Modeling the 3D Terrain Effect on MT by the Boundary Element Method

A numerical method is put forward in this paper, using the boundary element method （BEM） to model 3D terrain effects on magnetotelluric （MT） surveys, Using vector integral theory and electromagnetic field boundary conditions, the boundary problem of two electromagnetic fields in the upper half space （air） and lower half space （earth medium） was transformed into two vector integral equations just related to the topography ： one magnetic equation for computing the magnetic field and the other electrical equation for computing the electrical field. The topography integral is decomposed into a series of integrals in a triangle element. For the integral in a triangle element, we suppose that the electromagnetic field in it is the stack of the electromagnetic field in the homogeneous earth and the topography response which is a constant; so the computation becomes simple, convenient and highly accurate. By decomposition and computation, each vector integral equation can be calculated by solving three linear equations that are related to the three Cartesian directions. The matrix of these linear equations is diagonally dominant and can be solved using the Symmetric Successive Over-Relaxation （SSOR） method. The apparent resistivity curve of MT on two 3D terrains calculated by BEM is shown in this paper.

Implementation of a particle-in-cell method for the energy solver in 3D spherical geodynamic modeling

The thermal evolution of the Earth’s interior and its dynamic effects are the focus of Earth sciences.However,the commonly adopted grid-based temperature solver is usually prone to numerical oscillations,especially in the presence of sharp thermal gradients,such as when modeling subducting slabs and rising plumes.This phenomenon prohibits the correct representation of thermal evolution and may cause incorrect implications of geodynamic processes.After examining several approaches for removing these numerical oscillations,we show that the Lagrangian method provides an ideal way to solve this problem.In this study,we propose a particle-in-cell method as a strategy for improving the solution to the energy equation and demonstrate its effectiveness in both one-dimensional and three-dimensional thermal problems,as well as in a global spherical simulation with data assimilation.We have implemented this method in the open-source finite-element code CitcomS,which features a spherical coordinate system,distributed memory parallel computing,and data assimilation algorithms.

Acoustic viscoelastic modeling by frequency-domain boundary element method

Earth medium is not completely elastic, with its viscosity resulting in attenuation and dispersion of seismic waves. Most viscoelastic numerical simulations are based on the finite-difference and finite-element methods. Targeted at viscoelastic numerical modeling for multilayered media, the constant-Q acoustic wave equation is transformed into the corresponding wave integral representation with its Green＇s function accounting for viscoelastic coefficients. An efficient alternative for full-waveform solution to the integral equation is proposed in this article by extending conventional frequency-domain boundary element methods to viscoelastic media. The viscoelastic boundary element method enjoys a distinct characteristic of the explicit use of boundary continuity conditions of displacement and traction, leading to a semi-analytical solution with sufficient accuracy for simulating the viscoelastic effect across irregular interfaces. Numerical experiments to study the viscoelastic absorption of different Q values demonstrate the accuracy and applicability of the method.

Finite Element Analysis in Combination with Perfectly Matched Layer to the Numerical Modeling of Acoustic Devices in Piezoelectric Materials

The characterization of finite length Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) and Bulk acoustic Wave (BAW) resonators is addressed here. The Finite Element Analysis (FEA) induces artificial wave reflections at the edges of the mesh. In fact, these ones do not contribute in practice to the corresponding experimental response. The Perfectly Matched Layer (PML) method, allows to suppress the boundary reflections. In this work, we first demonstrate the basis of PML adapted to FEA formalism. Next, the results of such a method are depicted allowing a discussion on the behavior of finite acoustic resonators.

Landslide dynamic process and parameter sensitivity analysis by discrete element method: the case of Turnoff Creek rock avalanche

The great diversity and complexity of geological hazards in terms of flowing materials,environment,triggering mechanisms and physical processes during the flow bring great difficulties to the numerical parameter selection for the discrete element method.In order to identity the significance of individual parameters on the landslides dynamic process and provide valuable contribution to the runout analysis of similar landslide,the dynamic process and associated microscopic mechanism of the Turnoff Creek rock avalanche in Canada are simulated.The present numerical results are compared with the field survey data and the results of depth-integrated continuum method.The final deposit range matches well with the field survey data.It is illustrated that the discrete element method is robust and feasible to capture the dynamic characteristics of large rock avalanche over a complex terrain.Besides,a new method to assess the landslide hazard level based on the discrete element method is proposed.According to the parameter sensitivity analysis,it is demonstrated that the basal friction coefficient and bond strength are essential to the final deposit while rolling coefficient and restitution coefficient have little effects on it.

