Phase field modelling of crack propagation, branching and coalescence in rocks

authored by: Shuwei Zhou, Xiaoying Zhuang, Hehua Zhu, Timon Rabczuk
Abstract: We present a phase field model (PFM) for simulating complex crack patterns including crack propagation, branching and coalescence in rock. The phase field model is implemented in COMSOL and is based on the strain decomposition for the elastic energy, which drives the evolution of the phase field. Then, numerical simulations of notched semi-circular bend (NSCB) tests and Brazil splitting tests are performed. Subsequently, crack propagation and coalescence in rock plates with multiple echelon flaws and twenty parallel flaws are studied. Finally, complex crack patterns are presented for a plate subjected to increasing internal pressure, the (3D) Pertersson beam and a 3D NSCB test. All results are in good agreement with previous experimental and numerical results.
Organisation(s): Institute of Continuum Mechanics
External Organisation(s): Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
Tongji University
Ton Duc Thang University
Type: Article
Journal: Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics
Volume: 96
Pages: 174-192
No. of pages: 19
ISSN: 0167-8442
Publication date: 08.2018
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: General Materials Science, Condensed Matter Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mathematics
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.1902.06686 (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tafmec.2018.04.011 (Access: Closed)
: Details in the research portal "Research@Leibniz University"

BibTeX

@article{d483bca0b3b34d92b7bae066b2e6a6a2,
title = "Phase field modelling of crack propagation, branching and coalescence in rocks",
abstract = "We present a phase field model (PFM) for simulating complex crack patterns including crack propagation, branching and coalescence in rock. The phase field model is implemented in COMSOL and is based on the strain decomposition for the elastic energy, which drives the evolution of the phase field. Then, numerical simulations of notched semi-circular bend (NSCB) tests and Brazil splitting tests are performed. Subsequently, crack propagation and coalescence in rock plates with multiple echelon flaws and twenty parallel flaws are studied. Finally, complex crack patterns are presented for a plate subjected to increasing internal pressure, the (3D) Pertersson beam and a 3D NSCB test. All results are in good agreement with previous experimental and numerical results.",
keywords = "COMSOL, Crack branching, Crack propagation, Phase field, Rock",
author = "Shuwei Zhou and Xiaoying Zhuang and Hehua Zhu and Timon Rabczuk",
note = "Funding information: The financial support provided by the Sino-German (CSC-DAAD) Postdoc Scholarship Program 2016 , the Natural Science Foundation of China ( 51474157 ), and RISE-project BESTOFRAC ( 734370 ) is gratefully acknowledged.",
year = "2018",
month = aug,
doi = "10.48550/arXiv.1902.06686",
language = "English",
volume = "96",
pages = "174--192",
journal = "Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics",
issn = "0167-8442",
publisher = "Elsevier",
}