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arXiv · 2107.08783

A simplified modelling of hydraulic fractures in elasto-plastic materials

Michal Wrobel·Panos Papanastasiou·Daniel Peck
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Abstract

In this paper the problem of a plane strain hydraulic fracture propagating in an elasto-plastic material is analyzed. A new stress redistribution model for the proximity of the fracture tip is formulated and a resulting plasticity-dependent crack propagation condition is introduced. A modified variant of the KGD problem that accounts for the plastic deformations in the near-tip zone only is proposed. It is demonstrated that this model can be a credible substitute for the full elasto-plastic hydraulic fracture problem in the case of moderate plastic deformation. The crack-tip shielding effect introduced by the plastic deformation is quantified.

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Michal Wrobel, Panos Papanastasiou, Daniel Peck. 2021-07-02. A simplified modelling of hydraulic fractures in elasto-plastic materials. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10704-021-00608-w

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