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Slippage and re‐initiation of (hydraulic) fractures at frictional interfaces
Author(s) -
Lam K. Y.,
Cleary M. P.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
international journal for numerical and analytical methods in geomechanics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.419
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1096-9853
pISSN - 0363-9061
DOI - 10.1002/nag.1610080607
Subject(s) - slippage , slip (aerodynamics) , homogeneous , geology , fracture (geology) , computation , mechanics , mechanism (biology) , geotechnical engineering , interface (matter) , stress (linguistics) , stratum , structural engineering , materials science , computer science , engineering , statistical physics , physics , linguistics , philosophy , bubble , algorithm , quantum mechanics , maximum bubble pressure method , aerospace engineering
The analysis of mechanisms which could control the growth of fractures in non‐homogeneous regions is of paramount importance. One such mechanism is the behavior of the fracture as it reaches a frictional interface; coupled with this is the question of re‐initiation, e.g. whether a fracture can be contained within the region of initiation. Though the problems of slippage have been dealt with by other investigators, the present paper gives a more comprehensive picture and detailed treatment: effects of various frictional models at an interface are considered for a crack which intersects it at any angle; specialization then allows comparison with existing results in the literature. The problem of re‐initiation, after slippage has occurred at a frictional interface, is also considered, using two different models. First, by introducing microcracks in the adjacent stratum and looking at the effects on propagation criteria and, secondly, by examining the actual distribution of the stress tangential to the slip surface; detailed computations are performed and a simple criterion for re‐initiation is given, relating the re‐initiation stress dominantly to the confining stress on the interface.