Mathematical Model of Fan-Head Shear Rupture Mechanism

Abstract:

Today frictional shear resistance along pre-existing ruptures (faults) is considered as the lower limit on rock shear strength for confined conditions. The paper proposes a mathematical model of recently identified shear rupture mechanism which can provide propagation of faults through the highly confined intact rock mass at shear stress levels significantly less than frictional strength of pre-existing faults. The model demonstrates that due to the self-unbalancing structure of the rupture head, representing the core of this mechanism, the failure process caused by the mechanism is always spontaneous and violent. It allows a novel point of view for understanding the nature of spontaneous failure processes including earthquakes.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volumes 592-593)
• Pages: 121-124
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.592-593.121
• Online since: November 2013
• Authors: Boris Tarasov*, Mikhail A. Guzev
• Keywords: Conditions of Instability, Mathematical Models, Shear Rupture Mechanism, Structure of Shear Rupture

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