Title: Influence of mesoscopic heterogeneity on macroscopic behaviour of rock failure of large-scale samples

Authors: Xiao Jing Feng; Dong Duan; Li Bin Liu

Addresses: Institute of Mining Technology, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030024, China ' Institute of Mining Technology, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030024, China ' Institute of Mining Technology, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030024, China

Abstract: Using RFPA soft code, influence of mesoscopic heterogeneity and randomness on behaviour of rock failure of large-scale samples is analysed. Results show that the failure of big-scale samples is manifested as brittle failure, even if the coefficient of homogeneity is 1, the curve after peak load has no gentle evidence, it is obviously different to the research results of smallscale samples. The comparative study when the coefficient of homogeneity m is respectively 1 and 5 shows that, when the coefficient of homogeneity is low, many cracks extending simultaneous and connecting mutually and finally a macroscopic transfixion crack is formed. When the coefficient of homogeneity is high, it extends according to single crack. The localisation phenomenon of failure is even obvious in large-scale samples with the increasing of coefficient of homogeneity, the stress stacking which formed in the cracks extending can easily cause sufficient failure in local area. With the increasing of sample size, the mechanical behaviour effect which caused by randomness can been decreased.

Keywords: failure localisation; large-scale samples; failure mechanisms; RFPA code; numerical simulation; Weibull distribution; mesoscopic randomness; mesoscopic heterogeneity; stress drop; nonlinear deformation; macroscopic behaviour; rock failure; brittle failure; stress stacking; cracks; cracking.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2012.051355

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2012 Vol.45 No.1/2/3/4, pp.228 - 238

Published online: 18 Sep 2014 *

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