Abstract
We developed a generalized multiphase-field modeling framework for addressing the problem of brittle fracture propagation in quartz sandstones at microscopic length scale. Within this numerical approach, the grain boundaries and crack surfaces are modeled as diffuse interfaces. The two novel aspects of the model are the formulations of (I) anisotropic crack resistance in order to account for preferential cleavage planes within each randomly oriented quartz grain and (II) reduced interfacial crack resistance for incorporating lower fracture toughness along the grain boundaries that might result in intergranular crack propagation. The presented model is capable of simulating the competition between inter- and transgranular modes of fracturing based on the nature of grain boundaries, while exhibiting preferred fracturing directions within each grain. In the full parameter space, the model can serve as a powerful tool to investigate the complicated fracturing processes in heterogeneous polycrystalline rocks comprising of grains of distinct elastic properties, cleavage planes, and grain boundary attributes. We demonstrate the performance of the model through the representative numerical examples.
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Funding
Open Access funding provided by Projekt DEAL. This study is financially supported by the Helmholtz Association through the program “Renewable Energies (RE),” efficient use of geothermal energy 35.14.01. Furthermore, contributions of modeling aspects have been incorporated from the progress within the projects NE822/34-1 funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and “Kooperatives Promotionskolleg” funded by the Ministry of Baden–Wuerttemberg.
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Nishant Prajapati, Christoph Herrmann, and Michael Späth have contributed equally to this work.
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Prajapati, N., Herrmann, C., Späth, M. et al. Brittle anisotropic fracture propagation in quartz sandstone: insights from phase-field simulations. Comput Geosci 24, 1361–1376 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10596-020-09956-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10596-020-09956-3