Analysis of the First Cracks Generating Between Two Holes Under Incremental Static Loading with an Innovation Method by Numerical Modelling

Abstract

The application of Non-Explosive Expansion Materials (NEEM) has recently been increased in hard rock quarry mining, especially in granitic rocks. The most important mention in the quarry mining methods is determination of hole pattern, because it relates to cost of exploitation of the rock blocks, directly. It needs to predict the rock fracture process which it depends on the length of the first cracks and the growing to join together. A new algorithm has been suggested to evaluate of the first crack length by the linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) theory. It requires determining a stress concentration factor which an experimental model has been utilized. A case study has been selected to verify of the numerical results which it is a granite mine in Iran. Numerical modeling has been applied to illustrate of rock fracture process and crack path and the results showed if the size of elements near the crack tip equal to grain size of the rock material or the ratio of the element length per diameter of the hole is selected about one per fifty, accuracy of the crack path prediction can be acceptable. On the other hand selection of an adequate rock slip criterion for crack planes is important, because of friction between two planes of a crack, plays an important role to predict of the crack growth. Also this research showed that Mohr-Coulomb criterion without cohesion is a suitable model for crack's elements and Hoek-Brown failure criterion is an adequate model for rock substance.