Influence of intermediate principal stress on failure mechanism of hard rock with a pre-existing circular opening

Based on particle flow theory, the influences of the magnitude and direction of the intermediate principal stress on failure mechanism of hard rock with a pre-existing circular opening were studied by carrying out true triaxial tests on siltstone specimen. It is shown that peak strength of siltstone specimen increases firstly and subsequently decreases with the increase of the intermediate principal stress. And its turning point is related to the minimum principal stress and the direction of the intermediate principal stress. Failure characteristic(brittleness or ductility) of siltstone is determined by the minimum principal stress and the difference between the intermediate and minimum principal stress. The intermediate principal stress has a significant effect on the types and distributions of microcracks. The failure modes of the specimen are determined by the magnitude and direction of the intermediate principal stress, and related to weakening effect of the opening and inhibition effect of confining pressure in essence: when weakening effect of the opening is greater than inhibition effect of confining pressure, the failure surface is parallel to the x axis(such as σ2=σ3=0 MPa); conversely, the failure surface is parallel to the z axis(such as σ2=20 MPa, σ3=0 MPa).

Three-dimensional FDEM numerical simulation of failure processes observed in Opalinus Clay laboratory samples

This study presents the first step of a research project that aims at using a three-dimensional （3D） hybridfinite-discrete element method （FDEM） to investigate the development of an excavation damaged zone（EDZ） around tunnels in a clay shale formation known as Opalinus Clay. The 3D FDEM was first calibratedagainst standard laboratory experiments, including Brazilian disc test and uniaxial compression test. Theeffect of increasing confining pressure on the mechanical response and fracture propagation of the rockwas quantified under triaxial compression tests. Polyaxial （or true triaxial） simulations highlighted theeffect of the intermediate principal stress （s2） on fracture directions in the model： as the intermediateprincipal stress increased, fractures tended to align in the direction parallel to the plane defined by themajor and intermediate principal stresses. The peak strength was also shown to vary with changing s2. 2014 Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Production and hosting byElsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Arc-length technique for nonlinear finite element analysis

Nonlinear solution of reinforced concrete structures, particularly complete load-deflection response, requires tracing of the equilibrium path and proper treatment of the limit and bifurcation points. In this regard, ordinary solution techniques lead to instability near the limit points and also have problems in case of snap-through and snap-back. Thus they fail to predict the complete load-displacement response. The arc-length method serves the purpose well in principle, received wide acceptance in finite element analysis, and has been used extensively. However modifications to the basic idea are vital to meet the particular needs of the analysis. This paper reviews some of the recent developments of the method in the last two decades, with particular emphasis on nonlinear finite element analysis of reinforced concrete structures.