An interacting crack-mechanics based model for elastoplastic damage model of rock-like materials under compression

A micro-mechanical elastoplastic damage model for rock-like materials under compressive loading is proposed based on the growth of pre-existing flaws. Interaction among the cracks is included through the self-consistent approach. The evolution of damage is quantified by the spatial flaw density and the density of the quasi-static spherical region, enclosing the flaw and its wings. The flaw density is defined by the absolute volume strain in the two-parameter Weibull statistical model. Mixed-mode fracture model is adopted to calculate the wing crack length by the strain energy density (SED) criterion. Drucker-Prager yield criterion and Voyiadjis' strain hardening function under compression are employed to represent the equivalent plastic behavior of such materials. This self-consistent scheme is implemented numerically with an implicit updated and a prediction-correction decomposition. Numerical simulations are carried out, and the factors of friction coefficient, confining pressure and initial flaw size are analyzed. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.