Modeling of dynamic cohesive fracture propagation in porous saturated media

In this paper, a mathematical model is presented for the analysis of dynamic fracture propagation in the saturated porous media. The solid behavior incorporates a discrete cohesive fracture model, coupled with the flow in porous media through the fracture network. The double‐nodded zero‐thickness cohesive interface element is employed for the mixed mode fracture behavior in tension and contact behavior in compression. The crack is automatically detected and propagated perpendicular to the maximum effective stress. The spatial discretization is continuously updated during the crack propagation. Numerical examples from the hydraulic fracturing test and the concrete gravity dam show the capability of the model to simulate dynamic fracture propagation. The comparison is performed between the quasi‐static and fully dynamic solutions, and the performance of two analyses is investigated on the values of crack length and crack mouth opening. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A model for moisture and heat flow in fractured unsaturated porous media

The present study investigates propagation of a cohesive crack in non‐isothermal unsaturated porous medium under mode I conditions. Basic points of skeleton deformation, moisture, and heat transfer for unsaturated porous medium are presented. Boundary conditions on the crack surface that consist of mechanical interaction of the crack and the porous medium, water, and heat flows through the crack are taken into consideration. For spatial discretization, the extended finite element method is used. This method uses enriched shape functions in addition to ordinary shape functions for approximation of displacement, pressure, and temperature fields. The Heaviside step function and the distance function are exploited as enrichment functions for representing the crack surfaces displacement and the discontinuous vertical gradients of the pressure and temperature fields along the crack, respectively. For temporal discretization, backward finite difference scheme is applied. Problems solved from the literature show the validity of the model as well as the dependency of structural response on the material properties and loading. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical modeling of hydraulic fracture propagation,closure and reopening using XFEM with application to in‐situ stress estimation

In this paper, a fully coupled model is developed for numerical modeling of hydraulic fracturing in partially saturated weak porous formations using the extended finite element method, which provides an effective means to simulate the coupled hydro‐mechanical processes occurring during hydraulic fracturing. The developed model is for short fractures where plane strain assumptions are valid. The propagation of the hydraulic fracture is governed by the cohesive crack model, which accounts for crack closure and reopening. The developed model allows for fluid flow within the open part of the crack and crack face contact resulting from fracture closure. To prevent the unphysical crack face interpenetration during the closing mode, the crack face contact or self‐contact condition is enforced using the penalty method. Along the open part of the crack, the leakage flux through the crack faces is obtained directly as a part of the solution without introducing any simplifying assumption. If the crack undergoes the closing mode, zero leakage flux condition is imposed along the contact zone. An application of the developed model is shown in numerical modeling of pump‐in/shut‐in test. It is illustrated that the developed model is able to capture the salient features bottomhole pressure/time records exhibit and can extract the confining stress perpendicular to the direction of the hydraulic fracture propagation from the fracture closure pressure. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Computational model coupling mode II discrete fracture propagation with continuum damage zone evolution

We propose a numerical method that couples a cohesive zone model (CZM) and a finite element‐based continuum damage mechanics (CDM) model. The CZM represents a mode II macro‐fracture, and CDM finite elements (FE) represent the damage zone of the CZM. The coupled CZM/CDM model can capture the flow of energy that takes place between the bulk material that forms the matrix and the macroscopic fracture surfaces. The CDM model, which does not account for micro‐crack interaction, is calibrated against triaxial compression tests performed on Bakken shale, so as to reproduce the stress/strain curve before the failure peak. Based on a comparison with Kachanov's micro‐mechanical model, we confirm that the critical micro‐crack density value equal to 0.3 reflects the point at which crack interaction cannot be neglected. The CZM is assigned a pure mode II cohesive law that accounts for the dependence of the shear strength and energy release rate on confining pressure. The cohesive shear strength of the CZM is calibrated by calculating the shear stress necessary to reach a CDM damage of 0.3 during a direct shear test. We find that the shear cohesive strength of the CZM depends linearly on the confining pressure. Triaxial compression tests are simulated, in which the shale sample is modeled as an FE CDM continuum that contains a predefined thin cohesive zone representing the idealized shear fracture plane. The shear energy release rate of the CZM is fitted in order to match to the post‐peak stress/strain curves obtained during experimental tests performed on Bakken shale. We find that the energy release rate depends linearly on the shear cohesive strength. We then use the calibrated shale rheology to simulate the propagation of a meter‐scale mode II fracture. Under low confining pressure, the macroscopic crack (CZM) and its damaged zone (CDM) propagate simultaneously (i.e., during the same loading increments). Under high confining pressure, the fracture propagates in slip‐friction, that is, the debonding of the cohesive zone alternates with the propagation of continuum damage. The computational method is applicable to a range of geological injection problems including hydraulic fracturing and fluid storage and should be further enhanced by the addition of mode I and mixed mode (I+II+III) propagation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A relationship between tensile strength and loading stress governing the onset of mode I crack propagation obtained via numerical investigations using a bonded particle model

