Title of Paper:Study of the fracture process in heterogeneous materials around boreholes filled with expansion cement

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Date of Publication:2017-05-01

Journal:INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOLIDS AND STRUCTURES

Included Journals:SCIE、EI、Scopus

Volume:112

Page Number:1-15

ISSN No.:0020-7683

Key Words:Fracture process; Expansion cement; Numerical simulation; Heterogeneous materials

Abstract:A numerical model is proposed to study crack initiation, propagation and coalescence in heterogeneous materials subjected to expansion pressure in boreholes using the finite element method and damage mechanics. The strength heterogeneity of materials is modeled at the mesoscopic level using the Weibull distribution. Using this numerical model, the initiation and propagation of cracks generated by expansion cement in boreholes were simulated. The numerical simulations qualitatively reproduced the crack patterns in samples tested in laboratory experiments. Moreover, the results clarified the failure mechanisms and fracture processes, thereby contributing to a better understanding of fracture mechanisms in heterogeneous materials subjected to expansion pressure in boreholes. The numerical model allows direct observation of the entire process of crack initiation and growth to a degree that would be difficult to obtain in experimental studies. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.