Representation of the generalized Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion of anisotropic rocks in the Haigh–Westergaard stress space

The study focuses on the influence of the intermediate principal stress on the value of limit stresses in rocks possessing anisotropic strength. Anisotropy develops in the course of the multi-century subsidence of rocks in the form of multi-stratified compactions. Such rocks mostly experience the triaxial nonuniform stress state and may occur at various lithospheric depths. The study used the linear Mohr–Coulomb criterion generalized for the case of variation in rock strength in different directions. Considering independence of limit stresses in this theory from the influence of the intermediate principal stress, the generalized criterion is written in the Haigh–Westergaard stress space. The calculations were performed for a specific type of an anisotropic rock, and its initial strength parameters were taken from the source literature. Using the obtained data, the graphs of the principal stress value as function of the angle of coring relative to the axis of a full-size core were plotted. Furthermore, the influence of the intermediate principal stress on the limit stress value was estimated. It follows from the calculation data that with the increase in the intermediate principal stresses by 10% and by 50%, the limit strength of rock, namely, the principal breaking stress grows by 3.97% and 15.41%, respectively.

Aliev M. M., Sozontova E. A. Representation of the generalized Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion of anisotropic rocks in the Haigh–Westergaard stress space. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2025;(3):42-53. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2025_3_0_42.

M.M. Aliev¹, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Head of Chair, e-mail: mmaliev@rambler.ru,
E.A. Sozontova¹, Senior Lecturer, e-mail: sozontovaea@agni-rt.ru,
¹ Almetyevsk State Technological University «Petroleum Higher School», Almetyevsk, 423450, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia.

E.A. Sozontova, e-mail: sozontovaea@agni-rt.ru.

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