Abstract
This paper presents a relation between the fracture energy of rocks and the fractal dimension of multiple crack distributions. Firstly, we have developed a method for determining the grain scale strength distribution in order to characterize the inhomogeneity in rocks. The method has shown that the microscopic strength distribution can be described by the Weibull function. Secondly, numerical analyses using a network model were carried out to simulate the multiple cracking behavior in fracture toughness specimens. It is demonstrated that the multiple crack pattern formed in the fracture toughness specimens exhibits a fractal distribution and the fractal dimension of crack length-frequency distributions depends on the microscopic strength distribution. Fracture toughness tests conducted on lidate granite and Tohoku marble confirm the above numerical results. The network model reveals that the fracture energy consumed in the microcrack region correlates positively with the fractal dimension.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-23 |
| Number of pages | 23 |
| Journal | Geothermal Science and Technology |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue number | 1-4 |
| Publication status | Published - 1999 |
Keywords
- Acoustic emission
- Fractal dimension
- Fracture
- Microcrack
- Network model
- Rock
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Water Science and Technology
- Ocean Engineering
- Management of Technology and Innovation