Phase-field modeling of rock fractures with roughness

Phase-field modeling-a continuous approach to discontinuities-is gaining popularity for simulating rock fractures due to its ability to handle complex, discontinuous geometry without an explicit surface tracking algorithm. None of the existing phase-field models, however, incorporates the impact of surface roughness on the mechanical response of fractures-such as elastic deformability and shear-induced dilation-despite the importance of this behavior for subsurface systems. To fill this gap, here we introduce the first framework for phase-field modeling of rough rock fractures. The framework transforms a displacement-jump-based discrete constitutive model for discontinuities into a strain-based continuous model, without any additional parameter, and then casts it into a phase-field formulation for frictional interfaces. We illustrate the framework by constructing a particular phase-field form employing a rock joint model originally formulated for discrete modeling. The results obtained by the new formulation show excellent agreement with those of a well-established discrete method for a variety of problems ranging from shearing of a single discontinuity to compression of fractured rocks. It is further demonstrated that the phase-field formulation can well simulate complex crack growth from rough discontinuities. Consequently, our phase-field framework provides an unprecedented bridge between a discrete constitutive model for rough discontinuities-common in rock mechanics-and the continuous finite element method-standard in computational mechanics-without any algorithm to explicitly represent discontinuity geometry.

Automated summary

Phase-field modeling is a continuous approach used for simulating rock fractures, which can handle complex, discontinuous geometry without explicit surface tracking algorithms. However, current phase-field models do not consider the impact of surface roughness on the mechanical response of fractures, despite its importance for subsurface systems. To address this, we introduce the first framework for phase-field modeling of rough rock fractures, which can simulate complex crack growth from rough discontinuities.