*Correspondence: Shigekazu Kusumoto, Graduate School of Science and Engineering for Research, University of Toyama, 3190 Gofuku, Toyama-shi, Toyama 930-8555, Japan e-mail: [email protected] Many rock fractures are entirely driven open by fluids such as ground water, geothermal water, gas, oil, and magma. These are a subset of extension fractures (mode I cracks; e.g., dikes, mineral veins ...

Traction–separation relations can be used to represent the adhesive interactions of a bimaterial interface during fracture. In this paper, a direct method is proposed to determinemixed-mode traction– separation relations based on a combination of global and local measurements including load-displacement, crack extension, crack tip opening displacement, and fracture resistance curves. Mixed-mode...

Numerical aspects of the grain level micromechanical model presented in part I are discussed in this study. They include, an examination of solution convergence in the context of cohesive elements used as an approach to model crack initiation and propagation; performance of parametric studies to assess the role of grain boundary strength and toughness, and their stochasticity, on damage initiat...