Cross-Crack Interaction and Initiation Mechanism Under Hydro-Mechanical Coupling

In this paper, the equation for computing the maximum Stress Intensity Factor (SIF) of cross-crack under hydraulic-mechanical coupling was derived by the dislocation method and the integral equation, and the influence of cross-crack geometric parameters (branch-crack length, pinch angle, inclination angle) on the interacting SIF was analyzed, and its influence law was obtained. Using the maximum shear and tensile SIF ratio criterion as a basis, the fracture criterion of hydraulic-mechanical coupling cross-crack was established, and the initiation process of hydraulic-mechanical coupled red sandstone cross-crack was predicted (including the cross-crack initiation angle, initiation load, and initiation mechanism). Results showed that for cross-crack with the inclination angle fixed ([Formula: see text]), [Formula: see text] of crack tip C decreases slowly. For cross-crack with change of [Formula: see text]. [Formula: see text] of crack tip A increases, and crack tip C decreases with [Formula: see text]. For the cross-crack hydraulic-mechanical coupling test, as the cross-crack angle [Formula: see text] grows, the fracture initiation stress first reduces before increasing. Initiation mechanisms are Mode I fracture and initiation angles are usually negative. The hydraulic-mechanical coupling cross-crack initiation criterion is validated by the experimental findings, which align with the expected outcomes.