Partly clumped-particles for elastic mismatch of minerals and joint planes for schist: A numerical simulation of DanBa quartz mica schist

A partly clumped-particles combined with joint planes model was developed to simulate the microstructure of quartz mica schist. It considers grain-scale heterogeneity including microgeometry heterogeneity and grain-scale elastic heterogeneity. Clumped-particles with larger volume and larger stiffness were used to represent stiff minerals such as quartz, the rest of unclumped particles with smaller stiffness were used to represent soft minerals such as mica. The joint planes, which have smaller stiffness and strength than mica, were used to describe schist. The extensive sensitivity studies have shown that the clump’s radius, clump’s content and joint plane’s strength affect the microscopic and macroscopic behaviors of sample. For DanBa quartz mica schist, the model calibrated uniaxial tests and well matched with the stress-strain curves, crack initiation stress and crack damage stress of laboratory test. • Partly clumped-particles and joint planes were adopted to describe the schist rock. • Elastic mismatch between grains causing stress concentration was simulated by partly clumped assemble. • Joint plane’s bond strength affected the peak strength of specimen greatly