A cellular automaton fracture model: the influence of heterogeneity in the failure process

The modelling of a complex process such as rock fracture is fraught with problems including: (i) the number and complexity of the processes in operation during fracture; and (ii) the heterogeneity of the material under consideration. These considerations force modellers to adopt a ‘notional’ approach. In this paper we describe a model of fracture which attempts to mimic the processes that govern seismogenesis by using a rule-based algorithm. This allows us to capture the essential physical aspects of the system while allowing a realistic heterogeneity in the form of a large number of lattice elements. We describe the model and present the preliminary results from such a rule-based algorithm, or cellular automaton. These results illustrate that initial strength distributions have a crucial influence on the fracture pattern that is produced.