A coarse-grained bonded particle model for large-scale rock simulation

For solving the computationally intensive problem encountered by the discrete element method(DEM)in simulating large-scale engineering problems,it is essential to establish a numerical model that can effectively simulate large-scale rocks.In this study,the coarse-graining effect of a linear-Mindlin with bonding model was studied in the unconfined compression strength(UCS)and Brazilian tensile strength(BTS)tests.We found that the main reason for the coarse-graining effect of the BTS tests is that the type I fracture toughness is positively correlated with the size of the particles.Based on the results analysis and fracture mechanics,the coarse-grained(CG)modeling theory was combined with a bonded particle model(BPM)for the first time and a coarse-grained bonded particle model(CG-BPM)was developed,which can be effectively used to model the tensile strength of large-scale rocks with different particle sizes.The excavation damage zone(EDZ)in an underground research laboratory(URL)was selected as an application case,which shows that the coarse-grained bonding model presented in this paper is more accurate and reliable than the traditional one in large-scale rock simulation,at least in the scenario where tensile failure is dominant.

Coupled hydro-thermo-mechanical modeling of hydraulic fracturing in quasi-brittle rocks using BPM-DEM

This paper presents an improved understanding of coupled hydro-thermo-mechanical(HTM) hydraulic fracturing of quasi-brittle rock using the bonded particle model(BPM) within the discrete element method(DEM). BPM has been recently extended by the authors to account for coupled convective econductive heat flow and transport, and to enable full hydro-thermal fluidesolid coupled modeling.The application of the work is on enhanced geothermal systems(EGSs), and hydraulic fracturing of hot dry rock(HDR) is studied in terms of the impact of temperature difference between rock and a flowing fracturing fluid. Micro-mechanical investigation of temperature and fracturing fluid effects on hydraulic fracturing damage in rocks is presented. It was found that fracture is shorter with pronounced secondary microcracking along the main fracture for the case when the convectiveeconductive thermal heat exchange is considered. First, the convection heat exchange during low-viscosity fluid infiltration in permeable rock around the wellbore causes significant rock cooling, where a finger-like fluid infiltration was observed. Second, fluid infiltration inhibits pressure rise during pumping and delays fracture initiation and propagation. Additionally, thermal damage occurs in the whole area around the wellbore due to rock cooling and cold fluid infiltration. The size of a damaged area around the wellbore increases with decreasing fluid dynamic viscosity. Fluid and rock compressibility ratio was found to have significant effect on the fracture propagation velocity.

Stress Recovery Procedure for the Bonded Particle Model

In the simulation of discontinuous block systems,the discrete element method(DEM)has better computational efficiency and convergence than the finite element method(FEM).When several DEM particles are bonded together with parallel bonds(the bonded particle model,BPM),various shapes and block fractures can be simulated.The main aim of the BPM is to simulate a continuous material in which the stress distribution is continuous.Since the existing stress result for a single particle is an average value over the particle’s area,stress results do not exist in the area between particles.In this paper,the stress value for a single two-dimensional DEM particle is deduced.A stress recovery procedure with a linear stress function for a triangular element generated by the centroids of three bonded particles is proposed.In this way,the recovered stress field for the whole mesh composed of all triangular elements is continuous.A stress gradient exists in the whole mesh.This can also provide more accurate stress values for judging a fracture inside a block.Symmetrical and asymmetrical models are simulated by the BPM and FEM.Similar to the FEM results,the recovered stress results for the BPM can describe the stress distribution in the simulated continuous blocks.For the model with the theoretical stress solution,the recovered result and the theoretical solution coincide well.

DEM Analysis of Single-Particle Crushing Considering the Inhomogeneity of Material Properties

Crushing characteristics of single particles are the basis of granular material simulation with discrete element method(DEM).To improve the universality and precision of crushable DEM model,inhomogeneous stiffness and strength properties are introduced into the bonded particle method,with which the Weibull distribution and size effect of particle strength can be reproduced without deleting elementary balls.The issues of particle strength and carrying capacity under complex contact conditions are investigated in this work by symmetric loading tests,asymmetric loading tests,and ball-ball loading tests.Results of numerical experiments indicate that particle carrying capacity is significantly influenced by coordination numbers,the symmetry of contact points,as well as the relative size of its neighbors.Contact conditions also show impact on single-particle crushing categories and the origin position of inner particle cracks.The existing stress indexes and assumptions of particle crushing criterion are proved to be inappropriate for general loading cases.Both the inherent inhomogeneity and contact conditions of particles should be taken into consideration in the simulation of granular materials.

Discrete element method simulation of granular materials considering particle breakage in geotechnical and mining engineering:A short review

Discrete element method(DEM)-based simulations are crucial for bridging macro and micro research,particularly owing to the limitations of experimental methods.This paper reviews the simulation techniques used for particle breakage in DEM,summarizes the research status,and discusses pertinent issues to outline future prospects for particle breakage simulation.Fragment replacement method(FRM)and bonded particle method(BPM)are widely used to simulate particle breakage based on DEM.In BPM models,sub-particle size selection,particle cluster generation mode,and bonding parameters are crucial considerations.Although BPM can simulate the breakage of particles with complex shapes,it cannot re-simulate them,posing difficulties in coordinating calculation load and simulation accuracy.For FRM,the fragment replacement mode and particle breakage criteria are critical.The number and size of replacement particles are difficult to match with actual conditions,and ensuring mass conservation is significantly challenging.Although the initial computational load in FRM is relatively low,it increases significantly as the simulation progresses.To address these issues,we propose a simulation method that integrates BPM and FRM,allowing sub-particle breakage in BPM to be realized by FRM.

Effect of loading direction on interaction of two pre-existing open and closed flaws in a rock-like brittle material

Investigations of the growth,interaction,and coalescence of cracks are important because they help to provide tools for the more realistic modeling of rock masses containing low persistence discontinuities and better estimations of the strength and stiffness of a rock material.Understanding the coalescence mechanism is useful for justifying the mechanism of continental crustal deformation,evaluating the structural failure of slopes with rock bridges,and analyzing the stability of tunnels when a mode I or mix mode failure mechanism is involved.The evaluation of crack growth can provide valuable information about the mechanism for the formation of new geological structures,and the formation,evolution,and growth of faults.This paper reports the results of diametrical compression tests on rocklike disk-shaped specimens.Each specimen contained two pre-existing open or closed flaws.The growth,interaction,and coalescence of the pre-existing flaws were investigated both physically and numerically.A hybrid bonded particle-finite element system was used in the numerical simulation.The results of the physical and numerical studies were in good agreement.In particular,the induced crack patterns showed close agreement in the physical and numerical tests.Digital microscope image processing was used in the physical tests to study the dislocations along the initial flaws.It was shown that wing crack formation was responsible for the failure of the specimen when flaws were inclined with respect to the loading direction.The crack growth and linkage were shown to be affected by the friction between faces of the flaws.In addition,the slip distributions at the flaws surfaces were illustrated and examined to understand the crack propagation mechanism.The effects of the flaws on the disk failure loads were assessed both numerically and experimentally as well.