Numerical investigation of the mechanical behaviour of Tournemire argillite

Abstract of the technical paper/presentation presented at:
ISRM 13th International Congress on Rock Mechanics

Date: May 10-13, 2015

Prepared by:
G. Su, T.S. Nguyen
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Ehsan Haghighat, Stanislaw Pietruszczak

Abstract:

In this paper, the mechanical properties of the Tournemire argillite are modeled using a mathematical framework that employs the microstructure tensor approach (Pietruszczak & Mroz, 2000). The experimental data incorporates the results of a series of triaxial tests (Abdi & Evgin, 2013) conducted at a different orientation of bedding planes relative to the direction of loading. First, a plasticity framework is presented which involves the specification of the conditions at failure, as well as the description of the irreversible deformation process. Later, a systematic procedure is outlined for identification of the material functions/parameters involved. The paper concludes with the results of numerical simulations of the triaxial tests. It is demonstrated that the model can adequately reproduce the primary effects of anisotropy in the stable deformation regime as well as the onset of fracture.

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