Two-Dimensional Mode I Crack Propagation in Saturated Ionized Porous Media Using Partition of Unity Finite Elements

Abstract

Shales, clays, hydrogels, and tissues swell and shrink under changing osmotic conditions, which may lead to failure. The relationship between the presence of cracks and fluid flow has had little attention. The relationship between failure and osmotic conditions has had even less attention. The aim of this research is to study the effect of osmotic conditions on propagating discontinuities under different types of loads for saturated ionized porous media using the finite element method (FEM). Discontinuous functions are introduced in the shape functions of the FEM by partition of unity method, independently of the underlying mesh. Damage ahead of the crack-tip is introduced by a cohesive zone model. Tensile loading of a crack in an osmoelastic medium results in opening of the crack and high pressure gradients between the crack and the formation. The fluid flow in the crack is approximated by Couette flow. Results show that failure behavior depends highly on the load, permeability, (osmotic) prestress and the stiffness of the material. In some cases it is seen that when the crack propagation initiates, fluid is attracted to the crack-tip from the crack rather than from the surrounding medium causing the crack to close. The results show reasonable mesh-independent crack propagation for materials with a high stiffness. Stepwise crack propagation through the medium is seen due to consolidation, i.e., crack propagation alternates with pauses in which the fluid redistributes. This physical phenomenon challenges the numerical scheme. Furthermore, propagation is shown to depend on the osmotic prestressing of the medium. This mechanism may explain the tears observed in intervertebral disks as degeneration progresses.