Fracture initiation in cavity expansion of rock

Initiation of fracture from a cylindrical opening in blocks of Berea sandstone under plane strain was monitored with a cavity expansion apparatus. Using the particle tracking technique called digital image correlation, a discontinuity in the displacement field near the cavity boundary was identified at 80% of the peak internal pressure, which meant that a process zone developed prior to peak. To investigate the effect of scaling on fracture, a...