Mohr-Coulomb failure

Goal: To understand the relationships between stress, brittle failure, and

frictional faulting and to use this relationship to predict rock behavior

1. Review of principal stresses and introduction of shear stress and normal

stress

Stress resolved into three principal vectors at right angles to each

other 1, 2, and 3 where 1 2 3

1 is the maximum principal stress direction, 2 is the intermediate

principal stress direction, and 3 is the minimum principal stress
direction

We also define the differential stress (d) as (1 - 3)

The confining pressure is defined as 2 = 3 under compressive

stress and 2 = 1 under tensile stress

Lithostatic stress as static stress generated by mass of overlying

rocks

Lithostatic stress for a 1-m2 area = Gh

where:

= density of the overlying rocks

G = acceleration due to gravity

h = thickness of column of overlying rocks

For any plane with strike parallel with 2, stress is resolved into 2
components:

a. Shear stress (s), acting parallel with the plane

b. Normal stress (n), acting perpendicular to the plane

The stress components are related by:

a. s = (1 - 3)sin(2)
 b. n = (1 + 3) - (1 - 3)cos(2)

where is the angle between the plane and 1

2. Mohr diagram for stress

Relationship between 1, 3, s, and n is plotted graphically in

Cartesian coordinates where the y-axis = s and the x-axis = n, 1,
3, and d

The mohr circle for stress is a circle with diameter = d plotted on the
mohr diagram with its center on the n-axis at a point = (1 + 3)

3. For any plane with strike parallel with 2: s and n can be found using a
graphical construction if we know 1, 3, and

Plot a line from the center of the mohr circle to the edge of the circle
so that the line is at an angle 2 (clockwise) from the x-axis. By
definition, the length of this line = d

The intersection of this line with the circle defines a point whos y-
coordinate = s and whos x-coordinate = n on the plane

4. Coulombs failure criterion:

On a Mohr diagram, every homogeneous material has a

characteristic failure envelope for brittle shear fracturing

Combinations of s and n that plot outside of the envelope will result

in fracture. Those inside the envelope are stable.

Failure envelopes are derived experimentally. Rock samples are

placed in a piston rig with 1 > 2 = 3 (compressive stress) or 3 < 2
= 1 (tensile stress). 1 is increased, or 3 is decreased until the
sample fractures. Then, the sample is removed, the angle is
measured, and the results are plotted on a Mohr diagram. Hundreds
of these experiments will define the Coulomb failure envelope.
Describe this graphically on the board

Failure envelopes are parabolic in tensile stress and straight lines in

compressive stress
 Under compressive stress, the failure envelope at any point is defined
by the Coulomb law of failure

c = 0 + tan()n

where:
c = the critical shear stress, or the shear stress at failure
0 = the cohesive strength, or the s value on the failure envelope
where n = 0 (where failure envelope crosses the y-axis)
= the angle of internal friction. = 90-2

Tan() is known as the coefficient of internal friction

Most rocks have an angle of internal friction 30. Therefore, at

failure is also 30, even though s is greatest when = 45.

Can use the mohr circle and the Coulomb failure envelope to
determine if a given state of stress is stable for a given rock type
Describe this graphically on the board

5. Byerlees law and slip on pre-existing fractures

Pre-existing fractures have no cohesive strength. In other

words, 0 = 0

Failure envelopes for pre-existing fractures (envelope of sliding

friction) are also derived experimentally using same methodology
used to define Coulomb failure envelopes. Describe this
graphically on the board

Except: the envelope of sliding friction is almost the same for every
rock type.

The angle of sliding friction (f) is the angle between the failure
envelope and the x-axis

a. For low confining pressures, f 40

b. For medium-to-high confining pressures, f 35

Sliding envelope is described by Byerlees Law: c = tan(f)n

 Can use the mohr circle and Byerlees failure envelope to determine if
a given state of stress is stable for a given fracture orientation ()
Describe this graphically on the board

6. Effect of pore-fluid pressure on stress regime

Pore-fluid pressure (Pf) effectively reduces the stress equally in all

directions

We define the effective stresses (1eff, 2eff, and 3eff) as:

1eff = 1 - Pf
2eff = 2 - Pf
3eff = 3 - Pf

Note that 1eff - 3eff = 1 - 3 so that pore fluid pressure does not
change the differential stress, it only lowers the confining pressure

Increased pore fluid pressure moves the Mohr circle to the right,
closer to the failure envelopes.