PFC simulation of crack evolution and energy conversion during basalt failure process

Abstract

Rock failure is an important phenomenon associated with crack propagation and energy conversion. In this paper, the uniaxial compression test of basalt is performed and acoustic emission (AE) activity is monitored throughout the process. The fracture characteristics and evolution of an internal crack in basalt are analyzed in detail with the obtained experimental data. A parallel bonding model is proposed in this study to investigate the failure of basalt subjected to uniaxial compression. The microscopic properties of particles and bonds in the model are calibrated against the results of mechanical behavior measured through physical experiments. We investigated the crack types and statistics of crack number by using a fish program in Particle Flow Code (PFC) under uniaxial compression. Meanwhile, the discrete element computational model monitored the information of energy upon each bond breakage during the loading process. All the numerical and test results are presented in graphs and discussed in detail. The PFC can accurately reproduce the crack propagation, failure patterns and energy conversion of basalt on a microscopic scale, which may not be monitored in the actual test.