Numerical Simulation of Granite Plates Containing a Cylindrical Opening in Compression

In this paper, a numerical investigation of uniaxial compressive tests on prismatic specimens with single cylindrical pre-existing cavities in brittle rock is performed. To investigate the rock fracture around cavities and to assess the potential of the numerical model to simulate this behaviour, published laboratorial physical models on granite are simulated numerically with a Bonded-Particles Model (BPM) by using a distinct elements code. The numerical models are presented and the calibration of the BPM micro-parameters is described. Then, the calibrated numerical models are used to investigate the potential of the BPMs to simulate the fracture initiation and propagation of the physical specimens. It is concluded that the laboratory and the numerical observations are in good agreement.