CRACK-GROWTH IN BRITTLE SOLIDS UNDER COMPRESSION

The two-dimensional sliding crack model, which is motivated by the mic romechanics, is applied to examine the response of brittle materials t o compressive loads. The problem is treated numerically by means of a boundary element method (BEM) solving a singular integral equation for the dislocation density along the crack contour. The results are comp ared with experimental data and with more simplified models, illustrat ing the quality of the present approach. As an example, the model is a pplied to simulate the response of compact rock subjected to a load cy cle. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.