Uniaxial compression test and numerical simulation of rock-like specimen with T-Shaped cracks

In this study, the uniaxial compression test and PFC2D numerical simulation were carried out on the artificial rock specimen with T-shaped prefabricated fractures. The effects of the lengths l1, l2 of the main fractures, the length l3 of the secondary fracture, and the angle β between the secondary fracture and the loading direction on the uniaxial compressive strength and crack evolution law of specimen were studied. The research results show that the change of l1, l2 and β has obvious effect on the compressive strength and crack growth of the specimen, but the change of l3 has little effect on the compressive strength of the specimen. When l3 = 40 mm and l1 ≠ l2, the angle β influences on the crack propagation and failure mode of the specimen.