Numerical Crack Analysis of Blunt Rock Indenters by an Indirect Boundary Element Method

Linear elastic fracture mechanics principles are widely applied for the analysis of crack problems in rock fracture mechanics. Rock indentation is an important and complicated problem among rock engineering issues. In this paper, in addition to the fracture criterion of maximum tangential stress adjacent to crack tip, the higher order displacement discontinuity method (which is a version of the indirect boundary element method) has been used for modeling the crack propagation mechanism under blunt indenters. In order to achieve more accurate results, higher order boundary elements i.e. quadratic elements, has been used to calculate displacement discontinuities and also to reduce the singularities of stress and displacement fields near the crack tip, the special crack tip elements has been used to calculate the stress intensity factors (SIF) at the crack tips. In this modeling, the effect of crack angle on stress intensity factors has been investigated. The numerical results of stress intensity factors obtained from some example problems were compared to the theoretical and experimental results cited in the literature which always show a percentage error less than one percent. The simulated results may pave the way for increasing the efficiency of mining and drilling by improving the design of tools and indentation equipments.

Three-dimensional distinct element modeling of fault reactivation and induced seismicity due to hydraulic fracturing injection and backflow

This paper presents a three-dimensional fully hydro-mechanical coupled distinct element study on fault reactivation and induced seismicity due to hydraulic fracturing injection and subsequent backflow process,based on the geological data in Horn River Basin,Northeast British Columbia,Canada.The modeling results indicate that the maximum magnitude of seismic events appears at the fracturing stage.The increment of fluid volume in the fault determines the cumulative moment and maximum fault slippage,both of which are essentially proportional to the fluid volume.After backflow starts,the fluid near the joint intersection keeps flowing into the critically stressed fault,rather than backflows to the wellbore.Although fault slippage is affected by the changes of both pore pressure and ambient rock stress,their contributions are different at fracturing and backflow stages.At fracturing stage,pore pressure change shows a dominant effect on induced fault slippage.While at backflow stage,because the fault plane is under a critical stress state,any minor disturbance would trigger a fault slippage.The energy analysis indicates that aseismic deformation takes up a majority of the total deformation energy during hydraulic fracturing.A common regularity is found in both fracturing-and backflow-induced seismicity that the cumulative moment and maximum fault slippage are nearly proportional to the injected fluid volume.This study shows some novel insights into interpreting fracturing-and backflowinduced seismicity,and provides useful information for controlling and mitigating seismic hazards due to hydraulic fracturing.

Understanding roof deformation mechanics and parametric sensitivities of coal mine entries using the discrete element method

Although conventional coal mine designs are conservative regarding pillar strength,local failures such as roof-falls and pillar bursts still affect mine safety and operations.Previous studies have identified that discontinuous,layered roof materials have some self-supporting capacity.This research is a preliminary step towards understanding these mechanics in coal-measure rocks.Although others have considered broad conceptual models and simplified analogs for mine roof behavior,this study presents a unique numerical model that more completely represents in-situ roof conditions.The discrete element method(DEM)is utilized to conduct a parametric analysis considering a range of in-situ stress ratios,material properties,and joint networks to determine the parameters controlling the stability of single-entries modeled in two-dimensions.Model results are compared to empirical observations of roof-support effectiveness(ARBS)in the context of the coal mine roof rating(CMRR)system.Results such as immediate roof displacement,overall stability,and statistical relationships between model parameters and outcomes are presented herein.Potential practical applications of this line of research include:(1)roof-support optimization for a range of coal-measure rocks,(2)establishment of a relationship between roof stability and pillar stress,and(3)determination of which parameters are most critical to roof stability and therefore require concentrated evaluation.