Numerical models based on the discrete element method are used to study the fracturing process in brittle rock‐like materials under direct and indirect tension. The results demonstrate the capacity of the model to capture the essential characteristics of fracture including the onset of crack propagation, stable and unstable crack growth, arrest and reinitiation of fracturing, and crack branching. Simulations of Brazilian indirect tension tests serve to calibrate the numerical model, relating macroscopic tensile strength of specimens to their micromechanical breakage parameters. A second suite of simulations reveals a linear relationship between the tensile strength of specimens and the loading stress for which mode I tensile crack propagation ensues. Based on these results, a crack initiation criterion for brittle materials is proposed, prescribing the stressing conditions required to induce tensile failure. Such a criterion, if broadly applicable, provides a practical means to rapidly assess the failure potential of brittle materials under tensile loads.     

Adaptive finite element analysis of mode I fracture in cement‐based materials

Microscopic studies using advanced experimental techniques have provided better insight into the fracture mechanisms in cement‐based materials. A clear understanding of fracture mechanisms is critical for the development of rigorous computational models for analysing fracture. Fracture analysis is usually carried out by finite element method. Accuracy of FE analysis depends upon the choice of mesh and for the predictions to be reliable, discretization errors are to be minimized. In cohesive crack approach, the non‐linearity is limited to the boundary conditions along the geometric discontinuity while the bulk of the material retains its elastic nature. The paper presents a mesh‐adaptive strategy based on ZZ error estimator to model discrete crack propagation in cement‐based materials. Examples of simulations have demonstrated the potential of the mesh‐adaptive technique in modelling the evolution of the localized strain profiles as well as failure of concrete test specimen. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Discrete element model for crack propagation in brittle materials

We propose a discrete element model for brittle rupture. The material consists of a bidimensional set of closed‐packed particles in contact. We explore the isotropic elastic behavior of this regular structure to derive a rupture criterion compatible to continuum mechanics. We introduce a classical criterion of mixed mode crack propagation based on the value of the stress intensity factors, obtained by the analysis of two adjacent contacts near a crack tip. Hence, the toughness becomes a direct parameter of the model, without any calibration procedure. We verify the consistency of the formulation as well as its convergence by comparison with theoretical solutions of tensile cracks, a pre‐cracked beam, and an inclined crack under biaxial stress. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Estimation of crack opening from a two‐dimensional continuum‐based finite element computation

Damage models are capable of representing crack initiation and mimicking crack propagation within a continuum framework. Thus, in principle, they do not describe crack openings. In durability analyses of concrete structures however, transfer properties are a key issue controlled by crack propagation and crack opening. We extend here a one‐dimensional approach for estimating a crack opening from a continuum‐based finite element calculation to two‐dimensional cases. The technique operates in the case of mode I cracking described in a continuum setting by a nonlocal isotropic damage model. We used the global tracking method to compute the idealized crack location as a post‐treatment procedure. The original one‐dimensional problem devised in Dufour et al. [4] is recovered as profiles of deformation orthogonal to the idealized crack direction are computed. An estimate of the crack opening and an error indicator are computed by comparing finite element deformation profiles and theoretical profiles corresponding to a displacement discontinuity. Two estimates have been considered: In the strong approach, the maxima of the profiles are assumed to be equal; in the weak approach, the integrals of each profile are set equal. Two‐dimensional numerical calculations show that the weak estimates perform better than do the strong ones. Error indicators, defined as the distance between the numerical and theoretical profiles, are less than a few percentages. In the case of a three‐point bending, test results are in good agreement with experimental data, with an error lower than 10% for widely opened crack (> 40µm). Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crack propagation analysis with Galerkin boundary element method

