A new approach to rock failure: Criterion of failure in plastical strain space

Abstract The new failure criterion of rock in plastic strain space is presented upon previous experiment results and the hypothesis that dissipation energy in a material causes failure. The main characteristics and applications to rocks of the criterion are discussed. The criterion can well explain that materials do not exhibit failure at pure hydrostatical pressure and could conveniently be used to predict rock failures at different stress or strain states without appendant assumptions.