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

• Main Authors: Li, Huanqiang, Wong, Louis Ngai Yuen
• Other Authors: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Civil engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/103134; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/17697
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

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.