Numerical evaluation of effective moduli in brittle rocks with multiple interacting cracks

The paper deals with a numerical investigation on effective moduli of brittle materials weakened by random or non random microcracks distribution. The study is based on a suitable adaptation of the displacement discontinuity method. Various aspects of size, orientation and location are examined. For tension loading (open cracks), the obtained results show good agreements with the classical non interacting cracks approximation. Comparisons with some non random configurations are also presented. In the case of compressive loading, many cracks are closed. A special iterative algoritm for sliding frictionnal cracks is therefore used. The effective moduli in this case show large anisotropic. Finally, interaction effects between axial microcracks are evaluated.