This paper describes the application of symmetric Galerkin boundary element methods (SGBEM) for the analysis of a 2D crack propagation problem. The sub-domain SGBEM for crack problem is derived. The coefficient matrix is completely symmetric. Cohesive crack model is used to simulate crack propagation. The increment control method for crack propagation and the method for unknown crack propagation path have been derived for high-order element. Two-stage interpolation method called the ‘quasi-higher order element method’ (QHOEM) is then proposed to solve the double integrals. In the initial stage, it uses higher order elements to interpolate the field variables, and for the numerical integration involved, it further uses interpolation functions to decompose the higher order elements into lower order elements so that the existing analytical integration can be applied. A finite rectangular plate containing a centre crack growth and four-points bending beam problem have been analysed to check the accuracy of the proposed method. For actual application, a dam buttress with an edge crack has been analysed and the results are found to be in agreement with the other numerical and experimental results. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于改进数值流形法的接触裂纹问题研究

接触裂纹问题在工程结构中较为常见。结合数值流形法在裂纹处理上的优势,分析了压剪荷载作用下的接触裂纹问题,模拟了压剪裂纹渐进扩展过程。为了减少由于裂纹尖端位置不同而产生的误差,对裂纹尖端附近一定范围内的每一个物理覆盖附加奇异覆盖函数项,并根据裂纹尖端位置和单元含奇异物理覆盖的数目进行分区积分。选取一个压剪破坏算例,分析了法向接触力对应力强度因子计算结果的影响,并模拟了其渐进破坏过程。计算结果表明,所提方法在压剪裂纹问题方面的可行性,与未细化和覆盖细化方法得到的结果相比,更能准确地描述裂纹扩展路径。法向接触力对II型应力强度因子的贡献为0,对I型应力强度因子的影响较大,相对误差随网格密度变化明显,且法向接触力对I型应力强度因子的影响要比直接施加内压时的影响大。     

Physics‐based simulation of multiple interacting crack growth in brittle rocks driven by thermal cooling

Crack growth in hot brittle rocks, driven by thermal cooling, was simulated using a coupled two‐dimensional discrete element and heat transport model that explicitly includes the random initiation and subsequent propagation of interacting cracks. The model clearly predicts that a quasi‐hierarchical array of subparallel cracks, oriented along the direction of the temperature gradient, is formed under small to moderately large thermally generated strain load conditions. The simulation results also demonstrate that, after an initial transient, thermal cracks propagate in a stable fashion with a velocity that scales with ~ t^{− 1/2}. However, under large thermal strain loads, a more complicated geometry composed of cracks that curve and coalesce develops during the later stages of crack growth. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A mixed mode rock fracture model for the prediction of crack path

Crack propagation in rocks is simulated by using a displacement substitution method based on a mixed mode fracture criterion. The main advantage of this model is that it can distinguish between mode I and mode II stress intensity factors simultaneously. A typical finite element program is used to compute displacements adjacent to the crack tip. The maximum circumferential tensile stress is adopted as a ‘yield surface’ for the calculation of the load factor in each crack increment. Pure mode I and mixed mode examples have been analysed to validate the capability of the model. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of inclination angles and confining pressures on mechanical behavior of rock materials containing a preexisting crack

