Numerical Modelling of Hydraulic Fracturing in Rock Mass by Xfem

A numerical model based on the extended finite element method (XFEM) is developed to serve this purpose. The present approach involves several features of an effective numerical tool in modelling hydraulic fracturing: the generalized shape functions are used in a cluster of nodes around the cracks, whereas the conventional finite element shape functionsare applied outside the cracks; the ramp function is introduced to remove the blending...