Modeling cracking behavior of rock mass containing inclusions using the enriched numerical manifold method

In this study, the effects of weak and stiff circular inclusions on the overall mechanical behavior, in particular the cracking processes (crack initiation, propagation and coalescence) of a rectangular rock mass under uniaxial compression are investigated. The enriched method, which has been adopted by XFEM to treat the material interfaces, is incorporated into the numerical manifold method (NMM). By incorporating the modified Mohr–Coulomb crack initiation criterion and the crack evolution techniques, the cracking processes of specimens containing either one or two inclusions are successfully modeled by the developed NMM. Comparing the simulation and physical test results, the feasibility of the enriched method in treating inclusions is discussed.