To deeply understand the cracking mechanical behavior of brittle rock materials, numerical simulations of a rock specimen containing a single preexisting crack were carried out by the expanded distinct element method (EDEM). Based on the analysis of crack tips and a comparison between stress- and strain-based methods, the strain strength criterion was adopted in the numerical models to simulate the crack initiation and propagation processes under uniaxial and biaxial compression. The simulation results indicated that the crack inclination angle and confining pressure had a great influence on the tensile and shear properties, peak strength, and failure behaviors, which also showed a good agreement with the experimental results. If the specimen was under uniaxial compression, it was found that the initiation stress and peak strength first decreased and then increased with an increasing inclination angle α. Regardless of the size of α, tensile cracks initiated prior to shear cracks. If α was small (such as α ≤ 30°), the tensile cracks dominated the specimen failure, the wing cracks propagated towards the direction of uniaxial compression, and the propagation of shear cracks was inhibited by the high concentration of tensile stress. In contrast, if α was large (such as α ≥ 45°), mixed cracks dominated the specimen failure, and the external loading favored the further propagation of shear cracks. Analyzing the numerical results of the specimen with a 45° inclination angle under biaxial compression, it was revealed that lateral confinement had a significant influence on the initiation sequence and the mechanical properties of new cracks.     

模拟岩石压剪状态下主次裂纹萌生开裂的扩展有限元法

压剪应力状态下,岩石类材料中常见两类裂纹：翼型张拉裂纹和次生压剪裂纹。基于扩展有限元方法（XFEM）,提出了模拟压剪裂纹面作用机制的扩展有限元位移增强方案,并给出了扩展有限元法分叉裂纹处理方法,分别用最大周向拉应力准则和Mohr-Coulomb准则判断张拉裂纹和压剪裂纹的萌生和扩展。基于Matlab平台编写了数值计算程序Betaxfem 2D,通过两个算例对所提方案进行了验证,所得结果与有限元法（FEM）计算结果吻合很好。模拟了单轴压缩载荷下含预制闭合裂纹试件的裂纹分叉、扩展过程,与试验结果的对比表明,所提方案可以模拟和预测岩石类材料张拉、压剪交互分叉裂纹的萌生和扩展行为。     

Trajectories of unstably growing cracks in mixed mode I–II loading of marble beams

Summary The knowledge of the stress field under which a crack in an engineering material or a rock is propagated and the trajectory it follows during its growth, is very important. In this paper the prediction of the crack growth trajectory and its initial angle _c under mixed mode I–II loading is studied experimentally in marble beams. The three point bending test is used, together with the strain energy density theory (SED) of Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM). Experimental results are compared with theoretical predictions. The experimental results showed that: marble behaved as a brittle material; crack propagation was unstable and its trajectory followed, mainly, the grain boundaries; the prediction of the critical angle _c and the first part of the trajectory, from the crack tip up to the point G, where a global minimum of the strain energy density is reached, can satisfactorily be made with the SED theory. Beyond point G, the initial stress field is different, and for application of the SED theory, the boundary conditions need redefinition.     

Modeling crack propagation path of anisotropic rocks using boundary element method

In a cracked material, the stress intensity factors (SIFs) at the crack tips, which govern the crack propagation and are associated with the strength of the material, are strongly affected by the crack inclination angle and the orientation with respect to the principal direction of anisotropy. In this paper, a formulation of the boundary element method (BEM), based on the relative displacements of the crack tip, is used to determine the mixed‐mode SIFs of isotropic and anisotropic rocks. Numerical examples of the application of the formulation for different crack inclination angles, crack lengths, and degree of material anisotropy are presented. Furthermore, the BEM formulation combined with the maximum circumferential stress criterion is adopted to predict the crack initiation angles and simulate the crack propagation paths. The propagation path in cracked straight through Brazilian disc specimen is numerically predicted and the results of numerical and experimental data compared with the actual laboratory observations. Good agreement is found between the two approaches. The proposed BEM formulation is therefore suitable to simulate the process of crack propagation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