A review of methods,applications and limitations for incorporating fluid flow in the discrete element method

The past decade has witnessed the substantial growth in research interests and progress on the subject of coupled hydro-mechanical processes in rocks and soils,driven mainly by the surge of research in unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs and associated hazards.Many coupling techniques have been developed to include the effects of fluid flow in the discrete element method(DEM),and the techniques have been applied to a variety of geomechanical problems.Although these coupling methods have been successfully applied in various engineering fields,no single fluid/DEM coupling method is universal due to the complexity of engineering problems and the limitations of the numerical methods.For researchers and engineers,the key to solve a specific problem is to select the most appropriate fluid/DEM coupling method among these modeling technologies.The purpose of this paper is to give a comprehensive review of fluid flow/DEM coupling methods and relevant research.Given their importance,the availability or unavailability of best practice guidelines is outlined.The theoretical background and current status of DEM are introduced first,and the principles,applications,and advantages and disadvantages of different fluid flow/DEM coupling methods are discussed.Finally,a summary with speculation on future development trends is given.

Analysis of the damage mechanism of strainbursts by a global-local modeling approach

Strainburst is the most common type of rockbursts.The research of strainburst damage mechanisms is helpful to improve and optimize the rock support design in the burst-prone ground.In this study,an improved global-local modeling approach was first adopted to study strainburst damage mechanisms.The extracted stresses induced by multiple excavations from a three-dimensional(3D)global model established by fast Lagrangian analysis of continua in 3 dimensions(FLAC3D)are used as boundary conditions for a two-dimensional(2D)local model of a deep roadway built by universal distinct element code(UDEC)to simulate realistic stress loading paths and conduct a detailed analysis of rockburst damage from both micro and macro perspectives.The results suggest that the deformation and damage level of the roadway gradually increase with the growth of surrounding rock stress caused by the superposition of mining-or excavation-induced stresses of the panel and nearby roadways.The significant increase of surrounding rock stresses will result in more accumulated strain energy in two sidewalls,providing a necessary condition for the strainburst occurrence in the dynamic stage.The strainburst damage mechanism for the study site combines three types of damage:rock ejection,rock bulking,and rockfall.During the strainburst,initiation,propagation,and development of tensile cracks play a crucial role in controlling macroscopic failure of surrounding rock masses,although the shear crack always accounts for the main proportion of damage levels.The deformation and damage level of the roadway during a strainburst positively correlate with the increasing peak particle velocities(PPVs).The yielding steel arch might not dissipate kinetic energy and mitigate strainburst damage effectively due to the limited energy absorption capacity.The principles to control and mitigate strainburst damage are proposed in this paper.This study presents a systematic framework to investigate strainburst damage mechanisms using the global-local modeling approach.

Distinct element modelling of fracture plan control in continuum and jointed rock mass in presplitting method of surface mining

Controlled blasting techniques are used to control overbreak and to aid in the stability of the remaining rock formation. Presplitting is one of the most common methods which is used in many open pit mining and surface blast design. The purpose of presplitting is to form a fracture plane across which the radial cracks from the production blast cannot travel. The purpose of this study is to investigate of effect of presplitting on the generation of a smooth wall in continuum and jointed rock mass. The 2D distinct element code was used to simulate the presplitting in a rock slope. The blast load history as a function of time was applied to the inner wall of each blasthole. Important parameters that were considered in the analysis were stress tensor and fracturing pattern. The blast loading magnitude and blasthole spacing and jointing pattern were found to be very significant in the final results.

Numerical Investigation of Thermal Behavior of CNC Machine Tool and Its Effects on Dimensional Accuracy of Machined Parts

The dimensional accuracy of machined parts is strongly influenced by the thermal behavior of machine tools (MT). Minimizing this influence represents a key objective for any modern manufacturing industry. Thermally induced positioning error compensation remains the most effective and practical method in this context. However, the efficiency of the compensation process depends on the quality of the model used to predict the thermal errors. The model should consistently reflect the relationships between temperature distribution in the MT structure and thermally induced positioning errors. A judicious choice of the number and location of temperature sensitive points to represent heat distribution is a key factor for robust thermal error modeling. Therefore, in this paper, the temperature sensitive points are selected following a structured thermomechanical analysis carried out to evaluate the effects of various temperature gradients on MT structure deformation intensity. The MT thermal behavior is first modeled using finite element method and validated by various experimentally measured temperature fields using temperature sensors and thermal imaging. MT Thermal behavior validation shows a maximum error of less than 10% when comparing the numerical estimations with the experimental results even under changing operation conditions. The numerical model is used through several series of simulations carried out using varied working condition to explore possible relationships between temperature distribution and thermal deformation characteristics to select the most appropriate temperature sensitive points that will be considered for building an empirical prediction model for thermal errors as function of MT thermal state. Validation tests achieved using an artificial neural network based simplified model confirmed the efficiency of the proposed temperature sensitive points allowing the prediction of the thermally induced errors with an accuracy greater than 90%.

