Numerical models of shear fracture propagation

Bremaecker, J. Cl. De; Ferris, Michael C.

doi:10.1016/j.engfracmech.2003.12.006

Cited by 31 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Due to high density of fractures, the mechanical properties of the rock mass at these locations are so altered that a new paradigm is required to analyze the conditions leading to the growth of faults by linkage of neighboring segments and by enlargement of fault rock into the adjacent inner damage zone. Thus, this premise separates the present study from those using single linkage structure whether in opening, closing, or shearing modes in pristine rock within the context of the LEFM (see for example, Segall and Pollard, 1980;Aydin, 1993, 1995;Crider and Pollard, 1998;and De Bremaecker and Ferris, 2004). In this regard, the underlying reasoning in our approach is similar to that of the damage concept of Lyakhovsky and Ben Zion (2008) if the fracture density is a proxy for the damage parameter in their model.…”

mentioning

confidence: 78%

“…However, aside from a number of papers addressing 4 the stress state between neighboring faults and the type and orientation of the linkage structure (Segall and Pollard, 1980;Pollard and Segall, 1987;Aydin, 1993, 1995;Crider and Pollard, 1998;and De Bremaecker and Ferris, 2004), very little attention has been paid to quantification of the elastic parameters leading to the growth of the fault dimensions. To this end, there is only a handful of studies of the criteria for the linkage and coalescence of neighboring faults.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Analysis of the growth of strike-slip faults using effective medium theory

Aydin

Berryman

2010

Journal of Structural Geology

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Increases in the dimensions of strike-slip faults including fault length and thickness of fault rock and the surrounding damage zone collectively provide quantitative definition of fault growth and are commonly measured in terms of slip. A vast amount of field data shows that fault dimensions increase in some fashion as the slip across faults increases though these relationships may not be simple. The field observations also indicate that a common mechanism for fault growth in the brittle upper crust is fault lengthening by linkage and coalescence of neighboring fault segments or strands. In addition, the mechanism of fault zone widening is spreading of fault rock via cataclastic deformation into highly fractured inner damage zone. The most important underlying mechanical reason in both cases is prior weakening of the rocks surrounding a fault's core and between neighboring fault segments by fault-related fractures. Using field observations together with effective medium models, this paper attempts to constrain the reduction in the effective elastic properties of rock in terms of the orientation and density of the fault-related brittle fractures. Calculated and extrapolated values of the Young's and shear moduli for idealized fractured rock masses at fault steps and inner damage zones provide insight into the degree of strength degradation as a function of the angle between fracture sets and fracture density and how increasing fracture density may eventually facilitate fault growth via cataclastic deformation of fractured rock masses.

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confidence: 78%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of the growth of strike-slip faults using effective medium theory

Aydin

Berryman

2010

Journal of Structural Geology

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“…The 378 theory here is that the fault system with the least internal work will display the largest 379 amount of fault slip. DeBremaecker and Ferris (2004) show that maximum slip predicts the 380 orientation of wing--crack development at fault tips. Using analog experiments of 381 restraining bends, Cooke et al (2013) showed that the percentage of slip accommodated by 382 fault systems increases with the propagation of new faults as the system becomes more 383 15 efficient.…”

Section: Minimization Of Internal Work 330mentioning

confidence: 96%

Is the Earth Lazy? A review of work minimization in fault evolution

Cooke¹,

Madden²

2018

Preprint

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The principle of work minimization has been used in various forms to account for the development of active fault systems within a wide range of tectonic settings. We review the successes, challenges and implications learned from previous applications of work minimization. Examination of the energy budget provides insight into the competing influences of different processes within fault systems at a variety of scales. We present each work budget component with considerations for numerical implementation. Additionally, we demonstrate numerical implementation by solving for the energy budgets and finding the most efficient propagation paths of a joint and several faults. Consideration of the energy budget captures growth patterns that are consistent with both laboratory observations and theoretical predictions using the energy release rate, G. Unlike using G, work minimization is not limited to collinear growth. In comparison with predictions using Coulomb failure planes, work minimization eliminates uncertainty in predicting fault propagation by (1) evaluating the trade-off between tensile and shear failure ahead of the fault and (2) avoiding the ambiguity introduced by the two potential Coulomb failure planes. Application of work minimization to faulting demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach in predicting both the orientation and timing of fault propagation.

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“…The crack initiation, propagation and coalescence of jointed specimens with less than three open flaws under uniaxial or biaxial compression [7][8][9] have been investigated by many researchers. In these studies, both tensile and shear cracks have been observed [7][8][9][10][11]. Lajtai [12,13], tensile wing cracks were found to first appear at the tips of horizontal joints, followed by the secondary shear cracks propagating towards the opposite joint.…”

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confidence: 95%

Numerical Simulation of Shear Behaviour of Non- Persistent Joints under Low and High Normal Loads

Sarfarazi

Ghazvinian

Schubert³

2016

Period. Polytech. Civil Eng.

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In this paper, the effect of rock bridge surface on the shear behavior of planar non-persistent joints under low and high normal loads has been investigated using particle IntroductionThe shear sliding of non-persistent joints are important factors in controlling the mechanical behaviour of rock masses (Einstein [1], Wong [2]). As known, it is difficult and costly to perform field tests to investigate the mechanical behavior of jointed rock masses. Therefore, laboratory tests are commonly conducted to study the influence of joint geometry configurations on the mechanical behavior of jointed blocks [3][4][5][6]. The crack initiation, propagation and coalescence of jointed specimens with less than three open flaws under uniaxial or biaxial compression [7][8][9] have been investigated by many researchers. In these studies, both tensile and shear cracks have been observed [7][8][9][10][11]. Lajtai [12,13], tensile wing cracks were found to first appear at the tips of horizontal joints, followed by the secondary shear cracks propagating towards the opposite joint. Mughieda et al. [14] made a thorough analysis on the Fracture mechanisms of offset rock joints. Gehle and Kutter's [15] investigation on the breakage and shear behaviour of intermittent rock joints under direct shear loading condition showed that joint orientation is an important influential parameter for shear resistance of jointed rock.In laboratory tests, it is difficult to measure the failure mechanism of rock bridge during the loading process. Numerical simulation is another common approach that has been used to investigate the failure mechanism and the mechanical behavior of non-persistent joints using techniques such as the finite element method, realistic failure processing analysis, particle flow code), displacement discontinuity method, boundary element method, distinct element method, and a hybridized indirect boundary element method) [16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. Particle flow code, a distinct element method first induced by Cundall and stark [23], models the mechanical behavior of rock and soils. The materials are envisioned as an assembly comprised of arbitrary spherical particles (in 3D case) or circular disks (in 2D case) in the PFC program. Kulattilake et al [24] were the pioneers in providing a realistic calibration procedure for micro-mechanical parameters of PFC3D for a contact bonded particle model. They also established a jointed rock model by using closed flaws and investigated the relation between micro-parameters and macro-

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Numerical models of shear fracture propagation

Cited by 31 publications

References 34 publications

Analysis of the growth of strike-slip faults using effective medium theory

Analysis of the growth of strike-slip faults using effective medium theory

Is the Earth Lazy? A review of work minimization in fault evolution

Numerical Simulation of Shear Behaviour of Non- Persistent Joints under Low and High Normal Loads

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