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8. Glossary
Comportement ductile; ductile behaviour
Ductile behavior corresponds to the progressive fracture of a rock, with the development of significant plastic deformations after the elastic limit has been reached.
Comportement fragile ; brittle behaviour
Brittle behavior is characterized by sudden fracture, a sudden loss of rock strength, without the development of plastic deformation.
Criterion
A criterion is a mathematical expression providing the critical combinations of stress tensor components for which brittle fracture, plastic flow or ultimate strength occur, for example.
Discontinuity; joint
A discontinuity is a surface marking a break in the continuity of the rock matrix.
Scale effect...
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