The mechanism of fracture coalescence in pre-cracked rock-type material with three flaws

This paper presents numerical results from an investigation of the mechanism of coalescing patterns in a rock-type material with three flaws whose arrangements are different under uniaxial compression. The numerical experiments are conducted through the parallelized peridynamics code coupled with the finite element method, which is capable of capturing more realistic fracturing behaviors. Under the effect of various bridging angles, the process of initiation, propagation, and coalescence of new cracks is discussed. In addition, coalescing behaviors affected by the interaction of newly growing cracks are observed along with various flaw arrangements. Several types of coalescence occur due to the interaction of wing cracks, horsetail shear cracks, and anti-wing cracks and the extension of central tensile crack segment, and these results are compared with experimental results. Furthermore, by comparing coalescence types and corresponding flaw arrangements, the coalescence mechanisms are discussed in detail toward the end of the paper.