Sintering zone prediction in direct metal laser sintering by finite element method

A three-dimensional finite element thermal model in direct metal laser sintering(DMLS) including the effect of powder-to-solid transition were established to predict sintering zone, which benefited the determination of suitable process parameters in DMLS. The nonlinear transient model of the metals thermal conductivity for powder-to-solid transition was developed. The model uses solid thermal properties of material in liquid-phase zone, transitional ones in sintering or sintered zone and powder ones in unsintered zones of powder bed to predict, respectively. Sintering zone boundary was estimated by maximum temperature history profile. Experiments were carried out using multi-component Cu-based metal powder. Compared experimental and predicted results, the mean error of sintering depth and width are 7.8% and 14.4%, respectively, which confirms the accuracy of the FEM prediction.

FINITE ELEMENTAN ALYSIS FOR THE UNSTEADY NEARSHORECIR CULATION DUE TO WAVE－CURRENT INTER－ACTION（I）──NUMERICAL MODEL

In lhis paper, a numerical model for predicting the unsteady nearshore circulationdue to wave-current interaction was proposed. In addition io the traditional continuity,momentunm and energy. equations, the dispersion and refraction relations were includedin the governing equalions. Moreover, the effects of lateral shears, wind, radiation andbottom stresses were analysed in the governing equalions. Therefore, we expect thatthis model may more completely and exactly reflect the law of ware-currentinteraction. In part (II) we will adopt the selective lumping two-step explicit finite elementmethod to solve the model, and some examples will be presented.

Stability assessment of landslide-prone road cut rock slopes in Himalayan terrain:A finite element method based approach

Large-scale slope destabilization could be aggravated due to swift urbanization and ever-rising demands of geoengineering projects such as dams,tunnels,bridges and widening roads.National Highway-58 connects Delhi to Badrinath in India,which passes through complex geomorphological and geological terrain and often encounters cut slopes susceptible to slope failures.In the present investigation,a detailed geotechnical appraisal is conducted along the road cut slopes from Rishikesh to Devprayag in the Himalayas.Twenty vulnerable road cut slopes were demarcated for detailed slope stability analysis using Phase2D finite element modeling simulator.Nonlinear generalized Hoek-Brown(GHB)criterion was adopted for stability analyses.Out of 20 slopes,five slopes(S6,S7,S18,S19 and S20)are unstable with factor of safety(FoS)less than or equal to 1,and thus needs immediate attention.The FoS values of four slopes(S2,S9,S13 and S17)lie between 1 and 1.3,i.e.marginally stable,and slopes S1,S3,S4,S5,S8,S10,Sll,S12,S14,S15 and S16 are stable.Mohr-Coulomb(MC)criterion was also adopted to compare the slope stability analysis with GHB criterion.The FoS calculated from GHB criterion is close to that using MC criterion for lower values of FoS whereas for higher values,the difference is marked.For the jointed rock in the Himalayan region,the nonlinear GHB criterion gives better results as compared to MC criterion and matches with the prevailing field conditions.Accordingly,some suggestions are proposed to strengthen the stability of cut slopes.

A numerical modelling approach to assess the behaviour of underground cavern subjected to blast loads

The paper gives an insight into the behaviour of large underground caverns which are subjected to blast loads. Caverns are generally constructed in hard rock formation which compels us to use blasting methods for the excavation works. Comparative study was done between models with intact rock mass and discontinuities to assess the stability of cavern as a result of blast loads. Numerical modelling was performed with 3 dimensional distinct element code(3 DEC) to analyse the performance of cavern walls in terms of displacement and to compute peak particle velocities(PPV) both around the cavern periphery and at surface of models. Results showed that the velocity wave with higher frequency exhibited large displacements around the periphery of cavern. Computation of PPV showed that model with horizontal joint sets showed lower PPV in comparison to model with intact rock mass. PPV values were also analysed on the surface for model consisting vertical joints spaced at 4 m intervals. Comparative study of PPV on surface vertically above the blast location between models with horizontal joints spaced at 4 m and vertical joints at 4 m intervals were conducted. Results depicted higher magnitudes of PPV for model with vertical joints in comparison to model with horizontal joints.

