Fractures are differentiated by looking at both fracture initiation and propagation.

The computed value of fracture initiation pressure gradient was found to be 1.02 psi/ft.

Particular attention is being given to assessing the effect of loading pattern (displacement versus load control) on the criterion for fracture initiation.

Review of current PWRI well performance prediction capabilities in soft sands, above and below fracture initiation and/or propagation pressures.

The parameter T also significantly influences on the fracture initiation in brittle materials using maximum tangential strain fracture criterion, as found by the researchers at Texas A & M University.

Because the location of fracture initiation is predetermined to occur at the crack tip and thus cannot sample the random strengths of different RVEs, the statistical contribution to the mean size effect is negligible.

Brittle materials, like ceramics, do not experience any plastic deformation and will fracture under relatively low strain, while ductile materials such as metallics, lead, or polymers will plasticly deform much more before a fracture initiation.