A nonlinear rheological damage model of hard rock

Abstract

By adopting cyclic increment loading and unloading method, time-independent and time-dependent strains can be separated. It is more reasonable to describe the reversible and the irreversible deformations of sample separately during creep process. A nonlinear elastic-visco-plastic rheological model is presented to characterize the time-based deformational behavior of hard rock. Specifically, a spring element is used to describe reversible instantaneous elastic deformation. A reversible nonlinear visco-elastic (RNVE) model is developed to characterize recoverable visco-elastic response. A combined model, which contains a fractional derivative dashpot in series with another Hook’s body, and a St. Venant body in parallel with them, is proposed to describe irreversible visco-plastic deformation. Furthermore, a three-stage damage equation based on strain energy is developed in the visco-plastic portion and then nonlinear elastic-visco-plastic rheological damage model is established to explain the trimodal creep response of hard rock. Finally, the proposed model is validated by a laboratory triaxial rheological experiment. Comparing with theoretical and experimental results, this rheological damage model characterizes well the reversible and irreversible deformations of the sample, especially the tertiary creep behavior.