Numerical Simulation on Tensile Failure of Rock-Like Heterogeneous Material Using a Modified SPH Method.

A modified smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method is applied to simulate the dynamic tensile failure of rock-like heterogeneous materials. The material heterogeneities are represented by different mechanical properties with a Weibull distribution at different particles over the specimen. An elasto-plastic-damage model is adopted to simulate material failure. Numerical simulations are performed for three specimens with different degrees of heterogeneity under quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions, respectively. The effects of strength criterion coefficient on the predicted tensile strength are also discussed. Results show that the material heterogeneity has significant effect on the dynamic tensile failure, especially at a higher strain rate loading condition. At a lower strain rate, the failure mode of heterogeneous material is very much similar to that of homogeneous materials. At a higher strain rate, plenty of micro cracks occur forming a failure band in the tension zones. Moreover, the value of strength criterion coefficient has a considerable influence on the tensile strength under a higher loading rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]