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Numerical investigation of induced cracking and seismic velocity changes in brittle rock
Author(s) -
Hazzard James F.,
Young R. Paul
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2003gl019190
Subject(s) - brittleness , geology , hydrostatic equilibrium , perpendicular , cracking , geotechnical engineering , stress (linguistics) , seismic velocity , mechanics , materials science , seismology , composite material , geometry , physics , linguistics , philosophy , mathematics , quantum mechanics
A numerical technique is presented to investigate seismic velocity changes in brittle rock due to stress and damage. A rock sample is simulated by an assembly of bonded particles, which is then subjected to hydrostatic and deviatoric loading regimes. During hydrostatic loading, cracks close through formation of new contacts and velocities increase. During deviatoric loading, new cracks form by the breaking of bonds and velocities decrease in directions perpendicular to the opening cracks. The nature of the velocity changes mimics closely what is observed in the laboratory. The model offers the unique ability to examine directly the microprocesses leading to observed velocity changes.