以单元劈裂法作为基本方法，采用摩尔-库仑准则作为单元劈裂准则，探索和发展一种更为简单有效的节理扩展数值模拟方法.由于单元劈裂法是利用三角单元的几何特性构造出的一种特殊三节点节理单元，它可以在原网格划分方案基础上直接对裂纹扩展进行数值模拟.而摩尔-库仑准则是广泛应用于岩土工程材料的破坏准则，可以较为准确地预测岩土材料的破坏行为.因此，将二者结合起来，对节理扩展模拟具有较大优势.为验证本方法的有效性，分别模拟了不同围压下多裂纹岩石材料的破坏过程，并与相应试验结果进行对比分析.结果表明，本方法能再现不同围压下多裂纹扩展、汇合的基本过程和特征，从而说明本方法是有效的.

To explore and develop a simple and efficient method for simulating joint propagation, we take the element partition method (EPM) as a basic method and use the Mohr-Coulomb criterion in element partition. Since EPM takes advantage of geometric features of triangular elements to construct a special threenode contact element, it can simulate fracture propagation in the original mesh scheme. The Mohr-Coulomb criterion is a widely used failure criterion in geomechanics, which can accurately predict the failure behavior of geomaterials. Combination of EPM and Mohr-Coulomb criterion has advantages in simulating joint propagation. To validate the proposed method, failure processes of crack material with double crack subject to different confining stresses are simulated. The results show general agreement with experiments. Comparison between the simulated and experimental results suggests that the method can represent typical features of joint propagation and coalescence subject to confining stress.