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Explanation for fracture spacing in layered materials

Author

Listed:
  • T. Bai

    (Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences)

  • D. D. Pollard

    (Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences)

  • H. Gao

    (Stanford University)

Abstract

The spacing of opening-mode fractures in layered materials—such as certain sedimentary rocks and laminated engineering materials—is often proportional to the thickness of the fractured layer1,2,3,4. Experimental studies of this phenomenon1,5 show that the spacing initially decreases as extensional strain increases in the direction perpendicular to the fractures. But at a certain ratio of spacing to layer thickness, no new fractures form and the additional strain is accommodated by further opening of existing fractures: the spacing then simply scales with layer thickness, which is called fracture saturation5,6. This is in marked contrast to existing theories of fracture, such as the stress-transfer theory7,8, which predict that spacing should decrease with increasing strain ad infinitum. Recently9,10, two of us (T.B. and D.D.P.) have used a combination of numerical simulations and laboratory experiments to show that, with increasing applied stress, the normal stress acting between such fractures undergoes a transition from tensile to compressive, suggesting a cause for fracture saturation. Here we investigate the full stress distribution between such fractures, from which we derive an intuitive physical model of the process of fracture saturation. Such a model should find wide applicability, from geosciences11,12,13,14 to engineering1,2,6,15,16.

Suggested Citation

  • T. Bai & D. D. Pollard & H. Gao, 2000. "Explanation for fracture spacing in layered materials," Nature, Nature, vol. 403(6771), pages 753-756, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:403:y:2000:i:6771:d:10.1038_35001550
    DOI: 10.1038/35001550
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    Cited by:

    1. Qian Dang & Haiping Lin & Zhenglong Fan & Lu Ma & Qi Shao & Yujin Ji & Fangfang Zheng & Shize Geng & Shi-Ze Yang & Ningning Kong & Wenxiang Zhu & Youyong Li & Fan Liao & Xiaoqing Huang & Mingwang Shao, 2021. "Iridium metallene oxide for acidic oxygen evolution catalysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Yong Yuan & Changtai Zhou & Zhihe Wang & Jifang Du, 2018. "Joint Elasticity Effect on the Failure Behaviours of Rock Masses using a Discrete Element Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-14, November.
    3. Yongliang Wang & Nana Liu, 2022. "Dynamic Propagation and Shear Stress Disturbance of Multiple Hydraulic Fractures: Numerical Cases Study via Multi-Well Hydrofracturing Model with Varying Adjacent Spacings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-17, June.
    4. Baolin Xiong & Jia Sun & Yunmeng Zhao & Zhuangzhuang Wang & Zhiyuan Wang & Bo Chen, 2023. "Quantitative Identification of Cracks in Jointed Layered Rock Specimens under Uniaxial Compression," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-16, April.
    5. Xiaoyan Luo & Guoyan Zhao & Peng Xiao & Wengang Zhao, 2022. "Fracture Process and Failure Mode of Brazilian Discs with Cracks of Different Angles: A Numerical Study," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(24), pages 1-18, December.

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