Peak strength model of brittle rocks containing flaws

A modified Ashby-Hallam model was used to calculate the peak strength of granite specimens containing flaws. The model considers the influence of crack initiation, propagation, coalescence, and interaction on the peak strengths of the granite specimens containing flaws under uniaxial compression. Comparison of theoretical and experimental results shows that the modified Ashby-Hallam model accurately predicts the peak strength of granite specimens containing flaws as a function of the defect density and the coalescence density. The two main factors that affect the peak strength of brittle rocks containing flaws are the coalescence densitys for which reductions increase the peak strength and the distribution and size of the flaws.