ANALYSIS OF RECTANGULAR CRACKS SUBJECTED TO NON-UNIFORM LOADS IN LAYERED ROCKS

This paper analyzes the fracture mechanics of layered rocks by using the dual boundary element method (DBEM). The DBEM is based on the fundamental solutions of a layered medium. In analyzing crack problems in the layered media of an infinite extent, the DBEM degenerates into a discontinuous displacement method (DDM). In the DDM, only one crack surface is discretized, and the 9-noded continuous and discontinuous elements are used to discretize the crack surface. A rectangular crack subjected to non-uniform and compressive loads is analyzed. By using the discontinuous displacement values, the stress intensity factor (SIF) values are calculated and compared for rectangular cracks in layered rocks consisting of different rocks.