含有硬包裹体分布的非均质岩石水力压裂特性研究

基于完全流-固耦合的弹塑性理论给出了水力压裂数值计算的弥散裂缝模型,其中材料的弹性部分采用线弹性本构关系,塑性部分采用摩尔-库仑破坏准则及强化准则。依据当前的有效应力状态修正渗透系数来模拟压裂液在裂缝中的流动。渗透系数的修改使用双曲正切函数,并采用平均有效应力作为水力裂缝的起裂判据。在ABAQUS软件中通过用户自定义程序添加了该模型。根据岩石的切面照片建立了含有硬包裹体分布的非均质岩石的有限元计算模型,模拟了中心点注水条件下的水力压裂传播过程,讨论了在常应力状态下非均质岩石中开裂区域、典型位置的应力路径变化和裂缝传播范围随时间变化的特点。进行了多种条件下含有硬包裹体分布的岩石材料的数值试验,得出了基岩材料的弹性模量、凝聚力和渗透系数以及注水速率对峰值注水压力、平均注水压力和裂缝开度的影响规律。     

冲击载荷作用下准脆性材料Ⅱ型裂纹扩展研究

冲击载荷作用下准脆性材料的动态断裂一直是关注的热点问题,Ⅱ型裂纹试样受冲击剪切时其裂纹扩展方向同材料力学性质和冲击速度等密切相关。应用岩石动态破裂过程动态分析系统软件,对单边平行双裂缝试样开展了冲击载荷作用下的裂纹动态扩展数值模拟,分别研究了不同材料力学性质、材料均质度、入射应力脉冲幅值和历时对II型裂纹动态扩展的影响。数值模拟结果表明,纯II型裂纹在动荷载作用下的扩展,不仅受到剪切损伤,而且还存在拉伸损伤;准脆性材料的非均匀性导致了主裂缝周围产生大量微裂纹的破坏,影响裂缝的分岔和内部的应力值;应力幅值和应力脉冲历时分别超过某一定值时,主裂缝将出现分叉现象,试样的破坏程度加剧,其研究结果对于深入揭示准脆性材料在动荷载作用下II型裂纹扩展的规律及准脆性材料的损伤断裂机制具有重要的参考价值。     

Modeling soil desiccation cracking by analytical and numerical approaches

An energy approach is proposed as a complement to the stress approach commonly considered for investigating soil desiccation cracking. The elastic strain energies before and after crack initiation are estimated by both numerical and analytical solutions. The energy released by cracking is then compared with the fracture energy to discuss crack initiation conditions. This leads to combined energy and stress conditions for crack initiation following Leguillon's theory. An approximate analytical solution is derived from a variational formulation of the porous elastic body equations. A cohesive zone model and finite element code are used to simulate crack propagation in an unsaturated porous body. This analysis shows that the energy criterion is reached before the stress criterion, and this can explain unstable crack propagation at the beginning. The approximate analytical solution allows predicting correctly the crack depth and opening in its initiation stage.     

正交各向异性岩体裂纹扩展的扩展有限元方法研究

石油开采和非常规天然气开采等领域经常遇到页岩、砂岩等沉积岩,这类岩石材料往往具有正交各向异性特征。采用扩展有限元方法研究了正交各向异性岩体裂纹扩展问题,并基于Matlab平台编写了数值计算程序Betaxfem2D。将由复变函数法得到的裂纹尖端渐进位移场作为裂尖位移增强函数,用相互作用积分法计算混合模式应力强度因子,采用修改后的最大周向拉应力扩展准则确定裂纹扩展方向。与传统有限元方法的对比表明,扩展有限元方法达到相同计算精度需要的自由度少,节省计算机时。分别采用扩展有限元程序和传统有限元程序模拟了岩石试件4点弯曲试验,二者所得结果一致。数值试验表明：随着正交材料坐标系与空间坐标系夹角α的增大,裂纹扩展方向角? 按照周期为? 的近似正弦函数的规律变化;保持剪切模量和泊松比不变时,正弦函数的值域随着弹性模量比值E1 /E2的减小而缩小,但相位基本保持不变;研究沉积岩断裂力学问题时,岩石的正交各向异性特征不可忽略。