeneous material property, the irregular shape and size, and the various loading conditions. Because of heterogeneity, the crack propagates in tortuous path and crack branching becomes a usual phenomenon. The failure process of rock sample demonstrated that due to the high stress concentration at the cracks tip or some weaker strength elements which are not on the cracks surface initiate some micro-fractures, those cracks and fractures may gradually become larger and larger, more and more with the progress of loading so that join into the branch cracks leading to the rock failure in the end. Not only did the output of the numerical simulation study compare well with the experiment results, but also the further insights of the mechanism of cracks propagation and coalescence process in rock mass were obtained.