prefractured
Prefractured describes a material, typically rock or a rock-like composite, that already contains fractures, cracks, or other discontinuities before external loading or testing. The term emphasizes the presence of preexisting damage, as opposed to an initially intact material.
In geology and rock mechanics, prefractured rocks exhibit altered mechanical behavior compared with intact rocks. The
In laboratory settings and material science, prefractured or precracked specimens are used to study fracture toughness,
Applications and implications are broad. In hydrocarbon and geothermal reservoirs, preexisting fracture networks control fracture initiation