Experience gained in modelling brittle fracture in rock

The importance of considering brittle fracture in rock engineering is being increasingly recognized, and considerable advances in the modelling of brittle fracture have occurred in recent years. In this paper we present selected case studies illustrating the application of a wide variety of brittle fracture modelling methods, including simple boundary element, distinct element approaches with Voronoi/Trigon tessellation, particle flow codes, hybrid finite-discrete element, and lattice spring approaches, in some case in both 2D and 3D. Based on our experience in using all the major methods of brittle fracture modelling and using selected case studies we compare and contrast the different approaches highlighting their practical advantages and limitations. Finally, we briefly summarize recent advances in brittle fracture modelling including the importance of three-dimensional kinematics, damage, water, and time dependency. Although challenges are often encountered in the use of brittle fracture models in rock engineering, the authors contend that observations of rock failure processes at all scales suggests that realistic rock engineering models must adequately consider brittle failure mechanisms.