Numerical implementation of a micromechanics-based viscoelastic model for geomaterials with isotropically distributed micro-fractures

Abstract The constitutive behavior of geomaterials is generally affected by the presence at different scales of discontinuity surfaces with different sizes and orientations. According to their mechanical behavior, such discontinuities can be distinguished as cracks or fractures. Fractures are interfaces that can transfer normal and tangential stresses, whereas cracks are discontinuities without stress transfer. Regarding the formulation of the behavior of materials with isotropic distribution of micro-cracks or fractures, previous works had essentially focused on their instantaneous response i...