Skip to main content
Earth, Planets and Space
Download PDF

Numerical simulation of rock fracture using three-dimensional extended discrete element method

Earth, Planets and Space volume 54, pages 367–378 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

We perform three-dimensional numerical simulation of rock fracturing under uniaxial compression by extending the discrete element method (DEM). Rock sample is modeled as an assemblage of about four thousand spheres having the same radius. Each element satisfies equations of motion for both translation and rotation. In extension of the DEM, we assume cohesion between elements and constrained rotation of the elements; these assumptions are required to treat the continuum by the DEM. We study two cases of uniaxial compression tests: A homogeneous sample having an equal cohesion force between elements and heterogeneous sample having weak parts of cohesion in one percent of the total number of the bonds of elements. We present the detail of fracturing process of model rock samples and obtain stress-strain curve for each case. The homogeneous sample shows a cone-shaped fault system, whereas the heterogeneous sample shows complex fault system consisting of major and sub faults. We find that the inner stress and rotation of elements show the negative correlation during fracturing process. The results are in good agreement with both experimental and theoretical results.

References

  • Bird, P. and X. Kong, Computer simulations of California tectonics confirm very low strength of major faults, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 106, 159–174, 1994.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bordia, S. K., The effects of size and stress concentration on the dilatancyand fracture of rock, Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 8, 629–640, 1971.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cundall, P. A. and O. D. L. Strack, A discrete numerical model for granular assemblies, Geotechnique, 29, 47–65, 1979.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donzé, F., P. Mora, and S. A. Magnier, Numerical simulation of faults and shear zones, Geophys. J. Int., 116, 46–52, 1994.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkes, I. and M. Mellor, Uniaxial testing in rock mechanics laboratories, Eng. Geol., 4, 177–285, 1970.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holland, D. and M. Marder, Ideal brittle fracture of silicon studied with molecular dynamics, Phys. Rev. Lett., 80, 746–749, 1998.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iwashita, K. and M. Oda, Rolling resistance at contacts in simulation of shear band development by DEM, J. Engrg. Mech., ASCE124(3), 285–292, 1998.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knott, J. F., Fundamentals of Fracture Mechanics, 273 pp., Butterworth, London, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lama, R. D., Elasticity and strength of coal seams in situ and an attempt to determine the energy in pressure bursting of roadsides, D. Sc. Tech. Thesis, Faculty of Mining, Academy of Min. & Metall., Cracow, Poland, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mora, P. and D. Place, Numerical simulation of earthquake faults with gouge: toward a comprehensive explanation for the heat flow paradox, J. Geophys. Res., 103(B9), 21067–21089, 1998.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paterson, M. S., Experimental Rock Deformation—the Brittle Field, 254 pp., Springer–Verlag, Berlin, 1978.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Place, D. and P. Mora, The lattice solid model to simulate the physics of rocks and earthquakes: Incorporation of friction, J. Comp. Phys., 150, 373–393, 1999.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scholz, C. H., The Mechanics of Earthquakes and Faulting, 439 pp., Cambridge Univ. Press, New York, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, D. R., Seismicity and stress rotation in a granular model of the brittle crust, Nature, 381, 592–595, 1996.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tuckerman, M., B. J. Berne, and G. J. Martya, Reversible multiple time scale molecular dynamics, J. Chem. Phys., 97, 1990–2001, 1992.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vutukuri, V. S., R. D. Lama, and S. S. Saluja, Handbook on Mechanical Properties of Rocks: Testing Techniques and Results, 300 pp., Trans Tech Publications, Clausthal, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wawersik, W. R. and W. F. Brace, Post-failure behavior of a granite and a diabase, Rock Mech., 3, 61–85, 1971.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weertman, J., Dislocation Based Fracture Mechanics, 524 pp., World Scientific, Singapore, 1996.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, Z., A. Machida, and D. Gao, Development of mixed finite element method for composite discontinuous analysis, J. Geotech. Engrg., 598(I–44), 149–159, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Planetary Systems Science, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8526, Japan

    Yuya Matsuda

  2. Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, School of Applied Sciences, National Defense Academy, 1-10-20 Hashirimizu, Yokosuka, 239-8686, Japan

    Yasuyuki Iwase

Authors
  1. Yuya Matsuda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yasuyuki Iwase
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yuya Matsuda.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Matsuda, Y., Iwase, Y. Numerical simulation of rock fracture using three-dimensional extended discrete element method. Earth Planet Sp 54, 367–378 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352426

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352426

Keywords

  • Uniaxial Compression
  • Discrete Element Method
  • Mora
  • Rock Fracture
  • Uniaxial Compression Test