Crack Initiation Criteria and Fracture Simulation for Precracked Sandstones

The friction coefficient, tip curvature, and different-width crack state influence the stress intensity factor (SIF). The maximum circumferential tensile stress (MTS) and minimum strain energy density criterion (S) face challenges in explaining the mode-II fracture propagation of cracks. The maximum radial shear stress (MSS) and modified twin shear stress factor (ITS) criteria are proposed as the brittle mode-II fracture criteria. The experiments and numerical analysis are also performed. The results indicate that the fracture angles of the MSS and ITS were similar and different from the results of MTS and S. The equivalent stress intensity factors (ESIFs) from the mixed mode I-II are proposed to determine the fracture mode. There are different fracture models for different cracks under tensile and compressive stresses. The ratio of the tensile strength to uniaxial compressive strength influenced the fracture angle of ITS. The lateral pressure coefficient (k) had a significant effect on the mode-II fracture angle when the angle between the crack and the vertical direction is less than 40° and the lateral pressure coefficient is more than 0. Because the same fracture mode k (k > 0) can inhibit mode-I fracturing, conversely, it can also promote mode-I fracturing. Experimental results and numerical simulations of fracture propagation under uniaxial compression confirmed that the theoretical results were correct.