Numerical Simulation on the Resistance Performance of Ice-Going Container Ship Under Brash Ice Conditions

Ice resistance prediction is a critical issue in the preliminary design of ships navigating brash ice conditions, which is closely related to the safety of a ship to navigate encounter brash ice, and has significant effects on the kinds of propellers and motor power needed. In research on this topic, model tests and full-scale tests on ships have thus far been the primary approaches. In recent years, the application of the finite element method(FEM) has also attracted interest. Some researchers have conducted numerical simulations on ship–ice interactions using the fluid–structure interaction(FSI) method. This study used this method to predict and analyze the resistance of an ice-going ship, and compared the results with those of model ship tests conducted in a towing tank with synthetic ice to discuss the feasibility of the FEM. A numerical simulation and experimental methods were used to predict the brash ice resistance of an ice-going container ship model in a condition with three concentrations of brash ice(60%, 80%, and 90%). A comparison of the results yielded satisfactory agreement between the numerical simulation and the experiments in terms of both observed phenomena and resistance values, indicating that the proposed numerical simulation has significant potential for use in related studies in the future.

Fracture of films caused by uniaxial tensions:a numerical model

Surface cracks are commonly observed in coatings and films.When structures with coatings are subject to stretching,opening mode cracks are likely to form on the surface,which may further lead to other forms of damage,such as interfacial delamination and substrate damage.Possible crack forms include cracks extending towards the interface and channeling across the film.In this paper,a two-dimensional numerical model is proposed to obtain the structural strain energy at arbitrary crack lengths for bilayer structures under uniaxial tension.The energy release rate and structural stress intensity factors can be obtained accordingly,and the effects of geometry and material features on fracture characteristics are investigated,with most crack patterns being confirmed as unstable.The proposed model can also facilitate the analysis of the stress distribution in periodic crack patterns of films.The results from the numerical model are compared with those obtained by the finite element method(FEM),and the accuracy of the theoretical results is demonstrated.

Flow-Induced Clogging in Microfiltration Membranes: Numerical Modeling and Parametric Study

Microfiltration membrane technology has been widely used in various industries for solid-liquid separation. However, pore clogging remains a persistent challenge. This study employs (CFD) and discrete element method (DEM) models to enhance our understanding of microfiltration membrane clogging. The models were validated by comparing them to experimental data, demonstrating reasonable consistency. Subsequently, a parametric study was conducted on a cross-flow model, exploring the influence of key parameters on clogging. Findings show that clogging is a complex phenomenon affected by various factors. The mean inlet velocity and transmembrane flux were found to directly impact clogging, while the confinement ratio and cosine of the membrane pore entrance angle had an inverse relationship with it. Two clog types were identified: internal (inside the pore) and external (arching at the pore entrance), with the confinement ratio determining the type. This study introduced a dimensionless number as a quantitative clogging indicator based on transmembrane flux, Reynolds number, filtration time, entrance angle cosine, and confinement ratio. While this hypothesis held true in simulations, future studies should explore variations in clogging indicators, and improved modeling of clogging characteristics. Calibration between numerical and physical times and consideration of particle volume fraction will enhance understanding.

Numerical study of fatigue damage of asphalt concrete using cohesive zone model

In order to investigate the fatigue behavior of asphalt concrete, a new numerical approach based on a bi-linear cohesive zone model （CZM） is developed. Integrated with the CZM, a fatigue damage evolution model is established to indicate the gradual degradation of cohesive properties of asphalt concrete under cyclic loading. Then the model is implemented in the finite element software ABAQUS through a user-defined subroutine. Based on the proposed model, an indirect tensile fatigue test is finally simulated. The fatigue lives obtained through numerical analysis show good agreement with laboratory results. Fatigue damage accumulates in a nonlinear manner during the cyclic loading process and damage initiation phase is the major part of fatigue failure. As the stress ratio increases, the time of the steady damage growth stage decreases significantly. It is found that the proposed fatigue damage evolution model can serve as an accurate and efficient tool for the prediction of fatigue damage of asphalt concrete.