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Three-Dimensional Numerical Simulation on Triaxial Failure Mechanical Behavior of Rock-Like Specimen Containing Two Unparallel Fissures

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Abstract

A three-dimensional particle flow code (PFC3D) was used for a systematic numerical simulation of the strength failure and cracking behavior of rock-like material specimens containing two unparallel fissures under conventional triaxial compression. The micro-parameters of the parallel bond model were first calibrated using the laboratory results of intact specimens and then validated from the experimental results of pre-fissured specimens under triaxial compression. Numerically simulated stress–strain curves, strength and deformation parameters and macro-failure modes of pre-fissured specimens were all in good agreement with the experimental results. The relationship between stress and the micro-crack numbers was summarized. Crack initiation, propagation and coalescence process of pre-fissured specimens were analyzed in detail. Finally, horizontal and vertical cross sections of numerical specimens were derived from PFC3D. A detailed analysis to reveal the internal damage behavior of rock under triaxial compression was carried out. The experimental and simulated results are expected to improve the understanding of the strength failure and cracking behavior of fractured rock under triaxial compression.

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Acknowledgments

The research was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province for Distinguished Young Scholars (BK20150005) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2014YC10). We would also like to acknowledge the editor Giovanni Barla and the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments, which have greatly improved this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, People’s Republic of China

    Yan-Hua Huang & Sheng-Qi Yang

  2. Deep Earth Energy Research Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia

    Jian Zhao

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  1. Yan-Hua Huang
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  2. Sheng-Qi Yang
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  3. Jian Zhao
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Correspondence to Sheng-Qi Yang.

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Huang, YH., Yang, SQ. & Zhao, J. Three-Dimensional Numerical Simulation on Triaxial Failure Mechanical Behavior of Rock-Like Specimen Containing Two Unparallel Fissures. Rock Mech Rock Eng 49, 4711–4729 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-016-1081-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-016-1081-2

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